San Leandro Council Reading of Rent Control Ordinance

The San Leandro City Council will hold the first reading of the proposed Rent Control ordinance on: Monday, January 12th — 7:00 PM. This ordinance is extreme, costly, and harmful to both housing providers and renters — and it must be challenged now.

Your voice and presence are urgently needed. We are asking all local rental housing providers to attend the meeting and speak during public comment.

Why Your Participation Matters

If adopted, this ordinance will:

• Create a multi-million-dollar permanent bureaucracy the city cannot afford
• Devalue local properties and weaken San Leandro’s tax base
• Reduce reinvestment in housing and accelerate deferred maintenance
• Harm renters by reducing quality, safety, and long-term housing stability

The City is already facing a $15 million budget deficit, yet this program is projected to cost $2.2 million per year — with no sustainable funding plan.

This is not fiscal responsibility — it is long-term financial risk for the entire community.

CALL TO ACTION — ATTEND & SPEAK

Please plan to:

1. Attend in person on January 12th at 7:00 PM
2. Submit a speaker card to the City Clerk when you arrive
3. Share real-world examples about costs, reinvestment, and property operations. Even brief statements make a powerful impact.

Suggested Public Comment Talking Points

You are encouraged to speak from your own experience, but the following themes are critical:

Lack of Fiscal Responsibility

• The City already has a $15 million deficit
• This program would add $2.2 million in new annual costs
• This creates ongoing bureaucracy without long-term funding stability

Devaluation of Property — Loss of Local Tax Revenue

• Extreme rent control policies can drive down property values by up to 30%
• Reassessment lowers property tax revenue
• That means less funding for schools, services, and public safety

Harmful to Renters and Housing Quality

• Economists overwhelmingly agree that strict rent control reduces reinvestment
• When owners cannot reinvest, maintenance declines and habitability problems increase
• Reduced reinvestment leads to housing deterioration and community blight

Unintended Consequences Will Anger Voters

• Policies that damage neighborhoods and create blight will not be forgotten
• Voters expect safe, well-maintained communities — not policies that undermine them
• Councilmembers who support extreme measures should expect accountability at the ballot box

This Is a Critical Moment

Once programs like this are established, they expand — and the costs grow with them.

Your participation helps ensure the Council hears directly from those who provide and maintain rental housing in San Leandro.

Please let us know if you plan to attend or would like assistance preparing remarks.

Thank you for taking action and standing up for responsible, sustainable housing policy.