After a two-month campaign, tenants-rights advocates have secured enough voter signatures to place a repeal of the controversial Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act on the statewide ballot in November. A product of the State Legislature and enacted in 1995, the law places strong limits on municipal rent control ordinances across the state.
With more than 588,000 gathered signatures, a coalition of renters, small landlords, labor organizers, faith-based organizations, and civil rights leaders held a series of rallies in cities across California last week and celebrated exceeding the 402,000 signatures required to qualify. Nearly 7,600 signatures came from Santa Barbara County voters in support of the initiative, dubbed the Affordable Housing Act. The petition signatures must be validated before the initiative can go to voters.
Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) policy associate Frank Rodriguez said CAUSE is “involved with the statewide campaign, having seen the importance of campaigns to protect tenants across California.” CAUSE is one of some 122 organizations that have endorsed the repeal effort. They’re in the company of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and State Senator Kevin de León, who share the view that municipalities should regain control over local housing policy.