Housing

Potential Statewide Initiative Would Dramatically Expand Rent Control

Published

7 years ago

October 31, 2017

A potential 2018 statewide ballot initiative to dramatically expand rent control in Oakland and other cities and counties in California was filed last week.

The initiative would repeal the state Costa Hawkins Act, restoring the right of local jurisdictions to choose the type of rent control that is right for their communities, making it once again permissible for cities and counties to apply rent control to more recently constructed units and single-family units, and to establish vacancy control.

Filed at the State Attorney General’s office by Christina Livingston of ACCE Action, Elena Popp with the Eviction Defense Network and Michael Weinstein, President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the effort is also supported by dozens of other organizations including the California Nurses Association, Los Angeles Tenants Union, SAJE, LA CAN, LA Voice (a PICO affiliate), Housing Long Beach, Eviction Defense Network, North Bay Organizing Project, Gamaliel of California, Inquilinos Unidos, Black Community Clergy and Labor Alliance.

The move to file is driven by the state legislature’s failure to act on AB 1506, a bill introduced this year to repeal Costa Hawkins. Housing justice groups are calling on the state legislature to do their job and pass AB 1506.

“You’re more likely to be renting from Wall Street than a landlady upstairs these days. My landlord is Blackstone, the largest private equity firm in the world and the largest landlord of single family homes in the country,” said Merika Reagan an ACCE member and East Oakland resident

“When my lease was up last fall, they threatened to raise my rent $1,000. Landlords like mine are only growing in California – we need to repeal Costa- Hawkins to stop this rent gouging,” said Reagan.

“Rent in California is out of control. I moved here in 2013, and have already moved four times due to my rent being raised. The homeless problem in L.A. is only going to get worse if we don’t repeal Costa-Hawkins,” said Ismail Marcus Allgood, a South L.A. resident and a leader with L.A. Voice.

“The Mariachi musicians and other tenants in Boyle Heights are fighting an eviction because they can’t pay the 80 percent rent increase demanded by new owners. The building is not covered by L.A.’s rent control ordinance because of Cost- Hawkins since it was built after 1978,” said Walt Senterfitt of the Los Angeles Tenants Union.

Costa-Hawkins permits landlords “to kick out long- term, low-income tenants, often families of color, and replace them with higher income people that can pay high rents. Repealing Costa-Hawkins is an essential part of defending our home during this statewide eviction crisis,” he said.

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Oakland Awarded $28 Million Grant from Governor Newsom to Sustain Long-Term Solutions Addressing Homelessness

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program.

This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Oakland City Administrator’s Office staff held a press conference today to discuss the grant and the City’s successful implementing of the Mayor’s Executive Order on the Encampment Management Policy.

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California Black Media

Gov. Newsom Signs Legislative Package to Increase Housing, Improve Accountability

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan legislative package to improve housing initiatives and address the homelessness crisis. The laws aim to streamline housing production and hold local governments accountable to state housing laws. The Legislature will enact over 30 new laws to strengthen housing protections for residents and improve transparency and efficiency for housing programs and initiatives.

Published

7 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

On Sept. 19, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan legislative package to improve housing initiatives and address the homelessness crisis.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

The Legislature will enact over 30 new laws to strengthen housing protections for residents and improve transparency and efficiency for housing programs and initiatives.

“No more excuses. California is taking action to fix the decades-long homelessness, housing, and mental health crises,” said Newsom

“These new laws — paired with the state’s unprecedented resources — will deliver more housing, get people off the streets, and provide life-changing support that will benefit all Californians,” he said.

The bill package has new laws that mandate local governments to provide housing to vulnerable residents or low-income individuals experiencing homelessness. The laws will create strict timelines and robust requirements for local governments to report progress on housing and provide notice to the public, increasing accountability for local agencies. Under the new state laws, cities and counties that fail to adopt housing element revisions or approve housing developments will face monetary penalties for failing to comply with housing laws. The state will reduce regulatory barriers to promote housing near transit and provide incentives for accessory dwelling units as well as senior and student accommodation.

The bill package includes $2.2 billion in funding through Proposition 1 to build housing for veterans and individuals struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. The state plans to develop over 4,000 housing units and expand its HomeKey initiative to convert existing buildings into housing projects for homeless people statewide.

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California Black Media

Controller Malia M. Cohen: Eligible Californians Can Now Apply for Property Tax Deferment

State Controller Malia M. Cohen announced last week that applications for property tax deferment began Oct. 1 and will continue through Feb. 10, 2025. The California’s Property Tax Postponement (PTP) Program “allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind, or have a disability, and who meet income and other requirements to postpone payment of property taxes on their primary residence,” according to Cohen’s office.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 22, 2024

Oakland Post

State Controller Malia M. Cohen. File Photo.

By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

State Controller Malia M. Cohen announced last week that applications for property tax deferment began Oct. 1 and will continue through Feb. 10, 2025.

The California’s Property Tax Postponement (PTP) Program “allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind, or have a disability, and who meet income and other requirements to postpone payment of property taxes on their primary residence,” according to Cohen’s office.

In the 2023-24 tax year, qualifying California homeowners were able to postpone over $6.2 million in residential property taxes.

Funding for the PTP program is limited and participants must reapply each year and demonstrate they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Recently, the program has been expanded to include manufactured homes, and the household income limit has been raised to $53,574. The increase, according to Cohen’s office, will help make more seniors and Californians with disabilities keep their homes.