Eviction moratorium considered in Watsonville during coronavirus outbreak

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that allows local governments to halt evictions during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The city of Watsonville called an emergency city council meeting, Friday to discuss implementing the moratorium.

A motion was made that would mean no evictions for 60 days for any living situation and no raising of rent during that time frame in Watsonville.

Residents like Alex Martinez, who was just temporarily laid off his job as a plumber are for the new eviction moratorium.

“It's safe for us to work, but the majority of contractors have canceled all of our plans so we’re low on work,” Martinez said. “I feel like it's the best thing to do at the moment. It's unnecessary to start thinking about paying rent when its a situation about our health.”

Ideas were brought forth for no evictions as long as COVID-19 is present in our area, but local landlords and property brokers say this will put them under water.

“We were not notified of this [meeting]. We work with our tenants. We want Watsonville to have strong businesses, and this will just devastate every thing. There’s mortgage payments... there’s property taxes,” a Watsonville property broker said.

Dori Rose Inda is the CEO of Salud Para La Gente, a local community health center, and said the moratorium is necessary to not only save peoples homes but their health.

“If they’re unable to stay in their home, they don’t just put themselves at risk outside of their home. They put everyone else at risk too,” Rose Inda said.

After hours of debate, poor connection through technology forced city council to table the vote. Social distancing meant all of the council members were at the meeting remotely. Several said they would not vote, because they couldn’t hear most of the meeting and don’t think its appropriate to move forward in this style of meeting.

The meeting was adjourned and will resume Monday at 2 p.m.

The city of Santa Cruz will consider a similar eviction moratorium next week.