Berkeley Tenants Union

This Saturday, February 20 at 10:30AM-1PM, join Friends Of Adeline and others for the State of Black Berkeley. zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2J_yUyMySY2pW9ATE7OcPA

If you read Berkeleyside’s article on fourplexes this morning (or trust YIMBY’s for some absurd reason), you’d mistakenly believe BTU sent an email telling people to blanket-oppose fourplexes, and would also see Councilmember Droste’s false claim that SB 330 bans demolition of rent-controlled units. Both are false. Thankfully, we spotted those errors and contacted Berkeleyside, which corrected both of them relatively quickly. But both of these were massive misrepresentations of the facts. This never should never have been allowed to happen, especially re the first issue. If you’d like to read the actual email we sent, you can do so here.

That could displace renters who would be unlikely to afford the new housing, said Tony Roshan Samara, program director of land use and housing for the social justice advocacy organization Urban Habitat. The default in this country is to go to market solutions, Samara said, even though we have over 100 years of evidence that they don't work.

Don’t let the mayor and city council worsen Berkeley’s affordable housing crisis! No to upzoning without affordability! No to gentrification! https://mailchi.mp//btu-corrected-thursday-at-10-30am-no-u

The simple fact is that left-wing protesters get treated with brutality, while right-wing protesters get coddled. #DefundThePolice

This is why we demand City Council #DefundThePolice. From BPD to Capitol Police, violent fascists are ignored, while BLM protestors are assaulted by both the cops and fascists.

TODAY AT 5:30 - and every other Tuesday!

We won new protections for Berkeley tenants during the pandemic, including a ban on Ellis Act evictions! Read about that and more in our December newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/953bb83b6b9d/btu-december-2020-newsletter

IMPORTANT: Get everything in writing!

Pass out lit near voting centers Tuesday! We need volunteers like you to elect pro-tenant candidates like the Right to Housing Slate, Cheryl Davila, Ben Bartlett, Richard Illgen, and Yes on MM!

Where to vote on Tuesday PC: Alfred Twu

Vote NO on Prop 22!

Happy Halloween! Help us scare Big Real Estate by passing pro-tenant legislation, electing pro-tenant candidates, and passing pro-tenant ballot measures! Read how in our October 2020 newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/973531ecf25e/btu-october-2020-newsletter

Re-elect Cheryl Davila for District 2 City Council! Bernies’s choice. Labor’s choice. The Green choice. Cheryl builds community, stands up for justice, and has been accountable to the PEOPLE who live in District 2not developers or real estate interests.

ATTN Oakland: Corporate Democrat Eli Ferran is falsely claiming the endorsement of our allies. He’s taking donations directly Big Real Estate and other Big Businesses. Don’t let him trick you! The Oakland Tenants Union endorses incumbent city attorney Barbara Parker. (This is not an endorsement of Parker by BTU; we want to let Oaklanders who follow our page know our sister org’s position.)

There's only three-and-a-half days to campaign for pro-tenant candidates. Help us fight back against Big Real Estate's attempt to buy our Rent Board & City Council - they've spent well over $100,000! YOU can be the margin of victory! Find opportunities at https://mailchi.mp//we-need-your-help-campaign-for-pro-ten.

BTU has been working with Council Member Davila to strengthen Berkeley's COVID eviction moratorium. Please give public comment at Wednesday's 4 X 4 Committee meeting in support (public comment by email is due at 1:30PM). Details in the event description.

Vote for the Right to Housing Slate for Rent Board and Yes on MM! Our full list of endorsements: Cheryl Davila for City Council District 2 Ben Bartlett for City Council District 3... Richard Illgen for City Council District 6 Right to Housing Slate for Rent Board (Andy Kelley, Dominique Walker, Leah Simon-Weisberg, Mari Mendonca, and Xavier Johnson) Laura Babitt for School Board Jovanka Beckles for AC Transit Board of Directors Ward 1 Chris Peeples for AC Transit Board of Directors At-Large Norman La Force for East Bay Regional Parks District Ward 1 Elena Condes for Alameda County Superior Court Judge YES on Berkeley Measure FF (emergency services) YES on Berkeley Measure GG (tax on Uber and Lyft) YES on Berkeley Measure HH (increase utility taxes) YES on Berkeley Measure II (police accountability board) YES on Berkeley Measure JJ (mayor and council pay) YES on Berkeley Measure KK (city charter clean-up) YES on Berkeley Measure LL (Gann Limit override) YES on Berkeley Measure MM (tenant protections) YES on Proposition 15 (Schools and Local Communities Funding Act) YES on Proposition 16 (re-legalize affirmative action) YES on Proposition 17 (let parolees vote) YES on Proposition 18 (limited vote at 17 in primaries and special elections) YES (with reservations) on Proposition 19 (net-revenue-positive mix of good and bad changes to residential property tax rates) NO on Proposition 20 (roll back criminal justice reforms) YES on Proposition 21 (partial repeal of Costa-Hawkins) NO on Proposition 22 (strip labor rights from gig workers) YES on Proposition 23 (regulate outpatient dialysis clinics) YES on Proposition 25 (eliminate cash bail system) Our memebrship also voted to recommend (but not endorse) with significant reservations Lateefah Simon for BART Board district 7/

Are you unable to pay rent or having trouble with your landlord? Our next FREE counseling clinic for East Bay tenants will be 3-5PM this Thursday, October 29! The deadline to sign-up is TONIGHT (Sunday, October 25, i.e. four days before the clinic). However, we only have a very limited number of spots available, so priority is given to BTU members (see below for how to join), followed by sign-up order. You can join BTU/pay your dues by going to www.berkeleytenants.org and cli...cking the yellow "Donate" button in the upper-right corner. Dues are a sliding scale of just $10 - $27 per year; however, those who can afford to pay more are strongly encouraged to do so. If you are currently in Berkeley and would prefer pay dues by cash or check (which lets BTU avoid to pay a transaction fee), you can email [email protected] to have someone come pick up your dues in-person (we'll do so in a way that maintains proper social distancing). In addition to priority sign-up for our counseling clinics, membership benefits include voting on endorsements and other membership matters, as well as being the first to find out about the clinics and other services. (Tenants outside the East Bay should call Tenants Together at 888-495-8020 for counseling.)

SUNDAY 1PM AT GOVE PARK: Drop literature for the Right to Housing Slate, Jovanka Beckles, and Yes on MM!

Big Real Estate is trying to buy Berkeley's Rent Board and district 2 city council seat. Fight back this weekend by joining your friends and neighbors campaigning for BTU-endorsed candidates! Details at bit.ly/35mAPiI.