Trick or Treat for Rent Relief

Release: October 29, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has financially devastated many tenants in the Bay Area and across the US. Members of four tenant councils in Oakland, California are joining forces to trick-or-treat for rent relief.

The JDW Tenants Union (representing tenants of Justin Douglas Wallway and Caleb Inman of JDW Enterprises), the MDP Tenants Council (representing tenants of Marta DePierris), and the Lonay Tenants Council (representing tenants of Linda Lonay) will trick-or-treat in their landlords’ neighborhoods this Halloween. This action launches a community postcard campaign so that landlords will hear directly from their neighbors, urging them to negotiate rent relief and to end illegal harassment of tenants. The SMC Tenants Council stands in solidarity with JDW, MDP, and Lonay Tenants Council/Union members.

When: Saturday, October 31, 2020
Time: 4:45 - 5:15 pm rally, (action to follow)
Where: Piedmont Park, at the corner of Highland Ave and Mountain Ave (look for our banners)

Landlords, Justin Douglas Wallway and Caleb Inman of JDW Enterprises, have refused to negotiate rent relief with their tenants who have experienced Covid-19-related job and income loss. JDW Enterprises and property manager, Lin Mayr, have a long history of negligent maintenance and poor building upkeep, harassment of low income tenants and tenants of color, and predatory campaigns to illegally pressure tenants to move out of rent-controlled units.

“When my hours were cut and my partner lost their job this spring and we couldn’t pay rent, my landlord told me I had to go to charity and food banks for help because we couldn’t expect any from him. My money goes to putting gas in my car to get groceries for my elderly parents who are vulnerable to COVID. I am terrified of losing my housing. A food bank won’t help me but rent relief will,” says a long-time Oakland resident and tenant of JDW Enterprises.

Landlord, Marta DePierris, also refuses to negotiate rent relief with her tenants in financial distress due to impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Rather than work with her tenants, DePierris has harassed and retaliated against her tenants, including low income and queer/trans folks, who have sought rent relief.

“Instead of negotiating with her tenants, our landlord DePierris illegally issues rent increases and harasses her tenants, sending her husband to accost tenants at their homes without notice. Why won’t she negotiate with us directly?” says a tenant of Marta DePierris.

Landlord, Linda Lonay, has demonstrated zero sympathy towards forcibly unemployed tenants. In a city that is majority residents of color, Lonay has exceptionally few tenants of color. Lonay’s practices as a landlord are directly tied to displacement and homelessness in the city of Oakland.