Correspondence - #33 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orozco, Norma From: Kayleigh Levitt <kayleighlevitt@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, September 20, 2021 10:23 AM To: eComment Subject: Public Comment for Agenda Item # 33 in support of immediate Rent Stabilization and Eviction Protections Hi Mayor Sarmiento and Members of the Council, As a resident renter of Ward 5 for four years and a volunteer tenant counselor of Tenants United Santa Ana, I urge you to vote in favor of enacting rent stabilization and eviction protections permanently in the City of Santa Ana via a super majority so that the protections are enacted now, before the state protections are lifted on Sept. 30. This ordinance will help elderly folks living on a fixed income, single parents, and other highly impacted groups that are currently unable to afford rent increases at the drastic rate they are increasing in Santa Ana. Renters and Homeowners have advocated to the City Council about unaffordable rent increases. Of these speakers, many were veterans, disabled residents, and elderly residents who are on fixed incomes, such as Social Security. According to the Out of Reach report, the California SSI monthly payment is $955 and the rent affordable to an SSI recipient is $286, yet rents have not allowed people with low income to remain in their home, or cover additional essential needs such as health -related costs. Placing a cap on rent increases gives renters a fighting chance to stay in their communities and homes. While the City has gone above and beyond to create new affordable housing units, rent stabilization includes private rental housing where the vast majority of renters live, thus outperforming all other affordable housing tools in terms of scale of impact. Also, rent stabilization and just cause protections are considered cost -neutral to the City while protecting the renters who live in Santa Ana and allowing landlords to obtain their right to a fair return on investment. Families of Santa Ana should be allowed to remain and thrive here, yet are being pushed out by predatory rent increases. This ordinance has been created by the People of Santa Ana, and has been supported by thousands of residents over the last four years, please see it as your responsibility to listen to the people and vote in favor of enacting this ordinance immediately. This ordinance will help the City of Santa Ana accomplish their housing vision that affirms and supports a vibrant Santa Ana that preserves neighborhoods and accommodates a socially and economically diverse community of renters and homeowners. Warm regards, Kayleigh Levitt