Proposed federal cuts to Section 8 have landlords and tenants worried

With Section 8 funding on the federal cutting block, Alameda County's housing director says they don't yet have a contingency plan; Swalwell taunts Trump by quietly eating a taco

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Landlords and tenants are on the same side of the aisle in opposition to massive cuts to federal housing assistance programs proposed in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

House Republicans are proposing budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that includes Section 8 housing assistance to low-income residents.

Roughly 22,000 families receive housing assistance in Alameda County, said Michelle Starratt, Alameda County’s housing director.

The proposed cuts, if enacted, would strip between 8,000 and 9,000 families in Alameda County of Section 8 housing vouchers, she told the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Personnel, Administration, and Legislation Committee on Monday.

Not only will the cuts greatly affect tenants, but also “small mom and pop” landlords, who typically absorb many more Section 8 tenants than corporate housing providers.

“We’re already in a housing crisis. This is also a small business problem,” Starratt said, who added the loss of steady Section 8 revenue will add further stress to landlords who struggled financially during the county’s three-year pandemic-era eviction moratorium.

Another wave of evictions will further clog local eviction courts already brimming with cases, she added…

—More inside:

• With Section 8 funding on the cutting block, Alameda County doesn’t have a contingency plan to lighten the potential blow to low-income residents.

• Homeland Security removes a list of sanctuary cities after complaints about its accuracy. At least two Alameda County cities were included despite never identifying as a sanctuary city.

• Amid budget strife, a San Leandro councilmember is proposing the city council forego its pay for a year..

• Hayward’s embattled city manager's biggest booster was the mayor.

• Rep. Eric Swalwell joins the viral TACO stand against Trump.

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