Lily’s Diary
by Lily
September 2
Maggie and I went for drinks at Jardiniere the other night after a Rent Board
meeting and she told me that one of her long term tenants (Rick) had just
given his notice. As she handed the bartender a twenty, she said she was
feeling lucky because, although Rick had always had a roommate, only Rick’s
name was on the lease. Because he was legally the “original” tenant,
Maggie figured she could raise the remaining roommate’s rent to market
now that the Rick-the-lease-signer was leaving. She was surprised when I
told her that, if the roommate moved in at the same time as the tenant who
signed the agreement, he, too, is considered an original tenant and the tenancy
is still under the same controls. She was inconsolable. I even offered to
buy the next round but she said her heart wouldn’t be in it.
September 10
After several years of haggling, the regs on interior painting have passed
the Board of Supervisors. God bless that commission on lead hazard prevention
that’s been working for years (yes, years) to hammer out guidelines
we can live with. My ex-partner (business only) George ran into commission
member Tim Carrico at Reverie Cafe in Cole Valley the other day and he told
him not to worry, that it was all about “containment and posting.” No
longer do you throw open the windows when you sand woodwork. You do just
the opposite—confine the dust and chips to the room where you’re working. Naturally you’ll
cover everything with heavy plastic first and roll it up carefully when you’re
through. Then use a shop vac with a HEPA filter. (I’m renting one at
Cole Hardware the next job I do.) Notice is also posted to inform tenants
of a job involving a potential lead hazard. You can get the form from the
San Francisco Apartment Association (lead-based paint pre-renovation notice).
Of course, you already know about lead disclosure in the new leases and the
mandatory lead pamphlet you give all new tenants. You don’t? Again,
check the list of SFAA rental forms.
September 14
I’m weary from attending “coffees” for
the 22 candidates running in District 5, but I have
to give credit where it’s due. Some
events have been very, very creative. So far, my politico pal Robert and
I have attended one in a flower shop, one in a former
embassy, one in a bookstore, and one in an art gallery.
Then there were all those held at private homes where
everybody crowds into the living room, sitting two
on a chair, spilling wine on each other. But no matter
where they’re held, if someone asks
a question about rent control, a pall falls over the room. All the candidates
say they support it—but also support home ownership (hum, maybe). I
notice there’s a whole new round of events since the candidates have
discovered that running as a “slate” of three might give them
an extra boost in the ranked-choice voting numbers game. But Robert and I
have decided not to go to any more of them. Well, not unless it’s held
at Krispy Kreme.
September 30
I know Tony Hall has mouths to feed and college tuition
to pay but boy, I sure hate losing him on the Board
of Supervisors. He was one of the few who lived in
the real world and confined his legislation to solving
the problems of this city rather than “sending a message,” or otherwise further distinguishing
San Francisco as the nation’s preeminent loony habitat. He leaves us
with legislation that, again, attempts to make home ownership a little easier—especially
for first-time buyers—and I thank him for that. The Treasure Island job
will be quite a contrast to wrangling with non-profits and justifying his positions
to colleagues, some of whom have scant history in the city, have never been
a parent, owned a home or made a payroll. The mayor’s choice of Sean
Elsbernd to replace him got a resounding “Yes!” from my friend
Maggie who lives in District 7. She says Sean built a reputation on being straightforward
and cooperative with homeowner groups, both when he was on Hall’s staff
and during the past year working for the Mayor. Maggie says he’s “task-oriented” and “light
on the BS.” Of course, I wouldn’t put it that way.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the SFAA or the San Francisco Apartment Magazine. Lily’s Diary is written by a longtime rental property owner who reserves the right to remain anonymous on the grounds that her tenants might gang up on her. Copyright © 2004 by the San Francisco Apartment Magazine. All rights reserved.