The Rent Control Battles of 2008 -- They're On!
Rafael Mandelman, Tommi Avicolli Mecca, Supervisor Chris Daly, Debra Walker, Senator Carole Migden, Ted Gullickson, Robert Haaland and a host of others rallied on Friday to preserve rent control.
This entry is solely about rent control in San Francisco and the state of California -- you've been warned. See you after the jump.
Well, we just had a busy weekend on the rent control front. First up is the recent news conference on the steps of City Hall for Senate Bill 1299, a proposed law that would maintain the stock of rent controlled apartments by requiring the replacement of demolished units. With the way things are now, an earthquake "could destroy rent control in San Francisco". Read the news and turn the pages.
But that proposed law won't matter much if Proposition 98 passes come June. It would eliminate rent control statewide. There's also a competing measure, Prop 99, that would save rent control statewide. It's all a little complicated. But even at this early date, forces are marshalling already. The coming fight will make the Battle of Helm's Deep seem like a garden party. What you need to remember is that this all goes down on June 3.
We've been feuding over rent control in San Francisco since the days of Harvey Milk and Dan White. (Of these two former San Francisco Supervisors, can you guess who was for rent control and who was against? Sure you can.) But regardless if you love it or hate it, you've got to admit residential rent control has a big impact on our lives.
So, whether you're a landlord or you're Andy Wright, who needs RC to continue living in a unit built out of crackers and peanut butter, see you on election day.
Choose wisely.