San Mateo residents demand council action on rental protections and eviction policies

In the heart of San Mateo's city hall, voices echoed with urgency and emotion as residents gathered for the City Council Regular Meeting on April 21, 2025. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of desperation and hope, as community members shared their struggles and called for action on pressing issues affecting their lives.

Imelda Navarro, a resident from District 3, opened the floor with a poignant account of her neighborhood's devastation during the flooding on December 31, 2022. She expressed her frustration at feeling abandoned by local leadership during their time of need. "You turned your back on us when we were in distress," she declared, urging the council to implement protections for vulnerable populations facing deportation and loss of essential services. Her words resonated deeply, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities in San Mateo.

Following Navarro, Lauren Matthews emphasized the critical role of essential workers in the community, many of whom are renters struggling to maintain their homes. She passionately advocated for the adoption of five proposed policies aimed at limiting evictions and enhancing housing security. "For the health of our community, we need to make every effort to keep them here," Matthews urged, framing the issue as not just a matter of housing, but of community well-being.

The discussion turned to the sensitive topic of eviction, with speakers sharing personal stories that underscored the emotional toll of housing instability. Ricardo Salcedo, a tenant reliant on assistance, described the harsh reality of high rents and food insecurity, calling for a rental registry to ensure transparency and accountability from landlords. "We are just very, very honest tenants," he stated, advocating for policies that would protect those most vulnerable.

As the meeting progressed, Robert Whitehair, a long-time resident and former landlord, echoed the need for a rental registry, emphasizing the lack of impartial data on rents and evictions. "A rental registry will move us into the light," he said, urging the council to adopt measures that would foster a more equitable housing landscape.

The voices of tenants and advocates painted a vivid picture of the struggles faced by many in San Mateo, culminating in a collective call for action. As the council members prepared to take a recess, the weight of the discussions lingered in the air, leaving a sense of urgency for the need to address housing insecurity and support for renters.

With the meeting adjourned temporarily, the community's plea for protections and policies to safeguard their homes and livelihoods remained at the forefront, echoing the sentiment that solutions are needed, not excuses. The path forward for San Mateo's leadership is clear: the time for action is now.