A group of six individuals approached Chancellor Henry T. Yang in his office yesterday afternoon to ask for his support on two issues - the Cedarwood Apartments evictions and the University of California employee pay raise approved by the California State Legislature.
Yang spoke with the group and promised to look into its requests. He also scheduled a meeting to be held in two weeks to further discuss the issues.
The group, which consisted of three UCSB Associated Students members, one UCSB Facilities Management employee, one union representative and one other student supporter, entered Yang’s office at around 3 p.m.
The group requested that Yang make an appeal to the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office in support of an injunction that would give the Cedarwood Apartments residents, who were ordered on Aug. 18 to vacate the property, located at 6626 Picasso Rd, more time.
The group also requested Yang prepare a plan to distribute the approximately $3.2 million that was recently allotted to UCSB by the state legislature to raise UC staff salaries. Yang said he is still consulting with other UC chancellors on how to distribute the money.
The group began the discussion with Yang by expressing concern over the worker’s pay increase. The 2006 California State Budget allotted three UC schools - Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara - funds to pay for worker raises.
According to Claude Piller, an American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees union representative, the school has yet to distribute the roughly $3.2 million allocated for raises to UCSB employees.
During the meeting, the group asked Yang to make a concrete proposal and present it to the workers. Yang responded saying that he is in the process of consulting with the chancellors of the other two UCs that received the funds, and is working to develop a proposal.
“We are having lots of discussions with the other chancellors,” Yang said. “I’m going to talk to Santa Cruz and hear their proposal.”
According to Piller, the funds should soon be free for distribution, as California State Assembly Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nu–ez recently spoke with UC President Robert C. Dynes about the matter. According to Piller, Dynes had been waiting to release the funds in order to see if some of the money could be used to finance employee pensions.
“[Fabian] Nu–ez called up Dynes and said, ‘You should be perfectly clear that the $3.2 million is for workers and can’t be tied to the pension issue,’” Piller said.
The group then confronted the chancellor about the Cedarwood Apartments eviction situation, which began Aug. 18 when all 55 units at the complex received eviction notices.
The apartment complex, located at 6626 Picasso Rd., had just been sold when the notices were sent out. While the new owner on the deed is listed as 6626 Picasso, LLC, the tenants, as well as their supporters, believe the limited liability company is merely a front for Conquest Student Housing.
Conquest currently manages Breakpointe Apartments on Abrego Road.
The approximately 20 families that still remain at the Cedarwood Apartments received unlawful detainer notices on Sept. 27, which mandate they appear in court for not vacating the premises in a timely manner. The families are scheduled to appear in court in three weeks.
None of the residents were present at the chancellor’s office yesterday.
The group requested that Yang support them by asking Third District Supervisor Brooks Firestone to create a long-term solution that would prevent future instances of mass eviction. The group also wants Firestone to aid the families that have been evicted thus far.
When reached Tuesday afternoon, Firestone said his administration has taken a three-tiered approach to aid the former residents. First, he said, the county attempted to find the identity of the new owner of the complex - one who still remains anonymous. Second, the county obtained extensions for the residents still living at the complex. Third, he said, the county offered financial support. Firestone said none of the residents have taken advantage of the financial offer.
In addition, Firestone said his administration has formed a task force to help locate housing for the residents and to offer other social services. He said approximately six residents have taken advantage of this offer.
“We are doing everything we can to accommodate this unfortunate situation,” Firestone said. “That’s about it; beyond that, I certainly didn’t promise anything we can’t deliver.”
However, Kevin Davis, a recent UCSB graduate, said an injunction - not just the help currently being offered - would help the families the most. He said an injunction would buy the families more time to remain in the apartments, as it would “restart the eviction process.”
Davis estimated that if the injunction goes through, the tenants will be able to remain in their apartments for a minimum of six extra months. If they do not receive an injunction and they lose their lawsuit, they would have to move out in a minimum of three months from now, Davis said.
A board of supervisors meeting will be held on Oct. 17 at which time the matter will be discussed further, Davis said.
Firestone said he does not have the authority to impose an injunction, and the county has no legal standing in the issue.
“We looked at that from the very start,” Firestone said of the injunction. “We do not have the standing to do that. I received many, many emails asking me to do that, but I do not have the ability to do it.”
Frankel said a rally will be held this Saturday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m. at the Cedarwood Apartments in support of the families. The organizing groups, as well as the families, are now operating under the umbrella name Familias Contra la Discriminacion, Davis said.