Landlords Conspire Against Rent Control

    The Human Rights Party rent control proposal will definitely appear on the April ballot, and local landlords/landladies are already rallying in opposition to the charter amendment which would lower rents and cut profits.

    Two letters released last week by the HRP document the fight that property owners and management companies intend to wage against rent control.

    The first letter, which was sent from Neil Snook of Pittsfield Township to Craig Hall of Standard Realty Corporation, states that the proposal is "intended to bring people who own, operate or manage income property to their knees." Dated January 5, it proposes that "we might challenge the legality of the petition before it has a chance to become part of the City Charter."

    The second letter goes even further into the details of the fight landlords/ladies are organizing against the rent control amendment Sent by a group called "Citizens Opposed to Rent Control," it is addressed "Dear Property Owner." The group is apparently a front formed by landlords/ladies to defeat the proposal.

    The letter states:

    "A committee has been formed to coordinate an active and aggressive campaign directed toward defeating Rent Control at the polls on April 2, 1974 and all other alternative actions legal or otherwise determined to negate this proposal or consequent ordinance. We urgently request full support in this campaign by making a voluntary contribution of $5.00 per rental unit that you own or have under your control....

   "We look forward to hearing from you and having you join in our efforts, both financial and otherwise, as an income property owner concerned with the right to retain private ownership and maintain the free enterprise system."

    The two names listed as contacts for "Citizens Opposed to Rent Control" are both connected with real estate firms: James Brien of Swisher Realty and Randolph White of Wilson-White Real Estate. With 17,000 rental units in the city, the committee could raise up to $85,000 to use against rent control. This is a massive amount by local campaign standards. As an example, the wealthiest party in the city, the Republicans, spent between $60-70,000 total for all six campaigns (five Council races and the mayoral race) last April.

    Under the recent campaign control ordinance passed by Council Republicans, corporations are not prohibited from contributing to committees opposing (or supporting) ballot issues. This would allow local rental agencies to throw their full weight against rent control, thus "buying" the election. The landlords/ladies will be able to wage an all-out media blitz to convince people to vote against rent control. And even if the ordinance is passed by the people (a distinct possibility), funds are likely to be forthcoming for a major court battle to prevent the implementation of the charter amendment.

   Local supporters of rent control are unlikely to have the same financial backing. But attempts are being made to prevent propertied efforts to undermine the electoral process through financial power. The HRP is asking Ann Arbor tenants to withhold $5 from their next month's rent payment and send.it to the HRP, which says that money so marked will be used strictly for the campaign to bring rent control to Ann Arbor.

  (For an in-depth report on the rent control proposal and housing in A2, watch for the next issue.).  

            ---Ellen Hoffman