In Salinas, California, the real estate industry has spent nearly $100,000 to kill rent control and other tenant protections. The battle between tenants and Big Real Estate in the working-class city is one of three important contests over rent control in California, where sky-high rents continue to slam moderate- and lower-income residents. The real estate industry, though, wants to maintain the ability to charge excessive rents so they can keep raking in outsized profits.
In 2024, the Salinas City Council passed rent control and other strong tenant protections to provide much-needed relief to poor and working-class residents, who were struggling to pay skyrocketing rents. Less than a year later, the City Council, with newly elected members, voted to repeal those rights. It outraged tenants and activists.
In response, tenants and activists collected enough signatures to put a measure on the November local ballot that will stop the City Council’s repeal of rent control and stronger tenant protections. Tenants and activists are urging Salinas residents to vote “No” on Measure H.
Two other rent control battles are playing out in California.
In Redwood City, in San Mateo County, tenants and activists are working to pass Measure E, which will create rent regulations and expand tenant protections. In San Pablo, in Contra Costa County, a grassroots campaign wants voters to approve Measure S, another pro-rent control local initiative. Corporate landlords and other powerful players in the real estate industry are shelling out big money to defeat the measures.
In Redwood City, the California Apartment Association, the powerful lobbying group for many of the largest corporate landlords in the United States, has already delivered $20,000 to a No on Measure E committee.
In Salinas, according to state filings, the California Association of Realtors and UDR, one of the largest corporate landlords in the nation, have spent $60,000 and $39,125, respectively, to uphold the City Council’s repeal of rent control and strong tenant protections. That makes for a total of $99,125 – no small sum.
The Yes on Measure H campaign, heavily bankrolled by the California Association of Realtors and UDR, have already rolled out a misinformation campaign to scare and confuse voters. It’s how the real estate industry, never known for its ethics, routinely carries out anti-rent control efforts in California.
To counter the real estate industry’s deep pockets and dirty tricks, Salinas tenants and activists are seeking campaign volunteers and contributions to finally rein in predatory landlords through rent control.
Patrick Range McDonald is a veteran investigative reporter and the award-winning advocacy journalist for Housing Is A Human Right.