California voters rejected Proposition 33, which aimed to grant cities and counties the power to regulate residential rents, unofficial election results show. Meanwhile, voters in the Golden State approved Proposition 34, a measure that some critics describe as retaliatory against a major supporter of the failed rent control proposal.
Proposition 33, also known as the Justice for Renters Act, sought to remove state restrictions on the types of rent control ordinances that local governments could enact. It would have also repealed the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a law that prohibits rent control on certain types of housing units and restricts rent control policies.
The defeat of Prop. 33 by a margin of nearly 3 million votes, with over 60 percent of voters opposing it, was attributed to the significant spending by opponents, who poured more than $125 million into the campaign compared to the roughly $50 million raised in support.
Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, expressed disappointment at the outcome, emphasizing that housing is a fundamental human rights issue and decrying the influence of wealthy corporate landlords on the election.
Rent control regulations vary across California, with approximately 25 percent of rental units in the state subject to some form of rent control. Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose have implemented rent control measures to protect tenants from steep rent hikes.
On the other hand, Proposition 34, which narrowly passed, targets organizations that participate in federal drug prescription discount programs, have contracts with state health programs, and have a history of housing violations. The measure mandates that these organizations allocate a significant portion of their revenues to patient care and imposes penalties for non-compliance.
Supporters of Prop 34 argue that it will lead to lower prescription drug prices and save taxpayers money, while critics view it as a vindictive action against specific healthcare organizations.
Overall, the rejection of Prop. 33 and the approval of Prop. 34 highlight the complex dynamics of housing policy and healthcare regulation in California, with significant implications for both renters and healthcare providers in the state. Please provide a different version.
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