On November 8, 2016, voters in Berkeley will have an
opportunity to vote their say on ballot measure AA which asks:
Shall
an ordinance amending the Rent Stabilization Ordinance to:
- Prohibit owner move-in evictions of families with children during the academic year;
- Increase the amount of relocation assistance required for owner move-in evictions to $15,000 with additional $5,000 for certain tenants;
- Clarify protections for elderly/disabled tenants;
- Require filing of eviction notices;
- Change the source of interest rates for security deposits; and ,
- Clarify exemptions and penalties to conform with state law, be adopted?
In calendar year 2000, voters enacted a ballot measure to
provide low-income tenants relocation assistance of $4,500 per tenant
household. While “tenant household” is
not clearly defined in the Berkeley Municipal Code, it is interpreted to include all tenants in the rental unit who have
lived in the unit for over one year and who are “low income.”
Since 2000, the median rental rates have increased by over
160% and moving costs have also escalated. In fact, rents in the East Bay are unaffordable
for many renters and require renters with limited incomes to move as far out as
Vallejo to find affordable housing. This
impacts renters commute time to work as well as the commuter costs, eliminating
any cost-savings resulting from their relocation to a new area.
Recognizing the need for affordable housing and landlord’s fraudulent use of an owner move-in eviction as a just cause for eviction, the Berkeley
Rent Stabilization Board recommended a change in the law, campaigned with the
city council, and managed to get Measure AA on the November 2016 ballot.
Now, voters in Berkeley not only have an important vote in
an historic presidential election, voters will impact renters city-wide in
Berkeley. To read more about the ballot
measure, click here.
So, get to the polls on November 8 and make your voice
known. Vote for Measure AA!
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