Signature gatherers for anti-rent control petition linked to CAA charged with fraud

by Lynda Carson

Oakland-tenant-Josephine-Hardy-rallies-for-tenants’-rights-in-front-of-City-Hall-Oakland-092617-by-Anda-Chu-Bay-Area-News-Group-300x224, Signature gatherers for anti-rent control petition linked to CAA charged with fraud, Local News & Views
Oakland tenant Josephine Hardy shares her personal struggle during a rally for tenants’ rights at Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall in Oakland on Sept. 26, 2017. Photo: Anda Chu, Bay Area News Group

For years, tenants in cities throughout California have charged that the California Apartment Association’s signature gatherers used fraud, lies and deceit to collect signatures for petitions meant to defeat efforts to protect renters from greedy landlords.

Reportedly, a Utah couple is expected to appear soon in the San Mateo County Superior Court for arraignment on charges of election fraud for faking signatures for a petition meant to block renter protections from taking effect in Pacifica during 2017.

Bradley Jasperson and his wife, Jentry Jasperson, of Utah were collecting signatures for a petition supported by the California Apartment Association (CAA) and San Mateo County Association of Realtors at the time they allegedly faked 100 signatures or more on a petition in the Pacifica campaign against renter protections. The Jaspersons have reportedly been charged with five counts of election fraud and five counts of identity theft as a result.

For years, tenants in cities throughout California have charged that the California Apartment Association’s signature gatherers used fraud, lies and deceit to collect signatures for petitions meant to defeat efforts to protect renters from greedy landlords.

Additionally, according to a release from Tenants Together regarding the allegations of election fraud in Pacifica, “In May 2017, the referendum campaign backed by the CAA and San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR) narrowly repealed temporary tenant protections by a margin of only 63 signatures.”

Campaigns supported by the CAA have been widely criticized for misleading voters

Campaigns involving the California Apartment Association in their efforts to block renter protections from taking effect throughout California have been widely criticized, including campaigns in Richmond and Santa Rosa.

Additionally, the California Apartment Association has been stalking the tenants’ movement.

Recently the CAA was fined $2,500 by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) in response to a complaint filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission. It had failed to file on time one quarterly pre-election statement in 2014.

Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule@yahoo.com.