Redwood City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Redwood City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Veterans Memorial/Senior Center demolition
The lowest bidder, Sandstone Environmental Engineering, got the $545,300 demolition contract for the old senior center, a step toward the new Veterans Memorial/Senior Center project; the second-lowest bidder's protest was denied.
November 2026 rent control and just cause eviction ballot measure
A voter initiative with 4,751 valid signatures would cap rent increases at 60% of CPI (max 5%) for pre-1995 units, require $12,000+ relocation payments, and add tenant protections citywide. The council must either adopt it or put it on the November ballot, and ordered a supplemental impact report first.
Flavored tobacco sales and tobacco retail permits
The council repealed the city's own tobacco retail permit and flavored tobacco rules and adopted San Mateo County's ordinance instead. Restaurant and shop owners warned of job losses and lost revenue; the measure passed 4-2 after midnight.
Data Center Energy Demand
Get ready, Redwood City! AI is driving a data center boom, and these places need a LOT of power. Experts are scrambling to figure out how to keep the lights on for them without overloading our grid or costing us a fortune.