Pasadenas-Tale-of-Two-Cities-2019

The city government can adopt a “just cause” eviction law that prevents landlords from
arbitrarily evicting tenants unless there is a valid reason, such as not paying rent,
destruction of property, or exhibiting loud or violent behavior.
The city government can adopt a version of rent control, which a number of other
California cities have done. Rent control does not freeze rents. It allows landlords to
raise rents each year based on increases in costs but limits how much they can increase
rents. It allows landlords to make a fair profit, but not to take advantage of the housing
crisis by gouging tenants. Over half (53 percent) of Pasadena voters supported
Proposition 10 – which would have changed state law to allow cities more flexibility in
adopting rent control policies -- despite the fact that the real estate industry statewide
spent over $75 million, most of it in misleading media propaganda, to confuse voters.
The city government can also adopt laws to restrict the conversion of apartments to
condominiums. Condo conversions increase the cost of housing without increasing the
supply.
The city government can revise its in-lieu fee policy to require developers to build
affordable units within the market-rate developers rather than pay a small fee to avoid
having to create mixed-income developments.
The city government can also adopt other policies that require local businesses to be more
socially responsible. For example:
The city government can increase hotel occupancy tax (paid for by tourists) and/or add a
small surcharge on Rose Bowl tickets and direct the additional revenues to help subsidize
new affordable housing or reduce class size in PUSD schools.
The city government can follow the lead of many other cities that extract “community
benefit agreements” — including guarantees of decent jobs, affordable housing, park
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