Approximately 75 community members—both tenants and landlords—toured the new offices, along with City Manager Miguel Márquez, City Attorney Michele Bagneris, and Vice Mayor Jess Rivas, as well as freshly sworn in Councilmember and former Pasadena Mayor, Rick Cole.
“We’re still kind of in that foundational phase of implementing the regulations that are called for by the Charter amendment,” said Ryan Bell, Chair of the Pasadena Rental Housing Board, at the open house, “but we wanted to let people know we’re here, and share the holiday with them.”
Bell, who was involved in efforts to enact rent control in the City over the last five years, added, “There’s been some tweaking along the way. But in the last year and a half, along with the help of the city council, we’ve established a new city department. We’ve hired staff, and it’s a real city department.”
Bell also noted that there has been strong collaboration with other city departments, including housing and code enforcement.
“It’s been really, really great,” he said.
At-Large Rent Control Board Member Allison Henry, who, along with Nicole Hodgson, led early efforts to enact rent control and helped write the second successful ballot measure, echoed Bell’s comments saying, “It is fulfilling. It’s also great to see the changing of the tides because for a long time, it’s like with any issue, when you’re early to it, you feel like you’re the voice in the wilderness.”
“And,” Henry added, “this is going to turn into political power in terms of, now we’ve got Councilmembers that realize they need to commit to this.”
“It’s very exciting. When I think about the people helped by this law, that’s why I got into this. That’s literally why I got into this. My neighbors experienced a big rent increase. We knew it was legal, but we hoped for change.”
Rent Stabilization Department Manager Helen Morales came on board in July after serving with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, where she investigated and enforced the California State Preservation Law and the Surplus Land Act.
Morales acknowledged the natural opposing forces currently at work.
“It is true that tenants and landlords have a historically adversarial relationship. However, our goal is to collaborate,” she said.
With a doctorate degree in public administration, Morales said she focuses on collaborative networks in housing.
“Affordable housing is my passion,” she said. “And so in looking at affordable housing, and with this being an avenue for that affordable housing, we really need to collaborate.”
“So it’s important for me to, yes, ensure that our Charter article is enforced for the tenants,” she said, “but also inform landlords of their responsibilities and obligations, and then to be there for them as well.”