Will a Berkeley ballot measure finally help small, mom-and-pop landlords?
The Renters Relief & Homeowners Protection Act would create a pool of funds for permanent relief and give small property owners a financial cushion.
Our friends at the Berkeley Rental Housing Coalition recently announced it is taking the steps necessary to gather signatures for the ballot measure to qualify for the November ballot.
We find the proposed law to be an innovative and reasonable solution for tenants and housing providers alike. Since all businesses located in or doing work in Berkeley must pay a business license tax, the ballot initiative will use a portion of the city’s business tax paid by large landlords to create a fund for struggling renters. The measure would update the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which has had a long and storied history of modifications since it was first codified in 1980.
If the COVID era taught us anything, it is that things can and will happen. If not a global pandemic, another event that puts a strain on finances. While we cannot always avoid hardships, we can do the next best thing by providing a cushion for renters and landlords so that properties can keep cash flowing no matter what life throws in the way.
There's been a lot of chatter by politicians about rental assistance funds but with the inaction of lawmakers, citizens can fill the void.
