On the heels of his campaign stops in California where he identified housing affordability as an issue of economic justice across the nation, Senator Bernie Sanders announced Sunday afternoon via Twitter his endorsement of Proposition 10, stating: “Currently California cities and towns aren’t permitted to pass rent control measures to address the affordable housing crisis. That should change. Municipalities should have the freedom to deal with the decline in affordable housing and rising rents. Let’s pass Prop 10.”
Prop 10 is one of seven initiatives across the country that Sen. Sanders endorsed on Sunday. The effort to curb California’s skyrocketing housing costs by returning control to limit rent increases back to local communities has become a fight against billionaire landlords, Wall Street investors and Donald Trump donors for progressives throughout the country, earning the endorsement of the California Democratic Party, the Green Party of California, Peace and Freedom Party, Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution, members of Congress Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee, longtime civil rights leaders Dolores Huerta, Rev. James Lawson and Danny Glover, and Hollywood activists Michael Moore, Alyssa Milano and Boots Riley. The Nation magazine labeled it one of two initiatives for progressives to watch across the country. Over 300 labor, housing, seniors and civil rights organizations and over 100 civic leaders, federal, state and local elected officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, have endorsed Prop 10.
Yes on 10 campaign director Damien Goodmon said: “We are excited to have earned the support of a lifelong advocate for closing the inequality gap in our country, Senator Sanders. California voters have an opportunity to put a check on the predatory corporate landlords and Wall Street banks who created the housing affordability crisis in the first place. We are building a movement that will win on Election Day and continue well after, because the rent is too damn high!”
Yes on 10 lead strategist Joe Trippi said: “The opposition campaign, funded by Wall Street investors and Donald Trump-supporting billionaires, has spent tens of millions of dollars attempting to confuse California voters. Senator Sanders joining the broad coalition of organizations will help clarify the choice for the millions of Californians who are still deciding. Together, we can empower our cities and counties to limit excessive rents and check corporate greed.”
Proposition 10 is a key step towards solving California’s housing-affordability crisis because it will protect California’s renters and guarantee landlords a fair rate of return, all while laying the foundation for stronger communities. By empowering local communities to limit rent increases and curtail predatory housing practices, cities and counties will be able to create thoughtful laws to address their local housing situations.
ABOUT PROPOSITION 10
Proposition 10, the Affordable Housing Act, is a ballot measure that will restore the right of local communities to set fair limits on rent increases in order to address California’s housing affordability and homelessness crises. To learn more, please visit VoteYesOnProp10.org or find us online @VoteYesOn10.
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