Residents, housing advocates and Antioch Metropolis Council members gathered at Casa Blanca Residences to have a good time the passage of the town’s first hire stabilization guidelines, the strongest such legal guidelines in Contra Costa County.
The ordinance caps hire will increase at 3% or 60% of the buyer value index, whichever is decrease; permits just one hire enhance annually; and consists of government-funded, low-income housing flats.
“As we speak is an efficient day,” mentioned Rhea Laughlin of First 5 Contra Costa, sponsor of East County Regional Group, which co-hosted the celebration together with Monument Affect and the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economic system.
“For 2 years now we have rallied, marched and testified in order that Antioch kids and residents have a secure and inexpensive place to name residence, however at present we’re not nervous about one other company landlord giving a $500 or $600 hire enhance, and we’re not nervous about kids shedding their houses as a result of the hire is simply too excessive,” she mentioned at Tuesday’s celebration.
Laughlin famous that the town’s new hire stabilization legal guidelines, which supply protections for tenants, are a few of the strongest within the Bay Space.
“Due to this coverage, households may have aid, rents shall be in step with wages, communities will keep intact and Antioch will keep various and powerful,” she mentioned.
Advocates with the East County Regional Group, which is sponsored by First 5 Contra Costa, not too long ago surveyed 1,000 residents concerning the metropolis’s housing challenges. Greater than 4 in 5 renters and householders surveyed mentioned they need the town to take motion to restrict annual hire will increase, stop unjust evictions, create pathways to homeownership and construct extra inexpensive housing.
On common, these responding paid 63% of their month-to-month revenue on hire, leaving little for meals, drugs, baby care and different fundamental requirements, whereas 51% of renters mentioned they nervous about eviction.
Laughlin applauded the tenants, organizers and Metropolis Council leaders who labored to go the sturdy protections, which can go into impact 30 days after the signing of the ordinance however be retroactive to Aug. 23. The rules have been formally handed by the council on a 3-2 vote after a second studying on Oct. 11.
“After we put kids first and other people earlier than earnings, we are able to win,” she mentioned.
Rocheall Pierre, an Antioch resident and member of East County Regional Group, additionally thanked tenants and the Metropolis Council members “who listened to the group, listened to our wants.”
“Whereas we have a good time this monumental, historic occasion, the combat isn't over. You already know that renters nonetheless want simply trigger for anti-harassment protections,” she mentioned. “All of those insurance policies go hand in hand. We should defend renters from excessive dangers and unfair evictions. We should defend tenants from dwelling in horrible situations.”
Mayor Lamar Thorpe promised such protections shall be a part of a future council agenda as the town continues on its path of reforms.
“As we speak isn't a celebration of simply hire management,” he mentioned. “As we speak’s a celebration of the reforms which can be altering this metropolis to make it extra open and inclusive to all the folks within the Bay Space.”
Councilwoman Monica Wilson, in the meantime, known as the signing of the hire stabilization guidelines a historic second; nevertheless, “there’s a lot extra we have to do,” she mentioned.
The councilwoman pointed to only trigger and anti-harassment protections and mentioned metropolis leaders and allies have to push for extra rights and equality all through Antioch.
“Justice is commonly deferred and delayed, but it surely comes once we come collectively and combat for what we all know is true,” Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker mentioned simply earlier than the signing ceremony. “It’s time to proceed to be daring, to be shameless and to be brazen in our pursuit for justice and fairness right here within the metropolis of Antioch.”