Invitation to Northern California South Bay Tenants Assembly in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 4, 2019 - PRLog -- Santa Clara County is one of the hardest hit areas in a state that is suffering the worst rental housing crisis in its history. Half of all California renters now pay over a third of their income for rent, while a third of California renters actually pay over half their income in rent. While tech and other large corporations get richer and richer, displacement and homelessness continue to grow. This situation is not sustainable.

There is a solution, and it is in our hands. Tenants are the backbone of Silicon Valley. They may not have much money in their pockets, but their numbers are large enough to change government policies and determine election outcomes. Our cause is just, and when we get out our message to the public, we win. But in order to do this, we need to organize.

The purpose of the South Bay Tenants Assembly is to empower tenants and develop leaders to advance renters rights. Some of our goals include:

·         Build unity around renters rights all across Silicon Valley, from Mountain View to Milpitas, from East Palo Alto to San Jose and beyond.

·         Exchange information, resources, and experiences.

·         Educate each other around renters rights, strategies, and base building.

·         Develop a common vision around housing as a human right.

·         Establish clear priorities and plans for 2019 and 2020.

We intend to build on the rich experiences we have already accumulated: the victory of Measure V in Mountain View, the victory of Sunnyhills tenants in Milpitas, and the winning of just cause and other new rent control measures in San Jose. Although the Proposition 10 campaign did not prevail, we learned important lessons about campaigning on a statewide level.

The South Bay Tenants Assembly will take place from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, March 16. It will be held at the Laborers Local 270 Hall, 2195 Fortune Drive in San Jose (in north San Jose near the Great Mall). Lunch, childcare, and Spanish and Vietnamese translation will be provided. Please join us!

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/Affordable-Housing-Network-of-Sa...

Sincerely,

Silicon Valley Renters Rights Coalition

Mountain View Tenants Coalition

Sunnyhills Tenants Association (Milpitas)

Sunnyvale Tenants Union

De Anza Renters Rights Campaign

Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy, and Service (CARAS) (Gilroy)