[quote=The-Shoveler]I would submit that IMO exactly zero politicians would do anything that could lower the tax base (such as low cost housing in mass).
They talk a good game but it will only go through if it does not lower rents or home values.
And if they ever do they would be recalled immediately.[/quote]
[quote] San Diego leaders propose vacancy tax, community land trusts for housing crisis
Democrat-dominated City Council explores bold ideas after years focused on incentives, streamlined regulations
By DAVID GARRICK
FEB. 8, 2021 6 AM PT
SAN DIEGO — San Diego’s new Democrat-dominated City Council is proposing several bold ideas to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis, including creating community land trusts, a rent registry, vacancy taxes and forcing landlords to rent to people with pets.
City officials have routinely listed the housing crisis as a top priority, but most of the legislation they have passed in recent years has focused on streamlining existing regulations and creating new incentives for housing developers.
The exceptions are two efforts spearheaded by former City Council President Georgette Gómez to preserve existing low-income units and strengthen the city’s “inclusionary” law so developers must build more low-income units.
Now the City Council, with an 8-1 Democratic majority and five new members, is proposing that San Diego begin exploring more aggressive ideas.
They say solving the housing crisis has become more important with the city’s greater focus on social equity. Minorities are the most impacted by scarce housing, they say.
Council members Vivian Moreno, Dr. Jennifer Campbell and Raul Campillo said they want the city to study a possible vacancy tax, which would tax the owners of undeveloped lots and landlords who have empty units.
Should San Diego establish some type of vacancy tax?
Some San Diego City Council members [i.e. JEN CAMPBELL] are considering a variety of progressive proposals aimed at cutting housing costs, including an additional tax on owners of empty lots or landlords with unoccupied units.
The idea is money from the tax could be used to fund construction for subsidized housing and encourage landowners to build new housing or sell to someone who will.
