Item 16 - Affirmation and/or Amendment of Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance

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Latino Health Access Santa Ana,CA 92701 September 29,2023 Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana,CA 92701 ecomment@santa-ana.org RE:SUPPORT ITEM 16 -Take Action on the Requirement of a Supermajority Approval for Future Amendments to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause Evictions Ordinance Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, For 30 years,Latino Health Access has been proudly working alongside community residents to bring health, equity,and sustainable change to underserved communities through education,services,consciousness-raising, and civic participation.We strive to provide culturally appropriate health-related services and programming to address urgent health concerns while also empowering individuals in low-income,low-opportunity areas to transform their environments and create positive changes in their homes and communities.Therefore,Latino Health Access supports the council in taking action to amend the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO)and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (JCEO)to require a supermajority approval for future amendments. The RSO and JCEO were enacted with the primary goal of safeguarding the rights of tenants within the city. They aim to prevent arbitrary rent increases and unjust evictions,thus ensuring housing stability and security for Santa Ana residents.These ordinances reflect our commitment to providing affordable and stable housing in Santa Ana,especially at a time when housing affordability is a critical issue.We believe that it is essential for the council to take action on the proposed amendment to require a supermajority approval for future amendments to the RSO and JCEO. The proposed supermajority requirement for amending the ordinance serves several crucial purposes: Stability and Consistency:The RSO and JCEO is designed to provide long-term stability and predictability for tenants.Frequent changes or amendments to the ordinance can disrupt this stability. Requiring a supermajority vote ensures that any modifications are thoroughly considered and less vulnerable to individual and short-sighted political interests. Tenant Protection:This ordinance is fundamental to protecting the rights and security of tenants.By implementing a supermajority requirement,we are adding an extra layer of protection against potential weakening or dilution of tenant rights.This helps ensure that any changes made to the ordinance are well-founded and genuinely in the best interests of our residents. Community Consensus:Requiring a supermajority vote encourages broader community consensus on any proposed changes.It ensures that multiple perspectives are considered and that the decision to amend the ordinance is made with the utmost care and attention to its potential impacts. Policy Continuity:Housing policies should be consistent over time to provide stability and predictability for landlords and tenants alike.Requiring a supermajority for amendments reinforces the idea that changes to this vital ordinance should be infrequent and well-justified. PREVENTION EDUCATION ACTION