Proponents of a measure to impose rent control in Redwood City have failed to gather enough valid signatures to put the referendum on the November ballot, the San Mateo County Elections Office has determined.
In May, organizers led by Faith in Action submitted 6,395 signatures on a petition, greater than the 4,389 necessary to get the referendum on the November ballot. But on Monday, elections officials said the petition lacked enough signatures of Redwood City residents.
“Upon a thorough review of each signature, the County Elections Office determined that many of the petition signers were not registered voters within Redwood City’s jurisdiction,” a statement from the city clerk said.
The measure would apply rent control to multi-unit housing built before 1995, capping rent increases at 60% of the consumer price index increase for a given year and no more than 5% of a tenant’s current rent. It also proposes stronger limits on landlord evictions and requires landlords to pay relocation fees for certain types of evictions. Additionally, landlords would need to cover the cost of implementing these protections through a rental housing fee.
The state Legislature had approved a rent control law in 2019 (AB1482), which provides protections against sudden increases and unjust evictions.
Joshua Howard, spokesman for the California Apartment Association, a landlords group, said the Redwood City measure would have done more harm than good.
“Rent control is a proven failed policy that discourages the creation of new rental units, reduces housing availability, and drives up rents on unregulated housing. Redwood City already offers robust renter protections, ensuring that most renters have the right to a fixed-term lease and receive relocation assistance if asked to move through no fault of their own,” Howard said in a statement before Monday’s announcement.
