Last year, we had a rent control referendum which would have been a disaster for Hoboken. I was against the referendum because it would have effectively eliminated rent control. Fortunately the referendum was soundly defeated.
I believe that good laws are simple. My main ‘beef’ with rent control in Hoboken is that a law that requires a special calculation done by a rent control office seems too complex. Unfortunately, this could be a situation where the ordinance can’t be simplified WITHOUT changing its function. One change I would support is allowing a landlord who decides NOT to raise a “good tenant’s” rental rate to apply the entitled increase to future tenants (that is to bank the increase). The current system requires landlords to increase their tenants rents every year or give up the potential increase which benefits no one.
Despite this complexity, I fully support rent control. It is essential to making sure that many of our residents, including seniors, families and young people, can afford to remain in Hoboken.