The Salinas City Council voted 5–2 on May 13 to repeal four city ordinances that established local rent registration, rent stabilization, just‑cause eviction and anti‑harassment rules.

City Attorney Chris Callahan told the council the legality of the city ordinances had not been decided by the courts and that earlier media reports saying the measures were unconstitutional were incorrect: “The constitutionality of the city's ordinance was never at issue. The city was not a party to that case,” Callahan said during the public council discussion.

Supporters of the ordinances — including tenant advocates, community organizers and several low‑income residents — urged the council to retain the local protections and allow more time for the policies to operate. Speakers told the council they feared displacement, described high rents and said many families could not afford to move. Several legal aid organizations including California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) and local tenant groups urged the council to maintain locally enforceable protections and warned rental assistance capacity would be insufficient to replace local enforcement.

Opponents — including property‑owner representatives and some real‑estate groups — argued the ordinances discouraged investment and risked removing rental units from the market. Several owners told council members rising operating costs, particularly insurance and utility expenses, make it difficult for smaller landlords to remain in the rental business under the city rules.

Council discussion was extensive. Community Development Director Lisa Brenton presented data and staff analysis on implementation, program costs and registrations. Brenton told council staff had recorded fee revenue and program expenditures tied to the now‑repealed programs and that unwinding them would require administrative work, contract adjustments and decisions about how to handle already‑collected fees.

Council member Tony Barrera offered a substitute motion that would have delayed repeal and required further stakeholder outreach and a five‑month data review; that substitute failed. The council then moved forward with a motion to introduce and subsequently adopt ordinances repealing the four rent‑related measures. The introduction occurred at the May 13 meeting; per the municipal rules, ordinances are effective 30 days after adoption if adopted at a subsequent regular meeting. The council voted to adopt the repeal at the end of the meeting.

City staff told the council they would return with implementation steps for winding down the programs, options for using collected fees, and a proposed rental‑assistance program (a separate item discussed later in the meeting). Staff said unwinding contracts and addressing reporting and enforcement tasks would likely take several months.

The vote was: Council members Barajas, Dirigo, De La Rosa, Salazar and Mayor Dennis Donahue in favor; Council members Barrera and Sandoval opposed. The council recessed and then returned later in the evening to adopt the ordinance vote.