Listen up UC’s: Evictions, Higher Rent, and Supporting Blackstone is NOT the answer!

By Ciara Lopez

As a UC Berkeley student, I have struggled to find a place to live. Housing in the Berkeley area is highly scarce, expensive, and inaccessible for thousands of students and residents. Within these few years, eviction rates, rent price rates, and inaccessible housing have immensely increased. For instance, Blackstone has filed to evict thousands of tenants in the last six months of 2022 alone. That’s thousands, not tens, not hundreds, but thousands of people, which include low-income, black and brown students. These evictions are not just one, set, and done. Evictions carry on several health, mental, and physical issues for individuals. These physical and mental health problems include stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, and depression. Can you imagine considering that Blackstone is the largest private equity company in the world? How many people are being negatively impacted, not simply because of the housing crisis, but because of companies like this who place profits over people? 

Blackstone has made it clear that what they come to do is to conquer, keep taking money, and continue to push aside the basic needs of thousands of individuals, including college students like me. Personally, I first experienced the unacceptable actions from landlords that place the blame on the residents instead of investing in better appliances, fixing plumbing issues, or simply being reachable. I would not be able to handle more landlords like this, people like those from Blackstone who neglect the housing crisis and worsen it. The UCs must divest from Blackstone and not invest in them! Instead, it is time to walk the talk. If UC Berkeley claims to be a source of support for its students, it must invest its money into housing programs, support groups, and grants for its students instead of giving more money and power to companies such as Blackstone.