pages: CityCouncil/2020-04-07.pdf, 11
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CityCouncil | 2020-04-07 | 11 | Stated many of her neighbors cannot meet the high rent within the Bay Area; people fear becoming infected and becoming homeless; the span of the moratorium will not be long enough to help; urged Council to expand the moratorium to extend beyond the shelter in place, to require landlords to give tenants a period of no less than one year to bring back-rent current and to institute a freeze on rent increases for at least one year: Jacqueline Barden, Alameda. Stated her family is experiencing a more than 50% loss of income due to COVID-19; unemployment claims have not been addressed; the urgency rent ordinance better protects renters; the ordinance does not ensure renters affected by COVID-19 have enough time to recoup loss of income and employment; urged Council to modify the ordinance with a freeze on rent increases for 2020 applying only to tenants experiencing a loss of 20% or more of their gross monthly income from COVID-19 disruptions, changing Section 3 of the urgency ordinance to extend the substantive defense against non-payment evictions from 180 days to 365 days after the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, and extending the rent deferment policy to continue for 30 days after the City rescinds its emergency declaration: Staci Lewis, Alameda. Expressed concerns about his landlords actions to evict tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic; noted that he lost his job in March; stated the ordinance does not fully protect renters through COVID-19 related financial hardships; urged Council to consider a freeze on rent increases for 2020 applying only to tenants experiencing a loss of 20% or more of their gross monthly income from COVID-19 disruptions, changing Section 3 of the urgency ordinance to extend the substantive defense against non-payment evictions from 180 days to 365 days after the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, and extending the rent deferment policy to continue for 30 days after the City rescinds its emergency declaration: Stephen Bissinger. Vice Mayor Knox White stated that he would like to discuss allowing eviction protection to go past 30 days after the state of emergency; people are having a hard time paying rent; expressed concern about Council being unable to provide much protection to those having a difficult time paying mortgages in relation to the rent freeze; stated residents have two new recent parcel tax items; going beyond 180 days would be a long time; Council cannot assume that all property owners can bear the lack of payment for months at a time. The read an additional comment: Expressed support for passing the moratorium on evictions ordinance including commercial and residential tenants; stated businesses will be able to maintain a roof over their head; the moratorium will help many who are struggling: Eric Gantos, Alameda. Councilmember Oddie stated hopefully the speakers can take advantage of the new system; noted that Council needs to discuss and plan what will happen when things get back to normal; stated one month of rent is easier to absorb versus six months; Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 9 April 7, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-04-07.pdf |