For years local housing nonprofits who serve Palo Alto's most vulnerable community members have asked for the city to create a registry of rental properties. This policy is used by neighboring cities to monitor how rent is rising or falling, how many rental homes are currently vacant, and most importantly are landlords following the law or repeatedly targeting marginalized communities with eviction. Rent registries are used effectively and at low cost in order for cities to have accurate data on what renters are facing and how to better enforce renter protections.

A rent registry was actually promised under Palo Alto's Comprehensive Plan 20 years ago - and is on its way to becoming a reality along with further renter protections, but a rent registry provides the data necessary to establish those protections. Write to the wonderful Palo Alto City Staff who are working hard to make this policy a reality with the feedback that you support a rent registry.