HollisterFreelance.com | Proposition's ban on rent control goes too far

Proposition's ban on rent control goes too far

May 20, 2008
By The Free Lance Editorial Board

1. Rights advocates wrong to target rent control
Proposition 98 once again stretches the property rights mantra too far in this statewide ballot question intended to use the often polarizing eminent domain issue and use it to also enact a statewide ban against rent control.

Maintaining strong property rights is a cornerstone to the success of a democratic culture. Eminent domain, while an essential tool in some cases, has been abused in the past and in no way should be used to take someone's property and hand it over to another private party - as the U.S. Supreme Court's ill-reasoned 2005 ruling appears to allow.

2. Protecting citizens from injustice is important
It's important to protect citizens from such injustice, but intertwining a ban against local municipalities' rent control laws attempts to trip up voters and should, ultimately, lead to the measure falling flat.

The proposition appears to strengthen the general citizenry's ability to keep their property. It says governments cannot take property and then turn it over for a private use, while adding the portion about rent control laws being abolished.

Eminent domain, meanwhile, serves an important and necessary purpose. Here in San Benito County, the long-awaited Highway 25 bypass under construction now - and expected to ease traffic in downtown Hollister - involved the eminent domain process and negotiations that come with it.

Proposition 99 on the same ballot, meanwhile, essentially takes the contrasting view and says none of proposition 98 can be legal.

3. Oppose Prop. 98, support 99
The concern for citizens' property rights is heeded in strong principles, but targeting local rent control laws that are suited to individual communities' needs and demographics would stand to once again handcuff local governments, hurt low-income families and further degrade a housing industry during this long-standing foreclosure crisis.

As many statewide propositions have become, this one is a no-brainer: Oppose Proposition 98 and support Proposition 99.

The Free Lance Editorial Board
The Free Lance Editorial Board is made up of Publisher Steve Staloch; Editor Kollin Kosmicki; Columnist Marty Richman; and members at large Frankie Arballo, Jae Eade, Louise Ledesma and Richard Place. Opinions of the board are not necessarily unanimous.