New Salinas City Council takes aim at recently approved Rental Stabilization Ordinance

YOUNG VOICES |

By Isaac Gónzalez-Díaz

Before Salinas voters cast their ballots in November for five seats on the council, Young Voices asked all candidates if they would support recently approved ordinances meant to protect renters. None of the challengers responded to the questionnaires Young Voices sent them. 

At a packed meeting on April 29, they gave everyone their answer. By a 5-2 margin, the new council voted to roll back the rental stabilization ordinances approved on Sept. 24.  

The council had asked  staff to provide them with a report about the Residential Rent Registration, Rent Stabilization, Tenant Protection and Just Cause Eviction, and Tenant Anti-Harassment ordinances. 

The report provided a summary of each ordinance, implementation actions, implementation challenges and feedback, and presented alternatives for the City Council’s consideration.

Challenges noted by the report included interpretations of ordinance requirements by landlords and issues with the registration platform and processes. 

The report listed the following concerns from landlords: 

  • The rent stabilization program fee of $170 per unit especially for larger properties
  • The rent limit of 2.75% or 75% of consumer price index (CPI) cap on units was considered too low for a good return on investment 
  • Concerns that calculating allowable rent increases based on the month of the last rent increase could create compliance issues, because the CPI is not released in time to meet California’s 60-day notice requirement for rent increases.

Landlords also expressed concerns about the “Right to Return/Withdrawal Rental Unit” that one ordinance mandates if a vacated unit is withdrawn from the rental market and then re-rented within five years, and the requirement that a unit be offered first to displaced tenants when it is withdrawn from rental for renovations or personal issues. Another concern was a relocation assistance provision. Landlords expressed concern about the financial burden of having to pay tenants a relocation payment when terminating tenancies for renovation.

However, the staff also proposed alternatives to the City Council, including amending any or all four of the ordinances to address the concerns raised or to clarify requirements. Staff would bring such amendments back to the council for consideration. 

But recently elected Council member Jose Luis Barajas motioned to repeal the rent stabilization ordinances and focus on creating a rental assistance program, as well as requiring that a monthly housing report be presented to the council. 

Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue and Council members Margaret D’Arrigo, Gloria de la Rosa, José Luis Barajas and Aurelio Salazar voted for the substitute motion. Council members Andrew Sandoval and Tony Barrera opposed it.

Salinas council members heard from roughly 130 members of the public on the topic. Around 70 people spoke in favor of the rent stabilization ordinances, while 60 were opposed.

“I work for a school district, and I also have a part-time job, and I am also a student part time. It is very difficult to choose between going to school or maybe finding a place to live or choosing your rent,” said 20-year-old Athziri during public comments. Athziri explained how the cost of living in Salinas forced her to choose between working and studying, and made it impossible for her to rent a place on her own. “I don’t think that should be an option for a person that works 12 hours every day.”

Not surprisingly, the proposal to repeal the ordinances was met with approvals by landlords and associations representing property owners. Many of them said the only way rents are going to stabilize is by building more housing. 

“What we have encountered here in California is limits on the supply of housing. Homebuilders know how to build housing and government at every level — whether be the state, the county, or the city — has gotten in the way. We have to fix a shortage of housing, and that’s the only way the rents are going to become stabilized,” said Brian Higgins, political director for the Monterey County Republican Party.

The vote, at around 9 p.m., was taken after 4½ hours of reports and public comments.

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About Isaac González Díaz

Isaac Alberto González Díaz graduated in 2023 from North Salinas High School and is now attending Hartnell College. He plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a degree in journalism. He enjoys photography, building Legos, listening to music, reading, and taking walks around his neighborhood.