Fair Housing and Youth Funding Ballot Initiative Signature Collections Begin Saturday

RICHMOND, CA- Signature-gathering efforts for two possible Richmond ballot measures will begin on Saturday, according to supporters of these initiatives.

Thousands of signatures are needed by June for voters to get a say in November on the proposed ordinances, the creation of a fund to support the city's youth programs as well as a rent control policy.

Fair and Affordable Richmond, a group of elected officials, renters and homeowners, is celebrating the launch of a petition for Rent Control and Just Cause Eviction Protection at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Nevin Community Center at 598 Nevin Ave.

The group needs to gather 4,198 signatures to introduce a ballot measure that would place a cap on rent increases for renters living in units built before 1995 and provided protection from evictions for reasons that are "without just cause." A rent control ordinance was originally passed by Richmond's City Council in August, but a petition introduced by opponents blocked the ordinance in September, a day before it would have taken effect.

Supporters at the time were confident that Richmond residents would pass the ordinance as a ballot measure.

The other Saturday petition drive kick-off is for the Richmond Kids First Initiative, a potential ballot measure that would allocate up to three percent of the city's unrestricted general fund budget by 2020 to expanding youth services.

It was announced by the Invest in Youth Coalition, a joint effort organized through the RYSE Youth Center involving nonprofits, elected officials and financial backers. The children's fund would bring further fiscal support to violence and homelessness prevention efforts, assistance for young people involved in the criminal legal system, job training and other areas, the initiative's supporters said.

Supporters will celebrate the launch of a petition drive -- a push for more than 6,000 signatures by June -- at 2 p.m. Sunday in the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts at 339 11th St.

By Bay City News