Cities Index.
Rent Stabilization Board Applications

East Palo Alto City Council
June 21, 2022

Document
Rent Stabilization Board Applications
Meeting
June 21, 2022
Body
East Palo Alto City Council
Pages
1
Original file
160 KB
Text extracted from the city's file for reading and search. Open the original on eastpaloalto.iqm2.com. That file is the official record.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
1 / 20
Q1
Name
Matthew Runyan
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#1

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Sunday, May 08, 2022 4:33:26 PM
Last Modified: Sunday, May 08, 2022 4:57:42 PM
Time Spent: 00:24:15
IP Address: 98.37.150.3

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
2 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I've been living and renting in East Palo Alto since early 2016. I've been renting housing in California since 2008. I want to allow my experience as a long term renter in the state of California and East Palo Alto specifically to help provide more first hand experiences when it comes to renting in this city.

I want to fully acknowledge for the most part that I have not had too much difficulty financially from 2016 to 2020, but that changed after I was laid off from a high pay job early 2020 and took a paycut to work a less stressful position for less pay remotely after being on unemployment for about 7 months.

At the same time I was seeing folks in worse trouble barely able to both survive and pay their rent here during the pandemic, and I've always known that affording housing for low income families has always been a challenge in this city historically ever since gentrification started.

Being here since 2016 and seeing first hand some of the challenges the people are facing, I would like to volunteer my time to give back to the community instead of just being part of the problem, as I know that a big part of rising rents in this community is do to people like myself that moved here while working at Facebook or one of the other big tech companies in the area.

While I work in tech, I have a non engineering support role (Quality Assurance) and it's unlikely I'll ever make a high enough wage to support purchasing a home in this area or California in general, so I'm likely to be renting as long as I live in this state unless something drastic were to happen to the market. I'm also saddled with student loans and medical debt due to the high education and medical costs we face in this country.

I would like to see Rent Stabilization start applying to more of the low income families that live here and work in the area as well as protecting all tenants in the area from abusive landlords that seek only to profit off the misfortunes of others. I would like to eventually see Stabilization apply to single family rental properties as well and I want to help make that a reality in any way that I can. I think the recent tax change on landlords is a good step in the right direction, and if it's passed by the voters I want to help make sure our existing passthrough laws are abided by and that those costs are not passed onto the renters.

I work full time from home during the week and would be available at 7pm on the second week of every month starting in June 2022.

Feel free to email me or give me a call if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Matthew Runyan
Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
3 / 20
Q1
Name
Laurence Jones
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto, CA
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#2

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Saturday, May 14, 2022 5:20:05 PM
Last Modified: Saturday, May 14, 2022 5:28:08 PM
Time Spent: 00:08:02
IP Address: 98.42.0.195

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
4 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? As someone raised in East Palo Alto, and returning to community after 15 years away, I was looking for a tangible way to serve East Palo Alto's progressive, leading edge history of making safe, affordable spaces for marginalized communities, namely, African American, Latinx & Queer communities.

A number of those communities have been displaced or are under the threat of displacement by increasing rents, predatory landlords and stagnant wages in essential professions that keep the fabric of communities together. The leadership that East Palo Alto has taken on rent stabilization has by proxy allowed me to stay in the Bay Area as a renter due to the influence of rent control ordinances in cities like Berkeley and Oakland.

Although I was raised by property owning residents of East Palo Alto, many relatives and close connections where renters that loved their community. I do feel a great deal of responsibility participating and carrying forward a legacy of community equity that I was raised with in East Palo Alto.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
5 / 20
Q1
Name
Katie Fantin
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#3

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 10:41:51 PM
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 10:43:38 PM
Time Spent: 00:01:46
IP Address: 174.194.141.144

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
6 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I've been a long-term resident of East Palo Alto both as a renter in the beginning and now is a homeowner and would like to see equitable housing practices for those that are renting to ensure that folks are you able to stay in this community who would like to.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
7 / 20
Q1
Name
Cristal Montes
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#4

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Friday, May 27, 2022 3:56:50 PM
Last Modified: Friday, May 27, 2022 6:23:19 PM
Time Spent: 02:26:29
IP Address: 73.223.118.46

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
8 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I would like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board because I am passionate about helping out my community. I have lived in this community since I was 8 years old, and now as an adult I am finding more and more ways that I can be involved and be the voice for those who are often forgotten or ignored. It's important to me that both the tenant and landlord are equally listened to in order to arrive to just, equitable conclusions.

I first got exposed to policy and its implementation through a long-standing coalition here in East Palo Alto, where I was able to dive deeper into the work that is being done by others. I would like to take that a step further by joining the Rent Stabilization Board where I can apply my policy expertise. In the year that I have been with Youth United for Community Action, the experience that I have gotten has allowed me to see how equitable policy and implementation for both landlords and tenants in our community are necessary. For example, I have helped countless tenants with the California Rent Relief application to ensure tenants stay housed and landlords are properly compensated, given that the COVID-19 pandemic hit our community hard. Therefore, I believe that my experiences will serve me in being a part of the Rent Stabilization Board. I’m a diligent, fast learner and eager to apply my skills in this seat.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
9 / 20
Q1
Name
Gail Wilkerson
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City

E PALO ALTO
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#5

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 1:09:49 PM
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 1:13:03 PM
Time Spent: 00:03:14
IP Address: 73.241.16.64

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
10 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I am a Incumbent. I've had 2yrs experience on the Board. I have a great sense of what is at Hand. I know The Rental process from being in Real Estate for over 40yrs. I have a sense of Community and I know how to be Fair. Because I was Train in doing so and Fully invested in Ethnic's. No conflicts over my Decades of operating. I've lived in the Community since 1955. I know the terrain.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
12 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I would like to continue serving on the Rent Stabilization Board. For the past two years, I have served as an alternate seat on the Board and volunteered to be a member of the Education and Outreach Committee and Habitability Committee.As a Rent Board member, I was awarded the opportunity to be a part of Urban Habitat’s Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI). I am committed to continue learning with my community and local organizations to collaborate and support tenants. I am dedicated to continuing collaborating with Board members and Staff to reassure tenants are living in safe and habitable living conditions, are aware and have the agency of their rights, as well as creating a more inclusive space in our meetings and in our community.I was raised in an unstable housing situation. This drives me to protect the rights of residents to remain in their homes and avoid the constant relocation that many experience, especially during a pandemic. I’d like to continue serving on the Rent Stabilization Board to continue learning and centering the voices of tenants in our City.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
13 / 20
Q1
Name
Filiberto Zaragoza
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#7

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 3:40:33 PM
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 3:43:08 PM
Time Spent: 00:02:35
IP Address: 172.58.25.195

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
14 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? To bring a youth voice and fresh eyes in order to assist my community Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
15 / 20
Q1
Name
Amy Arrellin
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#8

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Friday, May 27, 2022 4:21:00 PM
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 4:35:49 PM
Time Spent: Over a day
IP Address: 73.223.118.46

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
16 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I would like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board because I would love to help tenants remain stable in East Palo Alto, while also ensuring landlords are appropriately served. As an East Palo Alto lifelong resident I have firsthand experience seeing tenants be displaced from their homes while property owners lose solid, reliable tenants to unfortunate circumstances and hard financial situations. I have also watched my community drastically change due to the rapid changes caused by the gentrification occurring in EPA. I would love to be a part of the Rent Stabilization Board as it allows me to help protect the residents of my community.

I have 5 years of volunteer and professional experience which will help guide me in providing input for the Rent Stabilization Board.

My professional experience at YUCA has also allowed me to help guide residents of EPA through complex State laws and with their CA rent relief application so they are able to remain housed and so landlords receive proper return on their investments. Doing so has allowed me to learn more of the complexities which tenants and landlords face regularly and has encouraged me to learn more ways to be helpful to residents in my community. During my time at YUCA I was also able to help contribute to the passing of measure HH which has dramatically helped our city since it was passed. I hope to be able to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board and help the residents in my community in any way possible.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
17 / 20
Q1
Name
Kiet Phung
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
E Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#9

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Friday, June 03, 2022 2:04:00 PM
Last Modified: Friday, June 03, 2022 2:05:46 PM
Time Spent: 00:01:45
IP Address: 98.234.42.106

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
18 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I have been living in East Palo Alto since 2009 and have seen many great changes through the years. Moving forward, I would like to take a more active role to ensure more great changes continue to happen in our city.

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
19 / 20
Q1
Name
Nora Melendez
Q2
Home Address
Q3
City
East Palo Alto
Q4
E-mail Address
Q5
Phone Number
Q6
Are you available to attend regular Board meetings
scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month at
7:00 pm?
Yes
#10

COMPLETE
Collector: Web Link 1 (Web Link)
Started: Friday, June 03, 2022 3:44:11 PM
Last Modified: Friday, June 03, 2022 3:54:21 PM
Time Spent: 00:10:10
IP Address: 98.42.7.73

Page 1 ends

Rent Stabilization Board Application 2022
20 / 20
Q7
Why would you like to serve on the Rent Stabilization Board? I'm interested in understanding the needs of renters and owners from both sides. As a long-time resident of EPA (40+ yrs), I'd like to continue to make EPA affordable to renters such as myself and find ways to help renters purchase a home as well. In this economy, where ownership is almost impossible for current renters, and many people outside of EPA, I believe EPA should remain an oasis for affordability. EPA can be a beacon of hope for renters, the unhoused community and current owners. We can also set an example to the rest of San Mateo County in addressing the needs of every resident.

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