Tenants rally for renters rebate

On Nov. 19, a broad coalition of 30 groups including tenant activists and advocates in the low-income community rallied at the state building in San Francisco, urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to restore the renters rebate.

To recipients of the Senior Citizens Renters Tax Assistance Program, the rebate they receive at the end of each year
-- an amount up to $347.50 -- makes it easier to pay for other living expenses, such as food and medicine.

"We are here to say 'hell, no' to the governor's attempt to balance the budget on the backs of poor people," Dean Preston, director of Tenants Together and one of the event's organizers, said.

Similar rallies also took place at state offices in Los Angeles and San Diego in response to Schwarzenegger's $191 million line-item veto of the rebate. Usually, senior and disabled renters, as well as eligible homeowners, who earn less than $44,096 receive the money.

Speakers at the rally were quick to point out that the rebate was about the same amount Schwarzenegger's favorite cigar costs. Web sites that sell Montecristo No. 2, Schwarzenegger's brand, suggest it's within that price range.

Kym Meadows, a member of the Mission SRO Collaborative, was angry to learn her expected check wouldn't be arriving this October.

Instead, she received a terse form letter that read, "We cannot pay the assistance amount you claim. This is not a denial of your claim."

Meadows, who lives on $31 per week after cashing her disability check, was counting on the money on bed covers and sprays to fight bed bugs in her hotel room. But more importantly, she couldn't use the money to buy a Greyhound ticket to visit her family in San Bernadino.

"I wasn't able to see my favorite and only aunt," she said. "She died last month. I was heartbroken that I wasn't able to attend the funeral."

Brian Basinger, director of the AIDS Housing Alliance/SF, said homeowners will also lose out to the tune of $41 million. He relies on the rebate to pay for his homeowners' insurance. He also noted the $700 billion the federal government used to bail out financial service companies could easily meet the living expenses of low-income people.

"I think it sounds really hollow when they turn around and impact senior and disabled homeowners by taking away the money that keeps us in our homes," Basinger said.

Basinger's agency saw a 50 percent increase of people seeking emergency assistance. As a marriage equality activist, Basinger also sees the Proposition 8 campaign to ban same-sex marriage as an attempt to distract voters from other cutbacks.

"We have to maintain our poverty connections in the queer community," Basinger said.

Schwarzenegger also cut the Medi-Cal reimbursement of SSDI recipients, he said. As of Dec. 3, payments will be reduced from $200 to $95.

Assemblyman-elect Tom Ammiano observed a disconnect between Schwarzenegger, once a bankable Hollywood star, and his constituents when he recently visited his office.

He noticed a tent outside the office where the governor smokes cigars, presumably to circumvent a smoking ban in public buildings.

"He lives in that tent like it's a bubble," Ammiano said. "You may be a movie star and you may be an action hero but we're going to kick your ass on this one!"

To sign the rebate petition to restore funding, log on to http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5247/t/1791/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=168 . As of Nov. 22, over 1,400 signatures were collected. You may also call Gov. Schwarzeneggerís office at (916) 445-2841.