Guillen, Abel

jamesevann@aol.com
Saturday, January 30, 2016 11:11 AM
McElhaney, Lynette; Kalb, Dan; Guillen, Abel; Campbell Washington, Annie; Gallo, Noel;
Brooks, Desley; Reid, Larry; Kaplan, Rebecca; Office of the Mayor; Schaaf, Libby
Moss, Tomiquia
RE: FEB 2 CITY COUNCIL -- AGENDA ITEM 7.11 -- APPOINTMENTS TO RENT BOARD -PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE !!

From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:

Oakland

Tenants

Union

P.O. Box # 10573 / Oakland CA 94610 / (510) 704-5276 or 763-0142 / www.oaklandtenantsunion.org

TO:
Mayor Libby Schaaf
Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney
Council Vice President Larry Reid
Council Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan
Councilmember Dan Kalb

Councilmember Abel Guillen

Councilmember Anne Campbell-Washington
Councilmember Noel Gallo
Councilmember Desley Brooks
Dear Mayor Schaaf and Council Members
Regarding Item 7.11 of the City Council agenda for Feb 2, Benjamin Scott and Edward Lai are nominated for REAPPOINTED to the Rent Board even though their regular terms are "timed-out."
PLEASE DO NOT RE-APPOINT "BENJAMIN SCOTT" TO THE RENT BOARD -- for at least the following reasons:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Scott has been a Board Member as "landlord representative since 2008.

Scott has served the Charter-ordained limit of 2 full 3 year terms.
In addition, Scott has already completed an extra 1-year "holdover" term -- as permitted by the Charter.
Throughout his terms, Scott has dominated Board discussions, and very very seldom has voted in a tenant's

favor, regardless of merit.

5.
Although all Board members are pledged to adjudge each case justly and fairly on the facts, Scott votes strictly
pro-landlord.
5.
Although Scott has served his terms as "landlord representative," Scott has stated from his Board seat

that he is a "tenant."
6.
'Heaven Forbid' if Scott should somehow be moved into a "tenant seat" -- all pretense of
justice and fairness would go out the window.
7.
Term-Limits are written into the Charter for a purpose. Why skirt the Charter by re-appointing "termed-out
members" to "alternate" seats."
8.
Nothing in the Rent Ordinance specifically specifies that "alternate members" are term-limited.
9.
The Charter proscribed "term limits" are for the very purpose of permitting a broad range of residents to serve
on volunteer boards.
10.
Extending the appointment of Benjamin Scott will set an undesirable "precedent." No such action has ever been
taken before for the
1

Rent Board.
RE: APPOINTMENT OF "EDWARD LAI" AS "ALTERNATE" (neither landlord nor tenant) REPRESENTATIVE:
1.
2.

Edward Lai, homeowner, has served on the Rent Board since 2009.
Lai has completed the Charter-ordained limit of 2 full 3-year terms,

a total of 6 years.
3.
Lai is eligible to remain on the Board in his present seat for a 1-year "holdover" period.
4.
No action is required for Edward Lai to begin one (1) additional year of service during a
"holdover" year.
5.
There is no reason or justification to move Lai from "holdover" status to "alternate" status.
6.
Tenant Advocates do not object to Edward Lai serving an additional "holdover" year, as that is already a
prerogative granted by Charter

to Mayor Schaaf.
James E Vann, CoFounder
Oakland Tenants Union