South City revs up tenant talks

“We can’t just say, ‘It’s just changing times.’ No, we want to really examine what is going on, and be able to learn from other communities,” Flores said.

Anti-displacement is often used as an umbrella term to discuss numerous approaches to preserve renters’ current housing, such as rent stabilization, anti-harassment and just clause ordinances, which put additional restrictions on eviction justifications. While the city has not identified which policies with which they will move forward, Flores said they are all on the table until more research has been completed.

But even with committees in place, anti-displacement policies have proven difficult to get approved in many cities throughout the county. East Palo Alto and Redwood City are the only jurisdictions in the county to form such groups, though the Half Moon Bay City Council is close to finalizing some rent control and other tenant protections. And while East Palo Alto has enacted rent stabilization and tenant protection programs, Redwood City is still working on gathering enough signatures to put similar initiatives on the November ballot after unsuccessful attempts to move it forward on the City Council.

While Leah Simon-Weisberg, executive director of California Center for Movement Legal Services, said it’s important cities like South San Francisco are surfacing such concerns, but establishing two-year long committees often result in few, if any, meaningful actions to protect tenants.

“If you want something to get done, you don’t send it to a committee. If you don’t want something done, you send it to a committee,” she said. “These policies are no-brainers … there’s not a lot that needs to be debated. The longer you wait, the more people will be displaced.”

As currently proposed, the committee would comprise a combination of individuals, including residential renters, landlords and a real estate professional. Flores stated that gathering a mix of entities is critical for comprehensive policy that isn’t reactive or rushed, though Simon-Weisberg said including Realtors or landlords, who have proven instrumental in exacerbating the problem, should be a non-starter.

The committee would also include commercial tenants as a way to represent small business owners who have been affected by rental costs, especially since the pandemic, as restaurants, including Keith’s Chicken and Waffles on El Camino Real, have moved to other cities or shuttered altogether due to high rents.

Councilmembers indicated support for the committee, although applications will not open until selection committee criteria is finalized.

“We have a good record for many of our advisory groups. During the pandemic, we created the Commission on Racial and Social Equity, which provided significant recommendations that were implemented soon after,” Flores said. “This doesn’t mean we have to take everything we’re given, but it will give us insight into where we need to go.”

alyse@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 102

Note to readers: Leah Simon-Weisberg's title has been updated to reflect she works for the California Center for Movement Legal Services.