Campaign Fever
Register to Vote by May 19th;
VOTE YES ON PROP 98 AND NO ON PROP 99
by Malcolm Bennett

Great news! AACSC Board Member Becky Blair, principal of Blair Commercial Real Estate, was selected as a planning commissioner at the April 15th Long Beach City Council meeting.

This appointment breaks a 15-year absence of professional real estate input on the Commission. Leslie Munger, formerly of Merrick & Associates, was the last in a long line of realtors who served in this capacity.

It is critical to have real estate professionals assisting all of our cities in zoning, building, planning and redevelopment projects if we are to improve our infrastructure, environment and quality of life.

Becky, an apartment owner and property management company executive, told me that her passion for this city coupled with her concern for rehabs, adaptive reuse and improving the city’s aging housing stock will form the nucleus of her vision for Long Beach.

Another Board member Carol Chen, President of OCAJ, is running for Cerritos City Council. Her election is June 3 – good luck Carol! She currently serves as a Planning Commissioner.

Friend of the industry Bernard Parks is running for L.A. County Board of Supervisors, District 2. Currently serving on the L.A. City Council, Parks has championed landlord issues ranging from annual general adjustments to eviction control.

Speaking of elections, the last day to register for the June 3rd election is May 19. The polls on June 3rd will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm.

Remember, any registered California voter can vote by mail. The last day to sign up to vote by mail is May 27. Find out more through the Secretary of State’s office at 1-800-345-VOTE or www.sos.ca.gov.

Since last fall, the Apartment Journal has presented articles every month regarding Prop 98. This proposition, if passed, will require reform of the eminent domain powers and will phase out rent control in California. This is a property rights issue that all owners should support with their vote and their contributions.

Rent control and eminent domain are “takings” of your hard earned property. If the government tried “to take” product or inventory of a manufacturing company, no citizen or voter would support the “takings.”

If the government tried to confiscate a church building, no one would tolerate such action.

If the government tried “to take” a farmer’s produce, everyone would scream NO!

So, I ask you, why should Californians stand still when the government tries to take your justifiable and fair rents (rent control) or take your property (to build a shopping mall)?

VOTE YES ON PROP 98

VOTE NO ON PROP 99

Prop 99 is a competing measure that makes no substantive changes or reforms. It was put on the ballot to confuse the voters.

At press time, our Association successfully coordinated owner presentations at the Long Beach City Council’s Economic Development Committee regarding fire sprinkler retrofits on larger buildings.

The Committee heard concerns about the costs of requiring fire sprinklers in buildings in excess of 50 units (or 75 feet high from the street). Our professional estimates ranged from $10,000 per unit to $127,000 per unit, with one larger building proposal of $5 million to retrofit.

There will be one more committee hearing for members to vote. Hopefully this issue will then be “put to bed.”

May is water awareness month in California and this issue of the Apartment Journal focuses on conservation programs.

Long Beach has already imposed water restrictions. The Department of Water and Power received a significant rate hike by the vote of the L.A. City Council. The Metropolitan Water District announced today (April 17) that residents must curtail outdoor watering one day a week. And, at the State level, 9 out of 51 anti-landlord bills in Sacramento are water bills.

Not only is water a challenge today but it will be problematic for the future. Please review the articles in this issue and implement a water savings procedure for your properties.

Following is a 7-step approach for your business water awareness:

• Make a commitment to water conservation
  
• Check your systems/properties for leaks
  
• Set a conservation goal
  
• Involve your tenants and employees
  
• Install low-flow devices
  
• Be aware of water efficient equipment
  
• Monitor your results