SPOA Responds to Certification of Massachusetts Rent Control Ballot Initiative
Dear SPOA members and supporters:
We are disappointed by the decision today to certify the rent control ballot initiative. We will take our case to the courts to fight against this far-reaching government takeover of the rental housing industry. Like Dr. Frankenstein, the proponents of this question have attached every bad housing policy to this proposal, thus creating a monster that will destroy housing production.
Rent control is a political scam designed to scapegoat property owners for a problem that they did not create, without even helping tenants in the long run.
Increased supply is what we need to lower rents without compromising the repair, maintenance, and administration of our existing housing stock. People need to know that prices have risen for everyone, including property owners dealing with the rising expenses of operating rental property.
We must not return to the days when neighborhoods fell into disrepair, when property owners were denied reasonable rent increases and even the collection of any rental income, and when noncompliant tenants abused the system at the expense of their landlords and the other cooperative tenants who depended on their housing providers for safe, maintained living places.
SPOA led the fight to repeal rent control at the ballot box in 1994, and now we will lead again. It's time to bring all stakeholders together to solve this problem in a way that helps everyone, instead of dividing people to the detriment of our communities. There is no place for the politics of resentment that is the essence of rent control.
While we wish to do what is best for our tenants, where do we draw the line between protecting tenants and taking away every last right that property owners could ever have? We must protect our tenants, our properties, and our property rights, while defending our safety and dignity as property owners.
P.S. Please donate $100 per month, $500 per month, $1,000 per month, or whatever you can afford.
We must also assemble a group of volunteers to help with our campaign. Please contact us via phone (617-354-5533) or email (askspoa@gmail.com) to help.
Our businesses and livelihoods are at stake, along with the health and prosperity of our communities. We can’t afford to sit this battle out. Please join us today!