Officials Go To Bat For Tenants

Several state lawmakers and local officials are appealing to a Japanese billionaire who sent eviction notices to hundreds of Sacramento renters this week. State Senator Deborah Ortiz and Assemblyman Dave Cox have each written to landlord Genshiro Kawamoto saying that the local housing market won´t be able to absorb the hundreds of displaced families. Kawamoto owns about 400 single-family homes in the Sacramento area, as well as properties in Santa Rosa. In letters sent to his tenants, Kawamoto´s attorney says he is getting out of the rental business.