Salinas led the region by implementing rent stabilization. Let’s give it a chance to work.

Rental stability matters in Salinas, where 53 percent of residents rent their homes, higher than the 44 percent statewide average. That’s why the rent stabilization ordinances adopted by our City Council last September represent a crucial step forward for our community’s housing security.

These carefully crafted protections came after extensive community input and dialogue. Now, just months into implementation, we’re already hearing calls for revision. This is premature. Any meaningful policy assessment requires time and complete data.

These ordinances specifically target affordability in older multifamily properties built before 1995, capping annual rent increases at 2.75 percent or 75 percent of CPI, whichever is less. This measured approach balances renter protection with landlord interests.

It is still only partially implemented. Along with two other ordinances passed last fall – a tenant anti-harassment ordinance and a just cause eviction ordinance – rent stabilization took effect on Jan. 1, 2025. These ordinances followed a rental registry that took effect in May 2023, requiring landlords to register rental units with the city and pay a fee (to cover costs of implementing the program). Only about 50 percent of suspected rental units have been registered so far, indicating we lack sufficient data to evaluate the true impact.

Our community faces unique challenges. The loss of federal safety net programs and the vulnerability of our undocumented neighbors make housing stability even more critical to Salinas’ social and economic health.

Furthermore, Salinas faces an affordability gap heightened by our status as an agriculturally land-bound city. We’re surrounded by prime farmland that sustains our economy but constrains urban expansion, creating a geographic barrier to development. Unlike metropolitan areas with multiple growth directions, our fixed boundaries intensify competition for limited housing stock and drive up costs. This distinctive constraint amplifies the importance of thoughtful rental policies that protect both affordability and agricultural preservation.

We propose three steps forward:

First, allow a full year of implementation before conducting any assessment on the effectiveness of the rent stabilization ordinance. This timeline provides meaningful data for all stakeholders.

Second, establish a Renter Stabilization Committee with equal representation from landlords and tenants. This publicly transparent entity would be responsible for facilitating dialogue and developing evidence-based recommendations.

Third, modifications should be considered only after this assessment period, with implementation no earlier than spring 2026.

These ordinances represent Salinas’ commitment to protecting its residents while fostering a fair environment for property owners. Let’s give them time to work.

JOHN SILVA and CORINA DE LA TORRE are members of Salinas Community Leaders for Housing Justice, a coalition of 38 community advocates, healthcare professionals, labor representatives, faith leaders and residents.