The diverse communities that inhabit Redwood City have different priority needs, including housing, and the high cost of rents in the area has become a primary issue for everyone, especially for seniors, families, and frontline workers; however, in order for their concerns to be heard and addressed, greater citizen participation is necessary, regardless of immigration status.
This was stated by Connie Guerrero, from the League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County, and Chris Sturken, Redwood City Councilman for District 2, who spoke in an interview with Manuel Ortiz and Anna Lee Mraz on the program “Por la Libre,” the mobile community radio program of Peninsula 360 Press.
Recalling that last Monday, July 8, the San Mateo County Elections Office reported that the rent control resolution proposal in Redwood City, promoted by civil coalitions, was rejected from appearing on the ballot due to not having the required number of signatures, the community can still participate in the City Council meetings and make their needs known.
During her participation, Connie Guerrero said that, although these civil coalitions obtained 93 percent of the required signatures, it was not enough. However, she said, we must know why they were not enough, how we can participate so that something like this does not happen again, and what are the things that are preventing us from actually passing these measures.
“We need to work with the council members, we want people to participate in the community, to participate with their ideas, maybe to go and talk to the council members and see who the leaders of their community are, and to make sure that they know what their concerns are, such as rent control, housing, support for small businesses, schools, parks, and libraries, among many other issues,” he stressed.
He also stressed that the community needs representatives who truly understand them. “Vote for the people you think will do the best job for our community,” he added.
Many of the people who suffer from high housing costs do not necessarily have the option to vote, but since these are homes owned by large corporations, it is a problem that affects everyone.
To achieve this, community participation is undeniable, said Manuel Ortiz, who, while agreeing that it is correct for residents to attend council meetings, it is also necessary for council members to go to where the people are, such as shops and churches, among others.
In that sense, the councilor Chris Sturken, who attended the live session broadcast from the Chávez Supermarket in Redwood City, called on residents to share their concerns on city issues via email at csturken@redwoodcity.org, or by phone at 650 454 7907.
“I invite the Redwood City Administration to come and sit down and talk with us about the needs of the community. I say that Redwood City is doing an 'OK' job when it comes to communication, but it's not great. There is a lot that the city needs to improve in order to reach our communities,” he stressed.
And, he said, communication goes far beyond a message on social media or an email or a newsletter, which one must subscribe to, “that is why I invite the city to work more with us to reach our communities.”
In this regard, Sturken highlighted that there are also City Commissions where residents can participate, and you do not need to be a citizen to collaborate in them, the only requirement is that you must be over 16 years of age.
“This is voluntary, and it is important to participate in them, because that is where you will learn about the different issues that the city has, and that is where you can give ideas on how to improve things. It is very important to check when there is a position for the different commissions and that people can participate,” Guerrero said.
Sturken, who decided to run for Redwood City Council and was elected in 2022, stressed that everyone deserves affordable housing because “everyone deserves a place to call home.”
Since 2016, Chris has worked in politics, especially in the protection of property owners and rent control in San Mateo, where it was not achieved due to pressure from real estate groups that did not want the initiative to pass, however, he continued with this work on the Peninsula.
He said he was motivated and moved by stories he heard from people struggling to find a home.
Running for Redwood City Council, Sturken was one of three candidates, and he only won by 50 votes, so he said the people's vote is extremely important.
Chris Sturken is familiar with the housing problem and its high costs, as he said there are many homeless people in the area.
“There are a lot of people in my district who are homeless, so it is very important that we protect the community by lowering rents and building more housing. On the Council I am working very hard to build and approve more housing, as well as greater protections for tenants like myself, those are the issues in my district,” she said.
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