SAN DIEGO – Proposition 21 poses a philosophical question. In these hard times, do we vote to assure that renters will be able to remain in their homes, or do we, in the name of unrestricted capitalism, permit landlords to raise rents so high that their tenants are forced to find cheaper apartments, or in some cases, to become homeless?
If the Jewish concepts of rachmanis, tzedakah, and tikkun olam mean anything to us – if we honestly believe they frame the moral code we are to live by – then we should vote for Proposition 21 which allows cities and counties to apply rent control to apartment buildings that are more than 15 years old. Currently, apartment buildings constructed before 1995 are exempted from rent control. Additionally, the proposition would preclude a landlord from charging a tenant more than 15 percent higher rent than the previous tenant.
The measure applies only to apartment complexes, not to single family residences. It reiterates current state law that landlords are entitled to receive a fair rate of return – that is enough in rents to make a profit on the building year after year.
A panoply of organizations and individuals have weighed in for and against the measure. In the official ballot pamphlet, those who are in support include Dolores Huerta, president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation; Kevin de Leon, former President pro tempore of the State Senate; Cynthia Davis, board chair of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation; David Campos, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party; Ernie Powell of Social Security Works; and Jamie Court, president of Consumer watchdog.
Opponents include Alice Huffman, president of the California State Conference of the NAACP; Marilyn Markham; Board Member of the California Senior Advocates League; Robert Gutierrez, president of the California Taxpayers Association; Edward J. Grimsley, State Commander of the American Legion, Department of California; Lorraine J. Place, 3rd Vice Commander AMVETS, Department of California, and Patrick Sabelhaus, executive director of the California Council for Affordable Housing.
Our belief is that we should help people who are less fortunate than ourselves. In this time of pandemic, when people have suffered losses of income because of businesses being closed, increasing rents to unaffordable levels is simply unconscionable. We urge a vote for the little guy.
We urge a “Yes” vote on Proposition 21.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
The information in the column above is factually incorrect. Prop 21 applies to ALL single family homes held in trust, estates or partnerships. That represents about 40 percent of the homes in California. It also applies to your single family home if you own more than 2 homes. In addition, the column fails to note that the independent, nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst’s Office says Prop 21 will result in a decline in property values. It will also cost governments in the “high tens of millions” of dollars. Please read this radical measure carefully. It will worsen California’s housing crisis and hurt the “little guy.”
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I am surprised you support rent controls. They really do limit house building which makes the shortage worse and distorts allocation of existing rental properties. — Lawrence Krause