Rent control repeal is on the California state ballot on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. It is disguised as eminent domain reform (Prop. 98). It is actually a measure to repeal rent control throughout California. It is primarily being funded by big landlords. (Click here for article about the backers of 98).

Prop. 98 would repeal all rent control in every place in California where such laws exist. There are over a dozen cities with it, as well as mobile parks where tenants are covered.

Tenant protections, such as just cause and eviction relocation funds, would also be wiped out.

No municipality in the state would be allowed to ever have rent control protections again.

Though backers claim that Prop. 98 won't immediately wipe out rent control from units with it (apartments will only lose rent control after the current occupant leaves, they claim), the reality is that if just cause is gone, landlords can evict longterm tenants with just a 60-day notice.

Even if just cause isn't eliminated, landlords will have incredible incentive to evict tenants by any means neccesary. As during the dot-com boom here in San Francisco, thousands of evictions will happen soon after it passes.

Landlords will buy out, harrass, intimidate or otherwise find excuses to put people out of their longterm homes. Have no doubt about it, despite any grandfathering clause in 98, untold numbers of tenants will find themselves pushed out of their rent-controlled apartments so that landlords can raise rents and eliminte rent control on their buildings.

Fortunately, Prop. 99 is also on the ballot. The measure, put on by pro-tenant activists and others, reforms eminent domain without repealing rent control. Vote yes on 99.

It's simple to remember: We all hate that 98 but 99 is fine.

You can join the fight against 98. Contact:

Save Rent Control Committee
SF Tenants Union
558 Capp
SF CA 94110
415-282-5525

No on 98/Yes on 99
1121 L St., Suite 803
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-443-0872