Measure B posts strong showing

A Cathedral City ballot initiative that would phase out most short-term rentals during the next two years appears headed for victory.

Measure B, the only item on the city’s ballot Tuesday, was leading 4,465 to 2,457, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.

All of the city’s 13 precincts were accounted for, with a total of 6,922 votes cast. There are approximately 26,200 registered voters in Cathedral City.

Reportedly, some vote-by-mail and provisional ballots were still to be counted.

If passed, Measure B will leave in place an ordinance passed by the city council in September, which included a phase-out clause. If rejected, Cathedral City would revert to an old set of regulations regarding short-term rentals.

Supporters of the initiative say short-term rentals cause noise, traffic and other problems.