On September 19, the San Francisco Tenants Union (SFTU) celebrated 30 years of keeping thousands of SF families in housing that they could afford.  The event started off with counseling stations scattered throughout the city.  When the union was originally organized those 30 years ago, organizers simply set up tables on street corners to inform everyone of their rights as tenants and to assist individuals in addressing issues with their landlords.

In honor of the grass roots beginnings of the program, participants once again set up tables throughout the city to provide assistance to renters.  The Hall of Fame Ceremony was conducted at the Tenants Union facility located at 58 Capp Street in San Francisco.  Barbeque, food, soft drink, beer and wine was served.

Four people were honored during the event.  Affordable Housing Alliance Director Mitchell Omerberg is a major activist in the ongoing battle for rent oversight.  A San Francisco Rent Board key representative Polly Marshall is also a major player in the battle for rent oversight.  Former volunteer coordinator for the SFTU, Steve Schubert, now with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, was a major organizer with the launch of the CitiSTOP campaign.  Dean Preston was recognized for founding Tenants Together, a much-needed state-wide tenant’s agency.

San Francisco was one of the first cities in the Union to adopt rent control.  In 1979, the city adopted a law that has proved to greatly assist renters in staying in their homes.  Many renters living in the city would have been ousted had it not been for legislation that put a cap on rent amounts.

Original laws have been revised several times over to regulate limits on annual rent increases and to open up more who are protected by rent control.  Rental laws now include protection from eviction for seniors, the disabled, those who become critically ill and for long-term renters.

Senior citizens and disables renters were previously evicted by real estate speculators using the Ellis Act.  To curb the use of such evictions, buildings that have senior and disabled tenants are now barred from converting units to condominiums.

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