The City of Santa Ana has been a hotbed of rent control activity for the last two years. The 2020 election ushered in a progressive, ultra-liberal majority. 

It has been a Democratic stronghold for many years, but the council was always pro-business and pro-housing. That was then; this is now. The new majority passed one of the most restrictive rent control laws in California with no outreach or input from property owners. 

They broke the state’s public transparency law by having serial meetings, a violation of the Brown Act. The council then created a rent board with a majority of renters citing their inferior position in the landlord/tenant relationship. Santa Ana is a majority renter city. This same council majority is also horrible to their police officers and the Santa Ana Police Officers Association successfully launched and qualified a recall of one of the most problematic and politically vulnerable council members next month. 

Facing the prospect of losing their majority, the council began the process of requiring a supermajority of the council to make any amendments to the rent control ordinance.  This proposal, by a council member, who by profession is a city attorney in another city, was a clear violation of the City’s Charter and every American voting standard we uphold and treasure. 

They passively admitted that their opposition was correct in crying foul. Only the voters can apply higher than simple majority thresholds on public policy matters. California voters have embraced these higher thresholds at the state and local levels regarding raising taxes, but never on rent control. The council majority is adding a November 2024 ballot initiative for voters to approve their supermajority threshold for future amendments to their rent control ordinance.

The urgency is due to the pending recall election of their far-left council colleague. They are worried about losing their majority in the recall, and they have to protect their power on the city council.The thirst for power outweighs voter approvals or the traditions of our republic.

The mobilehome industry is fully engaged in the recall of this council member in Santa Ana. Recently WMA, Manufactured Housing Education Trust (MHET), and California Mobilehome Parkowners Alliance (CMPA) have formed an allied mobilehome community owners’ group to work hand in hand on industry issues. They launched an incredibly successful campaign to fund litigation to save our long-term leases — from rent control — by overturning Assembly Bill 2782. 

Now, this group has set its collective sights on saving Santa Ana. The allied mobilehome community owners are contributing significant funding for next month’s recall election. Stay tuned for more updates, as we work together to defend and preserve private property rights in Orange County.

Julie Paule, WMA’s Regional Representative for San Diego / Orange / Riverside / Imperial. She can be reached at julie@pauleconsulting.com.