Public Comment

This evening, the Berkeley City Council will be considering a framework for revisions to the ordinances governing the demolition and elimination of housing units. I believe that the language in the framework is a huge improvement over previous language that has been shared with me, as it includes provisions for tenant protections.

However, there are two gaping problems with it:

1) Although tenants of the demolished building have the right of first refusal to return to new construction that replaces it, there are almost no provisions that these new units will be at anything other than market rate. Thus, a situation similar to Park Merced in San Francisco could arise, in which low-income tenants are would be unable to move back into the new units. 

2) There is a provision that demolition would not be allowed if there have been verified cases of tenant harassment or illegal evictions in the prior 12 months. This appears to be too short of a timeline, and the Berkeley Condominium Conversion Ordinance has one that is considerably longer. 

You can take action in two ways: 

1) Submit an email encouraging the Mayor and City Council to strengthen tenant protections in the Demolition Ordinance by 4pm today: 

2) Attend tonight's City Council in person at 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. This is Item 40 on the agenda, and is expected to be heard after 8:30pm.