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Fw: comment in support of Rules item C2
Agendadesk <[email protected]>
Wed 9/4/2024 8:33 AM
To:Rules and Open Government Committee Agendas <[email protected]> From: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024 8:30 AM
To: Agendadesk <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: comment in support of Rules item C2
From: Matt King
Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024 8:11 AM
To: Taber, Toni <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]>; Cohen, David <[email protected]>; Kamei, Rosemary <[email protected]>; Davis, Dev <[email protected]>; Foley, Pam <[email protected]>; Jimenez, Sergio <[email protected]>
Subject: comment in support of Rules item C2
You don't often get email from . Learn why this is important Dear City Clerk and member sof the Rules Committee,
I'm writing in support of the C2 memo from Councilmembers Cohen, Torres and Ortiz.
Limiting the use of AI software that helps corporate landlords extract the maximum rent increases from tenants is a common sense step to put a check on displacement.
As noted in the council memo, this practice hurts tenants of corporate real estate while also pushing up rents for everyone else.
Please approve the memo and forward it to the full council for immediate action. m
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Matt King
pronouns: he/him/his
Policy Director
Sacred Heart Community Service
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October 1, 2024
San Jose City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Chair Cohen, Vice Chair Foley, and Committee Members Davis, Jimenez, and Kamei, Re: Rules Committee Agenda Item C1- Ordinance Amendment for Sale or Use of Algorithmic Devices for Residential Dwelling Units. (Ortiz, Torres, and Cohen) We would like to submit this letter before the committee to express our support for the memorandum authored by Councilmembers Ortiz, Cohen, and Torres. This memorandum requests the development of an ordinance to prohibit the use of Algorithmic Devices for Residential Dwelling Units. The impact of this practice on renters, who are already struggling to keep up with the current cost of living, cannot be overstated. There is precedent based on actions taken in other jurisdictions towards combating this practice, which has been identified as a form of “price fixing” focused on increasing rents.
The corporations using this technology are some of the largest corporate property owners in the Country. As corporate real estate continues to grow, we see firsthand what tools, such as this software, are being used to further corporate interests amid a housing and affordability crisis.
With an Department of Justice Antitrust lawsuit on the use of Algorithmic Devices and an ordinance in place in San Francisco, there are examples of what we as a City can do to prevent exacerbating existing housing impacts on renters in corporately owned properties. We urge the committee to move this item forward and make a strong commitment to our residents, not corporate real estate. There are various avenues the City can take to continue to genuinely address this topic of concern. We look forward to your unwavering commitment so that problematic, potentially illegal software practices are no longer impacting tenants living in corporately owned buildings.
Sincerely,
Maria Noel Fernandez, Executive Director, Working Partnerships USA Jeremy Barousse, Director of Policy and Organizing, Amigos de Guadalupe Gabriela ‘Gabby’ Chavez-Lopez, Executive Director, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley Gabriel Manrique, Organizer, Latinos Unidos for a New America Andrea Portillo, Director of Community Impact and Policy, SOMOS Mayfair Kyra Kaztantzis, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits Regina Celestin Williams, Executive Director, Silicon Valley@Home Matt King, Policy Director, Sacred Heart Community Services Agency Hannah Holloway, Vice President of Programs, Housing, TechEquity Lee Hepner, Senior Legal Counsel, American Economic Liberties Project Tristia Bauman, Directing Attorney, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Cassandra Magana, Manager of Policy and Advocacy, West Valley Community Services Inc. | | |
October 22, 2024
Honorable City Councilmembers of the Rules Committee
City of San Jose
70 West Hedding Street, 7th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Re: Opposition to Item C.2: Ordinance Amendment for Sale or Use of Algorithmic Devices for Residential Dwelling Units
Dear Chair Cohen, Vice Chair Foley, Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Jimenez, and Vice Mayor Kamei,
On behalf of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, I would like to express our opposition to item C.2: Ordinance Amendment for Sale or Use of Algorithmic Devices for Residential Dwelling Units. The Chamber opposes this ordinance for the reasons outlined below. • Inconsistent governance: Companies and technologies regulated at the federal and state levels are already subject to rigorous oversight. Federal and state regulations are designed to ensure safety, privacy, and operational standards. Adding a local ban undermines the comprehensive regulatory framework that’s already in place, leading to inconsistent governance, legal confusion, and diversion of resources. • Stifles Economic Growth: A local ordinance will stymy investment from AI companies in San Jose. Innovation thrives when businesses and technologies are allowed to operate freely within a consistent regulatory environment. A City ban will stifle growth, limit access to emerging technologies, and reduce the city’s competitiveness. This can also discourage new businesses from investing in the city, potentially leading to economic stagnation and setting a negative precedent for bringing a new business to San Jose. • City Staff Burden: Federal and state agencies have dedicated experts, research teams, and infrastructure in place to monitor compliance, enforce regulations, and adapt to emerging technologies. City government and staff do not, nor should they, have the technical expertise or capacity to focus on the complexities of modern technologies. Attempting to regulate at the local level without this expertise could lead to poorly informed decisions, inefficiencies, and unintended negative consequences for businesses and residents alike.
Let the Justice Department complete its process over the use of the algorithm used by RealPage. For the reasons outlined above, the Chamber respectfully requests you vote no on this item.
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With Compassion,
Cassandra Magana (She/Her/s/Ella)
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
West Valley Community Services, Inc.
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