[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The Bakersfield Californian urges a no vote on Proposition 98 and a yeson Proposition 99, arguing that the first measure would lead to an "avalanche of lawsuits involving government, developers and landowners." The Californian also criticizes 98's abolition of rent control and potential to harm the environment.

Legislative Democrats are trying to be reasonable about how to increase revenues this year, with a myriad of proposals targeting strip clubs, six packsof beer, even plastic bags, the Los Angeles Times reports. If theRepublicans cannot accept these tiny bites, they should at least agreeto repeal the mortgage deducation for $1 million vacation homes.

Recalls have the tendency to be wasteful endeavors no matter what party is pushing them,the LA Times editorializes today. The Times supports Senate Pro Tem DonPerata's decision to stop pursuing the "dump Denham" effort, which mayhave served as a distraction during budget negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Bee reports that Denham will continue campaigning, even though support for the recall has been pulled. I guess when you're that unpopular, you can't take anything for granted.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Peter L. Stahl
Pete Rates the Propositions

Hey, voters!

The June primary is upon us. This ballot features two statewide propositions, both narrowing the government's ability to use its power of eminent domain to condemn and acquire private property. This is not a trivial issue. A ridiculous recent decision by the U. S. Supreme Court now allows governments to take private property, such as people's homes, for transfer to new, private owners, such as a Fortune 500 corporation, for no purpose other than increasing tax revenue. We must act to prevent this from happening in California.

Both Prop 98 and Prop 99 will curtail this new use of eminent domain. But while Prop 99 stops there, Prop 98 tracks on a sinister and gratuitous abolition of rent control. Obviously I don't think that's a good idea. Why? Read my ratings to find out. Then make up your own mind.

Proposition 98: Elimination of Rent Control – NO

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

My No on 98 Disclosure.

Governor Schwarzenegger has once again abandoned his radical friends on the right, and boy are they pissed. But, here's his remarks on Proposition 98, the constitutional amendment to end rent control, land use restrictions, and governmental regulation of the environment. Arnold opposes it mostly because it blocks him from building dams.

Schwarzenegger said he was opposing Proposition 98 in part because it might block the building of water projects crucial to farmers and residential users.

"Eminent domain is an issue worth addressing," Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement. "However Proposition 98 would undermine California's ability to improve our infrastructure, including our water delivery and storage." (SacBee 4/25/08)

Apparently the potential harm to tenants was a little lower down on his list. But with this Governor, you take what you can get.  He's opposed to Prop 98, and that's a good thing.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I do some web work for No on 98.

The ABC affiliate in SF did a story about one of the mobile home parks in San Rafael tripling rates after San Rafael's rent control ordinance was overturned. You can view the story here. Unsurprisingly, the landowner, Sam Zell's Equity Lifestyle immediately almost tripled the rents at the Contempo mobile home park. The decision itself is probably bad law as other courts have found rent control to be a valid exercise of a city's power, but that doesn't change the consequences for many of Contempo's residents.

If we Prop 98 passes, the advocates say, the old tenants will be grandfathered in. That's true, but only so long as they stay in the house.  In addition to permanent vacancy decontrol, Prop 98 eliminates much of the protections against evictions. So, landlords can just evict long-standing tenants and rent the unit at the higher market rents and poof there goes rent control for those renters. We can see how this traumatizes a community, just for the sake of a few landlords.

As I said Monday, June will be a low turnout election. We need to make sure the progressive voters turnout to save rent control and tenant protections.