Just weeks ago, the Ventura City Council made headlines by passing the CARE Policy; a powerful statement of solidarity with immigrant, LGBTQ+, and reproductive healthcare communities under attack. The ordinance rightly committed solidarity from the city to protect our most vulnerable neighbors from federal overreach and rising national threats. This was a moment of moral clarity, where the city took a firm stand to shield community members, and not just with words, but with policy.
In contrast, when the Ventura City Council met on May 27 to discuss tenant protections, the official story sounded like progress. But for many of us who were really listening, and for the thousands of renters barely holding on in this city, the reality feels a lot different. That same sense of urgency and commitment didn’t show up just one month earlier, when the city council had the opportunity to consider stronger local tenant protections that would directly help many of the same residents the CARE policy is meant to support. Immigrant and working-class families are among those most impacted by rising rents, unlawful evictions, and housing instability. If we say we stand with our communities in times of uncertainty, we must also be willing to fight for their right to remain housed and rooted in Ventura.
To be clear, this meeting was simply a chance for our city staff and housing experts to examine these policy considerations, collect data, and assess whether they could help Ventura address its growing housing crisis. Instead, the majority of the council slammed the door shut on exploring these possible housing solutions, a decision that speaks volumes about what this city is choosing to prioritize.
As The Star’s story covering the meeting pointed out, councilmember Ryyn Schumacher bravely called out the disconnect: “We’re not trying to help our renters at all.” His words hit a hard truth that too many city councilmembers would rather ignore. In a city where nearly half of all residents are renters, refusing to even explore proven tools like rent stabilization or a rental registry isn’t being neutral, it’s being neglectful. Cities across the state of California have used these policies to bring transparency, stabilize housing costs, and create a fairer rental market for everyone.
Our elected officials in Ventura have rightly stood strong with vulnerable communities when state and national policies threatened our rights. But that same urgency and moral clarity are glaringly absent when it comes to defending tenants right here in our own backyard. Local leadership means not only speaking up in moments of crisis but also following through with policies that address the day-to-day struggles of those most at risk of being left behind.
Supporting legal aid and anti-harassment policies are important first steps, but they’re simply not enough on their own. Without a rental registry, how will our city even know who’s being helped or harmed in the housing market? And without stronger limits on rent increases, how can we protect those on lower incomes or families with children from being suddenly priced out of their homes?
The idea that “we can’t regulate our way to affordability,” as councilmember Jim Duran claimed, completely ignores history and what’s happening right now in cities across our state. The truth is, we can’t ignore our way to affordability either. Regulation alone won’t solve everything, but it’s an absolutely essential piece of the puzzle, alongside building more homes, preserving existing ones, and protecting tenants.
Our city council still has a chance to show that they’re listening, not just to developers or property owners, but to the renters who truly keep this city running. That means building on recent steps like the CARE Policy and committing to fully explore every tool available to stand with vulnerable communities, which includes keeping people housed. When our renters are secure, our entire community becomes stronger.
We don’t need perfect answers tomorrow. But we desperately need the courage to ask the right questions today. This problem is only getting worse: in the city of Ventura, more than 53.5% of renter households are now cost-burdened, meaning they spend over 30% of their income on housing, struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. This information comes directly from city staff reports presented earlier this year. How is it possible that we have the data confirming the scale of this crisis, yet still fail to take meaningful action?
We need our city council to reopen the door and consider the policies that were brushed aside last month. Not just because other cities are adopting them, but because Ventura’s renters deserve nothing less than a future with dignity, stability, and fairness.
Kristian Núñez is a Senior Policy Advocate with Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE).
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Guest column: CARE was the promise; now tenant protections must be the proof
Reporting by Kristian Núñez / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
