Proposition 10 Dies in Decisive Vote

Shot down in a decisive decision, Proposition 10, a measure that would have allowed cities across the state to expand rent control, has been defeated after a massive backlash from voters.

Totaling more than $104 million, both campaigns working to support and defeat the proposition collectively made the ballot initiative skirmish one of the most expensive in the state’s history.

With its defeat, Proposition 10, officially titled the “Local Rent Control Initiative” will not overturn the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Act. Under Costa-Hawkins, municipalities are prohibited from enacting any form of rent control on single family housing or any recently vacated apartments. Rent control is prohibited entirely on apartments built after 1995.

According to a U.C. Berkeley study almost 9.5 million renters are burdened by high rent prices spending at least 30% of their income on rent. There are roughly 19 million renters in California.

Despite its ballot failure, rent control is not an issue likely to go away. With the new Governor-elect Gavin Newsom winning on a campaign that largely focused on the affordable housing we can expect this policy to remain in the spotlight.