Oakland activists are collecting signatures to repeal Costa-Hawkins Act

Oakland activists are collecting signatures to repeal Costa-Hawkins Act

By Lynda Carson - February 16, 2018

Oakland - Oakland housing activists supporting a statewide ballot initiative to repeal the draconian Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act are collecting signatures to qualify the repeal measure for the November 2018 ballot, and will be having a community kick-off event & signature gathering, followed by lunch on Saturday, February 17th, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act which is directly responsible for harming millions of renters in the Bay Area, and California, has to be repealed. Since Assembly Bill 1506 (repeal of Costa-Hawkins) failed to advance to the Assembly Floor recently due to corrupt politicians in the pocket of landlords, realtors, developers, and the California Apartment Association (CAA), it will be up to the renters and housing activists to collect enough signatures to bring the AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT (November 2018 Ballot Measure to Repeal Costa-Hawkins), to the voters.

According to a release from ACCE Action in Oakland (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment):

Dear Allies and Housing Justice warriors,

We have an unprecedented opportunity to address sky-rocketing rents, keep more people in their homes, and dramatically advance the movement for California housing justice in 2018. 
 
We’re taking the repeal of the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act to the ballot!!!
 
Strong Rent Control and Just Cause Eviction laws are the way to keep people in their homes now, while we work to get more (truly) affordable housing built.  In order to have strong Rent Control laws, we need to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a state law which ties the hands of local government. Costa-Hawkins prevents cities and counties from applying rent control to apartments built after 1995 or to single-family rental units.
  
It also allows landlords to raise the rent as much as they want when a unit becomes vacant. 
 
Our signature goal is 585,000 by the end of April, and well over 25% have been collected so far.
  
We can do this, but we need all hands on deck!!!
 

• Come out on Saturday, February 17th, 10am to 12pm to our the Oakland ACCE office to help repeal Costa Hawkins & allow the expansion of strong rent control.



• 2501 International Blvd. for a community kick-off event & signature gathering, followed by lunch.



• Endorse the Affordable Housing Act & get your petitions for your organization                                                                                                                                                             
  
ENDORSE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT November 2018 Ballot Measure to Repeal Costa-Hawkins

ACCE Action (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment) , the Eviction Defense Network (EDN) and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), together with many other organizations, are gathering signatures to qualify the Affordable Housing Act for the November 2018 ballot. This measure will repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a state law which takes away the power of local governments to enact strong rent control. Costa-Hawkins prevents cities and counties from applying rent control to apartments built after 1995 or to single-family rental units and condos. It also allows landlords to raise the rent as much as they want when a unit becomes vacant.

Too many of us are paying 50%, 60%, even 70% of our income towards rent, which leaves precious little for food, healthcare and other basic needs. This isn't right. We all deserve housing security. And the very future of our cities is at stake. More and more of us who are poor, working-class and even middle-class are being forced by sky-rocketing housing costs to move out of our neighborhoods and cities, away from family and friends, often further from our jobs. WE NEED TO ACT NOW TO STEM THE TIDE OF DISPLACEMENT.

Join the campaign! Endorse, contribute, do signature gathering, get other organizations and individuals involved, etc... 
A housing justice movement is growing across the state. Join the movement - because housing is a human right!!!

Please reach out if you want to discuss at cfife [at] calorganize.org or (510) 500-7973.
 
Let's do this!

Carroll Fife, Executive Director 
Oakand ACCE

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

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