A recent column by Jonathan Madison mentioned the negative impacts of repealing the Costa-Hawkins provisions in California law. For those not fully briefed, Costa-Hawkins prohibits any sort of rent control of properties built after 1995, as well as any single-family structure or condominium of any age.

It is important to look at the problem from the point of view of protecting the enormous portion of our population who happen to be tenants — from rent gouging and arbitrary evictions for those whose leases have expired. Is there social value in protecting long-term tenants in our community? What about tenants with children in the midst of the school year? How about anyone who has spent cash and sweat in moving their worldly goods into an apartment and don’t relish having to do it all over again at someone else’s whim? – See more.