Pasadena residents accused petition signature gatherers of lying about a proposed charter amendment that would repeal the city's rent control law.

Residents and Vice Mayor Jess Rivas testified before the Legislative Policy Committee on Monday, Oct. 5, alleging that paid circulators for the Pasadena Fair Housing Charter Amendment misrepresented the measure while collecting signatures. Rivas said gatherers told her things she believed were "at best inaccurate or misleading and at worst outright lies." Pasadena Now first reported on the committee testimony.

The petition targets Measure H, the rent control and just-cause eviction law Pasadena voters approved in November 2022 with 53.8% of the vote. Measure H established the Pasadena Rental Housing Board with seven tenant members and four at-large members. The proposed amendment would replace that board with one split equally between tenants and landlords, plus one at-large member who is neither.

A District 3 resident told the committee that on Aug. 7, outside a Target store, a signature gatherer said the measure would make her rent go down and prevent future increases. The paper above the petition's signature lines, she said, stated it would repeal and replace Measure H.

Ryan Bell, a proponent of the original Measure H, said when he encountered a gatherer, the man told him the petition was for rent control and would make it stronger. Bell said the petition's text was folded under so only the signature lines showed.

Gibbons pushed back.

Simon Gibbons, representing Pasadena Housing Providers, the group behind the petition, said the organization met regularly with its workers to ensure accurate messaging. He called the measure "purely about getting a balanced, fair board" and said the group went to the ballot after years of trying to work with the city and the Rental Housing Board.

"I'm surprised to hear criminal claims being made when we are working very hard with the city to do the right thing and to give the people of Pasadena an opportunity to vote," Gibbons told the committee.

Gibbons said the group turned in 29,000 signatures and expects about 19,000 to be valid. The petition needs 13,700 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

City Clerk Mark Jomsky said Los Angeles County election officials have until Oct. 22 to verify whether the petition has enough valid signatures. If it qualifies, the measure would appear on the March 2028 ballot. Jomsky said his office has no role in enforcing election law regarding circulator misconduct.

A representative of the city attorney's office told the committee that residents who believe circulators broke the law should file complaints with the Pasadena Police Department. Police would investigate and forward a recommendation to the city attorney's office on whether to prosecute. Under California Elections Code Section 18600, intentionally misrepresenting the contents or effect of a petition is a misdemeanor, but the representative said intent must be proven.

The District 3 resident said she had emailed the city clerk's office and a state agency after her encounter in August and heard back from neither. She said it was "a little frustrating" to learn that the right course had been to contact police all along.

Councilmember Gene Masuda said he had received emails on the issue. Jomsky said he will bring the county's verification results to the full City Council.