California Apartment Association

The number of cities with rent control measures going on the November ballot continued to grow this week as election officials certified an initiative in San Mateo.

Tenant advocates in San Mateo had turned in more than 11,000 signatures in support of rent control and just-cause eviction policies. To qualify, 7,119 valid signatures were required.

Other Bay Area cities where rent control measures have qualified for the November election include Richmond, Alameda and Mountain View. Election officials are still reviewing a ballot measure proposed for Burlingame.

The California Apartment Association is committed to defeating rent control proposals wherever they arise.

With the San Mateo initiative, rent control would be based on the consumer price index.

The City Council is expected to formally place the initiative on the ballot during its Aug. 1 meeting.

“Before voting to put this on the ballot, the San Mateo City Council needs to carefully study this measure,” said Joshua Howard, CAA’s senior vice president of public affairs for the region.   “The voters need to know many new city employees must be hired to implement the rent control program, the cost to the taxpayers to implement this measure, and the impacts to the community in terms of unintended consequences including increased blight, increased safety concerns, and decreased property values.”

Related content: 

• Rent control heads to San Mateo ballot: Elections Office certifies citizens’ initiative signatures for November (The Daily Journal, July 20)
• San Mateo: Rent control measure headed for November ballot (Mercury News, July 19)