Cali passes statewide rent-control law
When Rahm Emanuel was Barack Obama's chief of staff he said “Never let a serious crisis go to waste. It gives you an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before.”
If you've been off-planet for the last year you may not know that tens of thousands of druggies are sleeping in permanent tents on the sidewalks of west-coast cities (San Fran, LA, Portland, Seattle). So-called "progressives" claim the main cause of this "homeless crisis" is that housing in these Democrat-ruled cities is too expensive. And of course all the residents agree that housing IS too expensive. They just don't know why.
The politicians claim they DO know why: it's pure greed, comrade. Not at all due to supply and demand. So they claim the best way to address the problem of costly housing is...wait for it...to pass laws limiting how much landlords can rent houses and apartments for. That's called "rent control."
Cali cities have had rent control laws for years. Just a year ago, California voters voted on a statewide "ballot initiative" that would have extended rent control statewide.
Voters rejected it, by an almost 20-point margin. Every county in the state except for San Francisco voted it down.
Even the Democrat who was then running for governor, Gavin Newsom, indicated his opposition to the initiative. But now that he's in office Newsome has changed his position, insisting the state must respond to the homeless problem.
Never let a good crisis go to waste, eh?
Last week we learned of at least one of the actions the governor plans to take. Newsom signed a statewide rent-control law, overturning the will of the people. He followed the progressive playbook by using the homeless crisis “to do things that you could not do before.”
The new law also bars landlords from evicting tenants without what the rulers decide is "good reason," and forces landlords to pay tenants if they are evicted due to renovation.
What liberal politicians refuse to recognize is that the main cause of most homelessness is mental illness and drug abuse. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 45 percent of homeless people are mentally ill. The University of Pennsylvania found that about half suffer from alcohol or drug dependence.
Not surprisingly, drug users and the mentally ill have a hard time keeping a job, so only 18 percent of the homeless are employed. That means that for most, the cost of housing isn't relevant: They simply can't afford housing in large, trendy cities.
Politicians ruling on rent has been a proven failure in reducing housing costs. It deters people from investing their money and time in rental housing. And as always, the laws of supply and demand prevail.
But hey, "Never let a good crisis go to waste," eh?
If you've been off-planet for the last year you may not know that tens of thousands of druggies are sleeping in permanent tents on the sidewalks of west-coast cities (San Fran, LA, Portland, Seattle). So-called "progressives" claim the main cause of this "homeless crisis" is that housing in these Democrat-ruled cities is too expensive. And of course all the residents agree that housing IS too expensive. They just don't know why.
The politicians claim they DO know why: it's pure greed, comrade. Not at all due to supply and demand. So they claim the best way to address the problem of costly housing is...wait for it...to pass laws limiting how much landlords can rent houses and apartments for. That's called "rent control."
Cali cities have had rent control laws for years. Just a year ago, California voters voted on a statewide "ballot initiative" that would have extended rent control statewide.
Voters rejected it, by an almost 20-point margin. Every county in the state except for San Francisco voted it down.
Even the Democrat who was then running for governor, Gavin Newsom, indicated his opposition to the initiative. But now that he's in office Newsome has changed his position, insisting the state must respond to the homeless problem.
Never let a good crisis go to waste, eh?
Last week we learned of at least one of the actions the governor plans to take. Newsom signed a statewide rent-control law, overturning the will of the people. He followed the progressive playbook by using the homeless crisis “to do things that you could not do before.”
The new law also bars landlords from evicting tenants without what the rulers decide is "good reason," and forces landlords to pay tenants if they are evicted due to renovation.
What liberal politicians refuse to recognize is that the main cause of most homelessness is mental illness and drug abuse. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 45 percent of homeless people are mentally ill. The University of Pennsylvania found that about half suffer from alcohol or drug dependence.
Not surprisingly, drug users and the mentally ill have a hard time keeping a job, so only 18 percent of the homeless are employed. That means that for most, the cost of housing isn't relevant: They simply can't afford housing in large, trendy cities.
Politicians ruling on rent has been a proven failure in reducing housing costs. It deters people from investing their money and time in rental housing. And as always, the laws of supply and demand prevail.
But hey, "Never let a good crisis go to waste," eh?
posted by SF at
10:17 AM
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