A ballot measure about rent-control is dividing California Democrats

Prop. 33 would repeal the state’s Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.

The measure would allow local governments to cap rent control on properties built before 1995 .

Some cities have already enacted new rent control plans in anticipation of the measure.

But Vice President Kamala Harris' reluctance to embrace rent control may mark a small victory for YIMBYs.

Housing is a Human Right, a prominent group now backing Prop. 33 , wrote that such market-based strategies resemble the real estate industry’s failed “trickle-down housing policy” that has led to the ongoing crisis.

Housing justice advocates reject that argument, saying YIMBYs are “leaving a status in place that will solve the affordability crisis”.

YIMBYs argue that he would use rent control laws like Prop. 33 to circumvent California ’s affordable housing mandates by setting unreasonably low rent caps designed to stifle new housing development.

Dean Preston , a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the number one enemy of several California pro-development groups, says the amount of money backing the campaign against the measure is telling.

Preston believes that without vacancy control, cities are essentially powerless to regulate rents.