Beware of Harmful Rent Control Rollback and Anti-Environment Measure on the California June Ballot

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Support True Eminent Domain Reform – The Homeowners Protection Act

By Larry Gross
Executive Director
Coalition for Economic Survival, Los Angeles County

Though we’ve still got to get through the February primary, progressives should be aware of two very important initiatives which just qualified for the June 2008 statewide election ballot. One is an outright attack on rent control, the environment and land-use planning and should be opposed by all progressives. The other will protect the homes of hardworking Californians from being taken by eminent domain and given to a developer. This measure deserves our strong support.

The dangerous measure, the California Property Owners and Farmland Protection Act, aka the “Hidden Agendas Scheme,” is being financed by wealthy apartment and mobilehome park owners attempting to trick voters into thinking the measure is about eminent domain. In truth, the landlords’ scheme is nothing but a thinly-veiled attempt to eliminate rent control and renter protections.

Working families, seniors, veterans, widows and other low-income individuals already struggle to survive in California because of the high cost of living. Rent control is an important tool to keep affordable housing available for these hardworking citizens in more expensive, urban communities. The scheming landlords funding this measure want to drive these people out of their homes so they can make themselves even richer by renting out the units at exorbitant costs.

But they face a formidable foe in the form of a strong and deep coalition of senior groups, affordable housing advocates, tenant advocates, labor, environmentalists and faith-based groups who have been working for months to organize to defeat of the Hidden Agendas Scheme. This coalition has held numerous high-profile, highly publicized rallies decrying the greedy landlords, and are organizing regionally and statewide to ensure every voter is aware of the Hidden Agendas behind the Landlords’ Scheme. You can track their progress and get involved in this effort at www.nolandlordscheme.com.

Eliminating rent control is not the only harmful impact of the Hidden Agendas Scheme that progressives should worry about. The measure would also gut environmental protections, including our landmark greenhouse gas reduction laws. Read an analysis from one of California’s leading environmental law firms. That’s why virtually every leading environmental organization has come out swinging against the Hidden Agendas Scheme.