In yet another rebuke of the rental housing industry, an Alameda County supervisor last week postponed a discussion of the county’s ongoing eviction moratorium and other rental housing regulations listed on the agenda.

Using a county rule that allows one board member to defer an agenda item, Supervisor Keith Carson pulled the item after hundreds of housing providers spent the afternoon waiting in queue to speak about their experiences living under the most restrictive eviction moratorium in the state. A survey conducted by CAA currently shows that over $21 million of rental arrears are past due. Now housing providers must wait again just to be heard.

Tuesday’s rebuke followed the second attempt to have a public discussion on the eviction moratorium since July, when Supervisor David Haubert first sought to place the matter on the agenda but was met with fierce opposition by Supervisors Carson, Valle, and former appointed Supervisor Brown.

“It is frustrating that Supervisor Carson yet again silenced housing providers and sabotaged their efforts to have an open, democratic, public discussion on the harmful consequences of the never-ending eviction moratorium. This is the second time they have been silenced.” said Rhovy Lyn Antonio, Senior Vice President of Local Public Affairs for the California Apartment Association. “Alameda County needs to stop playing games with rental housing providers.”