HomeMy WebLinkAboutB17Opposition5302017ArgumeArgument Against Measure B-17
Please vote NO on this misleading ballot measure. It is unnecessary, ill advised, harmful to every
affordable housing program in our city, and could trap the community in costly lawsuits.
The first section of this ordinance attempts to repeal the Rental Housing Inspection Program. It
has already been repealed by the Council on a 5-0 vote. The city’s residents were very clear in
communicating their overwhelming lack of support for this program, and it is not coming back.
The second section sounds harmless. The label of “non-discrimination” is compelling, and
sounds easy to support. But it is a trap, because it includes legally unrecognized and legally
unclear categories like “income”, “owner or renter”, and “ability to own a home”. These create
legal loopholes.
There are lawyers who would take advantage of these loopholes and sue the city over its housing
programs. Countless taxpayer dollars would be lost on litigation defending our affordable
housing regulations. These laws help provide housing for workers, seniors, students, low-
income residents, veterans, and those struggling to afford housing in San Luis Obispo. For
example, under this ordinance even laws that stabilize rent for mobile home parks could be
argued as “discrimination” in favor of renters.
This ordinance would dismantle any hope of affordable housing programs in SLO. This may not
have been the intent, but it will most certainly be the result.
The writers of this ordinance will argue that it “locks’ into place the end of the RHIP. But the
RHIP is already dead and gone, we already have anti-discrimination protections, and this
ordinance could instead kill off all the city’s housing programs. If you think San Luis Obispo is
expensive now, wait until these programs are taken away.
Don’t risk letting this happen. Please vote NO on Measure B-17.
Heidi Harmon, Mayor
Dan Rivoire, Vice Mayor
Andy Pease, Council Member
Carlyn Christianson, Council Member
Aaron Gomez, Council Member