Protecting People's Homes
I support rent control. No one should have to worry from month to month or even year to year about being kicked out of his or her home by a huge rent increase. In a market like Santa Monica where rental housing is in great demand, rent control creates a feeling of security and stability for renters.
Rent control is written into the Santa Monica City Charter. Only a vote of the people can change this law—the City Council cannot. Since about 70 percent of Santa Monica residents are renters, our rent control law is in no jeopardy.
In 1996 the State’s Costa-Hawkins law overrode local rent control, nullifying some of the Santa Monica law’s provisions. Since 1999 housing providers have been allowed to charge whatever the market will bear when a controlled unit is vacated. The City Council cannot change that either.
So, as a practical matter, rent control is not a real issue in a City Council campaign.
A real issue is protecting renters from harassment and unfair evictions. Councilmembers don’t handle this directly, but we must make sure the City, through the services of our Rent Control Board, helps tenants stand up for their rights and receive the full protection of State and City law.
In my four years on the Council, I have repeatedly insisted that Santa Monica residents receive first priority to move into affordable housing that is constructed using City funds. When HUD funds are used, this isn’t allowed, but in all other cases, giving priority to residents should be city policy.
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