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525 Cabrillo Park Drive, Suite 125 Santa Ana, CA 92701-5076 <br />(714) 245-9500 Fax (714) 245-9505 <br />www.AAOC.com <br />February 111, 2018 <br />Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers <br />City of Santa Ana <br />22 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA. 92701 <br />RE: February 61h, 2018—City Council Workshop <br />Exploration of Rent Stabilization <br />Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: <br />Since 1994, the Apartment Association of Orange County has had a strong working relationship with the <br />City of Santa Ana. By forming the Gold Seal Program, we were able to create the ideal model for <br />monitoring quality rental housing within the city and helping to ensure that rental units were properly <br />maintained and preserved for future use. Many of the repairs requested or required of apartment <br />owners were outside of code and instituted simply because those who participated were consumed with <br />being good corporate citizens. Through our membership network, we represent more than 25% of the <br />rental housing stock in the city. Not only do we see ourselves as stakeholders in Santa Ana, we see <br />ourselves as true partners with the city. As such, we were surprised to learn of the city's intent to <br />explore rent control as a solution to housing affordability. We are writing today to go on the record <br />opposing rent stabilization In the City of Santa Ana as this will have significant repercussions on the <br />housing market both within and outside of city limits. <br />Established in 1961, the Apartment Association of Orange County is a non-profit trade association and <br />the original trade association serving the apartment industry in Orange County. We are proud to <br />support policies and legislation that support the rental housing industry, improve or enhance economic <br />development and help to create jobs. The health of the housing market and specifically the rental <br />sector is our number one focus and concern. In times where affordability becomes an issue, we must <br />explore and pursue solutions that create options and results. Unfortunately, and as proven in Berkeley, <br />Oakland, San Francisco, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Los Angeles and New York, rent stabilization <br />fails to improve or enhance the availability of affordable housing stock and instead makes housing more <br />expensive. Additionally, rent stabilization is a deterrent to new development and stifles economic <br />growth and advancement not just for the present, but for the future. <br />Workshops such as this one are a distraction and tend to remove focus from progress or potential <br />solutions. Proven, more productive alternatives to the rent control discussion include: <br />Expansion of the Section 8 voucher program with existing owner/operators. <br />Delivery of additional purpose-built workforce and affordable rental housing stock. <br />Delivery of additional conventional rental housing stock. <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />A non-profit organization serving the rental housing industry since 1961 <br />