By Robert Kronovet Small business owner Candidate for Santa Monica Rent board 2008
This letter is in response to Kevin McKeown’s opinion commentary dated March 4, 2008 ( “Prop. 98 puts rent control in jeopardy”). For the record, I, like our founders, am a private property advocate. Ladies and Gentleman lets set the record straight.
In the words of Rent Control Board member Jeffrey Sklar, a (Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights) member, “Rent Control is not a law to help low income people.” This quote is found on YouTube under Santa Monica Rent Control. Well friends, if is not about the needy then what is Mr. McKeown writhing about? It’s about power. SMRR is very afraid of losing it. Plain and simple.
Prop. 98 is a state proposition that came about because our government is overreaching its power. Eminent domain is the state’s right to buy property from a private individual in order to use it for “The Public Good.” When government is unchecked it abuses its power.
Over the past several years, various cities have used this power for what the city states as “Public Purpose.” The current example is “Kelo v. New London.” The city of New London used its eminent domain power to force Ms. Kelo to sell her home to the city. The city then sold her home to a private company so they could build a parking lot.
Friends Prop. 98 is about forcing the government to stop the taking of private property for private purpose. Both eminent domain and Rent Control are a taking of private property. Clearly SMRR would prefer that I and property owners went away. Say we go away, our voices are crushed, then the city under SMRR could do as they please.
Is this what we are about? Letting government act as they please. NO. Now that the apartment owners are gone, the voices of the free market are banished; SMRR rules the city un-opposed. Who will stand up for you when they come after you? And they will. History is clear that unchecked government grows more powerful and enjoys its power and thirsts for more. The clear fact is that our founders were such strong proponents that they wrote the 14 amendment.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Prop. 98 clearly states that any new rentals will not be subjected to rent controls. Current tenants are unaffected and their tenancy remains unchanged.
Rent control by its nature does not support the American Dream; it handicaps renters and removes the dream of home ownership. I don’t believe that government should be telling the American people how much to charge or where to live. I support Prop. 98.
I believe in the free market place. This is the American way. Please support our long and strong system of supply and demand. We all want a safe and prosperous Santa Monica, vote yes on Prop. 98 and let’s give the free market a chance.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 5, 2008. Read the original PDF.