By Michael Tarbet, SMRR Organizer
No one in the tenant community thought Senate Bill 985, by Santa Monica Senator Sheila Kuehl, would raise many landlord hackles. It was modest and fair. However, it became one of the most controversial bills on the 2001 legislative calendar.
During almost seven months of struggle, SB 985 finally won with a vote to spare in both the Senate and Assembly. Along the way, it was amended five times, reviewed by three committees and considered on the floor of both houses twice. By the time you receive this, we'll know if the Governor signed or vetoed.
What was most important about the bill was the struggle, the lessons learned and the relationships forged.
Christine Minnehan, the Legislative Director of the Western Center for Law and Poverty lead the effort providing the framework, getting input and honing the language of the legislation. We are lucky to have her.
Senator Kuehl was masterful at every level of the legislative battle; strategizing the most likely avenues to passage in a constantly shifting environment seems to be her forte. Shooting from the lip while dancing with multiple partners and juggling chain saws was an everyday feat. We are lucky to have her.
Jackie Goldberg was the floor manager in the Assembly, and Assembly members John Dutra, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Fran Pavley and Gil Cedillo were eloquent.
In northern California, Randy Silverman, formerly of the Berkeley Rent Board, coordinated efforts.
SMRR was chosen to work in the southern part of the state to pull together tenants, lawyers and organizers to work with and on the politicians. We provided two (Jennifer Kennedy and Dolores Press) of the six people who testified at committee hearings. We e-mailed, telephoned and faxed over a hundred groups and individuals from beyond Santa Barbara to San Diego. They contacted their Senators and Assembly members, and it worked.
Important special efforts were made by many including SMRR Co-Chair and former Mayor Denny Zane and Assembly member Fran Pavley, former Mayor Jim Conn, tenant attorneys Rod Field, Andrew Zanger and Sonya Molho, LA area housing advocates Enrique Aranda, Elena Popp, Lee Welinsky and David Roberti. This is what it takes to get a simple, fair and necessary piece of tenant legislation to become an Act. We made alliances and became stronger. It will put us in good stead for the struggles ahead.
Editors’ note: SMRR thanks our own organizer,
Michael Tarbet, for his leadership and commitment to this legislative effort.