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Allan Jones's avatar

Well done Lydia. Thank you for bringing topic again to the forefront. The "Ma and Pa" ownership of rental properties is being lost. Usually these owners are the most compassionate to their tenants and often have life long relationships with them.

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Rhonda Callahan's avatar

Our states tenant rights laws are already so strict that landlords are having a difficult time evicting tenants. It can take up to a year to secure a court ordered eviction. That is a year of lost income and stress. It is time to revisit our laws and find a solution that offers equal protection for the landlords & responsible tenants. Cities do not need to add to the landlords burden.

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Daniel  Cerf's avatar

Great article, I agree with the author, and I don't nor would I ever own residential rental property in SB. Check out San Francisco if you want to see what the future of rent controls looks like.

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Brian MacIsaac's avatar

The fact that they cannot balance their own budget and face no repercussions, leads them to believe(falsely) that they can place monetary restrictions on their constituents and still face no pushback. A problem that has now gone statewide for the last 20 years. Vote the bums out! Wake up California your state is on fire.

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Peter L Spinetta's avatar

What constitutes a “fair and reasonable return” and more importantly who is to determine this? Not the Supreme Ct, not the State Legislature and not the SB City Council but rather the market place

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Jeff barton's avatar

I once owned and rented several single family homes in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Taking one as an example, a 3/3 1600 sq ft in Goleta. According to Zillow the market price for this home is about 1.5M and estimated rent is $6200. As owner my monthly cost to finance 1.5 M, pay property tax, insure and maintain this property is $7,000 - $10,000 per month. Based on these numbers, rents are too low in Santa Barbara.

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Bernard Gans's avatar

If there are people who need assistance in paying for life's expenses, that assistance should come from society as a whole, through the government. It is wrong and too easy to force the landlords to provide this charitable assistance. Berney Gans

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rita murdoch's avatar

Insanity continues. I have a rental property in SB and I lose many each year. Wake up all of us who live and work in SB. We are the only ones to stop this. Vote out all the people on the board. Lower the wages that they get. If you haven’t looked at the salaries don’t now. We need common sense back into our government.

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George Russell's avatar

Thanks to all who spoke last night at the council meeting on this topic. I state again, the city could gain a LOT of support from Housing Providers if it just did one simple thing. Take the restrictions on income they want to apply to housing providers and apply it to city revenue. The same exact numbers. Let the city expenses continue to climb un checked. Do that for 3 years. And release a study about how amazing it works. I am sure once they show us how it is done, we would all follow their example. Or. They would drop this before they are locked up in lawsuits for the next few years and ultimately lose. Wise people would see the obvious choice here.

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Derek Hanley's avatar

If the Santa Barbara City Council is breaking the law established by California State Legislators, what is the recourse for landlords in the city of Santa Barbara, individually, or as a group?

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TVW's avatar

In yesterday's SB Current I referenced a text book example of the consequence of rent control that appeared in an article in CREDaily.com that addresses this issue in real time. It contrast Minnesota's St. Paul draconian rent "stabilization" and Minneapolis'. Both are left wing hubs, however Minneapolis did not go full Communist as did St. Paul.

The arrogance and ignorance of City Council members who believe their socialistic agenda supersedes standing law by pandering to the "free lunch" groupies is egregious. If passed, such 'legislation" will result in a calamitous legal battle funded by taxpayers. Would the City Attorney has the integrity (obligation) to defend residents against the rogue and illegal actions of a miscreant City Council or would that office defend the Council...remembering that the Council hires the City Attorney whose salary is paid by the citizens....the very people harmed by a reckless City Council. Welcome to America.

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Steve Johnson's avatar

When a low income person shows up at the emergency room, they receive attention. A similar policy applies when many low income persons show up at a Council hearing. An issue not addressed? Potential undoing of the Housing Element.

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Chuck santry's avatar

Lydia , great article. Who were the votes to move forward with the resolution? thanks

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John Thomas's avatar

From the Independent, "Councilmembers Meagan Harmon, Kristen Sneddon, Wendy Santamaria, and Oscar Gutierrez all supported the rent cap, and all four voted in favor of a rent increase moratorium, which will be considered in January."

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Randall Fox's avatar

Well said. Thank for putting it in a clear and concise statement.

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