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Alameda landlords hate renter protections

by Lynda Carson (tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com)
Alamedans For Fair Rent Control (AFFRC) is a group of landlords and property owners opposed to reasonable renter protections. The group is composed of numerous contributing members including those from Kane and Associates ($300), Fortuna Realty ($200), Acuity Sales and Service ($100), Seismic Accessories, Getten Corporate Housing ($500), Harbor Bay Realty ($1,000), Pacific NW Painters and Construction, Inc. ($1,000). Then theres Raymond Stanton who chipped in $1,400, and many others who chipped in some money because they do not like the thought of renters having any protections from no-cause evictions and unreasonable rent increases, in Alameda. The AFFRC is trying to trick the people of Alameda into voting for Measure L1, because it only offers weak renter protections that does little to nothing to protect renters from price gouging landlords, and the mass evictions occurring in Alameda!
Alameda landlords hate renter protections

By Lynda Carson - October 27, 2016

Alameda - Due to mass evictions and never ending rent increases in the Bay Area, renters in the cities of Alameda, Richmond, Oakland, Burlingame, San Mateo, and Mountain View are fighting back against greedy landlords and speculators as a way to remain in their communities, and they want voters in these cities to vote on strong renter protections in November.

The renters have had enough of the mass evictions and unreasonable rent increases by landlords involved in price gouging. They have had it with all the greedy landlords in the Bay Area, and are trying to keep the landlords out of their bank account every time the landlord wants another new Mercedes Benz to drive around in.

In Alameda the battle over renter protections has been fierce, and the tenants seeking renter protections from the realtors, speculators, Wall Street investors and greedy landlords are being opposed by the City Council, wealthy realtor associations, the California Apartment Association (CAA), wealthy landlords, including a group that calls itself Alamedans For Fair Rent Control (AFFRC).

The AFFRC is a group that is composed of numerous contributing members including from those Kane and Associates ($300), Fortuna Realty ($200), Acuity Sales and Service ($100), Seismic Accessories, Getten Corporate Housing ($500), Harbor Bay Realty ($1,000), Pacific NW Painters and Construction, Inc. ($1,000). Then theres Raymond Stanton who chipped in $1,400, and many others who chipped in some money because they do not like the thought of renters having any protections from no-cause evictions and unreasonable rent increases, in Alameda.

AFFRC is the group in town that is trying to trick the voters of Alameda into voting for Measure L1 in Alameda, because it is much weaker than Measure M1, a ballot initiative that actually does protect renters. If passed into law by the voters, Measure L1 will do very little if anything to protect the renters in Alameda. Measure L1 was created and passed by the City Council in a shady maneuver without any tenant support after the renters of Alameda were able to collect enough signatures to get Measure M1 on the ballot for the citizens to vote on, in November.

One of the recent paid advertisements full of propaganda and falsehoods in the East Bay Times that was paid for by AFFRC, tries to frighten the people of Alameda into voting against Measure M1 with their lies and deceit.

The renters in Alameda and the Alameda Renters Coalition have spoken out and warned the community against the latest batch of lies and deceit coming out of the AFFRC. The Alameda Renters Coalition wants the voters to vote for Measure M1, and to vote against Measure L1, as the way to protect renters in Alameda from price gouging landlords, and no-cause evictions.

I interviewed Mary Jacak, the treasurer for Alamedans For Fair Rent Control. She is an owner of two properties in Alameda. Jacak hates renter protections and was all fired up, ranting and raving against Measure M1 and the renters behind the measure when I spoke with her.

If passed by the voters in Alameda, Measure M1 would allow the landlords a fair return on their investments and would offer tenant protections that would allow some stability for the renters in their communities, housing, schools and jobs.

During my interview with Mary Jacak, she said, ”I am the treasurer of Alamedans For Fair Rent Control. We are a group of people concerned about tenants having renter protections in Alameda, especially if Measure M1 passes. We started our group in August of 2016. The complaints by the tenants in Alameda about high rents and evictions are totally valid, and I understand the concerns of the renters. But I am very angry at the tenants in Alameda who are fighting back against landlords with Measure M1 because they did not allow enough time for the renter protection proposals that were voted on by the City Council. I am also a homeowner, and own a home that I am renting out. I am concerned about the eviction restrictions and relocation fees if Measure M1 is voted into law.”

When speaking out about being angry at renters for not waiting to see what happens regarding what the City Council voted on, Mary Jacak is referring to the weak renter protection proposals voted on by the City Council in recent months that would have done little to nothing to protect renters from evictions, or large rent increases by unscrupulous landlords. Jacak also stated that she has a business called Seismic Accessories that is unincorporated.

Others publicly speaking out against renter protections in Alameda include Don Lindsey of Lindsey Properties, Inc, Lindsey Property Management, LLC., and Gallagher & Lindsey Property Management. Don Lindsey is known as a powerful landlord in Alameda who got into trouble with the office of the Secretary of State in California. According to the Alameda Sun, Don Lindsey is a founding member of Alamedans For Fair Rent. As reported in the East Bay Express, Don Lindsey was nicknamed the “Landlord-in-Chief,” for his activities in Alameda.

Some of the others who have spoken out against renter protections in Alameda include Greg McConnell of the McConnell Group, a lobbyist for landlords. Property owners Barbara Manibusan, and Katherine Untch both publicly spoke out against renter protections in the Alameda Sun, and it appears that they both condone the mass evictions occurring in Alameda displacing families, workers, children, and the elderly from their housing.

Renters Need Strong Renter Protections In The Bay Area

Renters in the Bay Area need strong renter protections to protect themselves from notorious landlords in the Bay Area who are involved in mass evictions including Nemat Maleksalehi, Scott Sternberg, James Kilpatrick, Matt Sridhar, Danny Haber and Alon Gutmon.

In Alameda mass evictions have been occurring due to a lack of strong renter protections, and the Alameda Renters Coalition is urging voters to vote against Measure L1, and to vote for Measure M1 as the way to protect renters and stabilize communities in their city.

In Oakland Measure JJ is on the ballot in November and if voted into law it will help to protect renters by strengthening existing renter protection laws. Voters are urged to vote YES on Measure JJ to help stabilize communities in Oakland, and slow down greedy landlords involved in price gouging and eviction-for-profit schemes.

The struggle for renter protections in Richmond has been an epic battle against the lies and deceit of the California Apartment Association (CAA), and it’s corrupting influence on local politicians.

Activists are urging voters to vote on Measure L as a way to stop landlords involved in price gouging and eviction-for-profit schemes in Richmond. Measure L makes the landlords accountable for their actions when engaging in price gouging. If passed by the voters in November, Measure L would help to stop the mass evictions taking place in Richmond that are condoned by Mayor Tom Butt, and Councilmembers Nathaniel Bates and Vinay Pimplé.

In the City of San Mateo, renters and activists collected more than 11,000 signatures to place a renter protection ballot measure on the ballot for November 8 that includes rent control and just cause eviction protections. Activists are urging the voters in San Mateo to vote on Measure Q as a way to stabilize communities and protect families from displacement.

In the City of Mountain View renter protections are also on the ballot. Activists and renters are urging voters to vote on Measure V to protect over 14,000 households, including families, teachers and nurses from rent price gouging and eviction-for-profit schemes. Activists are urging renters to vote for Measure V, and to vote against weak renter protection measure placed on the ballot by the City Council.

Renters and activists have also had a fierce battle in Burlingame over renter protections and activists are urging voters to vote for Measure R in November. If passed by the voters Measure R will provide rent stabilization and just cause eviction protections to help stabilize communities and protect families from displacement of their housing due to speculators, realtors, and greedy landlords.

Renter protections will be on the ballot in 6 cities during November in the Bay Area. No matter how hard the landlords and the California Apartment Association are trying to stop the renters movement, tenant advocates across the Bay Area are urging renters to vote on strong renter protections during the upcoming November elections in the cities of Richmond, Oakland, Alameda, Burlingame, San Mateo, and Mountain View. The activists are urging people to vote “no” against any weak proposals placed on the ballot by the City Council in Alameda, and Mountain View.

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

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Clarification:

Don Lindsey landed into trouble with the Bureau of Real Estate, not the Secretary of State in California.

(LC)
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