Richmond Renters File Initiative For Renter Protections

Richmond Renters File Initiative for an Affordable and Fair City
Rent Control Ordinance Could Appear on November 2016 Ballot


Press Contact:
Gabriella Miroglio
510-862-8458

Feb. 24, 2016


Richmond Renters File Initiative for an Affordable and Fair City
Rent Control Ordinance Could Appear on November 2016 Ballot

Richmond - Today, led by Richmond City Council Member Gayle
McLaughlin, Fair and Affordable Richmond, a coalition of renters,
labor and homeowners, requested from the City Clerk, title and summary
for a potential November 2016 ballot measure. The ballot measure, if
approved, would protect Richmond renters from being evicted without
just cause and establish rent control.

Ms. McLaughlin explains, "The renters of Richmond deserve protection
during the current housing crisis, and our coalition believes voters
this November should be able to take a stand on the subject of just
cause evictions and rent control."

The proposed ballot measure would establish a rent board that would
set annual limits on rent increases for the City of Richmond, as well
as provide a process for tenants to appeal rent increases. Richmond
renters, living in units built before 1995, would be protected from
outrageous increases in rent and evictions for reasons that are
without cause.

A recent poll commissioned by Fair and Affordable Richmond shows that
nearly two thirds of voters would vote today to enact rent control and
just cause eviction protections. Richmond voters understood that
similar limits on evictions and unreasonable rent increases have
helped to prevent thousands of middle-class and low-income people from
losing their homes, making communities safer and more stable for
everyone, and they think the City of Richmond should have such
protections.

'The Bay Area housing crisis has already begun to hurt Richmond, and
it's effects will only get worse. Richmond residents have spoken, and
Fair and Affordable Richmond is working to give those residents a
chance to better Richmond by voting for just cause eviction protection
and rent control," said Edith Pastrano, a Richmond renter and member
of the Fair and Affordable Richmond Coalition.

City Council passed rent control last year, but was forced to overturn
after a successful legal challenge on behalf of the city's landlords.
Fair and Affordable Richmond believes it is time for the voters of
Richmond to have their chance to vote on just cause eviction and rent
control.

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(February 24, 2016)

The Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause For Eviction And Homeowner Protection Ordinance

Click below...

http://tinyurl.com/h7o2lxe

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