California: “Bill Preventing Landlords Requiring Declawing and Debarking Passed by Senate,” by Jo Singer, Petside.com, August 26, 2010
Landlords often insist that requirements for declawing cats and de-barking dogs before renting an apartment to pet owners allows them to protect their property or prevent neighbors from complaining. In my opinion it is far more humane to require a pet deposit and hold the renter responsible for damages.
But landlords, at least in California, may soon be stopped in their tracks.
If you live in California and own a cat or dog and are searching for a residential rental, you may soon be able to do so without having to make the agonizing decision to declaw your cat, or de-bark your dog in order to move in.
Massachusetts: “Massachusetts Bans Foreclosure Evictions of Tenants – Why Can’t California?” by Dean Preston, BeyondChron, August 25, 2010
Earlier this month, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed legislation barring arbitrary evictions of tenants after foreclosure. This commonsense legislation requires a foreclosing entity to have “just cause” in order to evict a renter after foreclosure. The law also provides tenants the right to sue and collect a minimum $5,000 penalty against banks that evict in violation of the law. Will California pass similar legislation? The answer should be yes.
Evictions after foreclosure are ruining lives and destroying communities across the state. A statewide post-foreclosure “just cause for eviction” law, as was adopted in Massachusetts, would cost the state nothing – and would go a long way toward preventing displacement and neighborhood blight.
Nation: “What Spreads Faster Than Bedbugs? Stigma,” by Emily G. Hager, The New York Times, August 21, 2010
Jeremy Sparig spent months fighting bedbugs. Now, to some people, he is like a mattress left on the street, something best avoided in these times.
“They don’t want to hug you anymore; they don’t want you coming over,” said Mr. Sparig, of East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. “You’re like a leper.”
At the Brooklyn district attorney’s office, which recently had a bedbug breakout, defense lawyers are skittish about visiting, and it is not because of the fierce prosecutors.