Friend --

6 months ago, the largest landlord in the world bought my home.

Overnight, Blackstone bought nearly 6,000 affordable homes in my community, making them responsible for the lives and well-being of tens of thousands of working class people. 

It’s already been a nightmare. Amidst a pandemic-induced economic downtown, mega Wall Street landlords like Blackstone have been gobbling up properties across the world with almost no accountability and no oversight - leaving families like mine incredibly vulnerable to rent increases, extreme negligence in repairs and unfair evictions.

Right now we have a chance to tax and hold these corporate landlords to account by passing AB 1199 (Gibson) - and the bill is coming to it’s first vote in the Assembly in just weeks. Click here to urge Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee Chair Autumn Burke to support AB 1199!

After a fire that pushed my family out of our home, Blackstone illegally evicted me, when they sent a letter saying that they would no longer pay for our temporary housing in a hotel and that our lease was terminated - in violation of state law. But because almost all the available affordable homes in our area are also owned by Blackstone, in desperation not to become homeless we found another Blackstone home almost the same as our old one - but for $217 more!

This is what corporate landlords do - they cut corners, evict families, and gouge their tenants for every dollar we have while doing little to nothing to keep our homes safe, healthy and habitable. As Blackstone buys out more properties across the world every day, they must be held to account. Take 1 minute to email Assemblymember Autumn Burke and urge her to support AB 1199!

As we face another economic crisis just one decade after the Great Recession which stripped millions of families of their homes and wealth while Wall Street got filthy rich, we can not let history repeat itself. Renters can’t compete with Wall Street, first time homebuyers can’t compete with Wall Street, even small businesses can’t compete with Wall Street. They must be made to pay and they must be held accountable.

Urge Autumn Burke to support AB 1199, the Corporate Landlord Transparency and Tax Bill now!

In solidarity,

Ashley Lett, ACCE San Diego Member

ACCE Action
http://www.acceaction.org/