San Pablo Council Advances Eviction Protections on Contentious 3-1-1 Vote

San Pablo's City Council introduced a just cause eviction and anti-harassment ordinance on Feb. 17 after an intense debate that split the dais and drew sharp criticism from tenant advocates who argued the new law doesn't go far enough. The council also honored a retiring 28-year Public Works employee and fielded a neighborhood complaint about an illegal towing operation.

• Eviction protections ordinance clears first reading, 3-1-1, over objections from tenant group Rising Juntos and one councilmember who called the law a redundancy of state protections

• Last-minute legal revisions prevent the city from accidentally weakening existing state tenant rights under AB 1482 and SB 567

• Rising Juntos members demand the council reject the ordinance and return with right-to-return at the same rent, day-one protections, and broader unit coverage

• 28-year Public Works veteran Daniel Gomez honored with a proclamation as he retires from the Maintenance and Operations superintendent post

• Resident reports illegal towing operation on Giant Road, asks city to bypass the standard 30-day code enforcement timeline

The basics: The ordinance adds two new chapters to the San Pablo Municipal Code — Chapter 9.70 (just cause for eviction protections) and Chapter 9.80 (anti-harassment protections). It is the third iteration of the policy and was introduced with first reading waived, meaning it will return for a second reading and final adoption at a future meeting.