Temporary Setback Won’t Stop Push for Ellis Act Reform Assembly members David Chiu and Alex Lee: Tenant Champions Activists Must Increase Pressure on Pro-Speculator Democrats “ We’re here to make sure the Democratic Party upholds its values and keeps its promises, and to also push and expand the scope and the ambition of the Democratic Party,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, April 19, California’s Democratic Legislature had a chance last week to stop real estate speculators from worsening the state’s affordability and homelessness crisis. But as she did in 2014, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva stood in the way. Instead of “upholding” Democratic Party values that prioritize working families, seniors and other vulnerable residents over speculators, Quirk-Silva’s action violated these beliefs. While we thank Assemblymembers Alex Lee, David Chiu, Richard Bloom, Ash Kalra, Buffy Wicks, Jesse Gabriel, Phil Ting and others for helping to pass AB 854, their efforts did not allow Democratic Party values to prevail.