Bernie Sanders Endorses Rent Control for California
May 16 2024 - 3:51PM
Business Wire
U.S. Senator throws support behind Justice for
Renters Act appearing on statewide November 2024 ballot
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has endorsed the Justice for
Renters Act, a statewide ballot initiative that would expand rent
control in California.
The measure is 23 words and reads as follows: ‘The state may not
limit the right of any city, county, or city and county to
maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.’ It would give
local communities the right to stabilize rents and make apartments
more affordable for low-income and middle-income renters.
“We couldn't be more honored than to have the endorsement of
Bernie Sanders, the political conscience of our nation. If there is
one thing you know for sure about Bernie, it is that he is on the
side of working families and opposed to the greed of corporate
vultures such as the California Apartment Association,” said
Michael Weinstein, president and cofounder of AHF which is
sponsoring the Justice for Renters initiative.
Weinstein continued, “Bernie and I grew up in rent-controlled
apartments in Brooklyn so we both know firsthand how important
affordable housing is to a person’s stability. We also know that
rent control in New York refutes the lie that rent control kills
development as you can barely recognize the skyline that has
sprouted across Brooklyn.
“What distinguishes Bernie from so many other elected officials
is his absolute independence from the special interests that
dominate our politics in California and make it impossible to pass
any meaningful renters’ rights relief in Sacramento.
“Like Bernie, we don't give up on a cause like justice for
renters which is why we are sponsoring this initiative for the
third time.
“We remind everyone how valuable Bernie's endorsement is based
on how convincingly Bernie won the Democratic presidential primary
in California in 2020.”
The Justice for Renters campaign kicked off in May 2023 in Los
Angeles with the announcement that more than 810,000 signatures --
far more than the 546,651 needed to qualify – had been collected
and submitted in support of the proposed statewide rent control
measure. In July 2023, the Secretary of State’s office certified
the initiative for inclusion on the November 2024 ballot.
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Ged Kenslea, AHF Sr. Comms Dir. (323) 791-5526
Ged.Kenslea@ahf.org