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Agenda Item
4.3 26-0811 Subject: Delinquent Real Property Transfer Taxes Assessment Of Liens
From: Finance Department
Recommendation: Conduct A Public Hearing And Upon Conclusion Adopt Resolution (1) Confirming The Report And Notice Of Liens For Delinquent Real Property Transfer Taxes With Penalties, Interest, And Administrative And Assessment Charges, And (2) Overruling Any Protests And Objections Related To The Liens Included In Said Report And Authorizing The Recordation Of Liens, And (3) Directing The Notice Of Lien And Assessment Charges Be Turned Over To The County Tax Collector For Collection
Oakland's tenant protections with tenants being eligible for free attorneys that work on consignment has subjected mom and pop landlords (such as myself) to tenant scammers who've squatted and not only received free rent but also have received payouts from those landlords and their insurance companies, which have put a severe strain on personal finances to the point where it's become unsustainable. As a single widowed mom, who's now unemployed, and had to pay a large portion of my savings to attorney fees and a "settlement" payment (as it was advised that it was easier to settle and give money to scammers to go away than to fight in court out of principle, even if I've done no wrong), these taxes have become unjust, especially bc 1) after the home became vacated, i could not stay in it for 2 years bc i had been assaulted by the squatters who then moved next door and scammed their next mom and pop landlord victim. Despite the property not receiving income for 5 years and becoming my residence, I could not get the tax office to close my account until the initial issues were resolved, which in turn accrued more fees for those additional year; 2) I worked with 5 different people over 6 years trying to resolve this and each person redirected me to a new person; 3) I finally got in touch with someone this past year who was able to help. But since a payment was already made, it was applied to old fees which couldn't be adjusted afterwards so, a $5k bill became $10k with unjust fee
Oakland's tenant protections with tenants being eligible for free attorneys that work on consignment has subjected mom and pop landlords (such as myself) to tenant scammers who've squatted and not only received free rent but also have received payouts from those landlords and their insurance companies, which have put a severe strain on personal finances to the point where it's become unsustainable. As a single widowed mom, who's now unemployed, and had to pay a large portion of my savings to attorney fees and a "settlement" payment (as it was advised that it was easier to settle and give money to scammers to go away than to fight in court out of principle, even if I've done no wrong), these taxes have become unjust, especially bc 1) after the home became vacated, i could not stay in it for 2 years bc i had been assaulted by the squatters who then moved next door and scammed their next mom and pop landlord victim. Despite the property not receiving income for 5 years and becoming my residence, I could not get the tax office to close my account until the initial issues were resolved, which in turn accrued more fees for those additional year; 2) I worked with 5 different people over 6 years trying to resolve this and each person redirected me to a new person; 3) I finally got in touch with someone this past year who was able to help. But since a payment was already made, it was applied to old fees which couldn't be adjusted afterwards so, a $5k bill became $10k with unjust fee