Oakland Approves 90-Day Moratorium on Evictions

"Earlier this month in a packed city hall meeting that ran past midnight, the Oakland city council made the first step in addressing the city’s housing crisis, unanimously approving a 90-day moratorium on evictions without cause and on rent increases above 1.7% per annum," according to an article by Nate Berg, who also notes the city feel short of declaring an "official state of emergency" regarding the housing crunch.

Berg provides access to residents and activists in the city, who explain the difficult circumstances encountered by many long-term residents, especially renters living the city. Among those Berg interview for the story is also Oakland City Council president Lynette Gibson McElhaney, who "says the moratorium will give the city a chance to clear up and revise its tenant protection laws, and to make sure tenants can get the information to know whether their rent increases or evictions are legal in the first place."

The Committee to Protect Oakland Renters is taking steps to lead that effort, drafting a tenant protection policy it hopes to qualify for the November citywide ballot.

For a blow-by-blow account of the aforementioned city council hearing, see an article by Ken Epstein from earlier this month.