"They rallied outside the state Capitol Monday yelling “Lower the rent!” They occupied the office of Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas for an hour later in the day, telling stories of rising prices. And more supporters of a bill that would strengthen and expand a state rental protection law filed into the Capitol Tuesday morning for a hearing that could determine the fate of the measure. But the pressure campaign was not enough to pass Assembly Bill 1157. The legislation would restrict the ability of landlords to raise rents by at most 5% annually every year, cutting in half the state’s current limit.
“I’m living with housing insecurity,” said a woman who identified herself as Zapatista Zapala, shortly after the Assembly Judiciary Committee failed to pass the measure. Tears streamed down her face as she described how the rent for her one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles was going to rise another 10% to $2,650. She carpooled up to Sacramento to be at the Capitol for the hearing."