Correspondence - #33 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orozco, Norma From: Willard Harris <wph270@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2021 4:28 PM To: eComment Subject: Oppose Item 33 - Rent Control and Just Cause Ordinances Dear City Clerk Gomez, Most apartment owners are small business people trying to make a living. These owners and operators rely on rental income to pay employee payroll, mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and, importantly, use the funds to maintain continuity of essential services for apartment communities as many renters must shelter in place. If lawmakers do not act to support landlords as well as renters, this ongoing crisis, paired with the economic downfall brought on by COVID-19, will only worsen. Apartment operators, employees and residents need additional economic relief to avoid a total collapse of the rental housing sector, which contributes $3.4 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. These small businesses often function on low margins that cannot sustain substantial losses of rental income for any period of time. This could result in a reduction of housing quality and services as owners make tough decisions about reserves and reducing expenses. The arbitrary reduction of future rental income will only stifle the addition of new housing and apartments and will create decay and neglect. As a city taxpayer and housing provider, I strongly oppose the rent control and just cause ordinances. I am extremely disappointed by the lack of community and stakeholder outreach. Especially since rent control has historically lacked community interest and voter support. The residents of Santa Ana have rejected rent control four times. The price controls are excessive. They will not allow housing providers to generate enough income to keep up with the cost of inflation or our actual expenses of operating rental housing. Current state law at least provides a balance by allowing for a fair and reasonable rate of return and a cap against excessive rent increases. In addition, the City of Santa Ana has $35 million to help renters who are in need. The just cause ordinance creates too many loopholes for bad actors to vandalize our properties and endanger other renters without consequence. The just cause ordinance makes it nearly impossible to remove dangerous elements from the community without a bureaucratic and lengthy legal process. It is also unclear what the cost is to manage this bureaucracy. The few cities in California that have adopted rent control spend millions of dollars per year on regulatory enforcement. This money could be better used to improve parks, libraries, and public safety. Our businesses have operated in the City of Santa Ana for over 30 years. We support many charitable organizations such as Bowers Museum, Wiseplace, Kidsworks, The Boys and Girls Clubs, etc. Our ability to participate is directly related to our financial well-being. Please vote NO on the rent control and just cause ordinances. Sincerely, Willard Harris 315 S Newhope St Santa Ana, CA 92704 wph270@gmail.com