ST. PETERSBURG -- St. Petersburg City Council members are working on giving voters a chance to have their say on rent control.
The council voted 4-3 Thursday to work on drafting an ordinance that could go to the voters this fall. Members heard from supporters of a rent control rule, some of whom spent the night camped at City Hall before Thursday morning's meeting. Some spoke of themselves or friends living in motels or being forced to leave the city. "We want to put a roof over our heads without having to go into debt or become homeless," one speaker said. "Let us vote."
Councilman Ed Montanari, one of three no votes, said the council is "reckless" for not having enough data to back the ordinance. Last week, Tampa's city council voted to advance a rent control measure last week. State law generally prohibits rent control but some have argued that there's an out for emergency situations, such as the price-gouging that is illegal before or after a hurricane.
Meanwhile, in Tampa, protesters marched outside City Hall to support that city's rent control drive.
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