This election, Prop 10 (The Affordable Housing Act) offers a major opportunity to strengthen rent control – one of the biggest safe guards to keep working-class, people of color housed in Oakland. Rent control is a critical tool used by cities to push back against displacement, and to stabilize housing markets.
If passed, Prop 10 would allow cities and counties to apply rent control to more types of housing by removing the barrier that was created by landlords and conservative forces through the Costa-Hawkins Rental Act (1995). This is voters’ chance to give their local government permission to apply rent control to:
- newly constructed apartment units (built in 1996 or later);
- single family dwellings; and
- condos.
Repealing Costa-Hawkins also means that we could restrict landlords’ ability to raise the rent as much as they desire when a unit becomes vacant. This is crucial because while Oakland’s average rent has more than doubled in the last decade, salaries have stagnated for working-class residents.
Lack of affordable housing and housing instability are driving neighbors out of their homes and out of our communities or onto the streets. Our extreme housing crisis is even reaping international attention as Oakland leaders’ response (or lack of) to homelessness was even described as “cruel” by a United Nations envoy.
YES on Prop 10 is a vote for housing stability, especially for our most vulnerable community members. Don’t be fooled by opposition ads – these are largely funded by predatory and corporate landlords. Passing Prop 10 will open a critical door to keep more people in their homes and communities.
Additional Resources:
Vote yes on Prop. 10 — allowing local rent control is a matter of racial justice by Muffie Fulton published in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Yes! on Prop 10 campaign website
Oakland Rising and our collaborative partners are united in our vision for a city that embodies health, happiness, safety, and equal opportunities for all. Our goal is to create a model of progress and sustainability that showcases the possibilities for American cities in the 21st century. We are committed to dismantling the barriers of racial, economic, political, environmental, and educational inequities that have divided us, and instead, embracing the collective strength found in our city’s diversity. We firmly believe that Oakland can achieve its full potential when every resident, student, and bus rider has the ability to shape our city’s future. This vision is attainable and we are determined to realize it through our collective actions, whether it’s through voting, meetings, or call to actions.
Every year, we release a Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform (VIPP) which outlines the annual policies that we and our eight partner organizations prioritize in order to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in the Town. Our collaborative’s agenda encompasses a range of critical initiatives, from expanding affordable housing to creating a more equitable democracy through campaign finance reforms. These priorities are designed to provide vital protections and innovative solutions for the most vulnerable members of our community. As we continue our efforts to promote these policies, we hold conversations with thousands of voters, lead and co-host impactful town hall meetings, educate and mobilize residents and voters, and undertake various other initiatives.
To gain a deeper understanding of our commitment to resist, protect, and advance in this political moment, we invite you to explore our 2023 Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform. Together, we are making strides towards a more equitable and just Oakland, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of change, one vote, one meeting, one march at a time.
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