{"id":166,"date":"2009-12-04T04:19:00","date_gmt":"2009-12-04T04:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=166"},"modified":"2009-12-04T04:19:00","modified_gmt":"2009-12-04T04:19:00","slug":"emeryville-councilman-ken-bukowski-weds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=166","title":{"rendered":"Emeryville Councilman Ken Bukowski "Weds""},"content":{"rendered":"

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In What Appears to be Ploy to Keep SF Rent-Controlled Apartment,
Bukowski, 57, Enters Into Domestic Partnership<\/span>

<\/span><\/span>by Tracy Schroth<\/p>\n

Emeryville City Councilman Ken Bukowski and boyfriend Michael Grimes registered as domestic partners in San Francisco Nov. 20. The two tied the knot less than two weeks after the landlord of the San Francisco building where Bukowski has a rent-controlled apartment petitioned the city’s Rent Board to raise Bukowski’s rent. The Secret News<\/span> recently reported that the 22-year veteran of the Emeryville City Council has the apartment, at 798 Post Street, paying just $350 a month. <\/span><\/p>\n

When previously questioned about the apartment, Bukowski described it as a getaway where he stays only “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

Bukowski’s admission to using the apartment part-time prompted his landlord to petition the Rent Board for an increase to market rate, which is estimated at $1,800.<\/p>\n

“He is no longer a full-time tenant and thus not covered under rent control statutes,” said Stephen West, resident manager of the apartment building. <\/span><\/span>
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<\/span><\/span>West said that a hearing on the landlord’s petition was held Nov. 30. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>“I, along with an attorney for the landlord, met with an <\/span>administrative law<\/span><\/span> judge to request that Mr. Bukowski’s rent be raised to market rate,” West said in a press release emailed to The Secret News <\/span>on Dec. 2. “Mr. Bukowski appeared along with his partner, Mr. Michael Grimes. … <\/span>While Grimes admitted he has his own residence, he did say he would like to move into the apartment at 798 Post Street with Mr. Bukowski.”<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Grimes’ statement appears to contradict Bukowski’s claim that he does not actually <\/span>live<\/span> <\/span>at 798 Post Street.<\/span>
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Wikepedia describes domestic partnership as “a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life … ” <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>West said a decision on the landlord’s petition is expected Dec. 10.<\/span>
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