Guest Opinion | PUSD Board Member Tina Fredericks Is A Renter: Vote Yes on Measure H

I am a renter. 

As a renter and Board Member of Pasadena Unified School District, I urge the constituents of Pasadena to Vote Yes on Measure H: Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing charter amendment

On June 30, 2022, Pasadena Unified Board of Education passed a resolution endorsing Measure H. Our district of nearly 15,000 students receives funding based on enrollment. 70% of our students are socio-economically disadvantaged. That’s over ten thousand students. Probably most if not all of their families are renters. 

PUSD’s resolution states: “the City of Pasadena is a renter majority city at 57.7%. . . PUSD recognizes the importance of permanent and sustainable housing for PUSD families and the greater Pasadena community; PUSD recognizes renting families as a priority; Supporting PUSD means supporting renting families and supporting affordable rental housing in Pasadena; Eviction and other displacement imposes an especially high burden on school-aged children and their families, including increased absence from school and other educational disruptions that can have long-lasting effects; … Stable housing for families and their communities lead to stronger positive outcomes for all in PUSD.”

Despite the disinformation circulating to confuse voters, the fact is the measure ensures two things:  fair rent increases that guarantee a fair return to landlords and just-cause eviction protections requiring landlords to have a good reason for evicting tenants. 

This is a huge opportunity for Pasadena to stabilize its community and its public schools.  Not only will it keep families in our communities, it will keep students in our school district. I believe each child has a right to a stable and quality education and have the opportunity to remain in the community they know and love. A stable education and a stable home go hand in hand.

My children have been in the school district for eight years. Many of my daughters’ classmates have moved away from the school district because their families faced rent increases they could not afford. These families originally chose our public schools, but excessive rent hikes took away that choice. Currently, less than half of the school-age children in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre are attending PUSD schools. Not passing rent control would fundamentally hurt PUSD today and years to come. A Yes vote on Measure H is a Yes vote for children and families in Pasadena, so our community and schools remain intact and thrive for generations to come.

Tina Fredericks is a member of the PUSD Board of Education, but is speaking solely as an individual.