Labor-backed Tenants IE goes on the early attack against landlords in Alameda County supervisors race

Campaign of Alameda County DA candidate Terry Wiley gets financial support from Rep. Eric Swalwell, former DA Tom Orloff

Mailer sent this week from an IE supporting Alameda County Board of Supervisors candidate Rebecca Kaplan, and backed by SEIU Local 1021.

ELECTION 2022

Days until Election Day: 42. Days until ballots are sent: 13.

ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

—BACKING KAP—Tenants, backed by labor, have struck first blood in a race for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in District 3 that is shaping up as a proxy battle between renters and landlords.

—In this case, the IE calling itself “Alameda County Tenants Families and Workers supporting Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022” is backed by SEIU Local 1021.

—A mailer from the IE began arriving in mailboxes this week and warns voters that “big landlords are moving in to make it easier to kick you out.” The mailer adds, “Send the big landlords packing.”

—The piece could be effective in positioning Kaplan’s November runoff opponent, Lena Tam, in a negative light, while providing a sense of urgency to renters. “Big landlords and developers believe they need just one more vote on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to guy eviction protections,” the mailer adds.

—As I wrote a few days ago, depending on the timing, and if Tam is elected, there could be three of five votes on the Board of Supervisors to, at the very least, rescind the county’s two and half year eviction moratorium.