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Tenants, advocates urge Norwalk to adopt rent control and enforce smoke-free multifamily rules
Summary
Speakers during public comment pressed the council to adopt rent stabilization and to enforce an existing smoke‑free multifamily ordinance, saying rising rents and smoke exposure threaten seniors and long‑term residents.
Multiple residents and organizers addressed the City Council during oral communications to request two policy items: a rent‑stabilization ordinance with just‑cause eviction protections, and active enforcement of the city’s smoke‑free multifamily-housing ordinance enacted in 2022.
Daniel C., who identified himself as a volunteer with a mutual‑aid organization serving people experiencing homelessness, said rent stabilization would help prevent displacement and reduce homelessness. “Eighty percent of people who become homeless stay where they reside,” he said, urging the council to act quickly.
Rodolfo Cortez, who said he had family living in Norwalk and lives in Bellflower, said stabilizing rents would increase residents’ disposable income and could bolster local economic activity and sales tax revenues. Several speakers also pressed for enforcement of the smoke‑free housing ordinance, telling the council that secondhand smoke affects older residents and people with respiratory vulnerabilities.
Representatives of Norwalk Unidas and the Norwalk Tenants Union reiterated those demands. Jesse Flores, executive director of Norwalk Unidas, said the Tenants Union supports a percentage cap on rent increases similar to ordinances in neighboring cities and urged enforcement of the multifamily smoke‑free law using public-safety staff as provided for in the ordinance. Mateo Gill of the tenants union presented a letter signed by members requesting both actions.
Speakers included tenants and community members who said they have lived in the city for decades and noted rising housing costs and elder vulnerability. Several asked the city to add rent control to a future agenda and to define enforcement mechanisms for the smoke‑free rule.
Council members did not take action on the public comments during the meeting; staff and council asked for copies of letters and urged organizers to meet with staff to discuss next steps and potential agenda scheduling.
