Rent stabilization protects low- income tenants

Rent stabilization, which replaced the original rent control construct as the model of choice in half a dozen cities around the country, is gaining momentum as a preferred method to protect low- income tenants from displacement. Rent stabilization accounts for costs associated with inflation, maintenance and repairs, and capital improvements in a way that strict rent control measures were inadequate to address properly. Though not perfect, rent stabilization has proven to be effective against gentrification and allowing lower- income families to stay in gentrifying areas. If we’re truly committed to living in mixed- income communities, rent stabilization is an effective tool.

According to a recent study by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California-Berkeley, “[ T] o help stabilize existing communities we need to look beyond housing development alone to strategies that protect tenants and help them stay in their homes.” Rent control is one of those strategies that can offset the current speculation in the housing market, which destabilizes communities that are already on edge.

Chicago is facing a housing crisis that has been made worse by the lack of transparency at the Chicago Housing Authority, which still withholds millions of tax dollars while there is a huge shortage of affordable housing units in gentrifying neighborhoods such as Pilsen. In addition, there are the Chicago Planning and Development Department and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning focused on Transit Oriented Development projects that are increasing the supply of highend housing units but without a comprehensive housing strategy to meet the high demand for affordable housing units as well. Byron Sigcho, director, Pilsen Alliance

Trump ignored Obama’s advice

President Barack Obama tried to tell Donald Trump and the American voter that being president was “serious business.” Maybe we should have listened more carefully. Martin Nicholson, Niles

Trump didn’t inherit mess

President Donald Trump did not, as he claimed in his press conference, “inherit amess.” He inherited the complex federal government we need to address serious problems both domestically and internationally. What is needed is informed, nuanced leadership by a president who surrounds himself with experienced people who understand the necessity of drawing on the wisdom and experience of career government employees. So sad! That’s not what we’ve got. Mary F. Warren, Wheaton