Rebuttal to Argument Against Proposition 199

A small special interest group, trying to protect their $300 million windfall profit, has resorted to deceptive claims. The victims are tens of thousands of California families denied affordable housing by ill-conceived rent regulations.

THE FACTS ABOUT PROPOSITION 199:

Opponents deceptively claim ``thousands of widows and other seniors will face loss of their mobilehomes.'' The truth is:

• Proposition 199 protects seniors and low income families.
  It maintains rent controls for all current tenants.
• No tenant will be evicted or force out by Proposition 199.

PROPOSITION 199 PROTECTS LOW-INCOME TENANTS:

• Proposition 199 makes a 10% rent reduction available to approximately 100,000 low-income seniors and families not now protected.

As tenants voluntarily move, Proposition 199 phases-in privately funded rent reductions and restores market forces to make mobilehomes more affordable for those seeking them.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU:

• Of 1,000,000 mobilehome tenants in California, only 30% are seniors. Of these, 80% own their homes outright with no mortgage.
• Statewide, mobilehome tenants pay average space rent of approximately $300 per month.

Average statewide rents equal just 28% of social security income.

TAXPAYER GROUPS AGREE:

• Proposition 199 doesn't take control from cities and give it to the state, as opponents claim. It takes government completely out of private property rights issues.
• Proposition 199 eliminates several million per year in tax payer-funded bureaucracy.

PAUL GANN'S CITIZENS COMMITTEE (SPIRIT OF PROP. 13), CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PARK OWNERS AND CALIFORNIA MOBILEHOME TENANTS ASSOCIATION AGREE: VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 199

BINNIE LANAHAN
President, California Mobilehome Tenants Association

SANDRA L. BUTLER
President, United Seniors Association

LEWIS K. UHLER
President, California Tax Limitation Committee