More Than Prop 10: Local Tenant Measures to Watch on Tuesday
An enormous amount of press has focused on Tuesday’s Proposition 10, and with good reason: the measure seeks to topple a horrible state law (Costa-Hawkins) and restore power to cities to expand their local rent control laws. Lost in the coverage, however, are crucial local rent control measures that will have a long-term impact on the tenant rights movement in California.
With or without Prop. 10, there are over 450 California cities that could pass rent control immediately, and others that could significantly strengthen their existing local rent control laws. As more do, the momentum for repeal of Costa-Hawkins and the Ellis Act, passage of strong state tenant protection laws, and the election of pro-tenant politicians will only grow. This is why tenant rights advocates will have our eyes on the following races on Election Day, even as we work to pass Prop. 10.
Santa Cruz
Measure M in Santa Cruz would bring rent control to Santa Cruz. The measure was placed on the ballot by citizen signatures. Landlords and realtors have outspent supporters by a whopping 10:1, but tenants are mounting a strong coalition campaign to rebut the industry lies in an effort to win on Election Day.
Alameda
Measure K would tie the hands of the Alameda City Council and lock in Alameda’s currently weak rent mediation program. The landlord campaign is fraudulent, framing Measure K as a tenant protection measure, when it is the opposite. Landlords have figured out what every poll shows: voters like rent control, so they are disguising their attack on rent control as a pro-rent control measure. If landlords prevail with this tactic, look for the California Apartment Association to repeat it in cities across the state. If the Alameda Renters Coalition and allies can defeat Measure K despite being wildly outspent, this will mark a significant win for CA tenants.
National City
Signatures placed Measure W on the ballot in National City where renters are a strong majority (an estimated 68%) of residents. The measure would establish rent control in National City. A lawsuit to block Measure W from appearing on the ballot failed, so the rent control law goes to voters this Tuesday. If it passes, it would be the first rent control law ever to pass in San Diego County.
Oakland
Oakland voters will get to decide on Measure Y, a ballot measure that would apply “just-cause” protections against baseless evictions to owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes, which are currently exempt from the eviction protections of the local ordinance. This would plug up one of the most exploited loopholes in Oakland’s rent control regime, and bring added security to thousands of renters citywide.
Beyond 2018
Beyond this election cycle, we expect many 2020 ballot measures for local rent control. Some of those campaigns are already taking shape. Notably, the rising Housing 4 Sacramento coalition has already qualified its rent control ballot measure for the 2020 ballot in the city of Sacramento. In addition, the struggle for tenants’ rights is playing out at local city councils across the state.
These local battles, and the grassroots tenant organizations that drive them, are the cornerstone of California’s long-term power building for housing justice. Though constantly outfunded by millions of dollars of real-estate industry money, tenant groups are a formidable and growing force in California politics. Tenants Together supports and connects these local tenant groups in a statewide movement for renters’ rights. For more information, and to get involved in your community, visit Tenants Together & the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project’s newly launched website, which tracks local ordinances and campaigns.
