Supervisors back ordinance to ensure children qualify for Ellis Act relocation payments

Chair Mark Farrell convened the Land Use & Transportation Committee and the clerk called item 1, an ordinance amending the administrative code to clarify who qualifies for Ellis Act relocation payments.

Carolyn Goosen, representing Supervisor Katy (Katie) Ronan, told the committee that a First Appellate District ruling held that children living with their families in rental units are "not owed relocation payment" under the Ellis Act because they were deemed occupants but not tenants. Goosen said the decision "hurts families with children" and urged a legislative fix to "affirm that children are indeed eligible tenants specifically in the context of Ellis Act relocation assistance."

Supervisor Katie Tang asked whether pregnancy would qualify; staff and counsel clarified the ordinance as drafted applies to occupants "regardless of age," meaning it covers persons already living in the unit after birth rather than prenatal status. During public comment, attorney Steve Collier, who worked with Tenderloin Housing Clinic and the Ronan office on the measure, said the appellate ruling did not prevent the Board from changing the law and urged quick enactment to protect future evicted tenants with children.

After public comment, Supervisor Tang moved to send the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the motion was taken without objection.

What happens next: The committee advanced the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration on the June 6 agenda.