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Residents and landlords press Salinas City Council over rent-stabilization ordinance
Summary
Dozens of residents, renters and property owners urged the Salinas City Council either to keep or to repeal the city's rent-stabilization rules during a lengthy public-comment period, offering conflicting accounts of the ordinance's effects on housing availability, landlord finances and tenant stability.
Dozens of Salinas residents, renters and property owners used public comment at the April 8 Salinas City Council meeting to press opposing views on the city's rent-stabilization ordinance, with some speakers urging the council to preserve the law and others asking that repeal or formal review be placed on a future agenda.
Supporters of the ordinance said it has helped tenants remain housed. Opponents — including landlords, property managers and brokers — said the rules have damaged property values, reduced investment and forced unit sales.
The debate matters because the ordinance affects thousands of renters and owners across Salinas and, speakers said, could influence whether landlords sell units or invest in maintenance.
"Our company has lost a number of clients already since December pulling their rental properties out of Salinas because of the implementation of that act," said Sally Backus, a property management business owner, asking the council to…
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