Tenant’s rights advocates at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration (Photo – PTU).
Tenants from all over Southern California stood together on Thursday, April 12th, to highlight the shared struggle of ever-increasing rents.
One hundred people stood on the south side of Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration showing their support for a newly declared coalition in the name of tenant protections.
Pasadena Tenants Union (PTU), members and leaders from dozens of tenant groups and community organizations representing various cities and communities across Los Angeles County, shared solidarity in jointly addressing the housing crisis for renters. People of ages and professions participated in the event, showing the great cross-section affected by sharply rising rents: those on fixed incomes to those just beginning their careers. The variety of cities illustrate the pervasive and serious nature of this problem of high rents and sudden increases.
The tenant’s rights advocates declared their support for statewide rent control reform, as well as for local rent control measures in six Southern California cities, and in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The stories sound all too familiar.
Allison Henry, one of Pasadena Tenants Union’s founding member, is taking it to the streets daily with her band of ‘signature gatherers.’ Henry said:
In going door to door to Pasadena renters. We see and hear first hand the stories of our fellow residents. Rent spikes of $200, $400, $1000 which are an economic shock to working people and families.
Robert Roberts, PTU founding member, is a retired teacher and a Korean Era Veteran who lived in Pasadena for fifty-eight years. Bob explains, a one-bedroom unit in Pasadena has risen 51.7 % in the last 6 years and currently rents for $2120 a month. “We are in a housing crisis and rent costs are out of control,” says Bob. “Something has got to change. What are the younger people, the middle–income and retired flocks on fixed incomes going to do?”
Rachel Peña, PTU member, is a tenants rights and union organizer who is fighting for her daughter and grandchildren to save their housing in this time of exorbitant rent increases.
The coalition consists of the following: ACCE (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment), LACCLA (Los Angeles Center for Community and Law Action), Housing is a Human Right, Liberty Hill, Los Angeles Tenants Union, Pasadena Tenants Union, Glendale Tenants Union, Housing Long Beach, Uplift Inglewood, SACReD (Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development), and Pomona Economic Opportunity Center.
In addition to the coalition cities at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, rent control is also being pursued in San Diego, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and National City.
Pasadena Tenants Union (PTU), a grassroots movement founded in November 2016 by tenants and homeowners, is a body of volunteers and have no paid staff. PTU was born due to the growing pressure on tenants in the City. To sign the petition for the Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment, stop by their office at 1516 Navarro Street, Pasadena, 91103 (office behind house) or join their events found on Facebook and website.
Source: Pasadena Tenants Union
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