Rent control, adopted over 35 years ago, gave Santa Monica renters a degree of housing security and a real stake in the community.  Changes in state law created higher rents on vacant units, and an incentive for landlords to force out longer term rent-controlled tenants.

Along with rent control, Santa Monica has a strong tenant harassment law to protect renters.  As the market rate on vacant apartments has risen, so have reports of harassment.  What can we do?

In December 2014, in my first meeting as Mayor, we passed the ordinance discussed here!