25 Years of Rent Control in SF, Berkeley & other Cal cities

While we do not have vacancy control due to reactionary state laws and the lack of concern on the part of state legislators, both Democrat and Republican, we do have rent control and just cause eviction laws, providing some stability to tenants. Rent conrol is so important and so effective in San Francisco that it is the litmus test issue in all Board of Supervisor and mayoral elections in San Francisco as tenants are 2/3 of the residents and in a high voter turnout election, 50% of the voters.

From http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=2846#more, a 1/18/06 article by Chris Kavanaugh.
Excerpted paragraphs:

"As the new year begins, a significant 25th anniversary event---directly impacting hundreds of thousands of Bay Area renters----was observed during 2005's final months: the passage, in 1980, of San Francisco's and Berkeley's respective Rent Stabilization and Good Cause Eviction ordinances, commonly known as rent control. Both cities' ordinances became effective from 1979 to 1981."

"Ten other California cities would follow San Francisco's and Berkeley's 1980 lead and pass local rent control measures, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Oakland, San Jose and Hayward among other cities. In addition, at least 100 other California communities would pass local measures regulating mobile home residential park rent levels."

"Outside of communities with Good Cause provisions, it is sobering, even shocking, to realize that literally millions of California renter households can be subject to a 30-day eviction notice without cause at any time."

A primary leader in the fight for and defender of rent control is the San Francisco Tenants Union, established in 1970, during the height of the inflation caused by the War against Vietnam. More information about this organization, tenant news, housing laws, counseling services and an excellent Handbook available to members for a small membership fee may be found at:
http://www.sftu.org/