In Response to Signature Submission, Broad Coalition Blasts Landlords’ ‘Hidden Agendas’ Proposition That Would Roll Back Rent Control, Block Water Projects and Hurt the Environment

Seniors, Homeowners, Renters, Business, Labor, Environmental and Local Government Leaders Are Close to Submitting Signatures for Eminent Domain Reform that Protects Homes Without the Adverse Consequences of Landlords’ Hidden Agendas Schem

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Members of the Eminent Domain Reform Now coalition today blasted an initiative funded by apartment and mobile home park owners that would roll back rent control laws, hurt the environment, and block future water projects at a time when California is facing a severe water supply crisis. The Landlords-backed coalition announced today that they have submitted more than 1 million signatures to county elections offices to qualify their deceptive measure for the June 2008 ballot. The landlords want voters to believe their measure is about eminent domain, but their true goal is to roll back rent control and other important renter protection laws. The broad coalition of seniors, homeowner groups, water agencies, environmentalists, business, labor and local governments vowed to defeat the measure in June 2008.

“Wealthy apartment and mobile home park owners spent close to $2 million to qualify their deceptive rent control rollback proposition for the June 2008 ballot,” said Nan Brasmer, president of the California Alliance for Retired Americans. “The landlords are going to try to trick voters into believing their measure is about eminent domain. But they won't be successful. We will wage an aggressive campaign to educate voters that this measure is nothing more than a greedy scheme by landlords to eliminate rent control so they can make millions of dollars off the backs of seniors, veterans, working moms and other Californians.”

The coalition also said they would be submitting signatures for their own eminent domain reform measure in a few days to also place that measure on the June 2008 ballot.

“Within days, our coalition will be submitting signatures to qualify our eminent domain reform for the June 2008 ballot,” said Ken Willis, president of the League of California Homeowners, a co-proponent of the Homeowners Protection Act. The League of California Homeowners, founded in 1993, has provided consumer help and advice to over 50,000 homeowners in need of assistance. “The Homeowners Protection Act would prohibit government agencies from taking homes through eminent domain to transfer to a private party. This measure would provide homeowners with powerful constitutional protections against eminent domain, without the hidden agendas and adverse consequences of the landlords' deceptive measure.”

In addition to the anti-rent control provisions, members of the Eminent Domain Reform Now coalition warned that poorly drafted provisions in the Hidden Agendas Scheme could stop future water projects, destroy local land-use planning and erode environmental protections.

Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies said: “At a time when California faces a water crisis that threatens our economy and environment, provisions in this measure would greatly jeopardize our ability to pursue water infrastructure projects we need to increase water supply and to protect the quality of our drinking water.”

Susan Smartt, president of the California League of Conservation Voters said: “Much like Proposition 90 last year, the landlords' Hidden Agendas scheme would gut environmental protections and future laws we need to protect our land, air, water and other natural resources, as well as laws we need to combat climate change and global warming. That's why virtually every leading environmental organization in California is lining up to oppose the Hidden Agendas Scheme and to support the honest eminent domain reform.”

Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities said: “California homeowners deserve protections from eminent domain. That's why California's cities are promoting the Homeowners Protection Act that hits at the heart of the infamous Kelo decision. What California homeowners don't need, however, is a deceptive, draconian scheme that will decimate local land-use planning and hamstring local governments' ability to protect our homes, neighborhoods and quality of life.”

McKenzie continued, “Our polling indicates that voters overwhelmingly support straightforward eminent domain protections for homeowners. At the same time, voters strongly oppose eliminating rent control and other provisions in the Hidden Agendas measure. We're confident voters will support the true eminent domain reform, while rejecting the landlords' phony alternative measure loaded with hidden agendas and adverse consequences.”

SOURCE Eminent Domain Reform Now

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