Affordable Housing

* While I agree with the need for affordable housing for all levels of income earners, I must remind Jan Breidenbach and Roberto Barragan (Commentary, June 16) that any discussion of affordable housing policy without mentioning the need to completely repeal existing state and local rent regulations is intellectually dishonest.

Rent control, even vacancy decontrol as currently construed by state law, is not means-tested and as such provides middle- and high-income tenants with housing that costs as little as 5% to 10% of their annual gross incomes. Until the state’s housing stock is distributed fairly, we will never truly know the total need and what income groups should be targeted. Government policies that provide entitlements on a one-size-fits-all basis lack credibility. Let’s completely deregulate our state’s housing stock and use the resulting increase in property tax revenue to meet the needs of the tenants for whom the authors advocate.

MARK L. BUCHANAN

Glendale

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I graduate from nursing school in December and my fiancee will graduate a year after that. As soon as we find jobs, we are leaving California. Why? The ridiculous housing market. My roommates and I pay $950 for a house that in most parts of the country would rent for less than half that amount. Let us not forget property taxes that help pay for schools that rank among the lowest in the country. If you were young and starting out, would you stay? I think not.

LAURA E. MACIAS

La Puente