Who is making our housing policy?

For years, our politicians have turned to CAA and SAMCAR for guidance in writing housing policy.These two entities are in fact lobbying groups and neither objective nor unbiased. In fact, their unfailing opposition to any effective solutions is largely responsible for the displacement,evictions and loss of the working class in our region. They refuse to give an inch in negotiations and offer weak proposals that are then adopted by our cities. Our elected officials are wined and dined by them and fear their wrath when it comes time to raising campaign money or making hard decisions that will benefit our communities.

According to a 1997 report by Peter Dreier of Occidental College, CAA has opposed renter protections for over 40 years. In 1977, it convinced renters that Proposition 13 would decrease rents, when in fact increases began immediately after passage. CAA and SAMCAR spent millions of dollars in the last two years to defeat measures in a handful of Bay Area cities. Their tactics are notoriously divisive and brutal, and indeed two of CAA’s hired hands were indicted for forging voters’ signatures on petitions in Pacifica. Their empty promises to help build affordable housing speak for themselves. There’s just not enough money to be made in protecting renters and our cities.

Cynthia Cornell

Burlingame