RENTER PROTECTION--With eviction protections set to expire state officials scrambled to put in place a plan to extend these protections. Unfortunately, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who brokered the deal, came up short as their plan has loopholes that could exclude some struggling tenants who may end up being evicted. Instead of giving Californians security with long-term relief and renter protections through the end of the pandemic, our state leaders caved to the interests of landlords and realtors and came up with what they call a “compromise.” Big realtors and big landlords have entrenched influence in Sacramento and they spend millions of dollars both electing and lobbying our governor and state legislators — and it pays off.