Landlord group pays ‘activists’ to oppose Bay Area rent control measure

Facing pressure from tenant advocates, landlords and frustrated residents, the Concord City Council in March approved amendments to a hotly debated rent control ordinance that increased the annual cap on rent increases to 5%  — one of the most restrictive in the Bay Area.

But dozens of the supposed activists who turned up in “Repeal Rent Control” shirts had been paid $250 to attend the council meeting and speak in support of rolling back tenant protections, said Shamelle Salahuddin, CEO...