PROP 98 TO ABOLISH RENT CONTROL CRUSHED

Los Angeles ---The people of California has spoken, They resoundingly rejected a state ballot measure that would have phased out rent control and barred government agencies from taking homes, businesses and farms for private development.

The Echo Park Community Coaliton (EPCC) and the Justice for Filipino American Veterans(JFAV) is exceedingly happy about the result of the voting.". Arturo P. Garcia. EPCC and JFAV coordinator said.

" EPCC and JFAV campaigned hard against Prop 98 because most of our seniors and veterans are renters and will be affected by the ballot measure We are happy that the measure ( Prop 98) was defeated." Garcia added.

According to LA Times results, opponents of Proposition 98 charged that the measure was sold as eminent domain reform when its real purpose was to eliminate rent control. Here are the results of the elections:

The LA times report also said: "The voters saw that Proposition 98 was a deceptive initiative -- in fact, the worst kind of ballot abuse where a populist issue is used to conceal an attack on renters, the environment, homeowners and our communities," said Tom Adams, board president of the California League of Conservation Voters.

Under current state law, government agencies can use eminent domain powers to force property owners to sell for fair market value and can then sell the land or buildings at a discount to a developer for construction of a mall or other profit-making venture.

Proposition 98, which was backed mostly by landlord groups, would have changed the state Constitution to phase out rent control in addition to barring agencies from forcing property owners to sell their property for use by private developers; it would have allowed the use of eminent domain to take property for public uses, such as schools and roads.

Proposition 99 was placed on the ballot as a competing measure by associations representing cities, counties and renters.

The eminent domain provisions are similar but more narrowly focused than Proposition 98.Like Proposition 98, it will exempt public works projects. Proposition 99 will make no change to rent control laws.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., California Farm Bureau and other sponsors of Proposition 98 said it was a necessary response to a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the right of governments to take homes for commercial development.

The measure would have maintained rent control for current tenants but lift it on apartment units and mobile home spaces as they are vacated.

"It's kind of un-American to force a housing provider or any other business to provide services at less than fair market value," said Dan Faller, president of the Apartment Owners Assn. of California.

Faller's group was part of a main campaign that spent about $7 million to support Proposition 98, with about 80% of the money coming from real estate interests, including owners and managers of apartment buildings and mobile home parks.

Opponents spent about $11.3 million, much of it from the League of California Cities, California State Assn. of Counties and California Redevelopment Assn.

About 1.2 million people live in apartments and mobile home parks covered by rent control in California.”

For more information please call epcc at (213)241=0906 or email@epcc_la @hotmail.com