FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2023

Contact: Liz Gobbo, Communications Coordinator, Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco

liz@hrcsf.org, 541-380-1321 (text/call)

VTA members launch rent strikes at two buildings where Veritas recently defaulted on loans

Tenants seek recognition of their associations & negotiations on terms of sale

SAN FRANCISCO — Members of the Veritas Tenants Association (VTA), the citywide tenant union for renters living in Veritas/GreenTree buildings, will begin an open-ended rent strike on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at two buildings: 709 Geary Street and 320 14th Street. Members are calling on SF’s largest landlord to recognize their tenant associations and bargain in good faith with them on a range of issues, including terms of sale. Veritas has defaulted on the loans for both buildings and could lose the buildings, as well as many others.

“We formed a tenant association last year to negotiate in good faith on a range of important issues,” says VTA member Francisco Galindo at 320 14th St. “Earthquake safety, lead exposure, black mold, COVID rent debt, rent increases—these are important issues to us. Veritas’ response? Refusal to recognize our association and their choice to pursue unlawful evictions against multiple Spanish-speaking members, including me.”

Veritas has also received Notices of Violation (NOVs) from the Department of Building Inspection at both buildings for a range of violations, including a broken elevator, non-compliance with DBI’s mandatory Soft Story Program, and dilapidated conditions in common areas of the buildings.

VTA members will begin withholding their rent payments on June 1. Under California Civil Code 1942.4, a landlord may not collect rent, demand rent, issue a rent increase notice, or issue a three-day notice to pay or quit if a Notice of Violation has been active on the building for more than 35 days. For both buildings, the NOVs have been active for more than 35 days.

Tenants at both buildings have spent months organizing themselves to form tenant associations. At 709 Geary St., Veritas interfered with tenant organizing by forcibly removing tenant organizers who were invited into the property by a resident. At 320 14th St., Veritas rejected multiple Spanish-speaking tenants’ signatures on their certification petition because Veritas could not complete its “verification process,” which involves contacting tenants in English to confirm their signature and asking tenants if they wish to remove their signatures. If Veritas does not reach a signatory, then they do not count the signature.

Through their strike, members are also seeking to participate in negotiations over the future of their buildings.

“We believe we deserve a say in the future of our homes,” says VTA member Sandra Martinez at 320 14th St. “And we are striking to have our voices heard.”

Tenants are available for interviews in English and Spanish.

Please contact Liz Gobbo (info above) to schedule interviews.