Susana Almanza will challenge brother Pio Renteria for Council again

Longtime activist Susana Almanza will once again face her brother, Council Member Pio Renteria, in a bid for City Council. Renteria won his current position four years ago when he triumphed over Almanza in a runoff election with 60 percent of the vote. The siblings’ main disagreement is over how to address housing affordability. Renteria is an outspoken advocate for increasing housing stock and more multifamily housing, while Almanza has been a longtime opponent of increased density on the east side, which she says leads to gentrification, increased housing costs and displacement of longtime residents. Almanza is one of five candidates who have declared for District 3. The others are Renteria, James Valadez, Jessica Cohen and the most recent entrant to the race, Justin Jacobson.