New initiative is seeking rent control in Redwood City

The initiative is led by Faith in Action Bay Area, a group of residents who have learned a lot after the failed eligibility last year, made adjustments and are committed to succeeding this time around. 

Martha Beetley, a Redwood City resident and proponent of the measure, said Faith in Action is looking forward to moving the ordinance forward.

“The awareness of the community and Faith in Action volunteers is heightened,” Beetley said. “We feel very optimistic that our organizing is going to be enough this time to make it very successful.”

Opposing Faith in Action’s effort yet again is the California Apartment Association, which called the fight for rental control “another anti-housing initiative,” Rhovy Lyn Antonio, senior vice president of local public affairs for the CAA, said. 

“Faith in Action and their cohorts want to sow division and community instability through failed policy that has proven to increase the cost of housing for all renters,” Antonio said in a statement. 

The Redwood City Council recently passed amendments to its tenant protections ordinance that includes a right to return and relocation assistance. The updates are just one aspect of the city’s anti-displacement strategy. 

Rhovy described the city’s work as a result of “a balanced, collaborative process” that “aims to strengthen protections and increase subsidies for renters.” Faith in Action’s effort to get the measure on the ballot is an “all-or-nothing approach,” she said. “They are either receiving bad advice or are proving this is nothing but a pursuit of a political agenda based on resentment and false rhetoric.” 

The ordinance submitted is essentially the same as it was proposed last year. The key will be ensuring the gathered signatures in support of placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot are from registered voters who live in Redwood City proper. 

The blurred lines between Redwood City’s proper jurisdiction and what is technically unincorporated North Fair Oaks was a big reason many of the signatures last year were deemed invalid. 

The organization submitted 6,395 signatures in support of rent control last year, 2,000 more than required. There was never a problem in getting enough support for the measure, Beetley said. 

“Getting the signatures was never difficult,” Beetley said. “We had enthusiastic support from so many, not just renters, but people who want a stable community.” 

This year, Faith in Action leaders know what to do to ensure they can get the ordinance qualified. 

“We are more prepared than ever to qualify this measure for the 2026 election,” Fabiola Fierro, a Faith in Action leader, said in a press release. 

After the ordinance failed to qualify for the November 2024 — announced in June 2024 — Faith in Action volunteers never laid up on spreading the word about what the measure could provide, Clara Jaeckel, a Faith in Action volunteer, said. 

“We keep talking to our neighbors, and the need is greater than ever,” Jaeckel said. “People are still facing really unaffordable rents. We need to do this work so people can have safe and dignified homes, and remain in their homes and the city.” 

Current state law mandates certain tenant protections, some of which were passed in 2019, including the prohibition of rent increases over 10% for most tenants — or 5% plus cost-of-living changes — over a 12-month period, and the landlords have to fulfill certain criteria if they want to evict tenants. 

Although Redwood City’s anti-displacement work is necessary and will help residents, Jaeckel said stronger rent control is what is key to keeping people in their homes. 

“I’m excited as a renter myself, I think this is going to be a strong protection and make the city where people of all income levels will thrive and put down roots,” Jaeckel said. 

The organization will begin gathering signatures in support of rent control once the city affirms the ordinance’s language in coming weeks.