Seniors victims have been asking Councilmembers Bas, Kalb, Fife and Kaplan:
“YOUR eviction moratorium [policy] has taken $162K of my retirement savings. What is YOUR plan to pay me back?!”
Small minority housing providers demand an end to City of Oakland Eviction Moratorium
Deborah Johnson, a 57-year-old black, disabled property owner who uses a wheelchair to get around, is in danger of losing her property. She owns a fourplex where none of her renters are paying rent, despite most of them still working full time. “I’m not a charity. I’m in danger of losing my property if these moratoriums are not lifted immediately. I’m also in danger of losing my own home” Johnson said.
To bring justice to Deborah and many other victims like her, small property owners are rallying in front of Oakland City hall to urge the City Council to end the moratorium. Speakers include members of In-It-Together as well as George Wu, an immigrant who recently went on a hunger strike to end the county-side moratorium.
When: Tuesday (4/18) at 3 pm.
Where: 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
Housing providers struggle with unpaid bills and face foreclosure
The state-wide eviction moratorium and governor’s order permitting local governments to temporarily limit nonpayment evictions started in 2020 and expired on Sept. 20, 2022. The health emergency-related moratorium remains for Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro. Widespread abuse of the moratorium allows tenants to choose not to pay rent. Many owners have provided housing services but have not received money for over three years in exchange for their fair labor.
A suit by the California Apartment Association against the Alameda County moratorium denied the landlords’ request for summary judgment and found the moratorium to be temporary and therefore allowable under state law. https://www.courthousenews.com/bid-to-end-alameda-county-covid-eviction-ban-stumbles/
However, the moratorium has been going on for over three years and has been extended numerous times. It was supposed to be temporary with various end dates starting in 2020 and now we are in 2023 so in practice, the moratorium is not temporary in nature. Nor is the moratorium tied to the COVID-19 health-related emergency since it continues even though the Alameda County Health Officer ended the COVID-19 health emergency, consistent with California’s emergency and that of the other 49 states. Countless residents are struggling and many are facing foreclosure. Eviction moratorium cases are being appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court.
Oakland Eviction Moratorium Ordinance