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Here’s where Santa Ana voters stood on a few key ballot measures that could shape the city’s future when it comes to rent control, noncitizen voting and raising city council compensation, according to initial counts on Election Night.
Initial results as of 8 p.m. Tuesday showed 54.97% of voters were in favor of a local rent control ordinance that caps what landlords and property owners can raise on residential rents. Meanwhile, 45.03% of voters were against the measure – a 3,043 vote margin.
Roughly 65.27% of Santa Ana were against giving noncitizens a say in their local elections, while 34.73% were for the measure – a 9,041vote margin.
Initial tallies also showed 67.03% of voters were opposed to raising City Council compensation for future elected officials. 32.97% were in favor of increasing pay for city leaders – a margin of 10, 212 votes.
The rent control measure – Measure CC – if passed, would require voters to approve any changes to the city’s current rent control ordinance.
Supporters of rent control argue that the citywide ordinance gives families and seniors a chance to live comfortably in Santa Ana amid a statewide housing crisis.
Councilmembers Thai Phan and Johnathan Hernandez along with Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento voiced support of the rent control measure.
Opponents say capping the amount that landlords and property owners can raise rent does not solve long-term housing concerns.
Councilman Phil Bacerra has signed and publicly backed opposition to the ballot measure enshrining the citywide rent control ordinance.
If the noncitizen voting measure – Measure DD passes – it would make Santa Ana the first city in California to allow for noncitizens to vote, including for city council and future ballot measures. This does not include votes for state and federal races.
The city council pay measure – Measure FF – could rewrite the city’s municipal code to make city council salaries at a fixed rate equal to 33% to that of an Orange County Superior Court Judge, roughly $78,000.
[Read: Is it Really Time For Full-Time Politicians in Santa Ana?]
Some Santa Ana officials argue that raising the base pay would draw in more people to run for City Council, including Councilwoman Phan and Councilman Bacerra.
If passed, Santa Ana would be one of the first Orange County cities to pay elected officials as full-time politicians, something similarly sized cities like Anaheim and Irvine do not do.
Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.
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