With the impending passage of a $90 million bond measure to support the de Young Museum in 1998, tenant advocates, including THC, voiced their opposition to passing the cost of bonds on to tenants.
Category: Public Policy
THC was very involved in the vast majority of tenant protection laws passed from 1982 for the next three decades. THC led and primarily funded the historic Prop H campaign in 1992, which cut annual rent increases by more than half. It has resulted in the biggest transfer of wealth from landlords to tenants of any ballot measure in the nation’s history.
THC also worked to prevent the cost of city bonds from being unfairly “passed through” to tenants, even successfully suing the city to stop this. We fought for laws requiring mailboxes and sprinklers in SRO hotels and for laws strengthening eviction protections. We also got a law passed requiring tenants get notification of building permit applications in order to stop evictions due to unnecessary renovations.
1998
Letter To The Independent
Letter to The Independent about the “Playing Hardball” articles claims about tenants requests to Mayor Brown. THC condemns Mayor Brown for never passing an OMI measure that was promised.
1998
Tenants Protest Sham Bond-Passthrough Hearing
THC calls for tenants and advocates to protest bond pass throughs that would mean higher rent passed on to tenants from landlords.
1998
Tenants May Lose Out With Supes’ Decision on Bond Costs
Legislation is approved allowing property owners to pass on the cost of bond measures. The M.H. de Young Memorial Museums sought 90 Million all of which would be passed onto tenants and homeowners. Tenants and advocates fight against the measures that would pass on costs further rising housing costs.
1998
Don’t Make Our Libraries a Pawn in the Landlords’ Game.
The Mayor threatens libraries if funding can’t come from rent hikes. Tenants and advocates protest the potential rent increases.
1998
Tenant Groups Vow to Fight Library Tax
A tax levy to improve library services is fought by THC and other tenants’ advocates. If they pass the levy it would mean passing the cost onto renters.
2000
S.F. Landlord-Tenant Accord Scuttled by Renters Groups
Landlords look to be able to pass costs of improvements onto renters. Renters and tenants rights associations say that could lead to much higher rents on controlled units, hurting the low and middle income renters.
2004
Code Compliance
Landlords can’t collect rent on units that aren’t up to code (and haven’t been addressed). THC looks to make this law more accessible for tenants. THC explains how notice of violation need to be specific to units, and need to be made in a more timely manner.