Santa Rosa Press Democrat Editorial: Vote No on Prop 21

Northern California Newspaper Joins Every Major State Daily in Opposing “Housing Freeze”

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, California’s largest newspaper between San Francisco and the Oregon border, today urged its readers to vote no on Proposition 21, the “housing freeze” statewide ballot measure.

In an editorial headlined “No on 21: Rent control law won’t end housing crisis,” the newspaper notes the initiative will hurt both renters and homeowners while failing to address the root causes of affordable housing in California.

“There is one surefire way to make rentals more affordable: build more housing. Increase supply, ease demand, curb prices. That’s Economics 101. Apparently the sponsors of Proposition 21 never took that class. The net result of their approach almost certainly would be fewer rental units, making for an even tighter market for prospective tenants.

“There’s no need to pile on yet another disincentive for building badly needed rental housing. The Press Democrat recommends a no vote on Proposition 21.”

Read the entire editorial here.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat joins every other major California daily newspaper that has editorialized on Proposition 21 in urging its readers to vote no. McClatchy Newspapers, the publishers of the Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, San Luis Obispo Tribune, and Merced Sun-Star, urged their readers to oppose Proposition 21 last week. Previously, the Bakersfield Californian, the Bay Area News Group (San Jose Mercury News, East Bay Times, Marin Independent Journal), and the Southern California Newspaper Group (publishers of multiple newspapers including the Los Angeles Daily News, Riverside Press Enterprise, and Orange County Register) issued editorials opposing Proposition 21.

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:

Essex Property Trust and Affiliated Entities

Equity Residential

AvalonBay Communities

Funding details at: http://www.fppc.ca.gov