710 Freeway: Tenants to Picket Caltrans Hearings Over Rental Rates

Over 400 residential rental properties reside along the 710 freeway right of way and this week a group of those tenants—specifically United Caltrans Tenants—is picketing two Caltrans hearings due to a disagreement over rental rates.

The group lives along the right of way, between where the 710 Freeway ends at Valley Boulevard north of the 10 Freeway and 210 Freeway in Pasadena.

See more about the hearings and what is being considered by the Department of Transportation here. 

United Caltrans Tenants announced the following protests and their reasoning:

Tuesday, July 9, 2013 between 5:00 PM – 6:30 pm PDT

at the El Sereno Library 5226 S. Huntington Drive, 90032

The United Caltrans Tenants will be conducting a picketing protest at a hearing for public comment to Caltrans, California Department of Transportation to enact an emergency policy to restrict the usage of the affordable rate act policy for residential housing rental rate increases.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013 between 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM PDT

Pasadena Convention Center, Conference Center, 300 East Green St., Pasadena 91101, Lower Level, Room 211 

Caltrans’ residential housing division began on March 1, 2013 to raise the rental rates of the tenants of the 710 Freeway Right of Way houses by a drastic increase of 10 % every 6 months to a new monthly rate Caltrans has determined to charge for the property rental.  In most cases the new monthly rental rate will be up to 70 % MORE.

The Caltrans Right of Way Division is requiring what it has determined to be the “Market Rate” of the houses, but refuses to make necessary repairs to bring the houses into the required livable housing standards – broken windows gone unrepaired for months, toilet repair, etc.  Caltrans has engaged in slumlord actions. Caltrans will not provide monthly billing or allow payments locally as the only required payment location is their Sacramento office, even though they are located in downtown Los Angeles.

… The residents must maintain the rental properties in livable conditions, but Caltrans is reluctant to do their part.

What do you think of these protests? Do you plan to protest any of these hearings? Share in the comments.