Rent control initiative

Celebrated the petition process and urged voters to support rent control in November, saying shelter is a basic human need.

Argued stable housing keeps essential workers local, keeps kids in their schools, reduces commutes and homelessness, and strengthens neighborhoods.

Urged the council to put the measure on the ballot and work hard to explain its downsides, citing general fund pressures and reduced investment in rental housing.

Warned of program costs up to $10 million, impacts on mom-and-pop landlords (79% of providers), and said the ordinance goes beyond AB 1482; urged a ballot placement with formal council opposition.

Speaking for SAMCAR, said the initiative creates a costly new regulatory bureaucracy and asked the council to place it on the ballot so voters can decide.

Asked what happens if landlord fee collections fall short — would taxes go up?

As SAMCAR's executive officer, said the ordinance erodes property rights and asked the council to place it on the ballot and oppose it.

A property manager with a 95-year-old landlord client, said the measure hurts mom-and-pop owners who've kept rents 40–50% below market for decades and can't recover capital repair costs.

A downtown business owner of 32 years, thanked the council for the supplemental report and asked for ballot placement and a formal opposition position.

Representing a rental property owners' trade association, said the report's warnings are too significant to ignore and urged the council to take an opposed position.

A small landlord, said the high evidentiary standard makes it nearly impossible to remove problem tenants who harm other tenants, and questioned the value of the fair-return petition process.

SAMCAR's president, said the report shows rent control reduces supply and hurts the very people it aims to help; asked for ballot placement.

St. Francis Center chair: losing RUBS would cost his 90-unit nonprofit $176,000 immediately, and property tax abatement losses could exceed $576,000, threatening services; urged ballot placement and opposition.

Argued the measure is needed because renters — single moms, students, teachers, caregivers — are struggling to find housing.

A local realtor and rental property owner who supports affordability but said the measure will discourage new rental housing and hurt small providers; urged ballot placement.

A 42-year property manager, questioned the fee estimates compared to San Francisco's rent board fees and puzzled over how tenant safety plans would work for emergency repairs like a Christmas Eve water heater failure.

Housing Leadership Council director supports rent control and just cause but has big concerns about how this ordinance was written and would interact with affordable housing funding; asked for answers before taking a position.

MidPen Housing policy manager warned the ordinance would harm deed-restricted affordable housing, citing Berkeley's similar 2024 ordinance and its costly cleanup amendments now on that city's ballot.

A local broker who owns three small five-unit buildings, said the measure could make his ownership unprofitable and asked the council to put it on the ballot and endorse a no vote.

Said covered properties are owned by mom-and-pop landlords with thin margins; urged the council not to adopt and to send it to the ballot, and to expand the 9212 report.

Argued the ordinance's unintended consequences would shrink the housing stock, raise costs, and degrade housing quality.

Cited other cities (Concord, Half Moon Bay, Salinas, San Pablo) that reversed or abandoned similar ordinances, and warned of $4-$10 million in costs.

Brought a 95-year-old landlord client who rents below market to low-income tenants; asked 'what about the landlords' facing $18,000 relocation obligations.

Executive director of Tenants Together urged adoption tonight, saying rents are unsustainable for tenants across California.

Tenants Together regional coordinator urged the council to adopt the ordinance tonight, citing Concord and Antioch precedents.

Faith in Action volunteer who collected signatures; said rents are out of control and families are leaving, urging no delay.

Supported the initiative for neighborhood stability and so essential workers can afford to live in Redwood City.

Ten-year renter who said the measure responds to high rents, harassment, and unsafe conditions, and strikes a balance for landlords.

Youth development practitioner with Youth Leadership Institute speaking in solidarity with Faith in Action for rent control.

Works with youth leaders through Faith in Action and YLI; said housing is always the issue youth raise and urged passage.

Teenager speaking for her generation, worried families can't stay in the city they grew up in.

50-year resident with Faith in Action; urged passage to protect seniors and families from displacement, citing her own elderly parents.

Senior housing rights attorney at CLSEPA who represents low-income tenants; urged adoption, citing benefits of similar ordinances in East Palo Alto and Mountain View.

Six-year resident urging adoption, citing information asymmetry between landlords using algorithmic pricing and tenants.

District 6 resident who framed rent control as immediate relief while housing supply is built over years.

El Concilio of San Mateo County staff member describing clients doubling up or moving out as rents rise; urged adoption.

Urban Habitat staff member citing data: rents up 47% since 2010, two-thirds of low-income families cost-burdened, ~22,000 people could be protected by rent stabilization.

Speaking in Spanish with interpretation, described elderly people and single mothers unable to pay $2,000 rents and families sleeping in the streets; urged passage.

St. Francis Center board chair warned the ordinance could cost the nonprofit $468,000/year in property tax abatements and bans RUBS utility billing, hurting its 90 Redwood City units.

Silicon Valley DSA member and signature gatherer; cited Mountain View's rent control, which 70% of voters upheld in 2020.

Lifelong Peninsula resident and café worker earning $19/hour paying $1,929 rent — nearly 90% of income; called the measure the bare minimum.

Silicon Valley DSA member with family affected by evictions; said the measure would help workers stay in the community.

Executive director of Unlocked Futures and a landlord himself; urged adoption tonight, citing system-impacted youth struggling to pay rent.

Redwood Shores renter who faced 10% annual increases until he couldn't afford to stay; implored the council to pass the ordinance.

California Apartment Association representative asking the council to slow down, noting the 9212 report covers rent control but not the 40+ pages of other regulations.

San Mateo County Association of Realtors representative; said the 60% of CPI cap ignores rising costs and requested a supplemental 9212 analysis.

Argued rents are set by supply and demand and that discouraging development would raise rents; urged sending it to the ballot.

Speaking in Spanish for her daughter, described a shared $3,000 two-bedroom apartment and a husband working 12-hour nights; asked for affordable housing for people with disabilities.

20-year homeowner who works with underserved youth; described displacement she's witnessed and urged immediate action.

Small business owner urging the council not to adopt the measure, saying it would hurt small mom-and-pop landlords and reduce affordable housing.