[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Brian Leubitz
Founder and Publisher
Calitics

By this time, I hope you've heard about Prop 98. But that's not the case everywhere, so much attention has been paid to getting the word out about the really negative effects that Prop 98 would have upon California. A great group of people came together to talk about the Landlords' Scheme to eliminate rent control, tenant protections, and affordable housing regulations.

Several folks came with cardboard boxes to make the point that many people living in rent controlled units would be forced to the streets. Many units would be converted to luxury condo conversion projects and housing supply in San Francisco would dwindle further. Affordable housing is already tough enough to come by (just look at Craigslist if you don't believe me), the last thing we need is Prop 98 eliminating much of the affordable supply.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Ted Gullicksen
San Francisco Tenants Union

For more than 30 years, the San Francisco Tenants Union has defended renters in San Francisco against attacks by landlords who want to eliminate affordable housing in our city. There is a dangerous measure currently circulating for signatures to qualify for the June 2008 ballot that would undo all of our hard work.

That’s why our organization helped to organize a rally Wednesday outside the San Francisco City Hall to protest this dangerous measure. More than 100 renters, tenants’ advocates, affordable housing advocates, seniors, environmentalists, labor advocates and others were joined by Assemblyman Mark Leno and Senator Carole Migden and San Francisco PUC Commissioner Susan Leal. All voiced opposition to the Hidden Agendas measure and highlighted the landlords’ very real and very devious intentions.