The Alameda City Council was at it again, debating rent control, eviction restrictions and whether mom and pop landlords deserve a break even though the rents they charge go up as much as the rents neither mom nor pop landlords can charge. And again doing it at 2:00 in the morning as Tuesday, February 2nd turned into Wednesday, February 3rd.
It’s not clear what, if anything, they decided, and no votes were taken. That will happen on February 16th. The agenda item on Tuesday was for further discussion – and for staff to get clarifications of what staff thought the City Council had stipulated a month ago at 4:00 AM in a sleepless stupor…
The Alameda Renters Coalition has been fighting for tenant protections for several months now, waging a David vs. Goliath battle against Alameda’s landlords and their influence. Before the City Council meeting on Tuesday a few members and friends staged a protest picket and visibility sign wave in front of the offices of one of Alameda’s most notorious landord groups, Gallagher and Lindsey.
A brief video in front of the storefront, as one of the participants explains what G&L have done to Alameda:
Gallagher and Lindsay initiated mass evictions across the island for no other reason than greed.
They kicked people out of town. People with kids, old people, then a week later had the apartments on the market for $1000 more.
They claimed it was out of state landlords kicking everyone out and raising the rents and they themselves had no knowledge of what was going on when they were the ones who were initiating it in the first place.
After nine years of a pipe leaking into my bedroom, which crumbled the wall and caused mold to grow, and repeated lies about “Just spray bleach on it.” they finally decided to fix it. At the same time they evicted a lot of my neighbors and friends. Lots of good people. They’re all gone, moved to other communities.
And some tweets from last night’s Alameda City Counci meeting:
Is it worth mentioning that Rent item for tonight’s #alamtg all-nighter is because nobody remembers what they did at the last all-nighter?
— Alameda Renters (@Alameda_Renters) February 3, 2016
11:15pm: 28 speakers in the queue for #Alameda agenda item to review council rent ordinance direction from Jan. 5 #alamtg. — Steven Tavares (@eastbaycitizen) February 3, 2016
Catherine Pauling of @Alameda_Renters says Alameda proposed rent stabilization is becoming more of “landlord protection” ordinance. #Alamtg
— Steven Tavares (@eastbaycitizen) February 3, 2016
Landlords disrupt #alamtg over ceded time by renters. — John Klein (@JohnKlein_) February 3, 2016
Every speaker carrying a script to the lectern tongiht has uttered the phrase “mom and pop landlord” in first sentence. #alamtg — Steven Tavares (@eastbaycitizen) February 3, 2016
Well, here we are at 1:00 a.m. again with council just beginning their discussion and they are actually going through with it. #alamtg
— John Klein (@JohnKlein_) February 3, 2016
On rent control: “I dont much care what Gardenia does or Rancho Cucamonga for that matter,” Alameda CM Ashcraft tells Mayor Spencer. #alamtg — Steven Tavares (@eastbaycitizen) February 3, 2016
2:20 a.m. end of #alamtg discussion of rents. On to Feb. 19.
— John Klein (@JohnKlein_) February 3, 2016
It’s 3am, do you know what the Alameda City Council is doing? City staff isn’t sure | https://t.co/0NYPTKFnnI | https://t.co/pg1AUfg6WK — Steven Tavares (@eastbaycitizen) February 3, 2016
How do you have govt transparency when highly important issues like protecting renters are made at 3:55am? #alameda #alamtg
— Steven Tavares (@eastbaycitizen) January 6, 2016
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