{"id":161,"date":"2009-11-13T07:16:00","date_gmt":"2009-11-13T07:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=161"},"modified":"2009-11-13T07:16:00","modified_gmt":"2009-11-13T07:16:00","slug":"ken-bukowskis-san-francisco-landlord-petitions-rent-board-for-increase-to-market-rate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=161","title":{"rendered":"Ken Bukowski’s San Francisco Landlord Petitions Rent Board for Increase to Market Rate"},"content":{"rendered":"


Building Manager Says Drug Paraphernalia
Seen in Bukowski’s Apartment <\/span><\/p>\n

by Tracy Schroth<\/p>\n

The manager of the San Francisco building where Emeryville City Council Member Ken Bukowski has had an apartment for the past 30 years said a petition has been filed with the city’s rent board to raise the rent to market rate. He did not specify an amount, but a neighbor of Bukowski’s with a similar unit said he pays $1,800.<\/p>\n

Bukowski now pays $350 for the rent-controlled apartment, on the third floor of the building at 798 Post Street in Lower Nob Hill.<\/p>\n

The Secret News previously reported that Bukowski had the apartment, a fact that was rumored for years but never officially confirmed or made public. When questioned about the apartment, Bukowski said he stays there “15 to 20 percent of the time.” This is despite San Francisco law that allows only full-time tenants to qualify for rent control.<\/p>\n

“It was assumed that he was a full-time resident of the building, primarily because his initial signed lease indicated nothing to suggest he was going to use the apartment on a part-time basis,” said a formal statement issued by the apartment building’s resident manager, Steve West. Based on Bukowski’s recent admission, “a petition has been made to the Rent Board … requesting to raise his rent to current market rate as he is no longer a full-time tenant and thus not covered under rent control statutes,” the statement said.<\/p>\n

Drug Paraphernelia and “Strange Smells”<\/span><\/p>\n

West said in his statement that he is aware of the recent allegations of drug use by Bukowski.<\/p>\n

“While I cannot confirm or deny those statements, several tenants have complained of constant comings and goings of non-residents of the building to Mr. Bukowski\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s unit,” as well as “strange smells” coming from the apartment.<\/p>\n

West went on: “An authorized entry was made into his unit and drug paraphernalia was observed. If he is indeed using or manufacturing drugs, my hope is that he is not doing it on this property, as any drug use could endanger the other residents of the building. The matter is one for the police to handle and I can only hope they are following up on these allegations, not only for Mr. Bukowski’s safety, but for those around him as well.”<\/p>\n

In a recent interview with The Secret News, Bukowski denied allegations by his niece, Kim Bukowski, that he is a methamphetamine user, although he “tried it … a long time ago.” He did say, however, that he smokes marijuana.<\/p>\n

When asked about his plans for the San Francisco apartment, he said he will probably pay the rent increase. He said he plans to get this money, and the money to repay more than $100,000 in loans, back business taxes, and fines for misusing campaign donations, by selling off part of his Emeryville property. <\/span><\/p>\n