A coalition of local tenants and community leaders will gather in front of Concord City Hall tonight, demanding that elected officials take action to protect local renters by rejecting the draft Tenant Protection Ordinance that is up for a vote by the City Council.
Renters, clergy, and community leaders will rally prior to the Concord City Council meeting, urging the Council to reject this version of the ordinance as it fails to adequately protect tenants, according to the Concord Community Group.
For seven years, tenants have called upon the Concord City Council to curb skyrocketing rents and evictions. Tenants recently organized a petition delivery submitting over 1,200 signatures to the City Council demanding meaningful action to protect tenants.
Residents demanded rent increase limits, capping them at either 3% or 60% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), depending on which figure is lower, and the adoption of strong just cause eviction protections.
The most recent proposal presented by the City fails to deliver on the protections that dozens of tenants, community leaders, and City Council sought during the preceding Council Workshops in September and October, according to the group.
“The current proposal incorporates many loopholes that render this ordinance ineffectual for tenants. For example, the “fair return petition” process for landlords outlined in this ordinance is so broad and unrestricted, it allows landlords to circumvent the 3% rent cap tenants need,” the group said. “Also, the definition of “accessory dwelling units (ADUs)” and “residential facilities,” which are exempted from this ordinance, are so broad that they could be used to argue that most rental housing units in Concord are exempt. This means most Concord tenants would not be protected.”
Rents are going up because of garbage fees, water fees, sewer fees not to mention fire insurance and such. Ironically the city controls the garbage fees, just approved large increase, they control sewer fees which have doubled in 7 years. So how can the city cap rent increases when they control some of the expenses that have resent the most?
BTW whi is gonna build anything to expand housing with these limits in place?
LOL, the City Council doesn’t care what the people want, they are only concerned about what will benefit them the most.
Move somewhere else.Earn your way and pay your rent.The handouts have to stop.If you can’t pay rent what makes you think the landlord should pay it for you.
Concord has too many rental units. We need more affordable ownership housing. The silver lining to these seemingly severe rent and eviction control measures will be conversions of existing units to ownership housing and developers building houses for sale rather than rent.
Another unintended consequence (if they apply rent and eviction control to landlords with only 1 or 2 rental units) will be people leaving their houses vacant rather than risk renting to someone.
Glad I no longer own any rentals in Concord. Will be interesting to hear the city council members discuss this.
They are directing their energy to the wrong place. They should be protesting against the liberal Democrat machine that despises middle class America. They should start with China Joe Biden – The king of historically massive and destructive infatuation and wreckage, and work on down.
Wow, right wing media has certainly done a number on you.
J.MOHR,
Done a number on me? Actually, reality has. Reality, that is, for those of us who are hard working responsible and self supporting honest middle class taxpayers who are struggling to survive during the current presidential administration that claims to care about America.
I’ve been both a home owner and a renter in California. Can’t recommend either.
Rent control is a great way to ensure that Concord’s aging apartments never get maintained or upgraded.
That’s exactly how “slum” happens, WINSTON. Throw in some no-home-pride and some no- punishment-crime. That’ll do it.
Just wait….Democrats will propose somekind of tax increase to pay for those who can’t pay their rent. They will call it a touchy-feely name which will resonate with the voters and it will surely pass. I know our family is paying a lot more for utilities, groceries, home and auto insurance, and almost everything else. Nobody owes you a place to live. If you can’t afford it, either find other employment that pays you a higher salary or move to an area you can afford the rent.
I understand that landlords would go broke at only a 3% increase & the building would decline do to being unable to afford upkeep
…”For seven years, tenants have called upon the Concord City Council to curb skyrocketing rents and evictions.” Why stop there, how about skyrocketing food, gas, utilities, home and auto insurance? C’mon quit being so narrow minded. Stop any cost that ‘skyrockets’, LOL.
Either way you stand on the issue, the law should be clear so that people can understand their options.
With loopholes in place, the politicians can take credit from both sides, or dodge blame from both and the average Joe, who can’t afford a corporate lawyer, is confused.
As always, money talks.
Corporate landlords that own thousands of properties across the country use their deep pockets to control the housing market. It’s all about making money for Wall Street at the expense of the middle class.
Same ole stuff, they make money, donate to the politicians and keep getting laws changed to allow them to make more, donate more, get favors… Corporate landlords is only one example.
Corporate landlords don’t need help.
A petition with 1,200 signatures?