IMAGE ID: Law Center staff attorney's Tobias Damm-Luhr, Hasmik Geghamyan, and Mohini Mookim sit in front of Richmond City Council giving a presentation on their legal research into how to ban land grabs.

On February 3, 2026, Richmond City Council invited the Law Center to present updates on the proposal to ban corporate land grabs in Richmond.

Back in 2024, Richmond City Council Member Soheila Bana invited the Law Center to develop a proposal to ban corporations like Invitation Homes from buying up family-sized housing in the city,  a disturbing trend that has affected other cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis. Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez later became a co-sponsor, and on August 26, 2025, the Law Center team presented the proposal to the Council, receiving valuable feedback. 

At the February 3 Council meeting, Law Center staff presented an updated proposal that incorporated the feedback, and answered additional questions, including from the City Attorney. Richmond residents and organizations, including the Law Center’s Mwende Hinojosa, also gave public comment in support.  Mwende said: 

IMAGE ID: Mwende Hinojosa sitting in front of Richmond City Council giving public comment on banning land grabs.

“We need to be proactive in keeping Richmond a place where regular people can come together, have families and thrive.  I have [a friend] in Charleson, SC who…told me how companies like Blackstone came in, bought houses, didn’t improve them, and evicted tenants the moment they couldn’t pay their rent. I know we already have 1,000 units here that are corporate owned,...we don’t need any more than that.”

Jubilee Martinez of Communities for a Better Environment, said: 

“By preventing corporate land grabs and curbing real estate speculation, this ordinance gives Richmond residents the opportunity to reclaim what housing and land use looks like in Richmond. Decisions regarding housing costs, home electrification or air filtration systems, what remediation looks like, and what land stewardship means in Richmond, more broadly, should not be reserved for an elite few. They are decisions that Richmond residents can and should be making themselves. This ordinance is the first step in that direction.”

River Allen, a Richmond resident and member of Bay Area Resource Generation, said: 

“We need bold action to ensure safe, dignified homes for our communities, instead of allowing large investors to keep buying up housing...And I'm saying this as someone who actually comes from generational wealth built through real estate here in the…Bay Area. So,...you will hear from landlords, you will hear from realtors, you will hear from people like my family members, claiming that this ordinance will hurt business.  And they will speak to you with urgency and fear, assuming that their right to maximize profit is equal to Richmond residents' right to stay housed in their own city.  It is not.”

Melvin Willis with ACCE and Richmond Progressive Alliance said: 

“At the end of the day, these corporations are going to care about their bottom line. They do not give a damn about the community or community sustainability – that is up to us  to make our own standards for our community. I have talked to so many people over the past decade and a half who have been trying to buy homes and move into Richmond, and they keep on getting priced out by cash-only offers.”

At the end of the meeting, the City Council voted to direct the City Attorney’s office to work with the Law Center to evaluate the legal risks of enacting the proposed legislation. 

How can you help?

In the coming weeks, City Council members need to hear positive messages from the Richmond community: 

• Call or email your City Council member to express support! Here are some draft talking points in case it’s helpful.
• Sign up for updates and tell us how you’d like to get involved by filling out our survey!