SB 529 (Durazo) Supporting a Tenant's Right to Organize Clears Senate Judiciary Committee

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, the State Senate Judiciary Committee in a 6-2 vote approved Senate Bill 529 (Durazo). The bill would prevent retaliatory evictions of tenants participating in a tenant association or rent strike. SB 529 will now head to the State Senate Appropriations Committee. The hearing date has yet to be determined.

 

SB 529 is the product of collaboration between Tenants Together’s member organizations across the state and State Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), the bill’s author. Tenant organizers from across California traveled to Sacramento to support SB 529 at its hearing, including testifying witness Betty Gabaldon, a single mother who was evicted along with her young daughter after forming a tenants’ association in her building in Concord, CA.

 

“Tenants who speak up and join their neighbors are at risk of eviction and in some cases, harassment,” said Senator Durazo. “SB 529 seeks to balance power between landlords and tenants and promote fairness in housing.”

 

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Tenants Together is a statewide coalition of local tenant organizations dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of California tenants to safe, decent and affordable housing.  As California’s only statewide renters' rights organization, Tenants Together works to improve the lives of California’s tenants through education, organizing and advocacy. Tenants Together seeks to support and strengthen the statewide movement for renters’ rights.

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