Proposition 99

98 Ends Rent Control, 99 Undermines Mom and Pop

Joe Mathews — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:05:00 -0400

At the LA Weekly, Jill Stewart deconstructs the two competing California ballot initiatives to limit eminent domain. Prop 98 puts more restrictions on government's ability to take land for private development. Stewart argues that the two main things to know are these. Prop 98 would end rent control (a provision added to attract funding for the initiative) and Prop 99 would protect some homeowners but would leave cities free to take the land of mom-and-pop stores.

Scaring the Seniors

Joe Mathews — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:50:00 -0400

This new No on Prop 98 ad ( the more conservative of the two measures to limit eminent domain in California) shamelessly doesn't even mention eminent domain. Instead, it attempts to frighten seniors by highlighting an AARP endorsement and suggesting old folks will be kicked out of their homes. The initiative does limit rent control, but this exaggeration is pretty gross.

And here's the Yes on 98 ad, which isn't any more honest. It omits the fact that the initiative would end rent control. And according to the LA Times, the woman who claims her home was seized actually sold it -- 30 years ago -- after there was a threat of eminent domain.

PPIC Poll: California Eminent Domain Measures Lack Majority

Joe Mathews — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:42:00 -0400

A new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California finds that the two competing eminent domain measures, Propositions 98 (backed by conservatives, anti-tax groups) and Prop 99 (backed by cities), have less than 50 percent support. Less than two weeks before an election, that often spells doom for both measures. As such, this would be a victory for the backers of Prop 99, who qualified the measure in order to beat Prop. 98. Qualifying your own measure to defeat one you don't like is a time-tested tactic. In most cases, both initiatives go down. Each initiaitve purports to restrict the ability of governments to take property for private purposes, though Prop 98's protections are stronger--so strong the initiative also would eliminate rent control.

In other findings, the poll shows that Gov. Schwarzenegger's lottery plan is unpopular with the public--and his back-up proposal, a one-cent sales tax increase, has support from a narrow majority.

Prop 98 and 99

Joe Mathews — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:29:00 -0400

Here's a San Jose Mercury News look at the two measures. One thing that distinguishes Prop 98 from 99 is the former's elimination of rent control, which is why it's backed by owners of apartment buildings and trailer parks, including Tribune Company chairman Sam Zell.