For years, unfair, sky-high rents have slammed middle- and working-class tenants across the United States, fueling homelessness. So it’s no surprise that a new survey by the Community Service Society found that big majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats in New York State strongly support rent stabilization. The survey will rattle corporate landlords and their lobbyists.
Last month, Community Service Society, a social justice organization in New York City, released its Annual Survey of Housing and Economic Security. CSS talked with nearly 5,000 adults in New York State, including people of various racial backgrounds, ages, and political parties. In addition, CSS talked with residents who lived in suburban, urban, and rural areas.
In other words, it was a thorough survey, which came up with two important findings. First, a “large and diverse majority support adopting rent stabilization in their jurisdictions.” Second, “only one-third of respondents were initially aware of Good Cause [evictions]. However, after receiving a neutral explanation of the law, three-quarters expressed support for its implementation in their hometowns.”
Breaking down the findings, CSS reported that 89 percent of people in suburban areas supported rent stabilization; 84 percent of those in urban areas; and 81 percent of residents in rural areas.
There was also wide support from people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds: 90 percent of Blacks supported rent stabilization; 88 percent of Asians; 82 percent of Multi-Racial; 81 percent of Whites; and 75 percent of Latinos.
In terms of age, 73 percent of residents between 18 and 29 backed rent stabilization; 89 percent of those between 30 and 44; 86 percent of residents between 45 and 64; and 75 percent of people aged 65 or older.
Lastly, political party affiliation broke down this way: 88 percent of Democrats backed rent stabilization; 83 percent of Independents; and 75 percent of Republicans.
These are extraordinary findings. While the real estate industry, including lobbying groups such as the National Multifamily Housing Council and California Apartment Association, routinely push the myth that people oppose rent control, the CSS survey shows that residents from all kinds of backgrounds strongly support it.
It also shows that rent control or rent stabilization isn’t favored by people of just one political party. Republicans, Independents, and Democrats all want rent stabilization so they can rein in unfair, excessive rents. In fact, rent regulations are the only tool that can effectively protect tenants against rent gouging.
Open Markets chief economist Brian Callaci and legal director Sandeep Vaheesan made that point in a recent white paper published at the Harvard Business Review. And top economists, in a letter to the Biden administration, also found that rent regulations were essential for helping hard-working tenants who’ve been slammed by exorbitant rents.
Housing Is A Human Right has long championed rent regulations as part of its advocacy mission called the “3 Ps”: protect tenants through rent regulations and other renter rights; preserve existing affordable housing; and produce new affordable and homeless housing.
Corporate landlords and Corporate YIMBYs will roll out flawed, outdated anti-rent control arguments, but the message residents are sending through the CSS survey is clear: we want, and need, rent regulations. It can be a winning issue for any politician who takes up that cause.
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