Delano's move on rent relief: Will signatures help seal the deal?

by Mary Paronyan, Eyewitness News

Tue, May 21st 2024 at 10:18 PM

DELANO, Calif. (KBAK/FOX58) — In December of last year, the Fair Rents Delano Ballot initiative was filed.

For years, Delano neighbors and leaders have been fighting to place rent control on the November 2024 ballot in hopes of lowering the massive rent hikes by collecting signatures.

Fast forward to now, Fair Rents Delano thinks they were able to gather more than enough signatures from thousands of citizens to qualify for rent stabilization for the November election.

On Tuesday, several of them gathered in front of Delano City Hall for a groundbreaking move.

Delano residents provided their signatures, and have been going door to door to spread the word.

Most of the people that gathered have lived there for decades, and have relied on social security for money, but it still wasn't enough.

“We can’t even live in our own communities, where can we go? We need fair rents, we need affordable housing, and we need our leaders to know and to represent all demographics of our community,” said a third-generation Delano resident, Yolanda Chacon-Serna.

According to activists, the pandemic has caused residents to see a 40% rise in rent.

“They can’t build a life here in Delano, and instead, a lot of them said that we’re gonna have to move out of state because its cheaper in other places to go rent,” said Labor Organizer, Lupe Martinez.

Fair Rents Delano says 62.2% of renters in the city of Delano are paying over 50% of their income on rent.

"Seniors are having trouble making the decision between paying for prescriptions and rent, veterans are having trouble making ends meet, and more and more people are asking ‘where will I live?' added Susie Shannon with the 'Housing is a Human Right' organization.