In November 2002, Oakland voters passed Measure EE, which ensured that Oakland tenants had the same protections against eviction without cause as their San Francisco and Berkeley neighbors. On February 26, the California Court of Appeal upheld measure EE against a lawsuit by a group of Oakland landlords. The case, Rental Housing Association of Northern Alameda County v. City of Oakland, essentially ensures that the local rent control laws upheld by courts in a series of decisions in the 1980’s remain as strong as ever into the 21st Century. The chief remaining eviction vehicle for real estate speculators is the state Ellis Act, which can only be changed by the State Legislature or a statewide ballot initiative.