Page 4 - Sonoma County Gazette 6-20
P. 4

LETTERS con’t from page 3
During a recent zoom gathering, my granddaughter Katie suddenly said, “I wish things would return to normal.” After the meeting I reflected on what was normal before the pandemic.
Eviction Ban
Demystified: Resources
for Landlords &
Tenants
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
Visit Legal Aid of Sonoma County’s
   Returning to NORMAL
website here: https://legalaidsc.org/ programs/home/ Also, the newly- formed Sonoma County Tenants Union is actively organizing tenants.
$730 billion dollars allocated
to defense, a big portion going to upgrading our nuclear arsenal. Anyone know of a bomb that can be dropped to stop the virus, I don’t.
I appreciate the author’s knowledge and the effort to give both tenants and landlords information about the new housing regulations related to COVID-19. There is however, some additional information that may be helpful.
If you want to join the movement or are in need of support, contact SCTU by email at sctu707@gmail.com or by phone at (707) 387-1984.
We have a program that has been drastically cut and Trump budget chief holds firm on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cuts amid the corona virus outbreak.
The past few months have brought great uncertainty to all of us. Legal Aid’s clients represent the most vulnerable in our community. We represent seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, and low- income families. Many of these members of our community were living on a month-to-month basis before the public health crisis.
~ Shelley Clark ,
Housing Policy Attorney
Ronit Rubinoff, Executive Director, Legal Aid of Sonoma County
 To me it’s obvious. because of the cuts we were not prepared and as
a result, we do not have enough ventilators, masks or protective gear for our nurses and doctors who have use garbages bag for protection. What would our world be like if they all got the virus.
Now faced with sudden unemployment or unexpected medical bills, these populations are the most vulnerable to housing insecurity and even homelessness.
Matt Hartley
Neighborhoods are
for Neighbors - NOT
Sorry you decided to move to a well known vacation destination that has been a vacation destination for 100+ years. Things don’t need to change just because you decided to move there.
Status of Police
Oversight Measure -
Vacation Rentals
 We fear words like social democracy which supports the idea of, “We the People,” being
the highest priority Many believe, “We are the greatest country in the world, we are number one.” That’s interesting, sounds like a self- fulfilling prophecy. We are number one; we have the highest amount of new cases and new deaths
Here are some key facts that tenants should keep in mind during this unprecedented time:
Incident in Graton
Our priorities need to be revaluated NOW.
• Even though you cannot be evicted right now because that requires a court process that has been temporarily suspended, your landlord can still give you a notice to pay rent or to terminate your tenancy for a lawful reason. The landlord can use this notice to start the eviction process 90 days after the State of Emergency is lifted. However, if you receive a notice, you do not need to move now.
as guaranteed by the Constitution. We desperately need to have a strengthened IOLERO that can robustly and independently investigate the Sheriff’s Office with subpoena power. The tragic Ward murder and this new flagrant use of excessive force in the Graton case amplify why we must demand our rights to vote on the Evelyn Cheatham Effective IOLERO Ordinance on November’s ballot. Write and call your Supervisors to demand your rights!
Elaine B. Holtz, Santa Rosa,
Enforcement of
Sonoma County Public
I disagree. Not with your statement of your authority but with the notion that we as Sonoma County citizens shouldn’t argue about rules and orders that are deeply affecting
our lives. These rules and orders
are being applied capriciously
from county to county--different interpretations, same science.
Health Order
• Tenants are protected from eviction until 90 days after the Governor lifts the State of Emergency. Tenants are still required to pay rent during this time, but they cannot be evicted for failure to do so.
In these troubling times when we have a U.S. President who thinks he’s King, we must be vigilant about protecting our democratic rights
  • If you cannot pay rent because you are affected by COVID-19, you should gather documentation like a pay stub or medical bill to show to your landlord. This may be helpful in the future. •
Kathleen Finigan
Continued illegal PDHCD spending
Why has the ‘District’ never released the $30K legal opinion it sought to legitimize its plans to spend Measure W money AFTER the hospital was sold? There can really be only one reason. This body
LETTERS cont’d on page 5
 Health is one consideration but not the only one. Economic viability is as great. Your journey is different. You continue to be paid, your health insurance is being covered.
Tenants are not required to enter into a payment plan with their landlord to halt rent payments under the current laws.
We are not journeying together. - Mary LeVesque
If you have any questions about these laws or your rights, please contact Legal Aid: Call Legal Aid’s Housing Hotline: (707) 843-4432,
4 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 6/20











































   2   3   4   5   6