Dialogues 2017 – Renters Alliance

Dialogue #7: My Takeaway

August 25, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, Lili Bosse, recap

Facilitator Sukhsimranjit Singh wrapped up dialogue #7 like a man with a mission: “Let’s close the gap – I give the power to you but we need to move forward.” Moving forward is a challenge when tenants and landlords cannot to come to agreement, even conceptually, on something like the maximum allowed annual rent increase. But it helps when Mayor Lili Bosse is in the room. Here’s my takeaway from the final facilitated dialogue that hinged on that critical policy issue.

Process

2017 Dialogue #7: All About the Allowed Rent Increase

August 24, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, max increase, recap, Sukhsimranjit Singh, tenant-landlord committee

In this final summer 2017 facilitated dialogue, landlords and tenants found little to agree on. The agenda centered on several issues from the previous session’s agenda: the annual rent increase, relocation fees, no-just-cause tenancy terminations, and exemptions from rent stabilization for 4-unit and smaller properties. In this #7 facilitated dialogue it was clear City Council would be resolving the tough issues.

Process

2017 Dialogue #6: Rental Unit Registration and More

August 17, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, duplex exemption, Lili Bosse, recap, rental unit registration, Susan Healy Keene, tenant-landlord committee

This past Sunday, City of Beverly Hills convened the second roundtable dialogue involving committees of tenants and landlords. “We will try to conclude these issues today without war stories,” Facilitator Sukhsimranjit Singh said. “We are moving towards a middle ground.”

Process

2017 Dialogue #5: Registry, Habitability and More

August 4, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, habitability standard, recap, tenant-landlord committee

City of Beverly Hills in the spring tossed further consideration of the rent stabilization policy to the community to hug-it-out over the key policy details. The four facilitated dialogues that followed identified key issues. This dialog #5 drilled down to tenant-landlord communication; a new habitability standard for individual units; and the maximum allowed annual rent increase. This is our recap.

Process

2017 Dialogue #3: Tenants United on RSO

July 18, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, max increase, no-just-cause eviction, recap, relocation fees

This third facilitated dialogue was yet another break from expectations: we broke into two groups, tenants and landlords, with each in a separate room to talk about the key issues. Regardless of what transpired in the landlord’s room, we tenants found a renewed purpose in working together. And we presented a unified front when it came to defending the current ordinance.

Process

2017 Dialogue #2: Hardball on the Allowed Rent Increase

July 15, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, max increase, recap

Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh’s facilitated dialogue #2 was a departure from Monday’s first session in that here we drilled down to the single concern important to every tenant and landlord: How much can the rent rise each year? The ‘consensus’ position that emerged will not make tenants happy!

Process

2017 Dialogue #1: Setting the Agenda

July 12, 2017June 22, 2019 Mark Elliot Dialogues 2017, recap

Facilitator Sukhsimranjit Singh opened the city’s first tenant-landlord facilitated dialogue on Monday with three requests: be respectful, speak up, and listen. It acknowledged the divisions among tenants and landlords that have emerged once the city revised the rent stabilization ordinance in January of 2017. While the goal is enhanced communication the objective for this session was to set the agenda.