Rent Control Projected To Pass in Pasadena

Measure H (Chart by Ann Hunnewell)

The vote count on Measure H, a Charter Amendment providing rent control to the City of Pasadena, is currently at 24,931 yes to 21,049 no.

By News Desk

The 2022 rent control campaign was fueled by the Pasadena Tenants Union along with dozens of community groups, unions, and hundreds of local volunteers. Measure H faced down incredible opposition from some of the largest corporate landlords in the country– notably the California Apartment Association and the National and California Associations of Realtors. The opposition spent approximately $450,000 against the grassroots measure, which itself raised a respectable campaign budget of $350,000 from foundations and unions plus $79,000 in donations from around 700 individuals.

Over 600 Measure H volunteers knocked on over 42,000 doors and phoned more than 29,000 voters as part of a large-scale, grassroots neighbor-to-neighbor voter outreach. Measure H was placed on the ballot through 15,000 voter signatures, was written by local tenants, homeowners, and public interest attorneys experienced in tenant law, and is one of the only citizen’s initiatives in recent Pasadena history.

“This is a win for every renter, and every resident of Pasadena who is tired of watching their longtime neighbors getting priced out. We’ve talked to thousands of people across the City who are ready to keep fighting displacement and unfair evictions with us,” said Measure H Field Director, Bee Rooney.

Measure H, Pasadena Rent Control (Chart by Ann Hunnewell)

Rent control in Pasadena comes on the heels of multiple legislative rent control wins in California, but this win at the ballot box has significant implications. Measure H includes effective accountability measures for bad actor landlords through the creation of an independent rent board, and it cannot be repealed without another vote of the people.

Measure H will protect tenants facing eviction from bad faith–often corporate, landlords who evict tenants just because they want to rent a unit for more money.

“The community support has been incredible, but not surprising,” said campaign organizer, Ryan Bell. “People are losing their neighbors, their friends, and their classmates to eviction and skyrocketing rents. It’s the time for rent control across all of California, and we hope this lights a spark for other cities to fight for their right to housing.