Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
CA State Assembly

Senators Wiener, Ting Propose Statewide Moratorium on Foreclosures, Evictions

How “social isolation’ works to reduce contagion. Made by Vox from CDC data.

Californians are getting the message that to stem the rate of contagion of the COVID-19 virus, everyone needs to wash their hands and keep their distance from each other.

Not everyone can stay at home, and the fallout from the already large numbers of people avoiding social contact will cause real economic hardship for some. Canceled events, drop-offs in customer visits, and closed schools could hit people's income hard--which is especially dangerous for people who are already struggling or living paycheck to paycheck.

Senator Scott Wiener issued a statement today urging an emergency moratorium on evictions and foreclosures as a way to help people from going over the cliff into homelessness.

As we move through the COVID-19 emergency, people must be able to focus on our community’s health — slowing the virus’s spread — and not on economic survival. Yet, more and more California workers and businesses are being forced to choose between protecting public health and paying the mortgage or rent. In addition, many businesses have seen their revenue go off a cliff.

That is why I’m calling on both California and the federal government to immediately place an emergency moratorium on evictions — for both renters and businesses — as well as home foreclosures. We’re all in this together, and as we move through this emergency, we need to support each other and give people leeway to focus exclusively on keeping healthy.

Several cities are weighing similar measures. The mayor and city council in San Jose are considering a temporary moratorium on evictions, with tenants needing to provide proof that their inability to pay is somehow connected to the virus via the need for quarantine or to stay home to care for kids out of school or similar. San Francisco is considering a ban on evictions, and two Los Angeles city councilmembers have proposed similar legislation. In fact, a group is tracking eviction moratoriums across the country --most of them so far seem to be happening in California.

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) said on Twitter that after having a conversation with San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, he decided to introduce a statewide bill to stop both evictions and foreclosures. "We already have a homeless crisis. We can't let it get worse," he wrote.

After convo w/ SJ Mayor @sliccardo abt his city's action to put a moratorium on evictions for residents who can't make rent b/c #COVID19, I'll be intro'ing a bill to do the same statewide & also prohibit foreclosures. We already have a homeless crisis. We can't let it get worse.

— Phil Ting (@PhilTing) March 12, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

"The fastest way is for the governor to issue a declaration--if he has the power to to that," Wiener told Streetsblog. It's not yet clear whether he has that power. Meanwhile, Wiener and Ting are working on a bill on the issue. As an urgency bill it would need to pass with a 2/3 vote in both houses.

The Mercury News quotes one landlord who is outraged that he would have to shoulder the burden of housing someone who couldn't pay rent. Conversely, others are urging Ting and Wiener to draft something that avoids putting a high burden on tenants to prove harm or to already be highly educated about the rule.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment has a petition to the governor calling for an immediate moratorium on evictions, emergency income assistance to help workers who have to forego work and encourage them to stay home if they don't have sick pay, preserving medical benefits regardless when people have to cut their hours, and prohibiting utilities from shutting off access if people have trouble paying their bills.

But while so far, not many people have gotten sick, the health and economic risks are already here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Wiener’s Legislation to Streamline Permitting for Transit Projects Advances

And so does a bill to put a Bay Area funding measure on the ballot in 2026

April 23, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines

In the south part of the state, they passed a great mobility plan. In the north part, they're fuming about Newsom's Return to Work order.

April 23, 2025

Freeway Updates: 91 Widening, Repave 405, and 105 Safety Fixes

A Metro/Caltrans 91 Freeway expansion project is on hold. Caltrans 105/Studebaker safety enhancements are complete. Caltrans is planning $144M worth of repaving and upgrading for the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass.

April 22, 2025

Advocates Pop-Up Safety on 9th Street in Berkeley

Bike East Bay and other volunteers help show neighbors how much nicer a street can be without cars screaming back and forth

April 22, 2025

Sacramento Is the First in the Nation to Use Bus Mounted Cameras/AI to Keep Bike Lanes Free of Cars

For now, motorists violating the bike lane will only receive warnings. On June 13, the warnings will end and tickets will be given.

April 22, 2025
See all posts