A peak at CAA the nonprofit that stole Richmond’s renters protections

A peak at CAA the nonprofit that stole Richmond’s renters protections

By Lynda Carson - September 7, 2015

Richmond - Now that the California Apartment Association (CAA) has blocked the implementation of renters protections including rent control, and just cause eviction protections, thousands of renters are at risk of being totally exploited with massive rent increases. Additionally, thousands more are now being placed at risk of displacement, and homelessness due to no-cause evictions.

The CAA hijacked renter’s protections in Richmond with BIG MONEY, by financially backing a petition intended to block rent control and just cause eviction protections from going into effect on September 4, 2015. A petition, that many were tricked into signing by devious signature gatherers who were being payed anywhere from $12.50 to $20.00 per signature, according to numerous reports. Devious signature gatherers who lied to people by telling them that the petition made rent control stronger, or kept rents from increasing, according to testimony from renters, and according to media reports.

Most unseemly, the CAA is bragging about the way renters protections have been hijacked from Richmond’s renters.

Click below for details.

http://caanet.org/caa-petition-puts-brakes-on-richmond-rent-control/

An Inside Look At The CAA

The CAA is listed as a nonprofit, 501(c) (6), with a tax exempt status. Though the CAA calls itself an association, records (tax filing with IRS) reveal that the organization is not listed as a trust, or association, but is listed as a corporation. The year of formation for the CAA was 1940, in California. Their main office is located at 980 Ninth St., No.1430, in Sacramento.

According to public records, during 2013 the California Apartment Association (CAA), an organization (so-called non profit) comprised of wealthy property owners had $7,256,302 in assets. During 2013 their gross receipts were $7,195,599. Their wealth grew immensely since CAA declared that they had $5,040,048 in assets during 2011. The CAA also claims that it has 13,000 members in their organization.

According to public records, during 2013, Thomas K. Bannon, CEO of CAA, raked in $300,653 including $24,265 in other compensation for his activities.

Salaries, other compensation and employee benefits payed out in total during 2013 by CAA was $3,671,833.

In 2013, after subtracting $512,055 in total liabilities from their total assets of $7,256,302, the CAA had a fund balance or net assets of$6,744,247.

The CAA describes it’s mission very clearly. According to public records: “The organization’s mission is to represent the ethical members of the rental housing industry in all aspects of government affairs within the State of California, and to provide information, products, and services which contribute to the success of their businesses.” The CAA does not mention what happens to unethical members of the housing industry that may be part of their organization.

Additionally, the CAA is doing everything possible to undermine the efforts to have a just cause eviction ordinance in San Mateo, needed to protect renters from displacement from their housing, with no-cause eviction notices.

Click below for details.

http://caanet.org/call-to-action-oppose-just-cause-eviction-in-san-mateo/

The Political Power And Influence Of The CAA

The CAA collects political contributions from entities all across the state that may be used to influence the selection, nomination, and election of political candidates throughout California. This is all done in the effort to pursue untold riches from renters that are being ripped off by greedy landlords all across the state, because they lack renters protections, including rent control, and just cause eviction protections.

The corrupting political influence of the California Apartment Association (CAA) and it’s Political Action Committee in this state is wide spread, and unrelenting.

After collecting financial contributions from contributors around the state, the CAA/PAC hands out the money hand over fist in an effort to influence the selection, nomination, and election of political candidates, at the state and local level.

In part, this how they operate. Various entities make financial contributions to the California Apartment Association Political Action Committee (CAA/PAC). As of June 30, 2015, CAA/PAC had $540,646 on hand. As another example, during 2007 CAA/PAC had $574,924 available to hand out as political contributions.

Click on link below to see who is giving money to CAA/PAC.

http://www.electiontrack.com/lookup.php?committee=1019401

The following partial list of political expenditures (BIG MONEY) handed out by CAA/PAC may give you an idea as to how much BIG MONEY CAA/PAC has payed out in campaign contributions in recent years. Total given in 2012: $430,700. Total given in 2011: $74,500. Total given in 2010: $545,088. Total given in 2008: $301,532. Total given in 2007: $129,727. Total given in 2006: $340,192. Total given in 2005: $105,000. Total given in 2004: $364,300.

The total handed out in political contributions by CAA/PAC from 2004 to 2012 is a whopping $2,161,312, which may include an additional $129,727 during 2007. That is a lot of money to buy power, corrupt the system, and influence elections. Enough power and influence, to make sure that the CAA deprives as many renters as possible from having renters protections, including rent control, and just cause eviction protections throughout California.

Click on link below for lists and links to CAA/PAC political campaign contributions.

http://tinyurl.com/qe36jqj

Campaign contributions for 2007 are not available through the link above, but the link below will offer a glimpse into who the CAA was trying to influence and corrupt during 2007. Once the PDF file is opened, scroll down to the bottom pages to see who was accepting political contributions from CAA/PAC during 2007.

http://tinyurl.com/p2um6q2

As an example of what BIG MONEY from CAA/PAC can do or buy (according to CAA), feel free to click on the link below for a few candidates that were supported and financed by the CAA/PAC for office in Los Angeles.

http://caanet.org/los-angeles-garcetti-takes-mayoral-race/

For a look at the latest 990 tax filing by the CAA click on the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/oshnhoc

Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com


For more on how BIG MONEY stole Richmond’s renters protections, click on link below…


BIG money stole Richmond’s renters protections

by Lynda Carson — Saturday September 5th, 2015

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/09/05/18777171.php

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