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by Kathleen Layden
Redwood City residents have succeeded in getting a much-needed bill for reasonable rent control and tenant protections on the November ballot. Our city needs Measure E to restore a semblance of balance to an out-of-control situation.
The state currently has a rent cap of 10% per year, but how many of us get a 10% salary increase every year? Measure E will help by capping yearly rent increases at about 5%, slowing down the dramatic increases in monthly rental costs.
It will also strengthen tenant protections to protect renters against illegal actions by bad-actor landlords. Right now, to cope with high rents, families often have to cram into one- or two-bedroom apartments.
Because these apartments aren’t designed to accommodate so many people, they sustain wear and tear and need repairs sooner, increasing costs for the property owner. Measure E is designed to ensure a fair return for mom-and-pop landlords, with an option for landlords to petition the city for a larger rent increase.
This allows landlords to take a higher increase to offset upgrade costs, if needed. We have the opportunity to work together with the entire community on a viable solution to stabilize our community. Your yes vote in November for Measure E will move us in the right direction toward making Redwood City more affordable for everyone.
Kathy Layden is an insurance professional with more than 40 years of experience helping people protect their homes, cars, and businesses. A longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident, she attended Mills High School in Millbrae.
