California’s rental housing providers are again under attack by a well-known and controversial adversary, Michael Weinstein, the President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Called the “Justice for Renters Act,” this proposed, November 2024 statewide ballot initiative would eliminate the protections rental housing providers have today under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. The proposed initiative gives full control over rent control regulations to local governments, and if this proposed initiative passes, the result will be disastrous. If passed, local jurisdictions could (and many will) impose price (rent) controls on vacancies when rental units turnover (“vacancy control”) and could also impose rent control on single-family homes and condominiums and on newly constructed buildings (or buildings constructed after passage of a local rent stabilization ordinance). The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles is working to organize a strong opposition to this latest attack on our livelihoods and retirement income, but it will take money, lots of money.

The So-Called “Justice for Renters“ Act Will be on the November 2024 Ballot

A rent control proposition called the “Justice for Renters Act” will be on the November 5, 2024, ballot. The ballot proposition is sponsored by the same anti-rental housing coalition that sponsored the two previous measures that were defeated, Proposition 10 in 2018 and Proposition 21 in 2020. Now, rental housing providers must defeat this third attack bankrolled by Michael Weinstein, the President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and an avowed anti-housing activist, and his minions.

• The proposed ballot measure would expand the local government’s authority to enact rent control on all types of residential rental property, including newly constructed property, single-family homes, condominiums, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Moreover, the passage of the ballot initiative would allow local jurisdictions to eliminate “vacancy decontrol,” or the right to set rental rates for vacant units.
• Under current state law (the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995), local jurisdictions are prevented from limiting (controlling) the rental rate on newer construction (built within the past 15 years), single-family homes, condominiums, and ADUs. In addition, current state law prohibits “vacancy control” so that housing providers may charge the going market rate when they have a vacant unit. In a state like New York, where “vacancy control” is allowed and recently expanded, the value of rental properties declined by approximately 40%. We cannot allow this to happen here in California.
• The Justice for Renters Act ballot measure would repeal current state law and prohibit the state from limiting the right of cities and counties to maintain, enact, or expand residential rent control ordinances. According to the state’s Legislative Analyst, the enactment of the Justice for Renters Act would also reduce state and local revenues.

We can defeat this latest and third-ballot attack against rental housing. Based on our preliminary polling, our opposition arguments can stop this ballot initiative from passing. HOWEVER, if we do not have sufficient funds to “get the word out” and make our arguments known, then we will lose. Like Proposition 10 (2018) and Proposition 21 (2020), we must raise approximately $80 million to be able to buy the necessary media and collateral materials to successfully oppose the “Justice for Renters Act.” Don’t let the ”In-Justice for Landlords Act” pass and become the law of the land!

WE NEED TO SEND THIS RENT CONTROL BALLOT INITIATIVE TO DEFEAT FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME…

• Please contribute whatever you can afford to defeat the so-called” Justice for Renters” Act at the “Contribute Here” link below.
• You may also mail a check payable to the AAGLA Issues PAC at AAGLA Issues PAC, Attn. Cary Davis, Treasurer, 515 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1110, Los Angeles, California 90071-3301.

We cannot afford to lose. WE MUST WIN! Help us to WIN!

READ ALL ABOUT HOW THIS RENT CONTROL BALLOT INITIATIVE WILL IMPACT YOU HERE: Download PDF Here

Please Contribute Today:

Help Our Advocacy Efforts on Your Behalf

The Issues PAC of Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (“AAGLA Issues PAC”) was established to advocate for and on behalf of the rights of all rental housing providers by opposing harmful policies and ballot measures targeting the multifamily rental housing industry  and advocating for and supporting polices and ballot measures favorable to multifamily rental housing providers.   

Contributions to AAGLA Issues PAC are not tax deductible.