Priced-Out in San Francisco

[KamaAina]

http://www.newsweek.com/photos-priced-out-san-francisco-280028

For nearly three decades Diego Deleo has begun most days with a simple breakfast—mixed nuts, apples, bananas and berries, a cup of coffee and perhaps a glance at the newspaper.

At 80, he has evolved with the times; an iPad for Facebook and a stroll down San Francisco’s waterfront Embarcadero for a dopio espresso at Starbucks. Periodically he jots down ideas in a small notebook he carries with him; it is the foundation of his passion these days. After the death of his wife of 37 years, he started writing poetry and going to readings in the neighborhood to better deal with his loss.

Deleo is among a growing minority of long time San Francisco residents under rent-control who are being displaced through evictions so that the properties they have long called home can be sold off to a younger generation of buyers flush with cash.

A little over a year ago, Deleo received a notice from his landlord that he was being evicted from his home of almost 30 years through the Ellis Act, a controversial California State law which allows property owners to evict tenants if they want to leave the rental business. Meant to be used as a last-resort, the Ellis Act has been used more and more by new property owners who are looking for an easy means to flip a building.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That is disgusting.

Is there no recourse?

[KamaAina]

2. One would hope through the courts

Meant to be used as a last-resort, the Ellis Act has been used more and more by new property owners who are looking for an easy means to flip a building.

Judges are supposed to read the intent of the legislators who enacted the law into their decisions. Supposed to.

[still_one]

3. What the city needs to do is build affordable places for folks like this. The real estate market in

SF is crazy. A lot of folks are being forced out. People that were in rent control are being forced out by owners either reoccupying their property, or the moment a person leaves, increase the rents to outrageous values.

[pinto]

4. My neice, her husband, new baby live in a SF rent crontolled apartment.

They're putting together a "what if" list of options. Most include leaving the city...

[KamaAina]

5. Co-ops are now commonplace in NYC

most were formed in the '70s -- by renters, to fight back against greedy landlords.

Could the same happen in SF, perhaps with credit unions providing the financing?

[SheilaT]

6. This is what I find so scary about renting

for a very long time.

Back in the 1970's a lot of apartment buildings were converted to condos or co-ops, and most of the time the renters could not afford to buy. That was especially common in NYC, and to a lesser extent, I think, in the Boston area. Now it's happening in San Francisco, and maybe the amazing thing is that it's taken this long.

[Auggie]

7. Many years ago a small business owner on Polk Street told me, "If you don't real estate ...

in San Francisco, you're screwed." That is more true than ever.

I lost my S.F. apartment a few years later when real estate speculators bought the building and converted it to a tenancy-in-common. Been there 14 years, couldn't afford to buy it. Incredible apartment.

I took some solace knowing they made "only" about $200,000 profit on the project. Had they waited 8 years they could have made several million.

[SoapBox]

8. It's criminal.

And these creeps are going to create another real estate collapse.

[PasadenaTrudy]

9. I saw an ad

for some new Hayes Valley apts. The studios are going for $3,100

[Throd]

10. Even Hitler can't get a break in San Francisco

[flamingdem]

11. Lolll! My life too, Google has moved into Venice, CA

and put the rents even further through the roof.

Everyone who works for Google leave das room!

[mackerel]

12. We moved out of The City when we decided to have kids.

You give up a lot that way but I don't think I could handle and eviction notice these days. The evictions are always
sad cases too. I mean this guy is 80, how much longer is going to live? All they'd have to do is wait a couple more years. They evicted this elder Asian couple who hardly spoke English with a special needs daughter in her 40's. Do you think a judge cared? Not one bit.

[AndyTiedye]

13. Why is there No Movement to Repeal/Amend the Ellis Act?

People seem to want to blame "techies" for this, and this is misplaced.

Where were all these long-time renters when the Ellis Act was passed?
Why no organized effort to repeal it?

[KamaAina]

14. Realtors and landlords have very good lobbyists

but you make an excellent point.