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For up to date information, ways to help, and copies of the TOPA ordinances defeated in Richmond and shelved in Berkeley visit www.STOPTOPA.org

Our goal is to get the word out to as many people as possible. If you can, please donate to our 100% grassroots volunteer campaign HERE

Thank you!!!

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ATTENTION ALL OAKLAND RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS,
HOMEOWNERS, FUTURE OWNERS AND CONCERNED
RESIDENTS AND TENANTS

Be aware of the extreme legislation your elected officials are looking to push forward:

Oakland city council member Nikki Fortunato Bas (District 2) has recently announced plans to develop and pursue the Tenant's Opportunity Purchase Act (TOPA) ordinance.

Proponents say TOPA is another "tool" to protect low income tenants from displacement by granting them first right of refusal to negotiate a purchase with the owner prior to the building hitting the open market. However this is far from the truth. 

Enacting TOPA would be the biggest violation of private property rights Oakland has ever seen. Oakland has already some of the strictest rent control in the state. Now the council proposes to push the limit even further: Not only does the Oakland City Council and special Interests want to control rents, the purpose of this ordinance aims to control how owners are able to sell their property, to who they can sell, and control the PRICE owners can sell their property for.

This ordinance would affect 100% of privately owned rental property, including the renting of your own home

Hundreds of small time owners have already been crippled by the regressive nature of Measure Y, forcing many to sell due to fear and financial duress. Homeowners who had hoped to rent their homes for retirement income or while they worked out-of-state now realize they can no longer reclaim their homes without paying large owner move-in fees and possibly incurring large legal fees if challenged. Now this ordinance attempts to punish all property owners even further, at the expense of our city's future and for the gain of third party special interest groups.

Recently Richmond citizens voiced strong non-partisan opposition to similar proposed TOPA legislation. There were no arguments in support of this devastating proposal. The council listened and unanimously voted to remove TOPA from further consideration.

A brief summary of features of TOPA legislation recently proposed in Berkeley and Richmond and likely in Oakland (final ordinance details to be announced at City Council). 

• Allows for the sales price of the property offered to tenant(s) or their third-party assignees to be set by a "city trained" appraiser.
• Prevents a property from going on the market for sale until every renter waives his or her rights in writing, creating lengthy, unpredictable time periods in which a sale, or lack thereof, can be controlled by the tenant or the tenant's third-party assignees.  Buyers will walk forcing you to sell below market.
• Any property purchased by a tenant through this ordinance would then grant the city the power to convert purchased properties to "permanently affordable" standards by controlling its future renters, rent levels, and allowable property value for 99 years.
• The third-party assignees are afforded a potential exemption from these
  permanently affordable housing requirements.
• Any owner who is found in violation of the regulatory process could be fined $1000/per day per unit.
• This ordinance is not a progressive way to promote ownership opportunities for existing tenants. There is currently no law that prevents nor discourages a sale between tenant and owner.

This proposal is simply a blatant attempt to facilitate the seizure of private property through a coercive set of regulations. We cannot let this action by the city council fly under the radar.

PLEASE DON’T SIT THIS OUT. MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!

It is imperative we tell the Councilwoman Bas and the rest of the city council, in as many ways as possible, that we completely oppose any form of TOPA in OAKLAND

SIGN THIS PETITION, THEN CALL YOUR COUNCIL PERSON AND LET THEM KNOW YOU OPPOSE TOPA!!!

This petition is part of a volunteer, grassroots effort by concerned Oakland residents. Please join us.

Thank you!

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Nikki Fortunato Bas - District 2
*** TOPA SPONSOR  (510) 238-7002  ***
nfbas@oaklandca.gov

Sheng Thao - District 4
*** TOPA Co-Sponsor ***
510-238-7004
sthao@oaklandca.gov

Dan Kalb - District 1
(510) 238-7001
dkalb@oaklandca.gov

Rebecca Kaplan - at-large
(510) 238-7008
rkaplan@oaklandca.com

Noel Gallo - District 5
Phone: 510-238-7005
Ngallo@oaklandca.gov

Loren Taylor - District 6
LTaylor@oaklandca.gov
(510) 238-7006

Treva Reid - District 7
TReid@oaklandnet.com
(510) 238-7007

Carroll Fife - District 3
510-238-7003
cfife@oaklandca.gov