When the government wants your property

Prop 98 will eliminate tenant protections and rent control in California. This deceptive scheme attacks renters, our environment and our economy. 90% of the Prop 98 funding comes from landlords for their own financial gain. Prop 98 jeopardizes renter protections, such as the return of security deposits and protections from unjust evictions. Prop 98 would undermine environmental laws that protect our air, land and water. Voters have an opportunity to enact true eminent domain reform in Prop 99. Prop 99 would prevent government from taking a home to transfer to a private developer, without the Prop 98 hidden agendas. Vote No on 98 & Yes on 99.

Larry Gross, Coalition for Eco Survival @ 2:42 PM PDT, May 28, 2008

1 - it would be nice to see a debate about rent control - how necessary is it, is it a reasonable imposition on landlords? I lived in NY where you mainly heard about renter abuses - sub-letting at apartment that was locked in at a price from 20 years ago by an original renter who was long gone. 2 - if rent control can be justified, it would seem like the best thing to do is vote no on BOTH these propositions and get a GOOD proposition. Or, as someone said, a good law from the legislature.

Dan @ 2:13 PM PDT, May 28, 2008

Don't trust your landlord or like how your landlord is managing? Move - rent somewhere else or own. Rent control needs to be phased out. And of course local governments and their public employee unions don't like Prop 98. They want to be able to TAKE YOUR PROPERTY for their projects. Those "environmental groups" should BUY LAND AT MARKET PRICES and "conserve" the way they want, instead of taking it by force from others using other people's money.

Ken @ 11:37 AM PDT, May 28, 2008

Eminent doman needs to be limited to "public" needs, highways, schools, parks, etc. Increasing the tax base is not a public need, but a way for local politicians to give more to the public, thus being able to avoid hard decisions. It also helps to get campaign donations from developers. If Prop 98 does away with rent control, so be it. Government should not set prices.

JCS @ 10:48 AM PDT, May 28, 2008

I cannot vote for Prop 98 because of the irritating commercials full of people whining. I want to throw my radio out the window when I hear those ads.

A Rothman @ 8:20 AM PDT, May 28, 2008

Only 98 protects homes, small businesses, and farms from eminent domain. Rent control is NOT eliminated for those who live in rent-controlled apartments. Those who are opposed to 98 are funded by the usual pro-immigrant (read illegal aliens) supporters, who think big government can be trusted, and are not worried by constant interference with economic market forces.

Bill T. @ 7:44 AM PDT, May 28, 2008

Why are organizations that oppose eminant domain reform supporting prop 99? They say it's to end eminant domain abuse by politicians, yet orgainizations that oppose this reform are supporting it. Now doesn't that sound like a sham to you? My favorite line in the prop 99 radio ad is the one about tax advocate groups all supporting 99. That is except the only trusted tax advocate group I know of, The Howard Javis Taxpayer Group is supporting Prop 98.

Brian @ 9:00 PM PDT, May 27, 2008

We've all seen governments egregiously abuse eminent domain. Prop 99 does not go far enough in its protections. Only Prop 98 protects citizens at the level we want protection. However, I can't vote for it because of the totally unrelated provisions that penalize renters -- i.e., most people who live in LA. We need a new prop on the next ballot that maintains the eminent domain clauses of Prop 98 and eliminates the rent control issue.

Carol @ 7:12 PM PDT, May 27, 2008

Why do we even need these propositions? Limiting eminent domain takings can and should be done by the Legislature. All they need to do is pass a law. The Legislature need to make itself useful and do its job.

JamesP @ 6:52 PM PDT, May 27, 2008

Proposition 98 protects against eminent domain and rent control, both of which violate the property rights of individuals. Owners of rental units should be entitled to the same protections as owners of other property. Let apartment rent be subject to the market forces of supply and demand.

Irwin @ 6:47 PM PDT, May 27, 2008

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