News: City Council

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A proposal to bring a rent-review program to Lafayette received a mixed response from the City Council last week. The proposal, modeled after a program recently enacted in nearby Concord, was prompted by residents’ concerns over rent increases issued by new owners of a particular apartment complex in the city. During the Sept. 25 meeting, representatives from the California Apartment Association and local rental owners highlighted the fact that numerous housing providers in Lafayette not only have rents far below market, but also voluntarily limit rent increases to 10 percent annually.

Tagged: Contra Costa

San Jose rental housing owners and managers now have until Sept. 22 to voice opposition to proposed changes to San Jose’s rent control law. The public comment period regarding the changes originally was set to expire Sept. 14 but has been extended to Sept. 22. “The city of San Jose needs to hear from you that the latest round of proposed changes to the city’s Apartment Rent Ordinance are excessive and not necessary,” said Anil Babbar, vice president of public affairs at CAA.

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Landlords who didn’t attend Thursday’s meeting about proposed changes to San Jose’s rent control law will get two more chances to speak out. In addition to yesterday’s meeting, the San Jose Housing Department has scheduled public meetings on rent control for 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, and 5:45 p.m., Sept. 14, in the City Hall Wing Rooms, 200 E. Santa Clara St.

Tagged: Tri-County

Los Angeles’ new waste-hauling system, which applies to much of the city’s multifamily housing, has generated complaints of dramatically higher prices and spotty service, the Los Angeles Times reported this week.

Tagged: Los Angeles

During the July 25 City Council meeting in Sacramento, tenant activists repeatedly demanded rent control. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, however, expressed misgivings about the policy, saying it could worsen the city’s housing crisis. Steinberg went on to describe several other options for tackling Sacramento’s housing crisis. https://youtu.be/vaqqat0K9-M

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A proposal to apply “just cause” eviction policies to non-rent-controlled housing in Los Angeles got a boost this week from the City Council. At present, just-cause eviction requirements apply only to the city’s rent-controlled housing. But under a proposal gaining traction in L.A., just-cause would apply to the city’s entire housing stock, regardless of whether rents are regulated.

Tagged: Los Angeles

On a 5-1 vote, the Anaheim City Council on Tuesday rejected a proposal that would have required the installation of expensive firefighting equipment in new high-rises, including multifamily housing. The proposal called for firefighter air-replenishment systems in new buildings taller than 75 feet. Such systems are designed to provide rapid air-refilling capabilities to firefighters’ breathing tanks, however, there is no guarantee that the devices make buildings any safer.

Tagged: Orange County

A CAA-backed petition bearing the signatures of over 3,500 Pacifica voters has prevented a temporary rent control measure from taking effect this month. The petition, submitted to the city clerk Monday, seeks to repeal an interim ordinance that would have implemented rent and eviction controls from May 24 until November 2017. The City Council approved the interim ordinance in April, hoping to curtail rent increases leading up to the November election, which will include a ballot measure on permanent rent control.

Tagged: Tri-County

The California Apartment Association is mobilizing members to oppose a bid to bring rent control to Pacifica through a special election in November 2017. Council members will discuss the proposal Monday.

Tagged: Tri-County

Concord’s Housing and Economic Development Committee on Monday recommended adoption of a rent-mediation program. The committee recommends that such a program address disputes over rent increases of 10 percent or more in months.

Tagged: Contra Costa