For Immediate Release	Contact:	Michael Simonsen
August 5, 2002		619-236-6616 619-884-7335 Cell

Frye Introduces New Law to End Unjust Evictions

ORDINANCE WILL HELP END ARBITRARY AND RETALIATORY EVICTIONS FOR THE ESTIMATED 600,000 PLUS RENTERS IN SAN DIEGO

San Diego, California - Today, Councilmember Frye announced her proposal to adopt an unjust eviction law to protect renters living on a month-to-month lease. Councilmember Frye, surrounded by community leaders, tenants rights advocates, affordable housing organizations, and District Six renters, discussed how an unjust eviction ordinance will help end arbitrary and retaliatory evictions for the estimated 600,000 plus renters in San Diego.

Councilmember Frye is calling on Chair of the Land Use & Housing Committee to docket the proposed ordinance at a future Land Use & Housing Committee as soon as possible.

On the eve of the City's "Housing Day," Councilmember Frye's announcement coincided with a community rally and personal testimonies regarding the difficult condition many tenants face due to the housing crisis.

"Currently, some landlords are afforded unbridled power because of a near zero vacancy rate, exorbitant rental prices, and long waiting lists," Frye stated. "The adoption of an unjust eviction law will help to level the playing field between landlords and tenants by reducing capricious evictions and deterring intimidating tactics by landlords."

An unjust eviction law enumerates the reasons by which a person on a month-to-month lease can be evicted. As it is now, many tenants are given a 30-day notice with no explanation about why they are being evicted. The proposed ordinance will not change the ability to evict or modify the eviction process, but will merely require that the cause for eviction is disclosed to the tenant in the eviction notice.

Councilmember Frye emphasized that the ordinance will not apply to the majority of responsible landlords. "The adoption of an unjust eviction law will only target the small sector of landlords that skirt the law and abuse tenants," Frye said. "By adopting an unjust eviction law, the City will set clear standards of behavior for landlords and tenants while providing a sense of stability, security, and community," Frye commented.

Joining Councilmember Frye was Steve Kellman, Executive Director of the Tenants Legal Center, whose office provides low cost legal assistance to tenants. The center is one of the few resources San Diegans can access in case of a rental dispute. Kellman stated, "Our office receives 10,000 to 12,000 hits a month on our website and over 200 phone calls a day from San Diegans who have problems with their landlords or rental disputes. Keeping up with the demand is very challenging for us." Kellman added, "By adopting a law to protect against unjust evictions, San Diego may help to provide reasonable standards of behavior for tenants while setting clear guidelines for eviction. The new standards created by an Unjust Eviction Law should decrease the volume of unfair or unreasonable eviction-based rental disputes."

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