Tag: California Apartment Association

Complaint Alleges Landlord Initiative “Misleads” Voters and Amounts to “Sneaky Repeal” of Tenant Protections

Mountain View, CA—Today 18 residents of Mountain View filed a complaint with the City Attorney alleging that a recently proposed landlord initiative is rife with misleading statements and inaccuracies.  The complaint demands that the City Attorney reject the proposed initiative unless the landlord campaign corrects the falsehoods.

District Attorney Files Felony Charges for Election Fraud Against Signature Gatherers Paid by the California Apartment Association

Pacifica, CA–The San Mateo County District Attorney has filed multiple felony charges against referendum petition signature gatherers hired by the California Apartment Association (CAA). The CAA referendum overturned a temporary law passed by the Pacifica City Council that would have protected tenants from exorbitant rent increases and unjust evictions in the months leading up to the November 2017 vote on rent control. Fair Rents 4 Pacifica, a local all-volunteer community organization, filed a complaint with the District Attorney alleging that signature gatherers were misrepresenting the referendum to gain signatures.

Special interests in local elections

It’s bad news for local government when special interests which have so much influence at the state and national levels interfere in our city council elections.

District Attorney investigates “misleading” tactics in real estate-backed political camapaign in Pacifica

Pacifica, CA – The District Attorney is investigating reports of misrepresentations made by paid signature gatherers during a referendum campaign in Pacifica sponsored by the real estate industry. In May 2017, an industry-backed referendum narrowly repealed a temporary renter protection ordinance by a margin of only 63 signatures. Fair Rents 4 Pacifica, an all-volunteer tenants’ rights group, has gathered evidence that at least 66 Pacifica voters have sought to remove their signatures. Nearly all claimed they only signed because they had been misled by signature gatherers. 

Candidates update campaign contribution totals

With just over a week to go until Election Day, another round of updated campaign contribution forms were submitted in the competitive San Mateo City Council race where seven are seeking three seats.

Nearly $123,216 has gone toward supporting current Planning Commissioner Eric Rodriguez. He has raised $52,748 toward his own campaign, including a $5,000 loan, and spent about $45,327. The California Apartment Association independently spent $20,649.39 to see him elected while the National Association of Realtors spent $49,819, according to forms filed with the city.