READY TO VOTE?: PROPOSITION 10

Proposition 10, known as the Affordable Housing Act, allows local governments to create rent control policies on any type of rental housing. If passed, the proposition would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which, according to the LA Times, prevents cities from regulating rent. This gives the landlords complete control over how much they charge tenants.

In 1994, when the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act was passed, the goal was to encourage the development of more housing, resulting in a fall of rent costs. However, according to Yes on Proposition 10, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act incentivizes landlords to pressure long-term tenants who pay less than current market rates to move out in order to gain tenants who will pay more. They claim these vacancies cause rent to increase to prices that lower income renters cannot afford, thereby leading to the displacement and gentrification of working class communities.

On the other hand, No on Proposition 10 argues that the proposition does little to solve California’s current housing crisis and is inadequate in its attempt to replace the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Dissenters to the proposition believe it approaches the issue incorrectly and does not address affordable housing or homelessness.

“I want rent prices as low as possible, but Proposition 10 is not the best way to do that,” sophomore Will Brach said. “It perpetuates the problem by allowing cities to ramp up rates to flush out those who cannot afford the best of the best.”