Vote No on Prop 33

Vote No on Prop 33- why rent control is not the solution California needs

As Californians, we all recognize the urgent need for affordable housing and the frustration many renters face in today’s market. However, Prop 33—California’s latest attempt to impose rent control—is not the right solution. While it may sound appealing on the surface, rent control policies often do more harm than good in the long run. Voting “No” on Prop 33 is crucial to protecting our housing market and ensuring a healthier future for all Californians.

The Problem with Rent Control

Rent control may appear to be a quick fix for rising rents, but in reality, it’s a band-aid solution that exacerbates the housing crisis over time. Here’s why Prop 33 is a bad idea:

1. Decreased Housing Supply One of the most significant consequences of rent control is that it discourages developers from building new housing. When rental income is capped, there is less incentive to invest in new apartment buildings or multifamily housing units. As a result, Prop 33 would shrink the already limited supply of available rental units, further driving up costs.
2. Property Maintenance Declines Rent control often leads to a decline in property upkeep. When landlords cannot increase rents to match rising costs, they are less likely to invest in repairs, maintenance, and upgrades. Over time, buildings deteriorate, and tenants are left with substandard living conditions. Prop 33 would likely result in a backlog of deferred maintenance, harming both renters and property owners.
3. Unintended Beneficiaries While rent control is designed to help low-income renters, it often benefits those who don’t need assistance. People in higher income brackets who secure rent-controlled apartments often hold onto them, further limiting available housing for those who truly need affordable options. Prop 33 could have the unintended effect of making it harder for those in need to find housing.
4. Economic Impact on Small Landlords Many property owners in California are not large corporations but small, independent landlords who rely on rental income to support their families. Prop 33 would disproportionately hurt these small landlords by limiting their ability to adjust rents to meet rising maintenance costs, property taxes, and inflation. This could drive them out of the market entirely, reducing competition and leading to even higher prices in the future.
5. Long-Term Damage to Neighborhoods Rent control can stagnate neighborhoods by reducing turnover and discouraging mobility. When people are incentivized to stay in one place because of artificially low rent, it hinders the natural flow of new residents and limits opportunities for others to find affordable housing. This can stifle neighborhood revitalization efforts and result in a lack of diversity in communities.

Why Prop 33 Isn’t the Solution

The root cause of California’s housing crisis is not rent prices themselves but rather a severe lack of housing supply. Prop 33 does nothing to address this fundamental issue. Instead of artificially capping rent, we need to focus on increasing the housing stock by encouraging new development, streamlining building regulations, and promoting policies that incentivize both affordable and market-rate housing construction.

Real Solutions for Housing Affordability

Instead of rent control, California should pursue policies that create long-term solutions to the housing crisis, such as:

• Increasing Housing Supply: We need more housing across all price ranges. By streamlining regulations and reducing the costs associated with building new housing, we can increase the supply of homes available to renters.
• Encouraging Development: Offering incentives to developers who build affordable housing can help close the gap between supply and demand. By making it easier to build, we can ensure more people have access to housing.
• Targeted Assistance: Providing direct rental assistance or housing vouchers to low-income tenants is a more effective way to address affordability without the unintended consequences of rent control.

Vote No on Prop 33

Prop 33 may be well-intentioned, but it’s not the answer to California’s housing crisis. If we want real, lasting solutions, we must focus on increasing the housing supply and creating policies that encourage responsible development. Let’s not make the mistake of turning to rent control again—let’s invest in policies that will create a better future for all Californians.

This November, vote NO on Prop 33 to ensure that California moves toward sustainable and effective housing solutions. Rent control isn’t the answer, but together, we can work toward real change.