Rent Control Debate - May 3, 2017

"Under pressure from constituents being rapidly priced out of their homes, Oregon’s legislature might finally lift the state pre-emption on rent control this year. That’s a huge deal, of course, but also enormously complex. “Rent control,” as a term has become freighted with different meanings for different people. Is it a savior that will ensure you can stay in your apartment, or a housing killer that will only make things worse? Both? Neither? The answer, obviously, depends on what kind of policies Portland puts in place. And to prepare yourself for the conversation this city might be having about those policies in coming months, you should head out to tonight’s debate pitting rent control warrior and Portland Tenants United founder Margot Black against Gerard Mildner, an economist with PSU’s business school. Sure, things might get tense, but that’s part of the fun."
DIRK VANDERHART [Portland Mercury]