AgdaPkt 2008-04-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8A Page 2 'Protest' Continued from Page 1... Prop. 98, slated for the June 2008 ballot, claims to offer eminent domain reform. However, the measure is being called the Hidden Agendas Scheme because its real purpose is to abolish rent control and gut other renter protections. In fact, the fundraising trail shows that 85 percent of the contributions to the Yes on 98 campaign come from apartment owner interests and mobile home park owners who want to eliminate rent control and renter protections at the expense of California's most vulnerable residents. A "Sherlock" roamed the crowd at the rally with a giant magnifying glass to encourage voters to "read the fine print" to bring home the message that the landlords behind Prop. 98 have a hidden agenda. Renters' rights are critically important for millions of Californians. There are over 1 million renters protected by rent control in California and 14 million renters who would be impacted by the loss of renter protections from Prop. 98 such as laws requiring a fair return of deposit and a proper 60-day lease termination notice. The March 15 rally was packed with participants from a variety of groups concerned about the potential loss of these protections including Tenants Together, Just Cause Oakland, California Alliance for Retired Americans and California Mobile Homeowners Resources and Action Association. Not only would the passage of Prop. 98 destroy many renter protections, it would threaten water quality and supply because provisions in the measure could prohibit the acquisition of land and water through eminent domain to develop public water projects. Additionally, Prop. 98 contains provisions that hurt the environment and stop regulations that protect our neighborhoods. Media Coverage The protest attracted substantial media coverage from across the Bay Area including: Protesters in Oakland at the March 15 RHA rally The San Francisco Chronicle The Oakland Tribune KGO- TV? (ABC) KNTV-TV 11 (NBC) KPFA-FM 94.1 (Pacifica) KQED-FM 88.5 devoted its Forum program on March 14 to Prop. 98, with Ted Gullicksen ofthe San Francisco Tenants Union discussing the devastating impact the anti-rent control measure would have on people with limited incomes. Yes on 99 Prop. 99, the Homeowners Protection Act, also on June 2008 ballot, offers true eminent domain reform, by prohibiting the government from using eminent domain to take a home to transfer to a private developer. Prop. 99 is supported by a broad coalition of homeowners, business, labor, cities, counties and environmentalists. Visit www.eminentdomainreform.com/for more information, fact sheets and news about the No on 98Nes on 99 campaign. 2