California’s housing crisis hit another low this week, thanks to a gutless legislature that turned its back on the very people it claims to serve. Assembly Member Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, put forward AB 1157—a bill that sought to expand rent control in California. The intent of this bill represented a lifeline for renters and a check on runaway greed. It didn’t even make it out of committee in the Assembly.
The bill died on Tuesday, killed not by open opposition, but by five Democrats who couldn’t even muster the decency to vote. They are Assembly members: Rebecca Bauer Kahan, D-Orinda, Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey, Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, Catherine Stefani, D-San Francisco and Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Los Angeles.
California lawmakers love to posture about affordability, but they’re paralyzed by fear—afraid to anger voters, and terrified of crossing their corporate donors. The people’s needs don’t even make the shortlist when special interests are in the room.