Impending eviction tsunami could take a year to subside

Alameda PD's big incentive program; Jimmie Wilson's day in court; Landlords say Bas lied

Alameda County’s eviction moratorium expired on Feb. 28, but the ordinance allows another 60 days before it truly ends, meaning eviction could resume on May 1.

COUNTY NEWS

RENTERS PROTECTIONS

—EVICTION TSUNAMI—Michelle Starratt, Alameda County’s housing director believes upheaval that may follow the end of the county’s eviction moratorium, starting as early as May 1, could last about a year.

—“It’s really going to impact poverty in our county,” Starratt said of the moratorium’s conclusion. “Eviction is a symptom of poverty. We don’t know where they will go.” Some will leave to other counties, some will become homeless, she added.

—When Starratt was asked by a county supervisor how long until the expected rise in evictions evens out to pre-pandemic levels, she said, “It will probably take 12 months to even out.”

—Prior to the pandemic, Alameda County averaged roughly 4,000 evictions a year. After the moratorium was enacted in spring 2020, the number dropped precipitously to about 800, Starratt said.

—The worst-case scenario for renters, Staratt said, is to end up in eviction court. An unlawful detainer on a renters credit report is a dead end, she said, making it extremely difficult for them to find suitable rental housing anywhere.

—The percentage of evictions that may be seen soon in Alameda County is expected to be higher than the state average, simply because the county’s moratorium has lasted much longer than other locales.

ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

—REBUKE—Alameda County Superior Court Judge Mark McCammon summarily rejected Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s lenient plea deal with a defendant accused of being connected to three murders.

—"I can't accept a plea to voluntary manslaughter for 15 years for an offense that involves the loss of three lives,” the judge said in court on Thursday, The Berkeley Scanner reported. McCammon added that under the plea deal, the accused, Delonzo Logwood, might only stay in prison another two years.

—Price had no comment following the stinging defeat.

Dan Noyes @dannoyes

COURTROOM STUNNER: Alameda County DA Pamela Price refuses to answer my questions after judge REJECTS her plea deal for Delonzo Logwood. Would have been 15 years in connection with three murders. Now headed to trial.

—But here’s another nugget in The Berkeley Scanner article (I’m not a court reporter, so I suggest supporting this new outlet HERE.):

—Jimmie Wilson, still an Alameda County prosecutor following his unsuccessful campaign for DA in the June 2022 primary, represented the office at Thursday hearing.

—When the judge asked Wilson about the whereabouts of the previous prosecutor, he told the judge that he did not have that information.

—Wilson, however, may have lied to the judge, according to The Berkeley Scanner, which has emails from Wilson saying otherwise.

—The previous prosecutor was laid off by Price, but offered to attend Thursday’s hearing since their last day on the job has not yet arrived.

—In the June 2022 primary for DA, Wilson repeatedly focused his brickbats on challenger and fellow DA office mate, Terry Wiley.

—Wilson finished a distant third in the primary, but his attack lines linking Wiley to previous DA Nancy O’Malley’s inner circle, likely helped Price’s case in the general election.

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