Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights Endorsement Application:

*Endorsements are made by a vote of the SMRR membership to take place on June 22nd at 12pm.

1. What are your thoughts on Santa Monica’s rent control law? 

Rent control is crucial to protecting Santa Monica’s renters and safeguarding our city’s most vulnerable residents. It is a mission-based law that helps preserve economic diversity in our community. Without rent control, I would have been priced-out of Santa Monica years ago – I know many other city residents share this experience. Our elected leaders must stand up and fight for continued (and enhanced) rent control measures in Santa Monica. 

2. Santa Monica voters in the November 2022 election approved Measure GS, enacting a 5% tax on properties selling for more than $8M, including luxury single family residential, multifamily, commercial and industrial properties. Funds will be used to support our schools, provide rent support for at risk households, and development of affordable housing. Will you commit to supporting and defending Measure GS against legal or political challenges, including the recently announced measure to amend it to exempt sales of apartment buildings from the tax? 

Yes. I believe GS is necessary and appreciate SMRR’s support of measure GS. 

3. What are the primary responsibilities of a Rent Control Board member?

Board Members are stewards of the Rent Control law. They must ensure the fair and just enforcement of rent control law, while leading policy discussions for how our law can be improved and enhanced. Rent Board members are also public-facing community leaders who should serve as resources for renters who need assistance navigating rent control law. Rent Control Board members ensure proper enforcement of the Rent Control law by adjudicating appeals of hearing officer decisions. 

4. What is the relationship between the elected Rent Control Board and Rent Control Agency and the City Council, City Manager, and City Attorney? 

The Rent Control Board is an independent city department. The Charter empowers the Board to act without interference from the City Council, City Manager, or City Attorney. With that being said, there are tenant protections that fall within the city's code and the Rent Control Board works with the city to enact eviction protections, post Ellis uses, tenant harassment prosecutions and other such tenant matters. It is important that the Rent Control Board informs city decisions. For example, the Rent Control Board was instrumental in educating the City Council about the problems with short term rental units and furnished apartments. Corporate housing was an issue because furnished apartments were not being used as rental units but more like hotel units and taking housing units off the market. The collaboration of the Rent Control Board, City Council and City staff helped pass a stronger ordinance prohibiting short term rentals and furnished units in our city.

5. How should a Board member advocate for the local rent control law and state legislation? 

By constantly educating oneself and taking opportunities to talk to community stakeholders. Teach the public the purpose of the law. Campaign for candidates for other offices who will support the rent control law. Attend conferences when possible such as the Housing California Conference. 

6. What are the major issues for the Rent Control Board and Agency in the coming 4 years? 

Possibility of change or repeal of Costa-Hawkins or the Ellis Act. If so, the Rent Control Board would be ready to take community input about what changes to our rent control law our community would like to see. If that were to happen, I would hope that we would not drastically change our rent control law in a way that benefits property owners. I hope that the law will be changed in a way that will only add to it or further strengthen it to protect more renters. 

7. What are the primary threats to the security of the renter community in their homes in Santa Monica and how do you think they might be addressed? 

Speculative real estate, new owners coming into the market, existing owners not keeping up with maintenance, the Ellis Act evictions, ever increasing unaffordability due to Costa-Hawkins, and predatory transitions. These threats would be addressed by strengthening rent control law, having a renter friendly city council, and strengthening our SMRR community. 

8. The Rent Control law controls rent payments for tenants in rent-controlled properties and provides eviction protections for all tenants in multi-unit apartment buildings citywide. 

a. What is your view regarding landlords as a stakeholder in issues regarding the rent control law? 

Landlords are participants. The fact is that we are regulating their industry for a reason. If left unchecked, rent levels would become unaffordable to most and our city would be undiverse.

9. Do you know what has been proposed in the state legislature and has been adopted that affects renters Statewide? 

Yes, the Tenant Protection Act (AB1482). It is a statewide rent control law that sets a cap of rental increases of 5% plus CPI (Consumer Price Index). The maximum rent increase is capped at 10% on units in any 12 month period. 

a. Do you support the statewide Justice for Renters Act on the ballot this November?

Absolutely. I texted banked for the Justice for Renters Act campaign and am looking for more ways to volunteer and stay involved. 

b. If elected, what would you do if the Costa-Hawkins Act is repealed?

I would work with my colleagues and community to find ways to effectively implement rent control for newer builders and to effectively roll-back vacancy decontrols. 

10. Describe your qualification, experience, and education, and describe any professional or lived experience you have that relates to the duties of a Rent Control Board member.

It is only because of renter protection programs that I have been able to stand where I am today. Growing up, I experienced homelessness due to a drug addicted and abusive father. My mother worked through the system and was fortunate to receive Section 8 housing when I was in high school. I was very aware and appreciative of our housing circumstances. Immediately after high school, I found the Housing Rights Center where I worked as an intern taking calls regarding housing discrimination issues. During college, I took an internship at the Coalition for Economic Survival with our good friend Larry Gross where I learned about the dangers of lead based paint in older buildings amongst other issues. After graduating from Occidental College, I attended Hastings Law School where I continued my interest in housing rights issues. I interned at the Eviction Defense Collaborative in San Francisco whereI assisted in many unlawful detainer cases. In 2015, I found my home in Santa Monica and became a Social Services Commissioner in 2019 until the commission was merged. I have also been active with SMRR as a member and as a hotliner where I assist callers with their problems and direct them to appropriate resources. Now I would like to use my lived experience and education to help others by serving on the Rent Control Board. 

11. Have you read the SMRR platform? 

Yes

If so: 

a. What planks—if any—are most important to you? 

The tenant protection and fair housing portions of the SMRR Platform (parts A & B) are especially meaningful to me, though there are many other portions of the Platform that also resonate with me (for example, fair wages; see Section K.1). 

b. What planks—if any—do you disagree with and why? 

I mostly agree with the planks, though I think there are a few points where reasonable minds could differ. For example, the statement that SMRR “support[s] campaign contribution limitations as adopted by City law” may need to be revisited. While I believe current contribution limits to individual candidates are well-intentioned, I worry that current campaign contribution standards place too much power in the hands of PACs that have no contribution limits. 

c. As a SMRR supported elected official, how would you uphold the SMRR platform? Be specific. 

I promise to be the strongest possible advocate for tenants and for enhanced renter protections. We need leaders who will stand up and speak out against attempts to take power away from our city’s renters, and I promise to uphold SMRR’s vision for a more just and equitable city. 

Specifically, if elected to the Rent Board, I will use every tool available to ensure that Rent Control Regulations protect tenants from harassment, unlawful evictions, and other unlawful behavior. I will use my position as a Rent Board Member to lobby for the repeal of the Ellis Act, Costa-Hawkins, and other laws that have caused irreparable damage to the diversity and affordability of our city. 

12. If elected, what will you do to help SMRR further its organizational objectives? How do you see your future commitment to/involvement with SMRR? 

I promise to work hand-in-hand with the SMRR Steering Committee to continue to enforce and implement policies that protect renters. I anticipate that I will continue to attend Steering Committee meetings, and I look forward to keeping open channels of communication with SMRR’s leaders. I will continue to support other SMRR candidates in this election (and future elections), and I will encourage others to support SMRR. 

13. If elected, can we count on you being available to report what has happened at the Rent Board, and what is likely to come forward at the Rent Board, at our Steering Committee

meetings, and, discuss issues related to your office with SMRR leaders before making decisions? 

Yes, absolutely! 

14. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us? 

Since moving to Santa Monica, I have had the honor to learn from many folks who have fought for over four decades to protect Rent Control. I look forward to continuing to learn from them as I continue my journey through civic life in Santa Monica.