Dear Fellow Albany Property Owner,

A couple years ago, tenant groups were informed of the Social and Economic Justice Commission’s hearings and they sent notices to their fellow tenants to attend those hearings to speak in favor of rent control. The SEJC gave no notice to any of the affected rental property owners so they could present their opposing points of view, voice objections, and present the results of numerous studies which show that rent control doesn’t work and unfairly punishes landlords. A group of Albany rental providers organized and founded APRA (Albany Property Rights Advocates). We immediately went to work to counter these efforts to impose rent control in Albany.

Here is what APRA has accomplished in regard to stopping Rent Control in Albany since then.

• Albany rental property owners organized, establishing the Albany Property Rights Advocates (APRA), a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization.
• APRA volunteers have attended every City Council meeting to advocate against rent control, inform the Council of rent control dangers and the deleterious effect it will have on Albany’s rental housing.
• Successfully, at least for the moment, encouraged the Council to abandon attempts by tenant groups calling for a rent increase moratorium, rollback of rents to a prior date, and just cause eviction.

What has happened since 2016?

• Albany City Council proposed and passed a rent review ordinance.
• Rent control has been enacted in many jurisdictions throughout the Bay Area and state.
• Rent Control has been on the ballot in more and more communities.
• Attempts to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act protecting some rental provider and homeowner rights. Fortunately this measure was defeated State-wide. In Alameda County it actually passed by a slim margin.
• Rent regulations affecting most property owners, including single family home owners, and both small and large rental property providers, have been put in place in many surrounding communities.

What can you do? Join APRA!

• Membership dues will support APRA activities such as: website maintenance; copy and mailing services; legal services to APRA; newsletters to members and rental providers; notifying you of urgent matters affecting your property rights.
• Educate City Council members that the answer is more housing, not rent control.
• Attend Council meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month.
• Follow Council actions on cable TV and on YouTube (KALB).
• Let your voice be heard by the Albany City Council by volunteering your time and service to APRA.

Once ANY form of rent control is put in place, it is only a matter of time until its dangerous effects will expand and become more restrictive.

Contact us at info@albanypropertyrights.org, or come to the meeting on Thursday and show your support by joining APRA if you are not already a member.

Thank you for your support, as we help you protect your property rights.

Sincerely,

Peter Campbell, President, Albany Property Rights Advocates, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization.