🌹Berkeley Rent Board Convention

Zoom Registration Link: bit.ly/2022ConventionZoom

Select the progressive, pro-tenant Berkeley Rent Board slate!

Tenants, homeowners, and those small landlords who fully support tenants' rights - including rent control and eviction protections - are seeking candidates for the November 2022 Rent Board election. The sponsors of this year’s convention are the Berkeley Berkeley Tenants Union, Friends of Adeline, the East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, the Young Democratic Socialists of America – UC Berkeley, Our Revolution East Bay, Healthy Black Families, Berkeley Citizens Action, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the Gray Panthers, the Green Party, SEIU 1021, the Center for Independent Living, and the new Berkeley Progressive Alliance.

Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Board plays a vital role in ensuring fair rental prices and decent living conditions. The Board serves renters and landlords alike and is known throughout the state for the breadth and quality of its services.

This year there will be FIVE Rent Board seats on the ballot. At the convention, each aspiring commissioner will share with you their experience, philosophy, and goals.

All who fully support tenants’ rights - including rent control and strong tenant protections - are welcome to seek selection as a convention candidate!

All 2022 candidates will be vetted and chosen by the Rent Board Convention taking place online on Wednesday, June 29 from 7 PM to 9 PM. This will be followed by online voting (or by paper ballot for those without the internet) through Friday, July 15 (the link to request a ballot will be released shortly). Knowledge of and experience with rent control, eviction protections, and other tenant issues is not mandatory but is certainly a plus for candidates.

A mandatory interview by representatives from sponsoring organizations takes place in early June (likely two dates between June 4 and June 11), so candidates should keep their schedule clear during this window.

The questionnaire/candidate packet can be found at bit.ly/2022CandidatePacket, and must be completed by SUNDAY, MAY 22; ratings will be based on the questionnaire, as well as the follow-up interview. Ratings and comments from community leaders are provided to convention voters to help guide their choices.

To vote at the Convention, you must be a Berkeley resident at least thirteen years old (including college/university students, unhoused residents, non-citizens, and other persons ineligible to register to vote) who fully supports tenants’ rights. Per law, to run for the Berkeley Rent Board you must be registered to vote in Berkeley.

Anyone interested in running should contact berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com.

Please consider making a donation to help us cover all of our costs. To donate, go to www.berkeleytenants.org and click the yellow "Donate" button in the upper right corner of the website's homepage (please type "Convention" in the "Add a message to BTU" line). If you are currently in Berkeley and would prefer to make a donation by cash or check (which lets us avoid paying a transaction fee), you can email berkeleytenantsconvention@gmail.com to have someone come pick up your donation in person (we'll do so in a way that maintains proper social distancing).

CONVENTION TIMELINE
• Sunday, May 22: Candidate questionnaire is due
• Early June (likely two dates within 6/4 - 6/11): Mandatory candidate interview
• Wednesday, June 29 at 7-9 PM: Convention occurs on Zoom, register here
• Monday, July 11: Last day to request a ballot
• Saturday, July 16: Last day to vote

IMPORTANT LINKS

Details

When: June 29, 2022, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: bit.ly/2022ConventionZoom
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