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1989
- EPACT successfully led the residents of East Palo Alto in preserving the Rent
Stabilization and Good Cause for Eviction Ordinance in five elections, the last one being
held on June 20, 1989.
- EPACT played a major role in promoting every campaign in support of the parcel tax, a
tax which has provided 20 percent of East Palo AltoÕs general funds between July 1989 and
June 1997.
- EPACT was the principle grassroots group active in the successful passage of the Measure
A campaign of 1989 that established the parcel tax.
1993 -1997
- EPACT organized the Measure D campaign of 1993. In addition, EPACT played a central role
in the successful Measure C campaign of 1994, which extended the parcel tax to June 1997.
- In 1994 and 1995 EPACT was a major participant in the fight to defeat the passage of the
Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which did not protect renters from arbitrary rent
increases and eviction throughout the state of California. At the request of EPACT, the
mayor testified during the 1994 public hearings in Sacramento that this act was a threat
to the well-being of many renters. EPACT organized public demonstrations as well as
meetings with local legislators to oppose the passage of this infamous legislation.
However, despite their activism the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act was signed into law
on August 5, 1995.
1999 - 2000
- EPACT stood behind the effort to protect East Palo Alto renters from housing
discrimination based on the source of their income. This effort was in response to
Congressional legislation passed on January 1, 1999 that discriminated against low-income
families with Section 8 housing vouchers. This effort began in 1999 and was completed in
2000.
- When the East Palo Alto Redevelopment Agency attempted to destroy Cooley Apartments for
the Ravenswood 101 Retail Center, the EPACT Education Fund organized its members to pay
for the rehabilitation of dilapidated apartments. This allowed residents to remain in
their homes until they received relocation benefits that would enable many lifelong
renters to become homeowners for the first time.
- In 1999 the EPACT Education Fund organized a meeting to inform residents of their rights
under the Section 8 program and to encourage San Mateo County housing officials to find
housing for poor families. There were over 120 people present at the meeting.
- In November 2000 EPACT was informed that a landlord was attempting to displace hundreds
of low-income renters, who were mostly African American and Latino, from three apartment
buildings. As a result, EPACT organized a campaign to inform residents of their rights
under the East Palo Alto Rent Stabilization Program. This resulted in mediation between
the landlord and the tenants, which enabled hundreds of residents to avoid homelessness or
substandard housing.
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