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  • Comment Detail

  • Date: 07/31/23
    First Name: Ryan
    Last Name: Bell
    Email: rjbell926@gmail.com
    Organization Type: other
    Organization: Pasadena Tenants Union

  • Comment

    My name is Ryan Bell and I am a tenant living in Pasadena, California. I am a member of the Pasadena Tenants Union, a local, all-volunteer organization supporting tenants efforts to defend their housing from exorbitant rent increases and unjust evictions.

    I was part of the campaign to pass Measure H in Pasadena in November 2022. Measure H was approved by 54% of the Pasadena voters, and amended the Pasadena City Charter by creating rent control, just cause eviction protections and other urgent tenant protections.

    The FHFA should condition it's financing of residential real estate on landlords respect for the dignity of tenants by creating
    1. limits on rent increases at 100% of regional CPI or 3%, which ever is less
    2. just cause eviction protections so that landlords are required to give a cause for evictions. The end of a lease term should not be a just cause. Nor should basic upkeep and remodeling.
    3. Fair chance regulations so that individuals with a criminal history and previous evictions are not discriminated against by unscrupulous landlords.

    Thank you for hearing my input.

    Sincerely,
    Ryan Bell