Echo Housing, city and county to hold tenant and landlord rights workshops in Salinas area and across Monterey County

Echo Housing and city staff promoted a slate of tenant- and landlord-focused workshops aimed at explaining state and local housing rules and giving residents a forum to ask questions.

Christina, executive director of Echo Housing, said the agency has partnered with Monterey County and several cities to deliver workshops in each Salinas city council district; three district sessions have been completed and others are scheduled for April and May. “We would be providing these tenant and ordinance workshops to every city council district in the city of Salinas,” she said.

Quanis Garlington, a city representative, described the Salinas-focused hybrid workshop set for March 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the César Chávez Library (in-person and via Zoom). The session will cover AB 1482 (the Tenant Protection Act) and four local rental ordinances: rental registration, rent stabilization, just-cause and tenant protections, and tenant anti-harassment protections. Garlington said the workshop will walk attendees through what the laws regulate, what they do not, and how they apply in real-life situations, and will provide time for meaningful questions.

Echo Housing said it will also host regional fair housing workshops via Zoom (monthly) and additional in-person events for Seaside and Monterey in April. The group emphasized neutrality and education for both tenants and property owners; workshops can be offered as combined sessions or split into separate tenant- and owner-focused events depending on jurisdictional preference.

Garlington and Echo Housing stressed that the goal is to reduce confusion, encourage dialogue, and provide mediation resources if conflicts arise. Organizers invited residents, landlords and property managers to attend and to sign up for events and flyers via Echo Housing’s website.