Berkeley rent board commissioner's absences under fire

http://www.contracostatimes.com/real-estate-news/ci_21273648

Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner Nicole Drake, who is an aide to City Councilwoman Linda Maio, has missed 10 of 18 meetings since Dec. 13, 2011, or more than 50 percent.

As election season approaches, some rent board commissioners are renewing charges that Drake has missed so many meetings that she, in essence, has "abandoned" her seat.

In June, the Alameda County Grand Jury issued a report highly critical of the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board. Drake is the lone commissioner to welcome the report.

Rent board Chair Lisa Stephens argues that the concern is about Drake's spotty attendance, which shows her lack of commitment to her duties on the board.

Four years ago Drake was part of the pro-tenant slate that controls the board. She's not running with that slate this time around.

In a preliminary response posted on the rent board website, Stephens and board administrators wrote that the report "ignored significant evidence substantiating the effective enforcement and reasonableness of the administration of Berkeley's rent and eviction laws, choosing to mask a disagreement about what type of rent control law Berkeley should have under the guise of criticism of administrative issues."

A formal response to the report will be issued later this month, Stephens said.