May 13, 2024
MAY 13, 2024 - MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order / Roll Call
Present: Mari, Art, Alfred, Susie, Igor, Monica, Annie (7:18), Yesenia (7:30)
Absent: Yesenia
Excused: Esther, Larry, Vinnie
2. Approval of Agenda
Alfred motion, Art 2nd
3. Approval of November 2023 Meeting Minutes
Art motion, Monica 2nd
4. Treasurer's Report
$3,850.70
Art motion, Monica 2nd
5. Secretary's Report
Legislation is in Appropriations Committee - see our support/oppose list at
https://www.cademrenterscouncil.org/
Ballot Measures
Justice for Renters Act (Support) Similar to Prop 10 and Prop 21. Repeals Costa Hawkins. Party had unanimous or near-unanimous support for both in the past.
SCA 2 (Support) Public Housing - makes it easier for cities to authorize the building of housing
ACA 1 (Support) Affordable Housing and Infrastructure - makes it easier for cities to fund housing
ACA 13 (Support) Protect the Majority Vote - measure to counter the Taxpayer Protection Act
Oppose “Taxpayer Protection Act” - would make it harder to fund housing by raising the threshold to 2/3
Oppose “Protect Patients Act” - Attacks the 340B program that AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Planned Parenthood, and 800 other organizations. 340B is a drug rebate program for organizations that run free clinics. 340B program is under attack by Republicans. Concern is that if this measure passes, Republicans will use similar measures to defund Planned Parenthood, etc. That’s why the business orgs and Republicans that funded this measure have used the 340B program to go after AHF, even though they had other options to go after AHF.
6. Legislation Update from Francisco Dueñas from Housing Now!
500 people turned out for the Lobby Day
Tenant coalition priority bills:
ACA 10 - Housing as a human right. Currently in Appropriations. This is a long term campaign, due to budget deficit it’s going to be hard to pass.
Maintain $1 Billion funding in Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program. Budget cuts would lead to a 1/3 drop in the building of new affordable housing. May Revise of the budget has added back in $500M for affordable housing LIHTC program. However, Homeless Service Funding is being cut by $260M, and the Adaptive Reuse Program ($127.5M) and Foreclosure Intervention Housing Preservation Program (FIHPP) are being eliminated ($236.5M). Have until end of June to finalize budget, more negotiation is possible.
Priority calls: Governor and the President of the Senate (McGuire) and Speaker of Assembly (Rivas) on the budget.
AB1657 - $10 billion affordable housing bond. Includes funding for new housing, preservation of existing housing, and homeownership assistance. In Senate Appropriations. Call these people: https://sapro.senate.ca.gov/sites/sapro.senate.ca.gov/files/2024%20Committee%20Member%20Staff%204-2-24.pdf
AB1932 - Gets rid of tax deduction for vacation homes. Would raise $200 million for housing. Currently in Assembly Appropriations, next hearing 5/15.
Comment from Anastasia Foster on preservation programs: One issue we’ve run into is where existing occupied buildings are purchased to turn into income-restricted housing, but not all current tenants qualify.
AB2926 - Extends affordability covenants on income-restricted housing where the restriction is about to expire. Each year about 4,700 units expire. In Appropriations.
AB2584 (in Appropriations), AB1333 (Passed Assembly 48-1, now in Senate), SB1212 (died in committee) - limiting corporate landlords from buying up houses.
SB1201 - LLC Transparency. In Senate Appropriations.
Full advocacy agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A7lYnti3m0rZoWRqVPSlenT8IU8U53iX/view?usp=sharing
7. Central Updates
Art:
Central Valley
Delano Rent Control Measure - has collected enough signatures to qualify, press conference coming up Tuesday May 21. City Council, after years of stalling, now wants to put on a competing ballot measure. We’re going to call out their lies. We’re working with Tenants Together in Heron, Fresno, Bakersfield, Coalinga to build tenants unions, etc. Much more to report on in the Central Valley. When tenants see that there are results, they also vote more. We also need to support councilmembers who do support tenants.
Central Coast
Salinas City Council has agendized rent stabilization
City of Monterey & Salinas Councilmembers will be under attack for passing rental registries & City of Monterey's brand new renter assistance program for those not qualifying for other assistance cuz "earn too much" got over 250 applicants the 1st week opened.
The city of Marina is unfortunately considering selling over 500 "affordable" of their units to Greystar, which they've had managing the properties.
Lastly, thanks to Susie for being on a panel discussion called "Housing 911" for the Democratic Women of Monterey County & starting off the Justice for Renters ballot measure conversation here.
8. NorCal Updates
Igor: Legislative Update on 2 energy bills
AB1999 - $24 cap on PG&E’s proposed flat rate utility tax that would charge tenants the same monthly tax as a mansion owner. It almost died, thousands of calls saved it, there is now a compromise that allows it to increase with inflation. Call Appropriations and Energy committee members. Email itregub@gmail.com if you can speak in committee on Wednesday around 1:30pm
If you are a constituent CALL THESE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS of Energy Committee
Lisa Calderon (916) 319-2056.
Philip Chen: 916-319-2059
Gregg Hart (916) 319-2037
Chris Holden (916) 319-2041
Eloise Reyes: 916-319-2050
Miguel Santiago: 916-319-2054
Pilar Schiavo: 916-319-2040
Greg Wallis: 916-319-2047
Jim Wood:916-319-2002
Rick ZBUR -(916) 319-2051
2. Calls to Assembly Appropriations
Everyone call the Chair; Asm Buffy Wicks (916) 319-2014
If you are a constituent CALL THESE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
Script: Dear Assembly member … my name is …………I am from your district…………...
I am asking you to vote YES for AB 1999. This, for you, is a career defining moment . Are you with utility profits or ratepayers pocketbooks? We have compromised at $24 a month. It’s still twice the national utility tax average and will still harm millions of ratepayers but we have accepted Speaker Rivas' compromise. Let’s pass this and move on.
Co Chair: Kate Sanchez. (916) 319-2071
Dr Joaquin Arambula. (916) 319-2031
Isaac Bryan. (916) 319-2055
Lisa Calderon. 916) 319-2056
Wendy Carillo. (916) 319-2052
Diane Dixon. (916) 319-2072
Mike Fong. (916) 319-2049
Timothy Grayson. (916) 319-2015
Matt Haney. (916) 319-2017
Greg Hart. (916) 319-2037
Jim Patterson. (916) 319-2008
Gail Pellerin (916) 319-2028
Tri Ta. (916) 319-2070
Carlos Villapudua. (916) 319-2013
SB 1374: solar for renters Senate Appropriations Committee Members: https://sapro.senate.ca.gov/sites/sapro.senate.ca.gov/files/2024%20Committee%20Member%20Staff%204-2-24.pdf
Monica:
Unfortunately Sacramento voters listened to CAR and CAA and got rid of our main ally on city council (Katie Valenzuela), and voted in an anti-rent-control person that we’ll need to work on voting out in 2028. Shoutout to Concord City Council (especially Councilmember McNamara) for passing rent control and defeating a proposed repeal ballot measure.
9. SoCal Updates
Susie:
Barrington Plaza Ellis Act Eviction Court Case
700 tenants facing eviction in West LA. Landlord wants to use Ellis Act to do renovations. Final court hearing in a week before the case is decided. If judge rules against tenants, it will create a problem across the state with Ellis Act renovictions.
Santa Monica
Anastasia Foster: the city passed Measure GS to raise money for housing, similar to LA’s Measure ULA. A developer co-opted a former Mayor to exempt the first sale of any multifamily building from Measure GS. They are currently suing the city, claiming they only need 5% of registered voters, rather than 10%.
10. Legislative Scorecards
Annie has put these together at
https://www.cademrenterscouncil.org/legislation
10. Announcements
Anastasia Foster: is running for Community College Board this year after terming out of the Rent Board
Derek Devermont: running for DNC, was tenant for 40 years, worked in Santa Monica.
Susie Shannon: running for DNC, Renters Council board member, worked on the Costa-Hawkins repeal propositions, has grown the DNC Poverty Council to over 700 members. Authored the Housing First resolution.
Analisa Swan: running for DNC, longtime member, supporting Glendale tenants union, electing pro-tenant people. Resolutions vice chair.
Jason Park: running for DNC, renter, 1st generation immigrant, supporting Costa Hawkins Repeal.
Sandra Lowe: running for DNC, Sonoma, only Rural DNC member. On Sonoma City Council, appointing renters to General Plan committee. Working on ACA-1 ballot measure to lower pass threshold for housing bonds from 2/3 to 55%. Rural counties facing toughest housing situation such as restrictions on building new homes.
Alfred Twu: running for DNC, Renters Council Secretary, working on communication information
Yes on Justice for Renters Act / No on Protect Patients Act / Renters Council E-Board Hospitality Suite, Friday 10:15pm-12pm. There will be food, including gelato! There will be speakers as well. T-shirts available at the Justice for Renters office, and also at the Justice for Renters table at E-Board.
Saturday at 2:30pm - Resolutions Committee will be meeting on Ballot Measures. Show up to support our endorsed ballot measure positions. Stay for the Sunday votes in case things are pulled to the floor.
11. Adjourn in memory of John Vigna, Peggy Moore, Hope Wood, Kathy Kensinger.
Motion Monica, 2nd Art