A bill to limit evictions by real estate speculators in San Francisco has passed a key hurdle in the State Senate. Senate Bill 1439 by Democrat Mark Leno aims at protecting tenants from evictions under a law originally intended to protect landlords who want to leave the business of renting their properties. Critics say the State’s “Ellis Act” is being abused by real estate speculators, leading to spiraling evictions in the city. Christopher Martinez reports from Sacramento.