California Proposition 98 Will Abolish Rent Control and Have Major Impact on Accessible and Affordable Housing for People with D

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Impacts mobile home parks
• 1 million households impacted by rent control
• Registration deadline is May 19 for the June 3 primary election

By Marty D. Omoto
Director/Organizer
California Disability Community Action Network

A little known initiative on the June 3 California primary election ballot would prohibit new rent control measures and eventually abolish existing rent controls in the State that advocates say will have a major impact on accessible and affordable housing for tens of thousands of low income people with disabilities, seniors, low income workers who provide supports and services, including those in communities of color. The ballot measure, Proposition 98 is titled "Eminent Domain: Limits on Government Authority" and would amend the State Constitution.

No statewide polls have been conducted measuring the support of two propositions on the June ballot - but extremely low voter turn-out could favor passage of Proposition 98.

If it passes, the measure would impact all areas in California currently under rent controls and prohibit any area from enacting any new rent controls, including rent controls in mobile home parks. The issue would impact persons under the federal housing programs, such as "Section 8" because in those areas where rent controls are in place, rents could increase and the control on that unit would end when tenants change, if Proposition 98 passes.

The independent and non-partisan Legislative Analyst says that about 1 million California households - which includes low income seniors, people with disabilities, low income workers who provide supports and services and others - live in housing or mobile home parks under some form of rent control, which Proposition 98 would abolish.

Some Opponents of Proposition 98 Backing Proposition 99

Some of the groups opposing Proposition 98 on the June 3rd ballot, have sponsored and support passage of Proposition 99 instead, which deals with the issue of local government taking owner occupied homes and transferring it to a private party or business. It makes no mention of rent control. If both ballot initiatives passed, a provision in Proposition 99 would prohibit Proposition 98 from taking effect if Proposition 99 received more votes.

Accessible and Affordable Housing Seen As Critical To Disability and Senior Rights