Battleground Oakland for tenants and landlords

Hayward may act quickly to fill Marquez's city council seat; ALCO Dems almost booted four members from central committee; Azevedo-Hernandez III in San Leandro?

Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza may be over-subscribed for rallies on Tuesday afternoon.

CITY NEWS

OAKLAND

—BATTLE OF OAKLAND—At the county level, the long-running eviction moratorium is set to expire later this month. In the meantime, the focus for renters and landlords has shifted to places like San Leandro, where that city’s elected officials extended their eviction moratorium to February 2024.

—But, by far, the biggest battle for these warring camps is Oakland. This afternoon, a proposed plan authored by Councilmembers Nikki Fortunato Bas and Dan Kalb attempts a novel approach to the raging eviction moratorium debate: How about phasing it out gradually instead of all at once?

—The item will be introduced at today’s Oakland City Council Community and Economic Development Committee meeting. It starts at 4 p.m. in the council chambers.

—However, get there early because space will be tight. That’s because press conferences and rallies for both sides are scheduled prior to the meeting. This could be a very passionate, if not, combustible situation in Oakland today.

—Oakland Rising is planning a press conference in support of tenants, starting at 1:45 p.m. before walking over to Oakland City Hall at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, the same group of mom-and-pop landlords that protested loudly inside city hall chambers last month are back.

—The landlords’ group has a 2 p.m. press conference scheduled, also in front of Oakland City Hall. The list of speakers includes East Bay Rental Housing Association CEO Derek Barnes and former Oakland councilmember and 2022 mayoral candidate Ignacio De La Fuente.

—The proposed phased-out approach would extend the moratorium from May 2 through Aug. 31. Evictions for non-payment of rent for those without proof of Covid-related circumstances would only apply after May’s rent period.

—On Sept. 1, the eviction moratorium would end in Oakland and a moratorium on rent increases would end on July 1, 2024. In addition, the legislation would amend the city’s just cause ordinance.

—Tenants’ advocates welcome the proposed ordinance, saying it gives struggling renters more time to adjust and possible avert a “tsunami” of evictions. Landlords, on the hand, believe the moratorium has long run its course, while a number of small mom-and-pop landlords have not yet been made whole for unpaid rents during the pandemic.

MORE INSIDE:

• CITY NEWS: It’s budget season in Oakland, San Leandro, and the county.

• Hayward may opt to quickly fill open council seat.

• The changing of the guard on the Hayward council is almost unprecedented

• COUNTY NEWS: Dems almost removed a Berkeley councilmember from its central committee

• ELECTION 2024: Third time is a charm in potential San Leandro race

• Skinner for Treasurer 2026 is getting some big contributions