In a recent episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D sits down with housing rights advocate Shanti Singh to discuss Proposition 33, a crucial ballot measure focused on rent control in California. Singh, the Legislative and Communications Director for Tenants Together, a tenant rights organization, explains that Prop 33 seeks to empower cities to establish their own rent control policies by repealing the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which has long restricted rent control measures in places like the Bay Area.
The conversation addresses the misleading advertising around Prop 33, often funded by corporate landlords, which uses vulnerable individuals to mislead the public. Singh refutes claims that the proposition would strip away tenant protections, clarifying that it would instead allow local governments to create rent control measures that meet the specific needs of their communities.
Singh and Davey D also examine the broader issue of California’s housing crisis, attributing it to a lack of affordable housing, insufficient funding, and misplaced political priorities. They highlight the stark contrast between California’s budget allocations, with only 1% going to housing and homelessness programs, while 6% is spent on prisons. The conversation also touches on the upcoming San Francisco elections, emphasizing the importance of candidates’ positions on tenant rights in shaping future housing policies.
In closing, Singh urges tenants and property owners to stay informed and engaged with resources about Prop 33 and the Justice for Renters Act, stressing the importance of advocacy in creating a fairer housing system in California.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.