Portantino’s SR 710 Rent Freeze Bill Headed to the Governor’s Desk

Friday, September 15 2017

Sacramento, California  Today, the California State Senate passed SB 400 by Senator Anthony J. Portantino, D – La Cañada Flintridge, which requires Caltrans to freeze the rent for SR 710 corridor tenants who participate in the “Affordable Rent Program.”  Decades ago, Caltrans purchased these homes to pave the way for the 710 freeway.  Caltrans is currently in the process of selling the homes.  After hearing concerns from renters in the corridor that rising rents may force long-time tenants to move just as the prospect of selling the homes is approaching, Portantino agreed to write legislation to give these tenants certainty and relief.

I would like to thank my colleagues in the legistature who supported this measure.  This bill will help provide tenants assurance as well as relieve the fear that homeownership will fall out of their grasps. Tenants are so close to becoming homeowners after decades of renting and I am proud to move a measure that allows them access to one of our many American dreams,” commented Portantino.

Earlier this year, the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) voted on a measure that recommends an alternative approach to the region’s transportation needs other than building an SR 710 tunnel.  MTA’s action is the de facto end to the threat of an SR 710 tunnel and clears the way for the state-owned homes to be sold.  SB 400 continues the shared mission to make these homes affordable and to give current tenants every opportunity to purchase their homes.

SB 400 passed the legislature with bipartisan support and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.  It places a two-year moratorium on rent increases for many of the Caltrans parcels that will soon be sold.  The bill was supported by the mayors of Los Angeles, Pasadena and South Pasadena.  Earlier in the year, Portantino held a town hall with Caltrans and the tenants in an effort to create a more efficient process for home purchases in the SR 710 corridor

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Sen. Portantino represents nearly 930,000 people in the 25th Senate District, which includes Altadena, Atwater Village, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, La Verne, Lake View Terrace, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Shadow Hills, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland-Tujunga, and Upland.