Oh good, the city council is going to use Rent Relief to pay their landlord buddies directly. So glad we're using our tax dollars to make rich property owners slightly richer.

$150,000 in rent relief is meaningless, it's a token gesture to look like they're helping. If the $200 for 4 months example is representative, that means a grand total of about 180 people can get those $800.

If the mandatory arbitration is implemented, all it means is that landlords will build future rent increases into rental units as they hit the market, making the cost to live in mountain view even higher to newcomers. Maybe that's the point - keep people out.

"My concern is that the rent threshold would set the floor, not the ceiling", the people who keep poking around and making this an issue #1 will not see any relief , because the % helped is way to small.
#2 you're going to piss off the landlords by starting these stupid talks.
#3 when the bubble does pop and rents start going down again, are going to not see a true bottom in your situations because of programs like this. Don't u get it?

The big issue for January is whether four councilmembers (Lenny Siegel, Chris Clark, Ken Rosenberg and Pat Showalter) will stick with their support for binding arbitration as a potential third step in a mandatory mediation program that would apply to most apartments in Mountain View (built before 1995). A landlord could avoid the mediation process by not increasing the rent on an existing tenant over the percentage (or other criteria) to be established. New tenants are fair game. Under existing state law, they will always have to pay the initial price required by the landlord. I expect landlord representativea to have a serious talk with Counilmembers Clark, Rosenberg and Showalter to head off adoption of any binding arbitration. Only one defection is needed to kill the arbitration aspect of the proposed program. Without the possibility of binding arbitration, landlords could still raise rents on existing tenants through the roof and just weather the non-binding mediation process. Mediation can be made NO FUN for a landlord, but with so much money at stake, almost all landlords would not back off their high rent increases. And once again, beware of landlords who would seek to evict tenants instead of serving a notice of a rent increase that would trigger a tenant's right to mediation. Tenants would need protection from that. That protection would need to be stated in the ordinance.

The City Council is oiling the squeaky wheel. The vast majority of citizens have not been heard from on this issue. Something this critical to the future of the City should be put on the ballot.
I fear that this council is placing the city on a very slippery slope that will lead to a financial shortage.

If more than half of our citizens in Mtn. View are renters why don't they speak up and vote when they need to? It is easy to complain to your family and friends,but they aren't empowered to change things. Complain to the politicians. They will get tired of it and find a solution. If they don't fix things then unfortunately we have to find somewhere else we can afford. The city needs to look at financial records of the landlords and find out who is right, the renter or landlord. It might just be that the landlords are gouging people or maybe not. We know what income people make and what they pay in rent, but we don't really know how much profit these landlords make. All we are sure of is that we are getting priced out of the market.

Good point GDM. With only 100 people showing up that is a very small percentage of people living here. The council is being controlled by a mob, this is called mob rule. So you are correct, this should be put on a ballet, not just this, but all major policy changes.

That's a pretty ignorant statement. Many landlords are middle class, some times blue collar families trying to get ahead or save for retirement. Maybe you should have figured out how to make a little more money rather than rag on others for trying to better themselves and their family's situation.

You have no clue what it costs to purchase, pay taxes on on maintain a property.

You all are asking for socialism at the expense of one segment of the population that you presume are multi million/billionaires.

Socialism doesn't work that way. If you want to help a class of people who have less funds for housing then everyone should have to pay for it, not a few.

Has it escaped all of you that that wealthier citizens of mountain view will also benefit from rent control? Maybe even at the expense of someone who is renting a house or a duplex and making less money than the renter?

This is completely arbitrary redistribution of wealth that targets only a certain segment of the population's wallets.

>>"You're getting into telling the landlord what you think the rent should be," remarked Councilman Mike Kasperzak to his colleagues. <<

I'm glad I didn't vote for Kasperzak. That's the whole point. That's why you're there. Government opting for stabilization and balance. Otherwise you could just have libertarian owners and their kangaroo courts deciding all justice.

TO ALL those who say we have the numbers so council had better start listening to us.

What if you where walking down a dark ally and 10 thugs came up to you and beat you silly then took all of your possessions, because you where outnumbered does what they did make it right?

You have the same rights as the next person, no one should be allowed to take away anyone's rights to give to another. It is wrong to take away a property owners rights, no one is taking away your rights to prohibit you from buying your own place, or to move to any where your heart desires.

@JS

So I take it from your post that you think the Government "should" tell property owners what the rent should be. Is that right?




If so, please submit your current financial statements for our consideration. Because it sounds like you are ok with others deciding how much you should be compensated for your labor and investments. You might be making what we think is too much. We'll decide for you.

I started a free website for renters to share their cost of rent and experiences with each other. I had problems with Fayette Arms Apartments in Mt. VIEW. I had a month to month lease for a year, we asked for a new 1 year lease they just refused. Cliff the manager was told not to offer and new leases to anybody. Now the rent $500.00 more month. I started rentersclearinghouse.com a free website for renters to submit rental history for other renters to view, what others paid in rent in the past. I hope my site will be helpful to all renters.

Thanks Michael

Mmccarthy@rentersclearinghouse.com

If the City Council were to enact an ordinance giving tenants of some residential rental units the right to demand mediation (if a rent increase exceeds a percentage in a designated time period) and if there is to be binding arbitration in the event the matter is not settled in mediation, the Council would want the ordinance to authorize the arbitrator to consider the particular financial circumstances of the landlord. But how about also authorizing the arbitrator to consider the particular financial circumstances of the tenants involved. Tenants already reveal their financial circumstances to landlords. If the aim is to avoid displacement of tenants who cannot avoid an large rent increase, why should the arbitrator not be allowed to consider the relevant information? In this manner, tenants who can well afford a large rent increase would not bother to seek mediation or arbitration - nor should they.

I'm 49. I've lived here since 1996. I've never made a six figure salary in my life. But I worked hard, made good choices, saved my money instead of going out, vacationing, breeding, or shopping, and I bought a duplex right here in Mountain View. You all could have done it too, but you spent your money. I don't feel sorry for any of you and I'll charge what I want for rent.

I own a small rental in mountain view. I guess I can speak from experience.

Many property owners lost their homes and rental properties when economic was bad. Many other property owners took on more loans to stay afloat. The property owners' misfortune was exploited by renters. Lots of renters took the opportunity to negotiate a good term for leasing, not that many renters would commit a 6 month long lease back then. If the property owner did not provide free upgrade to the apartment or offer discount on rent, those renter would move out (giving very short notice).

Many renters played the game back in the days, and those renters make bad judgment in a depressed real estate market. They missed the buying opportunity, in which mortgage was lower than rent. They should be kicking their own rear.

We all know there is economic cycles. For those of you who are renters, your opportunity will come soon if your are prepared. Your view will be different after you becomes a home owner. Trust me, I spoke from experience.

I've lived in the same Apt complex for 15 years
My rent has increased over 100% in the last 4 years !

My rent has been increasing about 15% every 6 months for the last 2 years in a row

My appartment complex has no pool, no fitness center, is about 60 years old I estimate, and no upgrades have been made except for a small bathroom remodeling (change floot to tiles and toilet)

Bugs are everywhere in the months of summer from May till September usually

The sinks (bathroom and kitchen) are frequently overflowing with water from the laundry room coming up (this flooded my apatrment severly a couple of years ago)

Is this legal?

I am leaving this trash hole before the next rent increase. Go ahead Google and Facebook millionaires and pay my overpriced rent, I am moving elsewhere

Cheers

Ulysses