No Scarcity of Tenant Horror StoriesTommi Avicolli-Meccabyline‚ May. 14‚ 2008They came to tell their horror stories to members of the Land Use Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. They were tenants from units owned by Skyline/Citi Apartments, an outfit that has been rapidly acquiring rent-controlled property in San Francisco. Supervisor Chris Daly, in conjunction with several community organizations, arranged the May 12 hearing. According to testimony by tenants and a representative of the City Attorney’s Office, Skyline buys buildings and then harasses or intimidates the long-term renters into leaving or accepting buyouts. That way they can jack up the rents on their units. SF does not have vacancy control. Once a rent-controlled apartment is empty, the sky’s the limit on how much the landlord can raise the rent. |