From the August 2008 Newsletter:

More proposed SF anti-landlord laws underscore importance of our work
By Noni Richen, SPOSFI President

The importance of working toward our goal of achieving fairness and equity for small property owners has only been heightened by Supervisor Chris Daly’s most recent introduction of three new pieces of legislation designed to further impinge on our ability to own and control our properties.

More onerous Daly legislation

Three new pieces of legislation were ushered through the Board of Supervisors and will probably appear on the November ballot: 1) a prohibition on owner move-in evictions when there is a tenant in residence under 18 years of age, and a broadening of the definition of “disability;” (2) an ordinance that would place newly owner-occupied two unit buildings into the condominium lottery, where previously they were exempt; and (3) a measure allowing tenants to petition the Rent Board for rent reductions when the landlord harasses a tenant “with malice.” The first two proposals are obviously efforts by Daly to discourage new homeownership, the dream of tens of thousands of renters in this city. There is a rumor that he may pull those two out of consideration and they would not appear on November’s ballot. As for the third ordinance, it’s yet another attempt to demonize property owners and give those few tenants so inclined another way to extort settlements and lower rents. At the Board of Supervisors Committee hearing on the proposed legislation, the wrath of the San Francisco Tenants Union came down on one large landlord. Yet we small property owners are included in the ordinance and would suffer the consequences until we are able to challenge it in court, as we did successfully in the past when the supervisors approved legislation similar to Daly’s.

Staying focused is key

Our Executive Director, Peter Reitz, and I met recently with representatives of other property owners’ groups. We agreed that these destructive ordinances were introduced just before the deadline to distract advocacy groups like ours and diffuse the energy we will need to achieve our goal by electing a more moderate Board of Supervisors. There is very little we can do to sway the vote on the ordinances, but we can affect the election’s outcome by making our endorsed candidates’ campaigns the best they can be. This takes time, effort, and money. I know I’m repeating what I’ve said so many times before: even one common-sense moderate replacing a “progressive” (an oxymoron if there ever was one) will go a long way to change some of the counterproductive decisions that emanate from our Board of Supervisors.

Are you ready to help?

Our supervisorial endorsements will be announced soon. We’re concentrating heavily on Districts 1 (McGoldrick), 3 (Peskin), and 11 (Sandoval), and of course will help out with our endorsed candidates in all districts. We need people to make phone calls, lick envelopes, deliver signs— all simple tasks, but essential ones that get the candidate’s information into voter’s hands. Also, as we identify ourselves as small property owners, we legitimize our group in the eyes of the candidates. But aside from helping in such an important effort, it’s fun and energizing to volunteer, knowing you’re a part of a drive to achieve a goal that will make a difference, for ourselves and for our city. Please e-mail us at info@smallprop.org or call 647-2419 and let us know how you can help.

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