S
an Francisco Mayor London Breed has pledged her support for expanding rent control in the city. If voters pass Proposition 33, a statewide measure that would allow cities to regulate rents, Breed said she would sign an ordinance controlling rents for an additional 16,000 apartments built before 1994. This expansion was recently approved by the Board of Supervisors, which passed the rent control bill on its second reading.

    The proposed expansion is contingent on the repeal of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a state law that limits how cities can control rents. Breed's support for rent control comes with a caveat: she believes it should be implemented in a way that doesn't discourage housing production. "As a lifelong renter, I know the importance rent control plays in keeping people stably housed," she said.

    Proposition 33 would give cities and counties the option to regulate rents, but wouldn't require them to do so. Backers of the measure argue it would lead to more affordable rents, while opponents claim it would hinder construction of affordable homes. The outcome is uncertain, with polls showing many voters are undecided.