Rent Control Measure Draws Opposition From Redwood City Council

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The Redwood City Council voted 6-0-1 to oppose a rent control and just-cause eviction measure headed to the November ballot, saying the proposal could threaten the city's finances and undermine existing tenant protection and affordable housing efforts.

The council also appointed Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos and Councilmember Isabella Chu to write the official ballot argument against the "Redwood City Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance." Councilmember Chris Sturken abstained.

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The ballot measure was placed before voters after Faith in Action Bay Area gathered more than 7,500 signatures supporting the proposal.

If approved, it would cap annual rent increases at 5 percent for most multifamily properties built before February 1995.

Supporters say the measure would help stabilize housing costs, reduce displacement and provide stronger protections against tenant harassment, benefiting an estimated 40,000 renters.

The vote followed two independent analyses of the initiative, including an economic review estimating the measure could cost the city between $5 million and $11 million annually to administer.

Councilmembers also noted Redwood City adopted its own tenant protection ordinance in 2023, including minimum lease terms, enhanced relocation assistance and a right-to-return policy following major remodels.

Martínez Saballos said the initiative's goals were well-intentioned but warned it would have "unintended consequences that will ultimately provide less affordable housing to our community."

"This is going to leave the city in a position of fiscal instability, and it will risk our ability to render the services that our residents expect," he said.

Several councilmembers said they were particularly concerned about the proposal's impact on housing production and nonprofit affordable housing providers.

"My grave concern is that this ordinance is going to take an already extreme housing shortage and make it much, much, much worse," Chu said.

Councilmember Diane Howard said the measure could disrupt the financial model used by nonprofit affordable housing developers, while Councilmember Jeff Gee called it bad public policy and said it could discourage organizations from building future affordable housing in Redwood City.

Sturken said he shared concerns about the initiative but abstained because he worried an official council position against the measure could be viewed as support for political campaign tactics he did not endorse.