The rich-backers of Proposition 98 have spent over five million dollars to convince everyday people that their stealth measure to repeal rent control is actually in our best interests. They failed to take one thing into account: everyday people who have built a statewide fight-back to counter the distortions of the 98 campaign.

On Wednesday, May 21st at 11:30am voters from all corners of San Francisco will gather on the steps of City Hall for a short rally. Following the event, they will descend on City Hall to cast their votes against Prop 98. The rally is being organized by Chinatown Community Development Center, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Development Center and Community Housing Partnership.

Prop 98’s deceptive language and advertising campaigns are designed to make voters believe that passing it will protect people’s homes from eminent domain. Embedded in the measure is language that will destroy Rent Control protections. This is why apartment and mobile-home owners have financed over eighty percent of 98’s warchest. In contrast, Proposition 99 will simply prevent eminent domain from being used to confiscate residential properties for private gain. No hidden language or agendas.

Organizers hope that the rally will remind renters that there is an election on June 3rd

“If 98 passes, it will be an eviction notice for families all over California,” remarked the Reverend Norman Fong of the Presbyterian Church of Chinatown. It is easy to predict what San Francisco will look like in this event: the first wave of evictions likely to hit seniors, disabled folks and families who have lived in the same neighborhood for awhile.

Jeff Kositsky, Executive Director of Community Housing Partnership remarked “We are not just fighting against Prop 98, we are building links between communities that might not otherwise have a chance to work together. It is important for the non-profit housing community to not be silent on issues which affect the larger San Francisco. It is impossible just to build our way out of the housing crisis.”

Although Prop 98 also will threaten efforts to improve public transportation and strengthen environmental protections for Athena Cyrus, the issue cuts closer to home, “It is important to defeat Prop 98 because we’re not trying to have more homelessness.”