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Residents, tenants and unions press Daily City for an anti‑harassment ordinance and better pay for city workers
Summary
Scores of residents, Faith & Action organizers, union representatives and city employees pressed the council during a long public‑comment period to advance a tenant anti‑harassment ordinance, to provide a public meeting on progress, and to raise wages for low‑paid city staff; speakers described mold, rodent infestations, threats, and retaliation by landlords.
A broad coalition of community groups and city employees used the March 23 public comment period to press the Daily City Council for faster action on tenant protections and better pay for municipal staff.
Faith & Action leaders, tenant advocates and dozens of residents described firsthand housing conditions—including mold, vermin, and alleged landlord harassment and threats—and demanded that the council move beyond a December resolution to a drafted ordinance and a clear enforcement plan. Public Advocates attorney Tahira Dean urged urgency, noting AB1482 (the Tenant Protection Act of 2019) does not cover landlord harassment and is time‑limited through 2030.
Union representatives and city employees (including library assistants and public‑works staff) separately described low wages that leave some workers relying on food stamps and urged the council to reach stronger bargaining outcomes and to consider additional cost‑of‑living adjustments. AFSCME Local 829 representative Anthony Walters said progress had been made in negotiations but identified remaining gaps in percentage increases and medical benefits.
Council response and next steps: Staff reiterated it is conducting legal, administrative and fiscal reviews and continuing stakeholder outreach (landlords, tenant advocates, SAMCAR) and said council would receive a progress update as part of the May–June midcycle budget review. Dozens of community speakers said they want a public meeting with staff and Faith & Action to move toward an ordinance.
Representative quotes: “We are simply asking for raises in line with the other bargaining units received,” said a library staff representative; a Faith & Action speaker said, “A right delayed is a right denied.”
The council did not vote on ordinance text during the meeting and directed staff to continue study and return with findings and options.
