The Mercury News: Landlord group pays ‘activists’ to oppose Bay Area rent control measure

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The Mercury News: Landlord group pays ‘activists’ to oppose Bay Area rent control measure

April 4, 2025—The Mercury News’ Housing Reporter Kate Talerico speaks with Staff Attorney Tahirah Dean on a scheme by the California Apartment Association to pay activists $250 to attend a Concord City Council meeting and speak in support of weakening the existing rent cap/stabilization ordinance.

Tahirah Dean, an attorney with the tenant rights group Public Advocates, said that the pro-rent control groups’ tactics mirror tactics that Elon Musk has used in Wisconsin, paying voters $100 to sign petitions in a state Supreme Court election campaign.

“People are not shy about getting what they want, and they’ll use money to do that,” Dean said. “They’re not really trying to cover up how money is influencing politics.”

Read the full story.

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