Local Renters Oppose End To Rent Cap

Local Renters Oppose End To Rent Cap
By Lynda Carson 11/22/01

Oakland,Ca-Opposition to the Dick Spee's-Rent Board Task Force deal to replace the annual 3% cap on rents in Oakland landed upon the steps of Oakland City Hall the evening (Wed Nov 21) before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Nearly 30 people joined in prayer, and opposition to the deal between the landlords and the Oakland Tenants Union meant to raise the rents and speed up rent increases through the Task Force proposals. Activists and renters, intend to get the word out to pack the Oakland City Hall Council meeting's upon December 11th & 18th, 2001, to oppose the Task Force deal.

Dressed up in the doctor's attire of white coat and surgical mask, 11 year old Adan Faudoa with help from his mother Gabriela Maltz Larkin, (granddaughter of the late Albert Maltz of the Hollywood 10-blacklisted by H.U.A.C.), took turns to read a signed statement as "TESTIMONY" from a number of doctors and health care proffessionals from Highland Hospital opposed to the lifting of the 3% rent cap.

During light sprinkles of rain between the latest showers, young Faudoa stumbled here and there but managed to read the following statement provided by the 15 health care professionals (including doctors) of Highland Hospital.

WE the undersigned health care workers are in support of efforts to foster the stability of the community at large in Oakland. As professional members of the community, we see the effects of high rents upon an economically vulnerable population of workers, children, elderly, and the disabled people. On a daily basis we witness the crisis in health that people experience when their housing situation is unstable. Lack of affordable housing can become an insurmountable barrier to maintaining basic health, while the stress of a personal housing crisis can greatly exacerbate chronic medical conditions.

WE the undersigned are fully in support of sound development that is good for all the residents of Oakland, for the sake of sustainable growth and a healthy economy. At the same time, Oakland now ranks as the fourth most expensive city in the nation to rent an apartment, with an estimated 5,000 homeless on any given night.

Therefore:

1) We support Oakland's current "ANNUAL 3% CAP ON RENT INCREASES". We believe this current provision helps to protect Oakland residents from experiencing further hardships in finding safe, affordable housing.

2) We express serious concern that the Rent Board Task Force Proposals "CPI/less shelter formula" may lead to further rent increases of 18% or more to thousands of Oakland renters. We believe that such a large increase in the cost of housing will have severely deleterious effects on peoples attempts to meet basic needs for food, shelter, and medical care, and may lead to worsening homelessness in the Oakland community.

3) We support the indefinite suspension of the "CPI/less shelter formula" until the current housing crisis is no longer a threat to the community.

The above statement read as "TESTIMONY" at the rally to save the 3% cap on rents, came signed by 15 professional health care workers of Highland Hospital who are concerned about the fate of their patients.

Other activist's and renters, such as Wilson Riles Jr., Jim Lynch, Kendra M. Wilson, Rob Rooke, Richard Mellor, and others voiced their concerns about the fate of the community at large if the 3% cap on rents in Oakland was abolished by the corrupting influence of the landlord lobby upon the City Council of Oakland. Mayoral Candidate Wilson Riles Jr., claimed that it is socio-economic cleansing going on at the root of this.

Despite pressure tactics from members of the Oakland Tenants Union to silence the critics of the deal, and keep people from supporting the Nov 21 rally to save the rent cap, community members appeared regardless. In a statement from someone who desires to remain anonymous, she say's; this is about saving the renters of Oakland from more evictions due to rent increases, and the politics of any deal between the landlords and the Oakland Tenants Union should never be a means to silence opposition to a deal that hurts the renters.

Renters are being urged to make a show of force at the Oakland City Hall Council Meetings (Dec 11 and Dec 18)to counter the Task Force proposals to replace the annual 3% cap on rents. Council Meetings start at 7.pm., but renters are being urged to show up around 6:45 to sign up as speakers to oppose the Task Force deal (14-F) to replace the annual 3% cap on rents with the CPI/less shelter formula.