Richmond will be the first city in Contra Costa County to get rent control when a new ordinance is enacted in December.
State law exempts condos, buildings erected after 1995, single-family homes, Section 8 housing and Richmond Housing Authority properties from rent control, but it will affect nearly 10,000 other units which are available for rent control.
Despite the city council's 4-1 vote to enact the ordinance, there has been some significant opposition. KQED reported that opponents are concerned with the cost to the city.
According to Contra Costa Times, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt disapproved of the ordinance and walked out of the July 21 city council meeting that decided on it.
"I vote no, and I'm also leaving," he reportedly said at the meeting. "I can't deal with this."
