Thread by @HousingNowCA

#ICYMI the @CAgovernor is rushing a flawed proposal that puts the fate of renters in the hands of landlords. While extending eviction protections, #SB91 kicks the can down the road and leaves many renters in the cold. What are the challenges ahead? #thread 🧵 #ForgiveRentDebts

LOCAL LAWS PRE-EMPTED: #SB91 locks in the pre-emption of stronger eviction protections & creates barriers for stronger debt relief measures by cities & counties. The Legislature has a sordid history of limiting action by local communities #ForgiveRentDebts

https://twitter.com/Leahfsw/status/1353951488641404934

A PATCHWORK OF PROTECTIONS: #SB91 is the latest in a series of laws, executive orders & local ordinances in California that have created a confusing patchwork of protections for tenants statewide. #ForgiveRentDebts

https://twitter.com/PublicCounsel/status/1354121562580951041

HALF MEASURES ON RENT DEBT: #SB91 allows landlords to avoid participation in the rental assistance program, putting tenants at risk, esp. lower income Black and Brown renters. The lives & economic security of renters can't be up to the whims of landlords

https://twitter.com/CalOrganize/status/1353867959073083392

NO INPUT FROM TENANT GROUPS: #SB91 was put together was no input from the major organizations in California made up of impacted tenants. #ForgiveRentDebts

https://twitter.com/TenantsTogether/status/1353881052935151616

EVICTIONS = DEATH: A disturbing, new NBER paper puts the cost of failure in real lives into stark relief. The paper suggests a uniform moratoria on evictions nationwide last year could have saved 164,000 lives lost to COVID-19. #ForgiveRentDebts #SB91

https://twitter.com/lydiadepillis/status/1353673115214163969

WEAK LAWS ARE OPEN TO ABUSE: Tenants know first-hand how a patchwork of confusing and weak laws expose them to the predatory behavior of the worst investors, corporate interests & abusive landlords. #SB91 is insufficient to address this. #ForgiveRentDebts

https://twitter.com/CalOrganize/status/1353872104769245184

THE DEBT BURDEN IS HUGE: We know tenants are hurting - and why getting a policy response to #ForgiveRentDebts is more important than ever. Over 1.1 million renter households (19% of California's 17 million renters) are behind on their rent payments. #SB91

https://twitter.com/streuhaft/status/1352764359211008000

HOMELESSNESS LOOMING: Half measures will lead to disaster for our communities. Housing instability leads to greater transmission and death from COVID-19. But it will also greatly exacerbate our pre-COVID #homelessness catastrophe. #ForgiveRentDebts #SB91 latimes.com/california/sto…

CALIFORNIANS WANT ACTION: #SB91, the "deal" announced by the Governor and Legislative Leadership, is out of step with the reality Californians know their neighbors are experiencing. A strong majority of Californians support efforts to #ForgiveRentDebts

https://twitter.com/JaneKim/status/1353918168427876358

A BETTER WAY IS POSSIBLE: A broad coalition of over 150 organizations statewide has called for the state to adopt the #KeepFamiliesHoused Relief Plan to extend eviction protections, #ForgiveRentDebts and help landlords. Lives are at stake. #SB91

https://twitter.com/LCJandA/status/1353457221468753922

NO RETURN TO "NORMAL": We must lay the groundwork for a just recovery for all Californians - not just return to the status quo. Pre-COVID, CA already faced a horrific housing crisis. Half-measures like #SB91 are unacceptable. #ForgiveRentDebts

https://twitter.com/OAKTenantsUnion/status/1353545371616571393