Print Version (PDF)

AP20:012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2020
CONTACT:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575

New Measure Eligible for California's November 2020 Ballot

Expands Local Governments' Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. Initiative Statute.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Secretary of State Alex Padilla today announced that an initiative is eligible for the for the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot.

In order to become eligible for the ballot, the initiative needed 623,212 valid petition signatures, which is equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2018 General Election.

A measure can become eligible via random sampling of petition signatures if the sampling projects that the number of valid signatures is greater than 110 percent of the required number. The initiative needed at least 685,534 projected valid signatures to become eligible by random sampling, and it exceeded that threshold today.

On June 25, 2020, the Secretary of State will certify the initiative as qualified for the November 3, 2020 General Election ballot, unless it is withdrawn by the proponents prior to certification pursuant to Elections Code section 9604(b).

The Attorney General's official title and summary of the measure is as follows:

EXPANDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' AUTHORITY TO ENACT RENT CONTROL ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Amends state law to allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. Allows rent increases on rent-controlled properties of up to 15 percent over three years from previous tenant’s rent above any increase allowed by local ordinance. Exempts individuals who own no more than two homes from new rent-control policies. In accordance with California law, provides that rent-control policies may not violate landlords’ right to a fair financial return on their property. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Potential reduction in state and local revenues of tens of millions of dollars per year in the long term. Depending on actions by local communities, revenue losses could be less or more. (19-0001.)

The proponents of this initiative are Michael Weinstein, Cynthia Davis, Jesse Brooks, Rene Christian Moya and Susan Hunter. The proponents can be reached c/o Fredric D. Woocher, Esq. and Beverly Grossman Palmer, Esq., of Strumwasser & Woocher, LLP at fwoocher@strumwooch.com and bpalmer@strumwooch.com respectively. The address for Strumwasser & Woocher LLP is 10940 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

For more information about how an initiative qualifies for the ballot in California, visit https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/how-qualify-initiative/

###