Latest news with #AngelitaMorillo
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘We're ready to fight': Portlanders rally after arrest of California union leader
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Union Portlanders are still 'fired up' after the arrest and most recent release of David Huerta was arrested last week during what's being called a peaceful anti-ice protest in Los Angeles, California. He has since been released but still faces felony charges. Portland ICE facility saw increased police presence during weekend protests Following Huerta's arrest, President Donald Trump sent the California National Guard to L.A. He most recently sent 700 U.S. Marines to 'protect' ICE agents in California. The president called the move 'law and order' on social media. The heat in Portland Monday afternoon didn't stop members of SEIU Local 503 from showing their support for Huerta. 'We are here to stand by everybody's rights for their first amendment, to be able to protest and speak out against this administration,' Johnny Earl, president of Local SEIU 503, said at Monday's protest. Protestors said while they're celebrating Huerta's release, they're still outraged with decisions coming down from the federal level. 'This is an attack, and it feels scary,' Marcia Schneider said. 'This rally happened at a moment's notice, show up now. Yes, Portland can show up now and we're getting better at it…We're ready to fight.' Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo spoke to KOIN 6 News at Monday's rally. 'When one of our immigrant brothers and sisters are taken away, we all have to show up and support. As the only immigrant on city council, I feel a special connection to this issue. Today was a good day, we actually get to celebrate his release, and so we hope that's the case with many more,' Morillo said. Monday's protest remained peaceful, but people at the rally told KOIN 6 News they're always ready for the potential that federal officials are sent here if things get out of hand. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland proposal to ban rental price-fixing software hits stumbling block
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland City Council measure that would ban rental price-fixing software has hit a stumbling block. After hearing a third round of testimony on the proposal on Wednesday night, city leaders unanimously approved District 3 Councilor Angelita Morillo's motion to refer the ordinance back to the Homelessness and Housing Committee. A six-figure salary might not be enough in Portland, report finds 'It's kind of with a heavy heart that I have to say this — that there is some new litigation elsewhere that touches on similar issues with the algorithmic price fixing ordinance,' Morillo, the proposal's lead sponsor, said. 'And I want to assert that the litigation is not determinative of what's going to happen here, but it's worth us keeping an eye on and being responsible stewards of policy and maintaining good conversations with stakeholders as we look into it.' The councilor was referring to a real estate software company's ongoing legal battle with the City of Berkeley. In early April, the Associated Press reported that accusing the California city of violating its free speech with an ordinance that prohibits rent-pricing algorithms. The lawsuit against Berkeley is the most recent development in a nationwide attempt to crack down on an alleged price-fixing scheme. In August, Oregon and several other states joined the Department of Justice in filing a federal complaint that claimed with property managers and hike up the cost of rent. The plaintiffs to include some of the country's 'largest landlords' in January. Portland's Homelessness and Housing Committee began discussing an ordinance against these practices the following month. The committee later , but Morillo's recent decision to reverse this move comes as the city is 'facing other immediate priorities, like the upcoming budget.' Complaint requesting prosecution of St. Helens Mayor heads to Oregon DOJ The councilor previously noted that 47% of Portlanders are renters. And while much of the has come from those in support of it, RealPage Vice President of Associate General Counsel Mike Semko argued that banning the software would impact renters negatively. 'What this draft ordinance does at the present moment — It doesn't ban price fixing,' Semko said on Wednesday. 'It bans the use of data sets in applied math. Essentially, what you're doing is — you're banning a math tool. That's not going to help anybody. It certainly won't help housing providers and, by the way, it won't help your residents either.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Hurting everybody': Portland City Council, tenants sound off on proposed AI rent-fixing software ban
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Portlanders are sounding off on a proposed measure that would ban the use of AI to fix rent prices. The Department of Justice and several states, including Oregon, that accused software firm RealPage of using its algorithm to help property owners drive up rent costs. The complaint, which was , is what sparked the Portland City Council policy that could prohibit the act at the local level. Oregon gas pumps ranked 5th most expensive in the US as West Coast prices rise 'I want to note for my colleagues that the Department of Justice does not bring things forward unless there is serious evidence,' District 3 Councilor Angelita Morillo, who co-introduced the ordinance, said. 'This is going to be hurting everybody: renters, small housing providers and small businesses and small landlords, because people aren't investing their money in the economy.' Morillo serves the city's Homelessness and Housing Committee, which has addressed the proposal twice this year. The committee to the remainder of city council just last week. When the policy was re-introduced at Wednesday's meeting, city leaders were met with testimony from people on both sides of the debate. Although proponents have argued that the ordinance would benefit Portland 'mom-and-pop landlords' and renters, with renters accounting for about 47% of the population, opponents fear that the ordinance could exacerbate the ongoing housing crisis. Six Oregon James Beard contenders advance to final round, six semifinalists passed over Joe Gardner, a self-described 'lifelong renter' in the Portland area who testified on behalf of RealPage, claimed that rent costs have significantly dropped in the markets served by the software firm. 'This ordinance will not help marginalized populations, as some proponents have claimed,' Gardner added. 'In reality, part of the impetus for the software was to reduce the importance of face-to-face bargaining in renting — a process that's subject to severe implicit bias effects based on race, gender, English language skills and other factors.' City council will hear additional comments on the ordinance on Thursday. But the discussion of banning rental price-fixing algorithms reaches far beyond Portland. Oregon Department of Education ends math, literacy programs after federal funding cuts San Francisco, Philadelphia and Minneapolis are among the cities that have approved or proposed similar policies. Oregon's Senate Bill 722 as well. If the Portland ordinance is approved, those who violate it could be charged up to $1,000 per violation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland committee advances ordinance that would ban AI rental price-fixing software
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Following a lawsuit against companies that use algorithms to fix rent prices across the U.S., Portland leaders have advanced a measure that would crack down on the act locally. On Tuesday, the Homelessness & Housing Committee discussed an ordinance that would amend the Affordable Housing Code to ban 'anti-competitive rental practices' — such as those that use artificial intelligence to impact rental costs. Oregon Children's Theatre to put programs on hold amid $1 million fundraising campaign Federal officials have sounded the alarm on the practice in recent months. In August, the that accused tech company RealPage of using its software to help property managers skew rent prices. Oregon was one of eight states that joined the original federal lawsuit, in addition to the . The suit was updated to include 'some of the nation's largest landlords' like Cortland Management, Cusman & Wakefield and Greystar Real Estate Partners. According to the court documents, renters in local submarkets ranging from Central Portland to West Beaverton could have been impacted by RealPage's software. Some of the identified landlords, like , also name several Portland apartment buildings on their list of properties. Severe weather threat paired with record-breaking heat Wednesday During Tuesday's meeting, New York-based Legal Fellow Angelo Pis-Dudot told committee members that an increase in consolidation and financialization has brought an increase in rent and evictions to the housing market. He noted that one in six U.S. apartments were owned by the nation's top 50 property managers in 2019, and the number of properties that these companies manage has increased annually for the past 14 years. 'We know that 47% of Portlanders are renters and they deserve to have some representation on this city council and have their needs centered,' Councilor Angelita Morillo, one of the councilors who introduced the amendment, said. 'We also know that the homelessness crisis on our streets is going to continue and get even worse if we don't do some of the changes that we need to do now.' The Homelessness & Housing Committee voted to refer the ordinance to the entire city council. Hwy 26's hazardous 'The Bump' to see major repairs after multiple accidents At a state level, Oregon legislators are also attempting to ban rental price-fixing with . While supporters of the measure argue that it would support tenants who struggle to pay their rent as it rises, opponents have contended that it could hinder development amid the state's housing crisis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
