Rent Control > Rexroad.com

I have major problems with rent control. I think it is a violation of property rights and rarely provides the benefit intended -- except for a select few.

Right now in Yolo County we have two rent control efforts going on.

The first is in Covell Gardens. At this point it is just in the looking stages. You can read more about it here. I have little doubt that rent control will be the arrived upon "solution".

The second effort is being pushed by Supervisors Chamberlain and Yamada to cover mobile home parks in the unincorporated area of the county. I am completely opposed to this effort. It is wrong and unjustified. The people that are demanding "rent stabilization" (the name they have given rent control to be more politically correct) have not provided any evidence of wrong doing or price gouging by the park owners.

What really struck me today is that the answer for Covell Village and the folks in the mobile homes in the unincorporated area of Yolo County is a tax. Let's not stick the burden of providing senior housing on one or two land owners. Let's share the burden for all of society.

Supervisors Chamberlain and Yamada should stand up and advocate for subsidizing the rent of seniors in mobile home parks by taxing the residents of the unincorporated area. Shouldn't we all share in the burden on making senior housing affordable.

Here are two suggestions:

A parcel tax on all parcels in the unincorporated areas of just $100 a year. That should take care of all the needs of seniors that live in mobile home parks. That will give every resident in the unincorporated area a chance to help solve this problem. They will be thrilled to be given the opportunity to help.

A per ton charge on every truck of hay and straw produced in Yolo County. A small fee of $2 per ton ought to do the trick. Some may scream that this only allows a few people in the county to share in the honor of subsidized housing. Well, it is better than just forcing it on two or three land owners that were lucky enough to buy property in Yolo County.

By the way -- the "problem" being solved in that Covell Gardens increased rent by 8% the last two years in a row. In the mobile home parks the rent went up $100 over the past decade. That is not a problem -- that is what it costs to live in the world.

Soon, I am going to be sharing with you some of the increases in costs over the past ten years. Most have grown far more than the increases rents in either of these two situations.

Comments

By YoloCalVet @ Sunday, December 16, 2007 3:03 PM

Pay for everything the seniors need, rent, meds, food, power, entertainment and transportation and let 20,000 senoirs live at home alone burning up the resources. Just like they used to do back in the days of the covered wagons and mule trains.....oh, that's right, the FAMILY took care of their own. Didn't need a government "Nanny State" to take care of everything.

HABLA?

By Katybee @ Monday, December 17, 2007 7:32 AM

When you say parcel, would that include someone like me who has just under 13 acres? Why would the burden lie on "country folk" (unincorporated areas), rather than the entire population of the county. There are many more people out here in the county than the "rich farmers" I agree that IF someone should take a hit, it should be more that the owners of the mobile home park. I disagree, however, that it should be laid on the backs of just certain people.

By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, December 17, 2007 7:36 AM

I actually don't think we should do this at all. The whole thing is stupid. My suggestions were really just a joke. I don't support rent control and I would not support these measures either.

However, it is far more fair in my mind to have all of Yolo County pay than to have it forced on one land owner.

I also picked hay and straw because I know that Duane Chamberlain would hate that idea.

Matt

By DMGreenwald @ Monday, December 17, 2007 8:55 AM

To clarify, I think Matt is jumping the gun a bit on Covell Gardens. I don't think there is the political will on the Davis Council to support rent control. On the other hand, you have a large vulnerable population on a fixed income that are extremely vulnerable to rent increases and you have had two rather large rent increases on consecutive years both exceeding 8% for people whose income only increases by 2% annually. The proposal of voluntary mediation I think is a very reasonable one.

By YoloCalVet @ Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:16 AM

"If you protect property rights over human rights you will achieve human rights,if you protect human rights over property rights you will loose both."

By Charlie in Japan @ Thursday, December 20, 2007 2:39 AM

Rent Control...Bha Humbug...

What about 'Renter Control'..???? Have you ever tried being a landowner or property owner...and the dammage they do????

Charlie-san

By perkoff @ Thursday, December 20, 2007 3:49 PM

Rent control? Are they serious? I use to worry about government intrusion by the State and Federal Governments.....I was wrong, it's local government that needs watching............ insidious and unrelenting! Although I must admit, they showed real economic restraint by purchasing a COFFEE CART FOR ONLY $91,000.00! What a deal!

r perkins/perkoff

By YoloCalVet @ Saturday, December 22, 2007 8:36 AM

Caffiene but no structure for the nicotine addicts, dang that's discrimination.....isn't it?

By RENTCONTROL @ Thursday, December 27, 2007 11:19 PM

It seems so trivial.
We live in a so-called civilized society.
Investors want to have a guaranteed profit. (Rental property=cash cow)
No guarantees for renters, only land LORDS.
Even if it means gouging one tenant till he or she bleeds, and/or moves on to greener pastures. If there are any greener pastures.
Our government gave away all the other cash cows to the third world.
(plenty of slave labor in the third world (free enterprise?)
Of course the land LORD is right. And all little people must pay, that is civilized?

I know all is not right. It would be good that Land LORD could keep on raising the rent, and we could keep on paying with all the money we make from the cash cows we lost.!!!!
Somehow we must devise a system that allows the land LORDS to get rich on rental property, while we renters can live on rented property without being raped.
Take care

We are many (renters ) and we are learning a lesson about free enterprise. We have good teachers. ( Land LORDS ) We are growing smarter and stronger by the day.

Michael rentcontrol@erentcontrol.com

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