Danny Sauter, a leading candidate in District 3, lost the endorsement this week of the California Democratic Renters Council after it became clear that Sauter did not support Prop. 33. The Council is a statewide chartered organization of the California Democratic Party.
If approved on Nov. 5, Prop 33 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995 and remove limits on cities and counties to impose rent control. The Renters Council supports the measure, and it is a critical issue in determining the group’s endorsement of candidates.
When asked about his position on repealing Costa Hawkins in a questionnaire in July from the California Democratic Renters Council, Sauter said he supported repealing Costa Hawkins along with the production of new housing. When asked specifically on what became Prop 33, he said he supported the measure.
But earlier this month, in response to a Mission Local question about Prop. 33, Sauter wrote, explicitly, “I do not support Prop. 33,” which repeals Costa Hawkins but does not include elements to speed up housing construction.
“Unfortunately, Prop. 33 does nothing to make it easier to build new affordable homes, and most economists agree it would, in fact, freeze new construction across California,” he added.
Sauter’s answer was then reported by a Mission Local reader to the California Democratic Renters Council, which decided to withdraw its endorsement of Sauter earlier this week.
Arturo Rodriguez, central vice chair of the Renters Council, confirmed that they have unendorsed Sauter because they assumed he supported Prop. 33. “The California Democratic Renters Councils prides itself in being the watchdog for tenant renters and housing affordability policy and stakeholders, and our job is to hold those elected accountable,” Rodriguez said.
“I don’t believe there was any effort by Mr. Sauter to mislead us,” added Igor Trugub, the group’s vice chair and also a Berkeley city councilmember.
When reached out for comments, Sauter also maintained that he’s been consistent with his stance on Prop. 33. “I’m worried now that they’re misunderstanding this because the whole setup is confusing,” said Sauter, adding that he’s also a renter. “My position has been clear. I want to expand rent control, if it’s done in a package that includes making it easier to build new homes.”
Sauter is far from the only candidate who supports rent control but opposes Prop. 33. In District 3, where over two-thirds of the housing units are occupied by renters, candidates Matthew Susk and Eduard Navarro both say they support rent control, but oppose the statewide expansion of it under Prop. 33.
Local tenants groups mostly endorse Sauter’s competitors Sharon Lai or Moe Jamil. The California Democratic Renters Council turned out to be Sauter’s only endorsement from a tenants group, and has been selected as one of the several endorsements to be listed on his mailers and digital ads.
This stance is “completely ridiculous,” said Shanti Singh of Tenants Together. “It’s an absurd thing where you’re trying to appease the real estate industry, who hates rent control in any form … if you’re running for office, you don’t want to piss off those people, but you also don’t want to piss off the actual voters who like rent control.”
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