Mayor Darrell Steinberg
At the request of Mayor Darrell Steinberg, the Sacramento City Council is expected to discuss tenant protections, such as rent control and tenancy-termination restrictions, as well as ways to increase funding and streamline the permitting process for construction of affordable housing. CAA members are encouraged to attend the hearing, which is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 14.
In an editorial published by the Sacramento Bee, the mayor outlined a proposal he intends to present to the City Council. While lacking specifics, his general intent is to cap rent increases at 5 percent when vacancy rates are low; require owners to state a reason for terminating any tenancy; use sales tax revenue to fund construction of affordable housing; streamline the permitting process for new construction; and appoint a housing czar to provide oversight of these efforts.
The mayor hopes his proposal will ward off a rent control ballot measure that could impose rent control in the city of Sacramento. Proponents of the measure, which include the Service Employee International Union and Alliance of Californians for Community Engagement, must submit signatures by Sept. 4 to qualify for the March 2020 general election. They already missed the deadline for the November 2018 election.
The California Apartment Association opposes the ballot measure and formed the Citizens for Affordable Housing coalition to develop alternative solutions for tenant protections and to increase the supply of housing. In addition to rental owners, the coalition includes business groups, labor unions, community leaders, and renters.
In a response to the Bee editorial, a local union leader and the CEO of a business organization, both members of the Citizens for Affordable Housing coalition, voiced opposition to any form of rent control while supporting efforts to increase the supply affordable housing.
“Like the mayor, we have specific proposals that will provide greater tenant protections and more funding for affordable housing,” said Jim Lofgren, CAA senior vice president. “We look forward to the opportunity to share them with the City Council.”
CAA will keep members informed about the Sacramento City Council hearing expected on Aug. 14.
Related content:
- The mayor has a plan to fix Sacramento’s housing crisis. If this happens it could actually work (Sacramento Bee editorial, July 16)
- We need common-sense solutions to fix housing crisis, not rent control (Sacramento Bee Soapbox, July 17)