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Salas, Diana From: Yoselinda Mendoza <yoselinda.mendoza@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2020 9:19 AM To: eComment Subject: Temporary Rent freeze (RE agenda item 60A) REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 60A Dear City Council, First, I want to thank you for addressing the demands pushed forward bythe communityby enacting an eviction moratorium and a rent freeze. Your local responses are making direct impacts to Santa Ana residents, alleviating financial insecurity, preventing housing displacement, and lowering the risk of the COVID-19 spread. But now I am deeply alarmed after learning that the rent freeze in place to protect Santa Ana residents is in jeopardy of being removed. It is erroneous, unjust, and does not reflect what our community needs and deserves. It does the exact opposite; the removal of the rent freeze greatly threatens our community— reversing the very things we are trying to minimize (which I hope continue to be your goals too) such as financial insecurity, housing displacement, and death. I urge you all to keep the rent freeze and extend it to match the eviction moratorium. As you all are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating financial impacts for residents in Santa Ana, in large part due to structural inequities and the lack of institutional support that has left our community susceptible to great risk in experiencing the negative impacts of a disaster event such as COVID-19. Many are renters and severely rent burdened. Many are undocumented and don't qualify for COVID-19 relief benefits. Many have lost their jobs or have experienced a reduction of work hours, leaving them unable to pay rent. It is cruel to have an unrealistic expectation for people to experience rent increases while they are trying to catch up with the debt they have been accumulating. Not only is it impossible, it is dangerous to ask residents to choose between getting things that maintain their livelihoods like buying essential things like food or maintaining a roof over their head. It is inhumane. I also wanted to be sure to address some of claims stated bythe California Apartment Association and others: • Governments' short-term response of COVID49 does not consider impacts on housing providers: It is important to note that • The city s rent control order violates state law.. In a statewide and national emergency, emergency orders such as the rent freeze supersede state laws like Costa Hawkins. • The manner of approval violates city charter and public oversight Under the city municipal code and charter, the City of Santa Ana has emergency powers to snake decisions to protect the health and safety of its residents, including having the power to enact a rent freeze.