By Adam Pagnucco.
A new coalition of progressive groups has announced its intention to pass a strong rent control law in Howard County. The press contact is Jake Burdett, a former candidate for Howard County Democratic Central Committee who describes himself on Twitter as a “Gen Z Democratic Socialist. Affordable Housing Advocate. YIMBY Hater. U. of Balt. Law Student 2025. Our Revolution HoCo Co-Chair.”
The push for rent control in Howard County occurs after passage of rent control laws in Mount Rainier, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County. Common threads include CASA and Progressive Maryland, who were active in advocating for rent control elsewhere and are listed as Howard County coalition members.
The group’s press release is reprinted below.
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Contact Jake Burdett
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2023
Email hocorentstabilizationcoalition@gmail.com
Howard County Rent Stabilization Coalition Launches, Hosts Sept. 14 Press Conference Calling for a Strong Bill with Specific Protections
On Thursday, September 14 at 10:30 AM outside the George Howard Building, the recently-formed Howard County Rent Stabilization Coalition will be having a press conference, calling for rent stabilization legislation with no exemptions!
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 – Howard County, MD— With Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties recently passing rent stabilization measures, tenants and the following 9 organizations have come together to form the Howard County Rent Stabilization Coalition, and to call for Howard County to be next: African American Community Roundtable, CASA, Friends of Latin America, Indivisible Howard County Immigration Action Team, Maryland Center for Economic Policy, Maryland Poor People’s Campaign, Our Revolution Howard County, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Progressive Democrats of Howard County (Progressive Maryland Chapter).
The Howard County Rent Stabilization Coalition will be hosting a Press Conference on Thursday, September 14 at 10:30 AM outside the George Howard Building at 3430 Court House Dr #100, Ellicott City, MD 21043, to publicly unveil the Coalition, to have Howard County tenants tell their stories highlighting the need for Rent Stabilization, and to call for a strong Rent Stabilization bill to be introduced with the following 6 features:
- A cap of 3% or the CPI increase (whichever is lower) on rent increases in a single year
- NO EXEMPTIONS for any tenants or landlords or lease types!
- NO EXEMPTIONS for newly-constructed rental units!
- Vacancy Control, which would apply the rent increase limit from one tenant to the next
- Enforcement by the Howard County Department of Inspections, Licensing and Permitting
- Limits on administrative, miscellaneous, and other fees, which can serve as an end run for landlords to get around the rent increase caps.
In the wealthiest County in the wealthiest State in the wealthiest Country in the world, any Rent Stabilization bill that is not formed with significant tenant input and does not closely resemble the 6 features described above is a non-starter, and is not a serious attempt to assist vulnerable tenants in Howard County. Join tenants, the Coalition, and Councilmember Liz Walsh tomorrow!
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