Rent Control

* It’s about time that Sacramento abolished the outdated, socialistic rent control system (July 25). The bleeding-heart liberals in this town are whining that such actions will upset the cultural diversity of West Hollywood and Santa Monica, and will infringe on individuals’ fundamental rights to housing.

There are no fundamental rights to housing. As a homeowner in West Hollywood, I am pleased that the inertia of capitalism and the free-market economy, rather than governmental mandate, will establish the value of real properties in this community. Cultural and social diversity can then be averaged over all of Southern California, rather than being fenced into two or three municipalities.

JOHN PALAZZINI

West Hollywood

* Using the recent state rent control restriction, William Fulton (Opinion, July 30) expresses a common liberal puzzlement over Republicans restricting local government, which we say we believe in. There is no contradiction in this. Republicans, conservatives generally, believe in limited, decentralized government and the rights of the individual (not the group). It is one of the greatest features of the American system that one level or branch of the government serves to bind another level or branch in the interest--whether intended or not--of individual rights.

That is what is happening with the rent control restrictions. The rent control restrictions protect the property rights of individuals and in turn the rights of everyone, since such protections do more to provide decent, affordable housing than do rent controls, as the history of New York City amply demonstrates.

ROBERT DAVIS

West Hollywood