STATEMENT
January 10, 2020
Contact:
Duc Luu, Communications Manager, 857-373-9118, dluu@publicadvocates.org
Michelle Pariset, Policy Advocate, 916-716-1484, mpariset@publicadvocates.org
Statement on Impact of Governor Newsom’s Budget on Tenant Protections
SAN FRANCISCO – In 2019, Public Advocates and our partners helped pass, and Governor Newsom signed AB 1482 to help stop the most egregious rent increases and provide just cause eviction protections for millions of California tenants. These new protections are important but if tenants don’t know their rights or cannot afford to defend themselves in court they will continue to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous landlords.
That’s why we’re excited that in his budget summary the Governor highlighted the availability of $331 million to support in part, legal services for tenants. Given the urgency of the issue, we respectfully urge the Administration and the Legislature to act quickly to make these funds available to those who need them. We’d like to see these dollars and more become a funding stream for a Tenant Right to Counsel, similar to the great program voters passed in San Francisco in 2018.
Having access to legal services will help keep families in their homes and help to stem the tides of displacement and homelessness that are ravaging our communities.
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Public Advocates Inc. is a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, transportation equity, and climate justice. www.publicadvocates.org
