Prop 33 Is A Deeply Flawed Scheme That Will Increase Housing Costs And Block Affordable Housing! Vote NO on Prop 33!

“Those of us who have been on the front lines trying to help Californians find safe housing they can afford know that this initiative is as deceptive as it is dangerous. This initiative is one giant loophole that lets some select local governments off the hook for affordable housing and opens the door to erase every inch of progress we've made on housing over the last 20 years. All I can say is don't be fooled.”

Toni Atkins

Senate Pro Tem Emerita

“Prop 33 isn’t reasonable.

It goes beyond simply repealing Costa-Hawkins. It also explicitly blocks the state from limiting the ability of local governments to “maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.”

According to Chris Elmendorf, a UC Davis law professor and California housing law expert, this clause is a Trojan horse that local governments could exploit to make it nearly impossible to build new housing. That’s because courts, including the California Supreme Court, have interpreted “rent control” to include price controls established through inclusionary housing ordinances, which require a certain percentage of units in a development to be affordable.

Supporters say this is intended to protect local decision-making on key housing policies.

But that’s a recipe for disaster. Because, unfortunately, as we know all too well here in San Francisco, most local California governments can’t be trusted on housing.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“Make no mistake about it, this ballot measure will end housing production in California full stop. We will not end the housing crisis unless we build millions of new homes at all levels of affordability. We’ve passed critical new laws to streamline housing construction, protect tenants, and give working families access to affordable, transit-friendly homes, all of which will be in jeopardy if this ballot measure passes. Vote no on this anti-housing measure.”

Buffy Wicks

State Assemblymember

“The evidence is overwhelming that rent control is counterproductive. This view isn’t just held by free-market acolytes. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, the progressive columnist for The New York Times, has written that “rent control is among the best-understood issues in all of economics, and — among economists, anyway — one of the least controversial.”

Surveys have routinely shown that virtually all economists agree that “a ceiling on rents reduces the quality and quantity of housing,” as the American Economic Association noted in 1992.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board urges a “no” vote on Proposition 33.”

San Diego Union Tribune

“Unfortunately, we in Southern California are already too familiar with deceptive legal tactics written by the proponents of this measure. They pretend to protect renters, but their real objective is to stop affordable housing development. This measure is just one more example of that deception – it’s an attempt to invalidate recent state housing laws our members fought for and block the housing California desperately needs. Housing costs won’t come down by blocking housing… the tragedy of homelessness will be solved with more affordable housing… not less.”

Pete Rodriguez

United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Western District VP

“California voters will be asked this fall to expand rent control with a statewide ballot measure similar to ones they wisely rejected in 2018 and 2020.

Supply-and-demand economic principles today are the same as they were six years ago. “Rent is high in California because the state does not have enough housing for everyone who wants to live here,” notes the state’s nonpartisan legislative analyst.

To address California’s housing crisis and hold down rents, the state needs to add supply by incentivizing more construction. But rent control discourages investment in new housing, constraining supply and driving up overall housing costs.”

San Jose Mercury News

“We're facing a severe housing and homelessness crisis, and this ballot measure will worsen it. It will make it harder to build affordable housing at a time when we need it most, and it will make it more difficult for people experiencing homelessness to find housing.”

Corey Smith

Executive Director of Housing Action Coalition

“Proposition 33 is so broad that key Democratic housing advocates, including state Sen. Toni Atkins, the party’s former leader in the Senate, and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, oppose it. They fear the measure grants autonomy to cities that they could use to undermine recent state mandates for more housing.

Indeed, some city leaders opposed to housing mandates are looking to Proposition 33 as an escape hatch. If it passes, they could set rent limits so strict that no developer would want to consider construction.

It would be an extreme example of the underlying principle: Expanding rent control would only exacerbate the state’s housing crisis.”

East Bay Times

“Over the last few years, California has worked hard to create innovative legislation designed to make it easier to build desperately-needed housing. This legislation was supported into place by broad and bi-partisan coalitions made up of builders, developers who specialize in affordable housing, labor, and housing advocates, and the laws are working. The ballot initiative, if passed, would undo this hard work— allowing cities to skirt state rules and avoid building the housing California needs to thrive. Voting “NO” this November is the right thing to do for our State and our people.”

Jenna Abbott

Executive Director of California Council for Affordable Housing

“To address California’s housing crisis and hold down rents, the state needs to add supply by incentivizing more construction. But rent control discourages investment in new housing, constraining supply and driving up overall housing costs.

Prop. 33 is so broad that key Democratic housing advocates, including state Sen. Toni Atkins, the party’s former leader in the Senate, and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, oppose it. They fear the measure grants autonomy to cities that they could use to undermine recent state mandates for more housing.

Expanding rent control would only exacerbate the state’s housing crisis. Which is why voters should reject Proposition 33 on the Nov. 5 statewide ballot.”

Santa Cruz Sentinel

“Our officers aren't just guardians of public safety—they're our neighbors and vital members of our communities. Prop 33 threatens the very fabric of California. It will halt desperately needed housing construction and slash local government funding by tens of millions annually. This means fewer officers patrolling our streets and making our neighborhoods safe. It also puts affordable housing further out of reach for our brave public safety officers and countless other hardworking Californians. The consequences are clear: Prop 33 is dangerous for public safety, for our communities, and for California's future. That's why PORAC strongly urges all Californians to vote No on Prop 33.”

Brian Marvel

President, PORAC