Also: San Leandro’s own city manager scandal could be heating up again on Tuesday night.
rent stabilization
EBC AGENDA | MAR 2-8 | HAYWARD may go carbon-free; FREMONT police seek tech upgrades; ALAMEDA extra special closed session
THE WEEK OF MARCH 2-8.–HAYWARD– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, Mar. 6, 7 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–CARBON-FREE ENERGY– Hayward could be heading toward 100 percent carbon-free energy for all its residents through the new East Bay Community Energy program. The council will decide Tuesday… Read More ›
Renters at infamous Alameda apartments received evictions five days before Christmas
Assemblymember Rob Bonta, left, and Alameda Councilmember Malia Vella, right, listen to concerns Friday from tenants at the Bay View Apts. ALAMEDA“Everyday I open my door to check and see if there’s a eviction notice,” said Alameda renter Julia Balthasar. Just… Read More ›
Alamedans will vote on landlord-backed rent measure in 2018
A petitioner on Park Street in Alameda last July seeking a signature for a landlords- backed ballot measure. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILOver the past 18 months, Alameda has seen a number of rent-related ballot measures come and go. Some, like two… Read More ›
Alameda landlords file charter amendment petition, possible second ballot measure
Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie at a pro-renters rally at City Hall on June 16. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILOver the past weeks, as a wave of unruly signature-gatherers from outside of Alameda have been pushing a landlord-backed petition to roll back just… Read More ›
Alameda mayor trolls for votes from parents disgruntled over school closing
ALAMEDAElected officials don’t usually weigh-in on controversial subject matter under the purview of another group of officials within the same city. It’s uncommon and almost verboten in local politics. Yet, Alameda’s unconventional Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer did so last week during a highly-charged Alameda school… Read More ›
Alameda City Council approves Just Cause tenant protections; targets actions by rogue landlord
Supporters for Just Cause at an Alameda City Council meeting on Tuesday night. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAlameda is the latest Bay Area city to add Just Cause protections that restrict landlords from evicting renters without a specific reason. The Alameda City… Read More ›
‘The time for Just Cause is now’: Alameda is poised to enact stronger tenant protections
Alameda renters rallying last fall for greater tenant protections. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILDuring a Alameda City Council meeting in April, island renters thought they were nearing approval for one of their top objectives over the past two years, enacting Just Cause… Read More ›
‘Just Cause’ eviction protections back on the table in Alameda
Various tenants’ groups rally for changes to Alameda’s rent ordinance at City Hall last Tuesday. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILJust over 48 hours since failing to gain a majority vote in favor of prohibiting Alameda landlords from evicting tenants without cause, a… Read More ›
[VIDEO] You’ve Got Blackmail: Alameda councilman calls out tenant advocate for sending him terse email during meeting
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILhttps://alameda.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=1954&starttime=20928&stoptime=21224&autostart=0&embed=1 Any parent or police officer will tell you nothing good ever happens after midnight. In Alameda, council meetings like last Tuesday’s, which bled into the early morning hours, went seriously haywire. In this case, when Councilmember Jim… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA — Mar 31-Apr 6 — Rent rehash in ALAMEDA — BILL QUIRK takes on balloons — FREMONT begins council reforms
THE WEEK OF MAR. 31-APRIL 6Saturday is April Fool’s Day. Sadly this first item isn’t a prank. The city of Hayward is celebrating the life of labor leader Cesar Chavez at City Hall on Saturday morning. Aside from Chavez’s inspiring… Read More ›
Alameda County updates mobile home rent ordinance; increases will still outpace nearby cities
A single-wide mobile home located on Castro Valley Boulevard. ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORSDuring a prolonged housing affordability crisis in the East Bay, mobile home parks have been a low-cost option for many residents, especially seniors. But in relative terms,… Read More ›
Alameda rent review member resigned after city disclosed his ties to landlord political group
Former Alameda RRAC member Robert Schrader during a hearing on Jan. 11. ALAMEDAMonths after Robert Schrader was appointed to the Alameda Rent Review Committee in March of last year, he was asked to provide an analysis of the city’s rent stabilization ordinance… Read More ›
As Alameda revisits its rent ordinance, advocates on both sides want changes
Tenants at the Bay View Apartments on 470 Central Avenue in November 2015. ALAMEDAFor tenant advocates, the turmoil at Alameda’s Bay View Apartments symbolizes the plight of renters on the island. This week, families at the property known colloquially as… Read More ›
Moratorium on holiday evictions in Alameda is unlikely
Alameda renters urge for a moratorium on evictions before the Nov. 22 council meeting at City Hall. PHOTO/Zac Goldstein ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL |A push by an Alameda renters group urging for a moratorium on evictions during the holidays isn’t needed,… Read More ›
Alameda landlords’ measure to ban rent control falls short of valid signatures
ALAMEDA | In a development that leaves just two rent-related initiatives on the ballot in Alameda this fall, a competing measure backed by landlords failed to gather enough valid signatures for inclusion in the next election or beyond. The Alameda… Read More ›
Alameda mayor opposes rent control measure, while others begin to take sides
Alameda Councilmembers Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Frank Matarrese and Mayor Trish Spencer during a hearing Tuesday on various rent measures. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL |Alameda Mayor Trish Spencer said Tuesday that she unequivocally opposes the tenant-driven rent control initiative now slated for… Read More ›
Proposed fees for funding Alameda’s rent stabilization program find little support
Alameda Councilmembers Jim Oddie and Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft with renters last year. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL |A plan to fund Alameda’s new rent stabilization ordinance through a so-called Renter Program Regulatory Fee fell flat Tuesday night with a majority of the… Read More ›