SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A group of San Diegans fighting for rent control is bringing their battle to city leaders this week.
The group San Diego Tenants United is calling for city leaders to pass a rent control ordinance to curb the skyrocketing cost of living in San Diego.
In a letter to San Diego's Smart Growth & Land Use Committee Chair Georgette Gomez, the group requested a new rent control ordinance and amendment to San Diego's Just Cause Eviction ordinance to prohibit landlords from increasing rents or displacing families.
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The group believes a permanent ordinance and amendment will slow the rate of increase in local rents and stifle the local housing crises.
"This can make real, effective changes that can truly fight displacement and gentrification," the letter to Gomez reads. "All the cities across California who have passed rent control have done so because they know that it's a crucial part of the solution to our housing crisis."
Members of San Diego Tenants United plan to gather at San Diego City Council on Wednesday to protest and present their petition to leaders.
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Rent control opponents also plan to be at the committee meeting. Members of the San Diego County Apartment Association say rent control would hurt the livelihoods of many landlords and property managers.
"Delivering units is what we really need to do, it's the only way we believe we can build ourselves out of this crisis," said Christian Davis, president of the association. "We need to push politics aside and do what's right for neighborhoods, build housing."
Davis says many landlords must raise rent to cover their rising costs, including wages, goods, and utilities.
"Add rent control on top of that and many of our members could run the risk of, can't afford to be in business any longer," said Davis
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Davis says rent control will not address San Diego's housing crisis and that city needs to make it easier and more affordable to build new housing.
According to ApartmentList.com, the median rent in San Diego for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,550 and $2,010 for a two-bedroom.
April was also the second straight month the city has seen an increase in rent following a January decrease, according to the website.
