Annotations for Audience: Stakeholder

Those opposed to rent control argue that it discourages developers or leads to poorer housing conditions. However, that's not necessarily true if the policy is well-designed and effectively enforced. As Dorazio at the Center for American Progress explains, “Localized rent control efforts can help reduce displacement without halting all new development.” So it's not either-or. We can have growth and still protect residents. Rent control helps people stay. That's what matters. But even rent control won't solve everything. That's why we also need anti-displacement policies.

That means creating programs that support local business owners, especially those who've been serving the community for years. It also means protecting homeowners from rising property taxes, offering grants to renters, and ensuring tenants are aware of their rights. To put this into perspective, I respond to common counterarguments with evidence and logic, showing that rent control can work alongside development, and I expand the solution by pushing for anti-displacement policies that focus on protecting the people and businesses who make the community feel like home.