Notes from my hometown:

With hundreds of East Palo Alto residents facing steep - and what city officials consider illegal - rent increases Feb. 1, the city council will hold a meeting Thursday to consider declaring a six-month rent freeze.

Such a move would temporarily thwart Page Mill Properties' attempt to recoup some of the money that could have been collected following the dot-com bust had rents been raised instead of lowered. If a freeze isn't enacted, rents for nearly half of the 1,600 units managed by the company in the city's west end will increase by 15 to 47 percent.

"I'm amazed at the rent increases," Mayor Patricia Foster said. "I think it's outrageous. There are families involved and people with disabilities. We need to safeguard our tenants."

Freezing rents is only a temporary solution that cannot halt gentrification in East Palo Alto. When the council gave the go ahead for the construction of IKEA, etc. years ago they knew rent increases were part of the equation and now they want to talk about "safeguarding." East Palo Alto was once an affordable place to live. When the city was incorporated in 1983, there was an ordinance designed to control rent and to protect tenant rights. Page Mill properties was able to go around this ordinance not only because they are tricksters, but because the East Palo Alto City Council sold out the city long ago when they allowed the demolition of apartment complexes, gave priority to capital over its community members and tried to put a positive spin on gentrification. Back in the early 1990s when we were the national murder capital, no one came to East Palo Alto--except to buy their drugs, drop off their toxic waste and to make it to the other side of town. The city no one wanted is now the city folks cannot get enough of.

If you are in East Palo Alto, near East Palo Alto, etc. the East Palo Alto City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers, 2415 University Ave. Be there.

More info:

• Complex May be Razed After All
• East PA tenants to protest 18-25% increases in rents
• Skyrocketing Rents Cause Outrage in East Palo Alto
• CalPERS backs Page Mill plan: Skeptics watch East Palo Alto initiative
• Rent increases hit East Palo Alto tenants hard

I will report back with more information after the meeting tomorrow night.