California Voters to Consider Elimination of Rent Control

This June 3rd, California Voters will be asked to consider Ballot Proposition 98, which regulates the use of eminent domain in California and would gradually eliminate all current rent control measures in California municipalities, while prohibiting the enaction of new rent control laws.

Under Proposition 98, any rent control measure enacted after January 1, 2007 would end. Other rent control measures (those enacted before January 1, 2007) would be phased out on a unit-by-unit basis after an apartment unit or mobile home park space is vacated. Once a tenant left an apartment or mobile home space, property owners could charge market rate rents, and that apartment unit or mobile home space would not be subject to rent control again. 

The approximately 1.2 million Californians, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and low income families living in rent-controlled units. Other tenant protections are often included in rent-control laws, which opponents of Proposition 98 say are necessary and would also be eliminated by  Proposition 98. These include laws ensuring the fair return of security deposits and prohibiting unfair evictions. According to the California Disability Community Action Network, opponents of the measure include The measure is opposed by many advocacy groups including AARP, League of Women Voters of California, League of California Homeowners, California Disability Community Action Network, California Police Chiefs Association and others.

A competing measure, Proposition 99, will also be on the California ballot. Proposition 99 is also intended to limit the use of eminent domain, but would not impact rent controls. Opponents of Proposition 99 say that it does not go far enough and would still allow most uses of eminent domain which are prohibited by Proposition 98. 

Proponents of Proposition 99 and Proposition 99 have fought bitterly throughout the process of both measures' introduction. A  complaint filed in early April accuses pro-Proposition 99 organizations of "laundering campaign money, failing to disclose the identity of donors and illegally tapping into taxpayer funds." Jon Coupal, a leader in the pro-Prop 98 campaign, told a newspaper reporter, "We suspect, and have some evidence to support it, that a major developer wants to defeat our measure (Proposition 98) but doesn't want his fingerprints on it, so he's given money to the league under some pretense or another for use in the campaign." 

What do you think? Are you a Californian with a disability who lives in rent-controlled housing? Will this impact you? Californian Disaboomers, which proposition will you vote for on June 3rd (if either?) Disaboomers at large, do you support or oppose rent control? Leave a comment, or speak your mind in Discussions!