Salinas Mayor speaks on rental ordinance repeal
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Days after the city council voted to repeal the rental ordinance, mayor Dennis Donohue spoke out about their decision. “I believe that the previous ordinances, while well intended, actually directly attacked the housing stock and maintained the prices they were interested in. So we think under all circumstances, a targeted, ongoing rental relief program is the way to go.”
In a brief speech Donohue, city council, property managers and other community members came together announcing the appointment of council members Gloria de la Rosa and Jose Luis Barajas to a special housing ad hoc committee.
“We'll be working through those mechanics of how many people will this end up supporting, what types of rental support will be providing, that can come in various different forms,” said Barajas. “There's individuals that need one-time relief that might just be in arrears a month or two, there's people that might just need assistance with the deposit.”
Barajas adds, part of the solution is building new housing units. Still, people who voted to keep these ordinances have many questions.
“This housing and land use committee we have now is subject to the brown act which means the public can participate,” said Andrew Sandoval. “This ad hoc the mayor created is a committee that can meet behind closed doors so the public won’t have access to that.”
The mayor saying he hopes to educate the community on their existing state and federal housing rights. “We weren’t stripping renters rights, we felt they were there and that this was just simply an overreach but more importantly it wasn't going to solve the problem of rental relief that people wanted,” said Donohue. “I hope folks will trust our judgment on that.”
Long-time Salinas activist Olga Reina says they have begun a referendum process, knocking door to door and hearing people's concern. “We hear and know that salaries are a problem, rents are too high and are always scared of being evicted unjustly. This is what we are doing. We are just standing up for the community and making sure we have their backs.”
The public now has thirty days to gather 10 thousand signatures. Taking those signatures to council will give them the option to take back their decision or push it to a public vote. City council saying this vote can be held through a special election or wait until next year’s midterms.
