Daly Legislation a Breakthrough for Low-Income Tenants

by Randy Shaw via Beyond Chron

Thu, Mar 5, 2009 7:24AM

Thursday, March 5, 2009 : Supervisor Chris Daly has introduced a series of amendments to the SF Rent Ordinance, designed to help tenants weather the storm of the recession. Some are similar to prior measures (i.e., expand the current protections for family tenants to include unrelated roommates), and are rather incremental. But two ordinances are a major breakthrough for the City’s poorest renters – and constitute the kind of change we need.

One would limit “banked” rent increases to 8% a year, a big problem for Tenderloin residents. The other measure – allowing tenants to file “hardship exemptions” on a rent increase – could streamline an existing Rent Board practice, making it far more accessible for renters who need it to get relief. As a lawyer and tenant organizer for the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, I represent tenants who file “hardship appeals” on capital improvement petitions – a tedious process that cries for reform. Daly’s bill could be just what we need.

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