Supporters of Proposition 98 contend the June 3 ballot measure is about limiting the authority of government to seize private property through its powers of eminent domain. But here's what it's really about: Landlords using the power of the initiative process to trick voters into getting rid of rent control in California.
Under the guise of dealing with eminent domain, Proposition 98 is a back-door attempt to prohibit state and local governments from controlling what property owners charge to lease or otherwise occupy property. The net effect is that rent control ordinances in cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles would be phased out along with similar measures governing mobile home parks in areas including Sonoma County and all nine of its cities.
This explains why Proposition 98 is funded largely by mobile home parks owners, owners of apartment complexes and other landlords throughout the state.
But this deceptive measure has more than just renters and tenants of mobile home parks nervous. Proposition 98 would amend the state constitution in a way that would cripple the ability of state and local governments to acquire property for important public projects such as school construction and widening highways.
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Backers of Proposition 98 hope to get this past voters by taping into the outrage that still exists following a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Kelo vs. New London). In that case, the high court upheld the right of Connecticut government officials to use eminent domain to seize private property and give it to a private developer.
This is the second attempt in California to pander to fears about this decision. Two years ago, state voters wisely rejected a proposition bankrolled by New York libertarian Howie Rich that sought many of the same changes as Proposition 98.
"No 98, Yes 99: This is all about pandering to fears of property owners," Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA) - May 22, 2008
The newspaper recommended that its readers vote down the new measure.
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