Committee Hearing Will Decide Fate of Proposed Hassle-Free Housing Bill

Hassle-Free_kids_vs_us_bankOn Monday, December 3, the first step toward ensuring that the Hassle-Free Housing Ordinance reaches the full Board of Supervisors for approval takes place at a hearing by the Land Use and Economic Development committee at 1 pm at SF City Hall, room 263. If approved, then the proposed ordinance will be heard before the full board at their meeting tomorrow Tuesday, December 4.

We need our communities out in force at the meeting; as well as calling, and e-mailing to let the committee know that we are watching. The proposed ordinance must be approved by the Land Use committee before it can even reach a full board of supervisors hearing. Supervisors for District 10 Malia Cohen, District 1 Eric Mar, and District 8 Scott Weiner sits on the Land Use Committee and it is urgent that residents of this district let their supervisors know they want this ordinance passed:

If you are a District 10 resident call Malia Cohen  at (415-554-7670) or email (malia.cohen@sfgov.org)

Please contact your supervisor from now until next Monday and let them know that supporting the Hassle Free Housing is important.

The Hassle-Free Housing Ordinance will reclassify harassment as an illegal eviction and will give tenants the opportunity to take their claims of harassment to the Rent Board. Tenants will also be able to make claims for damages at Small Claims Court.

Unfortunately, harassment is an effective and cheap tactic to illegally evict tenants and is regularly used to displace our communities in San Francisco.  “We need to ensure that we tenants are protected from illegal and unjust evictions by landlords and are able to live in homes that are dignified, safe, and free of harassment,” says Blanca Solis, member of the SF Housing Rights Committee.