LOS ANGELES -- Although Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order that allows cities and counties to stop landlords from evicting tenants who miss their next rent payment, tenants' rights organizations say the order doesn’t go far enough.
Newsom’s executive order allows local governments to stop landlords from evicting tenants who miss their next rent payment, but the action is not mandated nor is it statewide, according to Lost Coast Outpost.
Executive order N-28-20, signed by the governor on March 16 states:
“Whereas, local jurisdictions based on their particular needs may, therefore, determine that additional measures to promote housing security and stability are necessary to protect public health or mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.”
Tenant-rights groups, such as Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), would have preferred a statewide moratorium on all evictions, except those necessitated by domestic violence or similar circumstances.
"Many tenants are prepared to rent strike if the governor does not take further action to protect them. Tens of thousands of people have already lost their incomes and will not be able to pay rent April 1," said Anya Svanoe, spokesperson for ACCE, a leading tenant-rights group.
On March 15th, Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti issued a temporary moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent for tenants unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the moratorium is helpful for tenants, it's burdensome for landlords, according to Jeff Lewis, an attorney in Los Angeles.
"In a time of legitimate emergency, if all those things can be shown, then the state is allowed to infringe upon constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly," he said. "People who own buildings have to pay the mortgage and utilities but tenants are told they won’t be evicted if they don't pay rent. A landlord cannot sue Mayor Garcetti. All they can do is apply for a Small Business Administration loan or grant."
In an open letter to the governor and state legislators, which was posted online on March 19, ACCE accuses the governor of failing to use his power as chief administrator of the state of California to enact bold measures that would provide collective safety and security.
“His [Gov. Newsom's] executive order on housing is weak and does little more than encourage cities and banks to provide housing protection to a small subset of people from potential eviction or foreclosure, but only if they choose to. The order allows foreclosure and eviction filings to continue. The order allows eviction proceedings to move forward. The order allows foreclosure auctions to continue and permits sheriff’s departments to throw people onto the streets."
Next steps, according to ACCE, include organizing communities to take collective action to protect each other.
“If vacant homes aren’t opened, we will occupy them,” the open letter declares. “If economic security is not guaranteed, we will call for general rent and mortgage strikes. Now is the time to rise to the occasion and protect the most vulnerable Californians.”