Writing Assignment 3: Rent Control
Due: May 29, 2023 by 11:59pm via Canvas.
SB 466, a bill by Senator Aisha Wahab, (D-Hayward), aims to give local jurisdictions the ability to limit the amount residential landlords can increase rent each year in housing that is older than 15 years. In doing so, it will revise major sections of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act which has governed rent control laws in California since its passage in 1995.
In 600-750 words, write an op-ed tailored to any news outlet in California making a case for the California Legislature to either pass or defeat SB 466. Your argument should include examples of why SB 466 would help or hurt the state & discuss the potential costs and benefits of the proposed legislation. You may also look to examples of similar laws already in place.
References in your op-ed should be hyperlinked under the relevant portion of text, (For example, the median sales price for a home in Los Angeles grew 13.9 percent between August 2020 and August 2021.) You do not have to cite the class readings and you can cite any credible source you encounter during your research. As this is an op-ed, it is not just OK, but encouraged for you to include any personal connections or anecdotes you might have regarding the issue.
The op-ed will be graded on the cohesiveness of your argument, the quality of the research done and the effectiveness of your writing.
Resources on how to write an op-ed:
https://communicators.duke.edu/writing-media/writing-effective-op-eds/
https://www.vanderbilt.edu/writing/resources/how-to-write-an-op-ed/
Resources to get you started learning about rent control:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB466
https://caanet.org/amended-rent-control-bill-advances-to-floor/
https://smdp.com/2023/04/05/rent-control-board-march-meeting/