Commentary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not have the legal authority to place a moratorium on evictions during the pandemic, a federal judge ruled May 5. While the news won’t affect Californians, it does highlight the challenges the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have brought upon both renters and landlords. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent household pulse survey, taken April 14 to April 26, some 12.7 percent of California renters are behind on rent payments. Of the 7.9 million survey respondents living in rental housing, about 1 million people said they were not caught up with their rent. California renters are doing slightly better than other U.S. states; outside California, about 14 percent of renters are behind on rent payments. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 91, statewide legislation that prohibits residential evictions through June 30. SB 91 paused evictions “for tenants …