We Get Letters: Measure H

This is what implementation of Measure H looks like, at least in my building.

At the end of 2022, my neighbors and I got a letter from our landlord saying that our January rent would go down to what it was in [May] 2021.  Before anyone makes any comments, in the next paragraph we were informed that starting in February, our rent would go up 6%.  So while our rent has gone down 4% from the last rent increase (which was 10%), it will be 6% higher than our [May] 2021 rent was.  So our rent reduction down to [May] 2021 levels lasted all of ONE MONTH.  While the letter went on to say that if we had already paid our January rent, the extra would be credited to our February rent, we were also informed that if Measure H is revoked we will have to pay the rent balance from the months that it was lower.

If, as is claimed by the California Apartment Association, Measure H unlawfully revises Pasadena’s charter, why did the Pasadena City Council allow it on last November’s ballot?  And when it passed, why did the City Council adopt a resolution to certify the election results, and the City Clerk’s office sent the Charter Amendment to the California Secretary of State for acceptance and filing?  And if Measure H violates the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, how come  the California Secretary of State received and accepted the Charter Amendment, and informed the City Clerk that a confirmed copy was being sent back to the city?

The City of Pasadena and the State of California are both aware of the law.  If Measure H violated any part thereof,  they wouldn’t have approved it, would they?

Marie Perez is a long-time resident of Pasadena