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other purposes such as inspecting a smoke detector (Health & Safety Code Sec. 13113.7(d)(2)(A)) or exhibiting the dwelling to a potential tenant or purchaser (Civil Code Sec. 1954(a)(2)). In addition to unreasonably interfering with owners' ability to conduct basic operations, the anti - harassment provisions of the just cause ordinance appear to be a solution in search of a problem, given that various state laws already prohibit the exact type of conduct the provisions are intended to address. For example, Civil Code Sec. 1942.5 prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who complain about habitability issues or exercise other legal rights. Civil Code Sec. 789.3 prohibits landlords from interrupting housing services for nefarious purposes. Fair housing laws, such as Government Code Sec. 12955, prohibit landlords from harassing tenants because of a wide variety of personal characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and disability. California has even adopted a law (Civil Code Sec. 1940.35) specifically prohibiting landlords from harassing tenants by reporting the tenant's immigration or citizenship status to immigration or other law enforcement authorities. Exacerbating these issues is the fact that violation of any provision of the ordinance is a misdemeanor. This puts rental housing providers in the impossible position of risking jail time for engaging in otherwise perfectly legal activities, such as performing maintenance or exhibiting a dwelling to a potential buyer. CONCLUSION: CAA ENCOURAGES CITY COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND CREDIBLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS The rent control and just cause ordinances are deficient in their ability to provide any substantial net benefit to the community and address challenges associated with the city s housing shortage. The Housing Ad Hoc has gravitated to failed policy proposals that voters have clearly rejected four times. CAA encourages the City to demonstrate its leadership and focus on distributing emergency rental assistance, a resource that it has now to help Santa Ana residents who are in need. For these reasons, the California Apartment Association is opposed to the Housing Ad Hoc's rent control and just cause ordinances. Respectfully, la Victor Cao Senior Vice President, Local Public Affairs