Gavin Newsom moves to protect renters, utility customers as coronavirus spreads

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Monday that empowers local governments to temporarily halt evictions and asks utilities to maintain services during the coronavirus outbreak.

Newsom’s order largely supports what local jurisdictions have already undertaken in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose.

Newsom said his order would “clarify the legal ambiguity” of these local efforts. Utilities have also promised to maintain services, an assurance that the order will hold them accountable to, Newsom said.

“People shouldn’t lose or be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19,” Newsom said in a statement. “Over the next few weeks, everyone will have to make sacrifices – but a place to live shouldn’t be one of them. I strongly encourage cities and counties take up this authority to protect Californians.”

Tenants will still have to pay rent and landlords can still recover rent that is due, according to the governor’s order. The moratorium is scheduled to lift on May 31.

The announcement could help businesses and workers who are already losing income because of the financial chaos caused by the coronavirus.

Several Capitol lawmakers have called for a statewide ban on evictions tied to the new coronavirus called COVID-19.

Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, introduced plans last week to keep Californians sheltered as long as they prove the coronavirus has affected their household financially.

“Before the coronavirus, homelessness was the thing people were talking about,” Ting said. “The last thing we want is the virus to exacerbate the problem.”

A second San Francisco Democrat, state Sen. Scott Wiener, introduced legislation last weekend to halt commercial evictions of small businesses.

Newsom’s order urges banks and other financial institutions to end foreclosures. It directs the California Public Utilities Commission provide ratepayers with continued support.

Several large utilities, including PG&E and the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, have already committed to suspending power cutoffs.

“We know COVID-19 is creating financial hardship for some of our customers, and we’re committed to making sure they have electricity during this uncertain time,” SMUD said in an email to customers on Monday. “Power has been restored to customers whose service was disconnected due to non-payment and we will not disconnect customers for non-payment through March 31.”

Newsom signed the order after the Legislature’s approved a $1.1 billion aid package to help the state fight against the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

The money supports schools and the health care system get the resources and funding they need to keep their communities and patients healthy. The money also supports housing the homeless and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in these communities.

The governor has also issued orders that ban social gatherings of more than 250 people and encourage Californians older than 65 to self-isolate at home.

Newsom said Monday evening that the number of infected Californians has increased to 392, a 15 percent increase from the day before. At least six people have died, though two more on Monday were announced, a homeless person in Santa Clara County and another person in Sacramento County.

This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 8:28 PM.