Never Forget the Corporate Landlords Who Want All Your Money Details
AFFORDABLE HOUSING-As we head deeper into 2021, renters in California and across the nation should never forget the small but powerful group of corporate landlords who shelled out a staggering $66.5 million to kill the expansion of rent control in the Golden State.
Regardless of the financial devastation unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ll keep opposing tenant protections no matter the consequences for the rest of us.
Big Real Estate was the driving force behind the defeat of Proposition 21, the November ballot measure that aimed to expand rent control in California. Overall, the real estate industry spent nearly $100 million to kill Prop 21, including king-sized contributions from Blackstone Group, billionaire Geoffrey Palmer, and millionaire Michael Hayde. In fact, Blackstone (led by billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, pictured above, left), Palmer, and Hayde slyly used
More than 100 tenants and advocates, organized by the
Regional Tenant Organizing Network, blocked eviction
hearings at the Santa Clara County Superior Court in San
Jose, California Wednesday morning, protesting the
displacement of renters during the coronavirus pandemic.
Protesters blocking the courthouse entrance effectively
shut down the court in the morning hours before being
violently removed by County Sheriff’s Deputies. Nine
protesters were arrested on the charge of disrupting court
operations. In a video on Twitter
that gained over 19,000 views in a few hours, a protester is
seen being dragged violently away from the crowd by a squad
of deputies.
“Keeping rents affordable and being able to retain a long-term tenant is important,” said Mason.
But last March when the pandemic hit, Mason’s tenant stopped paying rent. And by law she couldn’t ask any questions.
“There’s no further language, no further explanation,” said Mason.
There are no firm numbers for how much rent has gone unpaid during the pandemic, but some estimate it’s as much as $5.5 billion in California alone. And while unemployed individuals, small businesses and corporations have all received government help, small landlords have gotten nothing.
“They’re requiring us to assist with the financial crisis and carry the financial burden by allowing individuals to live in your property for free,” said Mason. “And you’re giving them a loan with no interest, no penalties. And it’s most likely not going to be paid back.”
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