Correspondence - Item 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Flores, Dora From:Mextli Lopez <mextli9239@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, October To:eComment Cc:Hernandez, Johnathan; Phan, Thai Subject:Support for Rental Registry Portal Contract to Strengthen Rent Stabilization in Santa Ana Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. Dear City Council Members, My name is Mextli Lopez, I am writing to express my strong support for agenda item 10 proposing the approval of a contract with Opportunity Space to implement a rental registry portal. This tool is essential to ensure the effective operation of the rent stabilization law, which was approved by a majority of Santa Ana voters last year. A rental registry portal is a standard and proven practice in many California cities with rent control ordinances. It will greatly aid in enforcing the law by providing an organized, accessible system to track all rental properties covered by the ordinance. As landlords register their units, the city will generate revenue through a modest rental registry fee—keeping the program cost-neutral for the city. Specifically, landlords pay an annual $100 fee per rental unit covered by the ordinance. They may pass 50% of this fee ($50) onto tenants in monthly installments of approximately $4.17. This fee is charged per unit, not per tenant, ensuring fairness regardless of household size. Contrary to some misinformation, this contract would not be funded by the city’s general fund. The proposed contract with Opportunity Space totals $580,000 over three years—approximately $193,000 annually. Given the significant benefits this portal will provide for thousands of Santa Ana residents, especially retired seniors, school-aged children, and young families, this is a reasonable and necessary investment. I would also like to remind the Council that just last year in October of 2024, a settlement payout of $600,000 was approved for a former city manager—an amount exceeding the cost of this vital portal. The same city council members who will sit on the dais tonight and consider agenda item 10—voted by majority to pay out a settlement to a former city manager pay out a settlement to a former city manager “after she alleged elected officials pressured her to boost the pay and pension of former police union president Gerry Serrano”. I hope that Mayor Valeria Amezcua, and councilmembers Phil Bacerra and David Peñaloza will recall their respective voting records on items costing the city over $500,000 and that they will be consistent in their evaluation of the proposal before them this evening. While some may oppose this item due to its cost, I urge you to consider that ensuring stable, affordable housing is critical to the wellbeing of our community, particularly for vulnerable populations. For those concerned about supporting youth and families, I encourage you to speak with local students and families who directly benefit from the rent stabilization ordinance. Without it, many would face displacement and increased hardship. 1