The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated various inequalities in Concord and Contra Costa County, disproportionately affecting women, undocumented, immigrant communities and communities of color who often lack stable, affordable housing and work in temporary or low-wage, essential jobs without paid sick leave.

Landlord harassment has been an issue for far too long and has only worsened in recent months. Now is the time for Concord to act and protect its residents.

-Tenants in Concord consistently report mistreatment from a few unethical landlords. This harassment takes the form of the landlord:
shutting off water and electricity as a form of control and intimidation refusing to make key repairs in a timely manner or maintain health standards required by the state invading the right to privacy of tenants threatening eviction, rent increase, of calling the Sheriff or ICE to scare or retaliate against tenants standing up for their rights

-Our current laws are insufficient to protect tenants from landlord harassment. Harassment is not tolerated in the workplace, so why should it be allowed in our homes?

-We have seen families very traumatized by harassment, especially children. Some have had to seek counseling services. We urge that the ordinance include language around emotional and/or punitive damages

-We think the Long Beach ordinance is the base-line for tenant protections, we ask the City Council to not whittle it away.