More than 30 elected officials and groups from throughout the Central Valley today announced their opposition to Proposition 21, the November measure that opponents say will reduce affordable housing in the region and could lead to cuts in community services.
The comprehensive list of officials opposed to Proposition 21 includes County Supervisors, Mayors, City Council Members, and local business and community groups from throughout the Central Valley. They cite the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) review of the ballot initiative that Prop 21 could result in a decline in property values which in turn will result in the potential loss of tax revenue in the “high tens of millions of dollars per year” to local government.
“Prop 21 is the same bad idea the voters rejected in 2018,” said Mayor Brand. “It would give unelected rent boards unlimited power to create housing fees that would cripple the industry. Not only would increased fees hurt renters whose pocketbooks have already been hit because of COVID-19, mom and pop landlords who can’t pay their mortgages due to the pandemic would never recover.”
“This initiative also has no protections for veterans, seniors or other vulnerable populations. It should be rejected by voters once again,” Brand added.
Elected officials and groups opposing Prop 21 include:
- Chairman Buddy Mendes, County of Fresno
- Vice-Chairman Steve Brandau, County of Fresno
- Board Chair Kristen Olsen, County of Stanislaus
- Supervisor Jim DeMartini, County of Stanislaus
- Supervisor Terry Withrow, County of Stanislaus
- Supervisor Nathan Magsig, County of Fresno
- Supervisor Richard Valle, County of Kings
- Supervisor Miguel Villapudua, County of San Joaquin
- Supervisor Chuck Winn, County of San Joaquin
- Supervisor David Rogers, County of Madera
- Supervisor Brett Frazier, County of Madera
- Supervisor Tom Patti, County of San Joaquin
- Mayor Lee Brand, City of Fresno
- Mayor Victor Lopez, City of Orange Cove
- Mayor Kuldip Thusu, City of Dinuba
- Vice Mayor Francisco Ramirez, City of Hanford
- Councilmember Martin Devine, City of Hanford
- Councilmember Emilio "Joey" Morales, City of Dinuba
- Councilmember Armando Longoria, City of Dinuba
- Councilmember Dan Parra, City of Fowler
- Councilmember Paul Canepa, City of Stockton
- Councilmember Art Brieno, City of Hanford
- Councilmember Jim Avalos, City of Selma
- Councilmember John Trujillo, City of Selma
- Councilmember Espi Sandoval, City of Kerman
- Councilmember Freddy Valdez, City of Firebaugh
- Si Se Puede Fresno, Tulare, Kings & Kern
- Fresno Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
- Labors Local 200
- Selma Realtors Association
- Fresno County Realtors Association
- Pacific Coast Sikh Center
Mayor Brand and the community groups join a broad, bipartisan coalition including labor, veterans, senior, affordable housing, taxpayer and other organizations opposed to Proposition 21. They include the Congress of California Seniors, the California Council for Affordable Housing, the Marine Corps Veterans Association, California State Conference of the NAACP, and the State Building and Construction Council of California.
The Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Merced Sun-Star, and Bakersfield Californian also have editorialized against Proposition 21.
A similar measure, Proposition 10, was defeated by nearly 20 points in the 2018 general election.
Ad paid for by No on Prop 21: Californians for Responsible Housing, a coalition of seniors, veterans, affordable housing advocates, labor & social justice organizations, sponsored by California Apartment Association. Committee major funding from:
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