Last Thursday evening, the Santa Monica Rent Control Board (RCB) met to conduct its monthly business, but it was no ordinary meeting. That night, members of the community came out to thank Tracy Condon for an incredible 37-year career at the agency. She has served as Executive Director of the RCB since 2007.

“No matter the many challenging situations you’ve faced – and there have been many – and no matter the many different personalities you’ve had to manage, and no matter the many demands that are made of you, you have consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to keep calm and carry on,” said Dan Costello, the agency’s Public Information Manager. “You are a great leader, and you have earned the respect of everyone. There’s nothing better than working with someone who is as smart, as steadfast, and sincere as Tracy is,” he added.

City Councilmember Caroline Torosis, who served as a Rent Board Commissioner from 2016 until her election to the city council in 2022, said, “I would not be where I am today without Tracy. When I got elected to the Rent Control Board I said that this is the honor and pleasure of my entire life. And it wouldn’t have been that way if it weren’t for Tracy and the way that she manages the commissioners, the staff.” She added, “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so smart. Tracy knows the answer to every single question.”

Torosis also complimented Tracy for the passion she has shown her and she gives to the work, as well as for the patience she shows to the Commissioners and people she works with.

Citing the number of cities that have adopted some form of rent control or stabilization since Tracy joined the agency – now more than 30 according to an audience member – Torosis said “It’s Tracy that’s kind of been the ‘Mother of Rent Control’ in the State of California because every jurisdiction – when they have a question – they call us to say ‘what has Santa Monica been doing?’”

Denny Zane, the Co-Founder and current Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renter’s Rights (SMRR), and a former mayor, was also on hand and eloquent in his remarks. He said that he was there to thank Condon on behalf of four groups of people, the first being the huge numbers that have lived in rent-controlled apartments during her long tenure, “For whom you provided that essential certainty that makes a good life possible.” The second group is one of about 7,000 who still live in units before vacancy decontrol took effect in 1999, where a vacated unit moves to market rate for the next tenant but then is re-controlled at that new rent. Thanks to Tracy and the RCB, those folks have been able to live a quarter century in their units and age in place.

Zane also thanked Condon on behalf of SMRR, “Whose leaders, both current and past, have relied upon you to translate our political efforts into a real system that works for the people.”

Finally, he thanked her personally and put the weight of her work and that of the 45 years of work SMRR and Rent Control Board have done in a historical context. “This city really has a life of about 130 years…We’re approaching a third of the city’s history. We then, and you now, have probably been the most consequential leaders in the history of this city.”

Genise Schnitman was next, asking Tracy’s indulgence to stand and turn around. “So now we can see that it’s true, not all heroes wear capes,” which drew applause and laughter. “Some of them just wear professional office wear and they come to work every day, and they serve the public with unbelievable intelligence, grace, dedication, diligence, creativity, passion, equanimity, devotion – all the great words people put into retirement commendations – you could be the person in the dictionary for them.”

Commendations and certificates were also presented by staff members representing State Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the only renter among the L.A. Board of Supervisors. Congressmember Ted Lieu also sent in a proclamation.

Then it was time for words from the current commissioners serving on the RCB. Commissioner Danny Ivanov said, “I knew you weren’t just there for me as a professional connection or network, but a personal friend as well. And you could tell that it was genuine, so I just want to say thank you for that.”

Commissioner Lonnie Guinn, who before retirement served on the RCB staff, started with light assurance to incoming Executive Director Jonathan Holub that he was confident that in some future decade, the community would be signing his praises as well. He then grew a little emotional turning his attention to Condon. “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you. It was almost exactly 12 years ago today that you changed my life.” He later added, “After meeting you just one time, the first time ever in that interview for the position, and then talking to other people in the city, I knew you were a person that I wanted to work for. And it didn’t take long for me to realize that we weren’t going to have a typical boss-employee relationship. We became a partnership. I never felt like your subordinate.”

He then talked about his effort to make sure Condon would be supportive of his applying for an appointment to the Board upon Torosis’s ascent to the city council, as he would now be going from an assistant to her to someone supervising her as a commissioner.

Recognizing Guinn as a tough act to follow, Vice Chair Kurt Gonska said, “Beyond all of the professional things you’ve done, at such a high level, you are an exceptional person. And I think everyone that’s worked with you has witnessed that first hand.” Like other speakers, Gonska echoed that Condon has also helped him grow personally.

“You’ve taught me what public service is,” said Anastasia Foster, the longest-serving commissioner on the current Board. “We are spoiled rotten. We are never going to experience again a leader who has taught us what it means to serve, who has taught us to hone the rough edges off of our understanding of government and what it means.”

Foster shared that when she speaks with friends and other Santa Monicans not involved with local government, she talks to them about Condon, what she’s taught her, and what their job is at the RCB.

“I think that stands out for us as a Board member, is you take us armchair quarterbacks – us Monday morning quarterbacks that have other jobs, other responsibilities – and you make us better.”

Board Chair Ericka Lesley said, “I’ve never seen anyone so calm with the knowledge you exude. It’s in your bloodstream.” But Lesley then issued Condon a challenge, saying, “I need you to work as hard as you did for this agency for yourself, and take time to have fun, and enjoy life, and breathe.”

It was now Condon’s turn. She talked about the honor it has been for her to serve for so long and at the top of the agency. She complimented rent board commissioners past and present, saying, “I’ve had the honor of working with so many great Rent Control Board members who are so committed to serving the public – doing the political aspect of things. I’m not a politician, I’m an administrator. I found the right fit for me in terms of where I could serve the public.” She continued, “To do it at the local level, and see the impact it has on people’s lives, is really a privilege.”

She was also complimentary of local activists. “Without SMRR, there would be no rent control law. There would have been no opportunity for me, so thank you [to] those forward-thinking – it was a coalition of older people and younger people, and labor – it really took everybody to pass the rent control law.”

As for her staff, she said, “I would be nothing without the team of people that we worked with.” Adding, “It has been my great honor to lead them for the past 17 years. I learned so much from all of them, and I knew I could depend on them to do what needed to be done.”

She closed reminding folks that she is a resident of Santa Monica, and will continue to watch rent board and city council meetings with interest. “I’m not going anywhere, I’ll still be here, and you’ll see me.”

Photo from Rent Control Board City Website

Disclosures: The author served as a Rent Control Board Commissioner from 2010-2018. Commissioner Anastasia Foster was an early supporter of Westside Voice.