The various communities that inhabit Redwood City have different priority needs, including housing, and the cost of rent in the area has become a primary issue for everyone, especially for seniors, families and frontline workers; However, 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 Southern San Mateo County; and Chris Sturken, Redwood City councilor for District 2, who in an interview with Manuel Ortiz and Anna Lee Mraz on the program "Por la Libre", the rolling community radio station of Peninsula 360 Press.
Recalling that last Monday, July 8, the San Mateo County Elections Office reported that the proposed rent control resolution in Redwood City, promoted by civil coalitions, was rejected to appear on the ballot for not having the number of signatures required, the community can still participate in Municipal 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, they were not enough. However, he said, we must know why they were not, how we can participate so that something like this does not happen again, and what are the things that are preventing us from really being able to pass these measures.
?We need to work with the councilors, we want people to participate in the community, to participate with their ideas, maybe to go and talk to the councilors and see who the leaders of their community are, and to make sure that they know who they are. their concerns such as rent control, housing, support for small businesses, schools, parks, and libraries, among many other issues?, he stressed.
At the same time, he highlighted that the community needs representatives who really understand them. "Vote for the people who you think are going to do the best work for our community," he added.
And many of the people who suffer from high housing costs do not necessarily have the option to vote, however, since the homes are owned by large corporations, it is a problem that concerns everyone.
To achieve this, the participation of the community is undeniable, said Manuel Ortiz, who although he agreed that it is correct for residents to come to Council meetings, it is also necessary for councilors to get closer to where the people are, as is the case of stores 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 that, if they want to share their concerns on city issues, they can do so via email at csturken@redwoodcity.org, or by telephone 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 Redwood City is being a job OK? when it comes to communication, but it's not great. "There is a lot that the city needs to improve to reach our communities," he stressed.
And, he said, communication goes far beyond a message on social networks or an email or a newsletter, which one must register for, which is why I invite the city to work more with us to reach our communities?
In this regard, Sturken highlighted, in addition to this, there are City Commissions where residents can participate, and a citizen is not needed to collaborate in them, the only requirement is that they must be over 16 years of age.
?This is voluntary, and it is important to participate in them, because that is where you are going to learn about the different issues that the city has, and that is also where you can give ideas on how you can improve this. It is very important to review 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 who 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 landlord protection and rent control in San Mateo, where it was not achieved due to pressure from real estate groups who did not want the initiative to pass, however, he continued with that work in the Peninsula.
This, he said, motivated and moved by stories he heard of people with problems having a home.
In running for the Redwood City Council position, Sturken was one of 3 candidates, and he only won by 50 votes, which, he said, is why the people's vote is extremely important.
Chris Sturken knows well and closely the problem of housing and its high costs, because, he said, there are many homeless people in that area.
?There are many people in my district who are homeless, so it is very important that we protect the community by lowering rent 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 me, those are the problems in my district?, he highlighted.
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