California limits rent increases to 10% a year for tenants living in apartments built before 1995.
But a law known as Costa-Hawkins prevents cities and counties from passing further rent control, like for newer buildings, single-family homes or new tenants.
The Justice for Renters Act, Proposition 33, would repeal that law, allowing cities and counties to create local rent control laws for any housing.
Jose Lopez, who leads the San Diego Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, said passing rent control “matters a whole lot.”
“Especially for the thousands of Californians who are really one rent increase away from having to move out of their homes,” he said.