* Stop Stealth Condo's

From RPCAN: Urgent! Your action is needed NOW to ensure that renters get their legal notice when buildings go condo.
***Committee Vote is expected Wed, March 21 ! ***
We all know about the huge STEALTH CONDO problem in Rogers Park and elsewhere: developers trying to force tenants out of condo conversion buildings with little or no notice (and succeeding, unless they team up with RPCAN or a similar group), avoiding the notice requirement by pretending they're not going condo, and often using nasty tactics to get people to move out.

Two years ago, RPCAN drafted legislation that would close the apparent "stealth" condo loophole, and has been working to get it introduced into the state legislature. RPCAN activists had meetings with both Rep. Harry Osterman and Julie Hamos, who agreed to act on the proposal, and has been encouraging allied groups to get on board.

State Reps. Harry Osterman and Greg Harris have recently introduced RPCAN's proposal as HB1797 in Springfield! It has been assigned to the House 'Judiciary I - Civil Law" committee.

A vote has been scheduled for Wed. March 21, 8am.
HB 1797: Condo Convert Notice Liability
The bill is pretty much what RPCAN drafted, with input from our allies in the struggle for housing justice. Current law requires landlords to give tenants a "notice of intent" that they are going condo. This notice gives the tenants at least 120 days to move (180 for senior and persons with disabilities) plus the right of first refusal. The "close the loophole" bill -- really just a technical correction to enforce the current requirement -- allows any tenant to sue for damages if her/his building goes condo within 18 months of being displaced. Tenants can also make use of a nonprofit housing group to sue, similar to fair housing and civil rights law. All the landlord/developer has to do to avoid any possible litigation is to give the legal notice.
** Please take action **
Four things that would help:

1) Click on the link to thank Reps. Osterman and Hamos for their support in getting this introduced, and encouraging them to push it through.

2) Look at the list of Reps on the Committee. Contact Committee Chair John Fritchey (773-871-4000 or 217-782-2458) and YOUR rep, and ask for their support of HB1797, the condo notice liability to close the "stealth condo" loophole.

3) All other bloogers, pass this on to anyone you know, especially if they have experience with Stealth condo conversions. (if we can get some tenants to Springfield to lobby or testify, that would be GREAT!)

4) Support this kind of grassroots work.