By Tommi Avicolli Mecca
April 17, 2008
By now you know that Prop 98 is on the ballot on June 3. It will wipe out all rent control in California. It will probably destroy all tenant protections as well. It will cause unbelievable suffering and displacement.
We can win this one. But the next 6 weeks are crucial. We need help with lit drops, tabling, phonebanking, etc. Please volunteer. Let me know if you can help and what times are good for you. Every day there is work to be done to defeat this evil measure. Get involved!
In the meantime, enjoy a little fun song about 98 from the peaceniks…and feel free to send around the link to others or post it on your websites.
The Hunger Site
April 18, 2008 at 10:38 am
What is false about Prop 98 is that it will “wipe out rent control in CA”. What it WILL do is ‘phase out’ — not “wipe out” — rent control.
No existiung tenants will lose their Rent Control. And of course Eviction Control will be unaffected by Prop 98. As to whether any or all tenant protections will be affected, I think this is where the paranoia resides. Opponents would luv you to think so. Fear, whether real or imagined, is a proven campaign tactic; it doesn’t have much integrity; but it’s a proven winner.
What is true about Prop 99 is that it will not protect one single tenant, in San Francisco or anywhere.
Prop 99 protects only those PROPERTY OWNERS who reside ON their property, and only as long as that property is a single family dwelling (detached, or condo). Prop 99 won’t protect duplexes, apartment bldgs, farms, business, or … tenants. And private developers luv it. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows.
-P
April 17, 2008 at 9:32 am
Yes, we all need to be wary of 98 and vote NO, NO, NO! But we also need to vote yes on 99 and remind voters there is an alternative. It’s for those overly paranoid of eminent domain, which 99 will still address, without destroying rent control.
Tommi, email me, I’m already putting the word out and glad to help!
sdm