Latest news with #rentstabilization
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Petition to keep rent stabilization in Salinas qualifies for voter referendum
A petition to keep rent stabilization and other related tenant protection policies in Salinas has received enough signatures to qualify for a voter referendum. The Monterey County Registrar of Voters completed their review process and provided a Certificate of Signature Verification to the city of Salinas on Aug. 15. The certificate states the requisite number of valid registered voter signatures of 10% (6,998) has been met. Out of 10,448 signatures received, Monterey County elections officials determined 7,156 were valid. The remainder (3,292) were "found not sufficient," according to the county's official statement. The petition was submitted by Protect Salinas Renters, a community group aiming to keep the city's landmark tenant protections in place, on July 3. Since then, the four tenant related ordinaces, including the rent stabilization policy, which puts a cap on rent increases for eligible properties, have remained in place, despite the city council voting to repeal them earlier this spring. Under the Elections Code, Protect Salinas Renters (the petitioners) had to gather signatures from at least 10% or 6,998 of the total number of Salinas registered voters (69,985), according to a statement by the city clerk. After meeting this initial threshold, a delay in the repeal process was triggered as the petitions made their way to the county registrar of voters for verification. The city council will receive a report on the results of the referendum petition on Aug. 26. More: Salinas lawmakers table $100K church sponsorship Salinas City Council to decide next steps Since the referendum petition reached their signature goal, the city council has two options. They can "repeal the repeal," and take back an ordinance passed in June that repealed the four original tenant related ordinances, including the rent stabilization policy. Or, lawmakers can decide to put the issue before Salinas voters at a special election or general municipal election. The next general election is Nov. 3, 2026. If the city council moves forward with a special election, it must do so not sooner than 88 days (Nov. 10) and all elections proceedings related to the referendum process will apply. It must choose a date to hold the special election at a future meeting. If the city council decides to take back the repeal ordinance passed in June, no further action is required and the following ordinances will remain in effect: Ordinance No. 2663: Residential Rental Registration Ordinance No. 2681: Rent Stabilization Ordinance No. 2682: Tenant Protection and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance No. 2683: Tenant Anti-Harassment With this action the city would not move forward with an election nor incur any election-related costs. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at The Californian, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Petition to preserve Salinas rent cap qualifies for voter referendum Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing advocates renew fight for rent stabilization in Massachusetts
Renters from across Massachusetts are asking legislators — not for the first time — to implement rent control or rent stabilization as they struggle under the spiraling cost of rent. At the State House on Tuesday, tenants and advocates held a demonstration calling for rent control before flooding a Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government hearing to share their stories of housing instability. Judy Holmes of Springfield said last month that she received a letter from her landlord letting her know the rent would be going up by $400 come September. She has until the end of August to decide if she will accept the increase. 'This is my home and I'm worried I will have to leave,' Holmes said. 'A rent increase like that is unaffordable to me. I don't know many people in Springfield that could handle that.' Rent control was banned in Massachusetts in 1994 by a ballot question. Renters, advocates and legislators have repeatedly tried to reinstate it, without success. State Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-2nd Middlesex, Rep. Sam Montaño, D-15th Suffolk, and Rep. David Rogers, D-24th Middlesex, filed bills this session that would give cities and towns the option to implement rent stabilization locally, capping annual increases. The bills would not institute rent control statewide. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median gross rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Massachusetts was $1,882 in 2023, up from $1,727 the year before and $1,381 in 2018. Jehlen said Tuesday that the only way she had been able to afford her Somerville home when she bought it was because the city still had rent control at the time, so she was able to save money for a down payment. Annie Gordon, a Mattapan resident, said the apartment building where she has lived for 50 years was purchased six years ago, and the previously affordable rents went up considerably. Gordon's home, Fairlawn Estates, was eventually purchased by another company, with financial help from the city of Boston. The new owners promised to keep the rents affordable and rent-controlled permanently. But before that, Gordon said, she and her fellow tenants were 'treated like criminals' for fighting back against the rent increases. 'Rent control would give us protection from this and unfair rent increases and a rigged market and not punish good or small landlords,' she said. 'Everyone in Massachusetts deserves to live with security and dignity, have hope, and not live in fear of eviction.' A number of cities and towns have tried to pass local rent control without success. In 2023, the Boston City Council and Somerville City Council each approved home rule petitions to reintroduce rent control, and Brookline approved its own petition at town meeting, but the proposals all failed to make it through the state Legislature. A proposed ballot question that same year, which also would have legalized rent control, did not make it onto the ballot. Much of the opposition to rent stabilization comes from real estate and landlord groups, who argue that it would decrease the incentive to construct new housing, which they say is a better way to bring prices down. Tony Lopes, a landlord in the Boston area, made that argument during Tuesday's hearing, saying rent control was the 'wrong tool' for solving the housing crisis. 'The outcome will be fewer available units, deteriorated housing conditions and owners walking away from reinvestment in old housing stock that needs care,' he said. 'And it penalizes the small property owners who make up 60% or more of the commonwealth's rental market, including the immigrant and minority property owners who are seeking to get ahead.' Supporters, however, disavowed that argument. Jehlen said building more housing to increase the supply of available units was important for bringing prices down, but it wouldn't be enough to help renters who need assistance now. 'People are saying to us, the law of supply and demand is all we need. The law of supply and demand has run up against the facts of life,' she said. 'We need immediate solutions. This is it.' Envy Thomas, a Springfield mother and recent high school graduate, said she has struggled to find an affordable place to live for herself and her son. She works full-time at a minimum wage job, but is unable to find anything in her price range. Thomas said that even if she finds an affordable place, she is afraid she'll be stuck in the same position a year from now due to the possibility of rent hikes. She recalled moving around a lot growing up, and said she wanted a better experience for her son. 'Every time we were forced to leave, it felt like walking into the unknown,' she said. 'Even if I were to move into a place I can afford today, it doesn't mean I can set down roots. There is no security in an affordable apartment today, because tomorrow the rent can go up $500 or more.' More on housing More than 2K homes planned as part of massive development near Alewife What happens when a Yankee progressive and Southern conservative team up? More housing, they hope. WMass makes painfully slow progress toward affordable housing options (The Republican Editorials) 'Attempted money grab': Ex-city landlord Springfield Gardens fights back against Fannie Mae suit Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Salinas campaign to keep rent stabilization passes first hurdle
A grassroots campaign made up of hundreds of volunteers reached their goal of collecting 10,000 signatures to keep rent stabilization and other tenant protections in Salinas. Protect Salinas Renters delivered boxes filled with signed petitions to the city clerk on Thursday, July 3, for an initial count and assessment, the first step in a process that could end with the hotly debated issue going before Salinas voters. "This is an incredible grassroots movement that the community really supported," said Salinas City Council Member Andrew Sandoval, who was part of the last city council that initially brought forward and passed the four tenant ordinances. Sandoval and council member Tony Barrera were the two dissenting votes when an ordinance to repeal the rent stabilization and associated laws was passed last month, spurring the signature gathering campaign. Sandoval, who supported the campaign, called the mobilization of over 200 volunteers in a month historic for the city of Salinas and the ripple effects of which would be felt for some time. "You know, we got people to register to vote. We got people to recognize the importance of voting. There's just so much good that's going to come out of this," said Sandoval. "I think this showed that the people ultimately have the power to make decisions, despite these elected officials." Organizers said their team collected 10,607 signatures, roughly 300 more needed to trigger action by the Salinas City Council members, who can decide to keep the four tenant ordinances in place or put the matter on the ballot. "We are just so proud and grateful that the community has come together in such a quick way," said Matt Huerta, tenant advocate and Salinas resident. "This is what over 10,600 signatures by concerned residents of Salinas looks like and we're very proud to work with over 200 volunteers and to continue the process of maintaining these renter protections." On Thursday afternoon, the city clerk completed the raw count and delivered the signatures to the Monterey County elections official for validation, which the department has 30 days to complete. The city clerk determined the campaign had collected 9,939 signatures, about 42% above the baseline of 7,000 required. This means, that for now, rent stabilization remains in place in Salinas. Huerta said with all the challenges confronting communities like Salinas, they were unsure if they could meet their signature goal. "People are really struggling right now — not only renters but homeowners, business leaders and those in education — we are under assault by our federal government, and we have very big challenges at the state level," said Huerta. "Our regional and local governments are the last support systems that we can really count on, and that is what this is also about — making sure that our local government works for the people." Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at The Californian, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Salinas campaign successful in delaying repeal of rent stabilization
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Salinas rent stabilization still in effect amid repeal delay, city officials say
Salinas rent stabilization program is still in effect, city officials announce on Thursday. While the Salinas City Council passed an ordinance to repeal rent stabilization and associated tenant-related policies in June, a successful signature-gathering campaign has delayed the repeal. "As the four rent-related ordinances are again effective, landlords and tenants of rental units should be aware they are once again subject to those ordinances and must comply with the requirements and restrictions of those ordinances," city officials said in a press release. The four ordinances are the Rent Stabilization, Tenant Protection and Just Cause Eviction, Tenant Anti-Harassment and Rental Registration policies. On July 3, grassroots community group, Protect Salinas Renters, delivered boxes of signed petitions to keep the four original tenant ordinances in place to the Salinas City Clerk for a raw count. After the initial assessment the city clerk determined the campaign collected 9,939 signatures. Under the Elections Code, the petitioners had to gather signatures from at least 10% or 6,998 of the total number of Salinas registered voters (69,985), per a statement by the city clerk. After meeting this initial threshold, a delay in the repeal process was triggered. The signed petitions were then submitted on July 3 to the Monterey County Registrar of Voters who will determine whether the petition contains the requisite number of valid signatures. The county has 30 calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, to complete the verification of signatures. If it is determined that the petition has a sufficient number of valid signatures, the city clerk will bring the referendum petitions to the city council at the next regular meeting following receipt of the county elections officials' determination for certification of results, per the city clerk. The city council would then consider the referendum petition at that meeting and will consider its options, including putting the referendum up for vote in a special election, or the June 2, 2026, primary election. This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Salinas rent stabilization still in effect, say city officials


Bloomberg
01-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
NYC's Rent-Stabilized Apartment Prices to Rise at Least 3%
Tenants in New York City's roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments will face a fourth straight year of price hikes. The city's Rent Guidelines Board on Monday in a 5-4 vote approved a 3% price increase for one-year leases that renew during the year beginning Oct. 1. Prices for two-year leases will rise 4.5%.