Marin’s November ballot saw donations go to committees supporting and opposing rent control measures.
Significant donations also came from committees supporting the Tamalpais Union High School District’s bond initiative and two candidates vying to replace District 2 Superintendent Katie Rice. The reporting period began on July 1st and ended on September 21st.
Voters in Larkspur, San Anselmo and Fairfax will weigh in on policies related to rent control. So far, the Larkspur contest has seen the biggest influx of money. Voters in the state will decide whether to further tighten the rent control ordinance they narrowly approved in March while adding tenant protections.
During the same financial reporting period, Marin Residents Defending Larkspur’s Future, which opposes stricter rent control ordinances, received more than $107,000 in donations. These include a $45,000 donation from Hummingbird Hill. $45,000 from John Atwater, founder and CEO of Prime Group; The California Apartment Association will donate $15,000.
Hummingbird Hill Limited Partnership has listed prominent Marin businessman Andrea Schulz as its contact representative. More than $91,000 was spent implementing a referendum on Larkspur’s rent control ordinance, which was included on the March ballot. Hummingbird also donated an additional $200,000 to prevent enforcement of the City of Larkspur’s rent control ordinance. However, this campaign failed and rent control was implemented.
Atwater’s Prime Group owns and manages more than $15 billion in real estate assets across the United States. Prime Skylark LLC, a subsidiary of Prime Group, purchased Skylark Apartments, a 455-unit apartment complex in Larkspur, in 2022. Shortly after, the tenant reported receiving a lease renewal notice with an 8.8% rent increase and new utility bill increases.
“I would like to thank John Atwater for pointing out that the state’s rent controls are not going far enough,” said Red Bridges, a political consulting firm that advises the commissions that support rent controls in all three municipalities. co-founder Jen Snyder said in an email. “He raised rents to the highest levels for years in a row. It’s corporate landlords like this that sparked the tenant movement in Marin.”
“Prime Residential opposes this misleading and harmful action that harms both the City of Larkspur, renters and homeowners,” Prime Group spokeswoman Grace Alidadi said in an email. An independent study prepared for Measure K found that Measure K “is not an affordable housing policy” and, in fact, it is a major contributor to affordable housing supply, property values, and the city’s essential services. This would result in a reduction in important funding. ”
“Renters would be better off with a rent relief program based on individual needs, like the one offered by Skylark,” Alidadi said, adding, “The current rent control ordinance, which goes beyond current state law, would be better off.” ” he said.
Prime Residential owns and operates more than 19,000 apartment complexes and townhomes on the West Coast.
All three municipalities have established different committees to either support or oppose rent control measures, but both committees are working together on this issue.
Michael Burke, an agent with Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty and one of the leaders of the anti-rent movement, said, “Fundamentally, efforts to promote rent control, no matter what name they operate under, are in the United States.” It’s run by democratic socialists.”・Control group.
Snyder helped found the Democratic Socialist Party of America chapter in San Francisco. Red Bridges co-founder Avery Yu advertises on his website that he is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
“I don’t think it’s unfair to say we play an important role,” said Kurt Reese, leader of the Marin Democratic Socialists of America, “but other organizations do as well. It’s fair to say that.”
Reese said those organizations include the North Bay Labor Council, the Marin Democratic Party and the Sierra Club.
Michael Sexton, director of Marin Residents, a nonprofit group of homeowners, chairs committees that oppose rent control in both Fairfax and San Anselmo. Sexton said most of the anti-rent control support in these municipalities comes from small donors, while pro-rent supporters receive large donations from unions.
The Keep Larkspur Fair and Affordable Committee, which is working to pass legislation to tighten the city’s rent control ordinance, received $13,587 during the reporting period. The donation includes $5,000 from the California Nurses Association, $5,000 from Community Service Employees International (SEIU) 1021, and $1,666 from the Marine Association of Public Employees (MAPE). The committee has raised $58,731 so far this year.
“Housing costs are a critical issue for many of our members and all working people,” MAPE Executive Director Laurie Katz said in an email. “The rent is too high.”
In Fairfax, residents will vote on Measure I, which would repeal rent controls and renter protections approved by the town council in 2022.
Three committees were established to support Measure I. The Yes on Keep Fairfax Fair Act committee has raised $1,956 so far this year. The Fairfax Fairness Act Preservation Committee, which also supported Measure I, received $20,000 during the reporting period. This includes a $15,000 donation from the California Apartment Association and a $3,200 donation from attorney Philip Welch. The committee has raised $28,200 so far this year.
The Marin Residents Committee, another supporter of Measure I, collected $10,030 in donations during the period, with a maximum of $3,000, and has raised $29,598 so far this year.
Save Fairfax Rent Control, which opposes Measure I, received $14,957 in donations during the period and $30,938 so far this year. Donations over the past three months include $4,500 from the California Nursing Association and $1,666 from MAPE.
In San Anselmo, residents will vote on two related measures. Measure N establishes a rent control ordinance that the Town Council approved by a 3-2 vote in April, and Measure O allows landlords of properties with three or more units to rent out property through no fault of the tenant. This provides penalties for canceling the contract.
The Fair and Affordable San Anselmo Commission, which supports both Measure N and Measure O, received $13,646 in contributions during the reporting period, including $5,000 from the California Nurses Association and $1,666 from MAPE. Ta. The committee has raised $23,872 so far this year.
The Marin Residents Committee Against Additional Rent Regulations, the only committee formed to oppose Measures N and O, has not raised any funds, although it has spent $4,687 so far this year. It is reported that there is no.
Rent control isn’t the only local issue attracting campaign contributions in recent months. The Safe and Modern Tamalpai Union High School District School Committee raised more than $86,000 during the reporting period. The committee has raised more than $186,000 so far this year.
Contributions during the reporting period included $9,999 each from Redwood High School Foundation, Tamm High School Foundation and Quattrocchi Kwok Architects. A $9,800 donation from the Mill Valley School Community Foundation. and a $5,000 gift from the Archie Williams High School Falcon Foundation.
In the District 2 race for county supervisor, Heather MacPhail Sridharan maintains a slight lead over her opponent, Brian Colbert, in donations. Macphail Sridharan raised $32,099 during the campaign, and has raised about $199,000 so far. Colbert received $18,934 during the period and has collected approximately $165,934 to date.
