For over a year now, renters' rights group Tenants Together has been working with renters, their supporters, labor unions, and city officials in East Palo Alto where Page Mill Properties has been engaged in open conflict with the city and its residents. After learning that CalPERS, the country's biggest public employee pension fund, was an investment partner with the giant landlord, Tenants Together testified before the CalPERS Board of Administration to bring the crisis to their attention and call on them to intervene with Page Mill. They asked CalPERS to move Page Mill to rescind illegal rent increases and cease the unjust eviction of its tenants.

Tenants Together also warned CalPERS that predatory equity investments are extremely risky financially. In fact, Page Mill Properties went into receivership just two months ago, leaving tenants to work with new court-appointed management as they try to get relief from unjustly high rents and unabated maintenance problems.

Youth United for Community Action members led a rally in front of West Park Apartments on November 4th to call for the roll back of rents. Participants included renters, neighbors, and community activists, who chanted and sang songs specific to their cause. They pledged to keep up the pressure with a series of actions until rents are rolled back to be in line with what is required by the city's rent stabilization ordinance.

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Tenants Together | Youth United for Community Action