We urge the Long Beach City Council to establish a Responsible Renter’s Ordinance that will help create standards for which renters can live without fear of unwarranted eviction.
A Responsible Renter’s Ordinance for the City of Long Beach, will:

* Promote stability - By protecting tenants from eviction without a legitimate reason - renters remain in their homes longer and invest in their community.
* Put a halt to wrongful evictions by protecting Long Beach renters, including seniors, tenants with disabilities, communities of color, low-income residents and families with children who are disproportionately impacted by displacement.
* Allow landlords to retain full rights to evict a tenant for breach of rental contract and non-payment of rent.

Long Beach is a diverse city with nearly half a million residents, 60% of whom rent. The catastrophe that renters in Long Beach are facing is deepening and answers have been in short supply. Now with an aging housing stock, declining vacancy rates and rising rents, Long Beach renters are under tremendous pressure. These factors contribute to substandard living conditions, an increase in evictions, and an ever-growing tension between landlords and tenants.

Now we have an opportunity to strengthen our neighborhoods and homes by supporting the health and wellbeing of our community, by developing standards that promote stability for all Long Beach residents.

Again, I urge the Long Beach City Council to establish a Responsible Renter’s Ordinance that will help protect tenants from unfair evictions.