Spotlight on the “sneaky” attempt to repeal rent control in Mountain View

Spotlight on the “sneaky” attempt to repeal rent control in Mountain View

By Lynda Carson - June 23, 2018

Renters in Mountain View have filed numerous complaints claiming that they have been tricked or lied to by the signature gatherers collecting signatures for an initiative called the Mountain View Residents for Renter, Homeowner & Taxpayer Protections Initiative.

It is an initiative sponsored by the California Apartment Association (CAA) that is reportedly designed to repeal rent control in Mountain View, and is known as the “sneaky” repeal of rent control, by many renters in Mountain View.

Over and over again in various cities, renters have complained and filed complaints about being lied to, and tricked into signing petitions involving campaigns sponsored by the California Apartment Association (CAA).

Those involved in the scheme to repeal rent control in Mountain View are involved in a shadowy group called ‘Measure V Too Costly’, including the California Apartment Association, Tod Spieker, ACCO Management Company, Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc., Spieker Companies Inc., Agate Bay, LLC, Bryan Danforth, John M. Inks, and others.

Those involved in the shadowy group called ‘Measure V Too Costly’:

Laura Teutschel is the media spokesperson for the shadowy group called ‘Measure V Too Costly,’ and is the managing principal of LT & Associates Strategic Communications. However, there are not any incorporation records listed with the Secretary of State in California, for LT & Associates Strategic Communications.

The name Bryan Danforth, a realtor with Cornish and Carey Commercial, is named on the initiative that was filed by Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP, as one of the persons proposing the measure. Bryan Danforth brags about selling a few properties in Mountain View, Aptos, and San Jose as part of his past listings, but he does not mention with his past listings about his involvement with the shadowy group called 'Measure V Too Costly'.

John Inks a member of the shadowy group called ‘Measure V Too Costly’ is also listed as one of the persons proposing the measure that is being called the “sneaky” repeal of rent control in Mountain View, is presently running for a city council seat again in Mountain View, and has accepted a $950.00 campaign contribution from Spieker Investments.

According to the shadowy group called ‘Measure V To Costly,’ Tod Spieker, ACCO Management Company, Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc., Spieker Companies Inc., Agate Bay, LLC, and the California Apartment Association (CAA) are the biggest campaign contributors to the so-called “sneaky” repeal of rent control initiative in Mountain View.

Prometheus Real Estate Group contributed $196,800 to the campaign to protect the rent control law known as the Costa Hawkins Act, recently. And in recent years, at least $150,000 was donated to the CAA by the Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc, owned by a billionaire family, against rent control measures in California. The Prometheus Real Estate Group has also allegedly abused renters and exposed renters to asbestos. The company has allegedly been in trouble for violating Prop 65, by failing to let the tenants know that they were being exposed to cancer causing asbestos in their apartments. Prometheus also displaced 400 people at a mobile home park, and has been sued for exposing people to bed bugs, raw sewage and habitability issues in their apartments. The Prometheus Real Estate Group is owned by Jackie Diller Salfier, and the Diller family.

Tod Spieker of Atherton, contributed $189,950 recently to the campaign to defend the draconian Costa Hawkins Act. Wealthy landlord Tod Spieker of Atherton resides in a home valued at $12,587,532, and he does not want renters to be protected by rent control, or just cause eviction protections. Richard “Tod” Spieker also contributed $50,000 to the CAA and the campaigns against the rent control ballot measures in the Bay Area during recent years. Tod Spieker has allegedly been involved in mass evictions, and has been in trouble with HUD over habitability issues in some of his apartments..


ACCO Management Company is another member of the shadowy group called ‘Measure V Too Costly’ and according to records with the Secretary of State, Brian Bradford Avery is the President of ACCO Management Company.

Agate Bay, LLC, of 505 Central Avenue in Mountain View, is also a member of the shadowy group called ‘Measure V Too Costly’ and according to the Secretary of State, Stephen A. Welter is the agent for service of process for Agate Bay, LLC.

Reportedly, on June 19, according to the Mountain View Voice, the initiative known as the “sneaky” repeal of rent control in Mountain View, is unlikely to qualify for the November ballot, according to the City Clerk of Mountain View.

For those in Mountain View who feel they were lied to and tricked into signing the petition called the ’Mountain View Residents for Renter, Homeowner & Taxpayer Protections Initiative,’ which is also known as the “sneaky” repeal of rent control in Mountain View, they are being urged to contact the Mountain View Tenant’s Coalition, for help in removing their name from the petition.

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

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