A rally to convince Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to put a repeal of the state’s rent control prohibition on the legislative agenda is planned for tomorrow at the Roundhouse. The organizing group of lawmakers and rent control advocates hope to pressure her to act quickly to help those struggling with housing.
Rally organizers said in a statement that without rent control, “the crisis of cruel displacements and evictions threatening massive sections of Albuquerque residents, especially the most vulnerable” would continue.
New Mexico is one of 37 states that prohibit rent control. The prohibition has been in effect for decades and previous efforts to repeal it have failed – most recently last year when it was tabled in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on a 6-2 vote. If repealed, it would mean local governments – cities and counties – would be allowed to adopt their own rent control measures. It would green light community advocates to lobby their local elected officials.
Supporters say skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable housing in the Albuquerque-area and across the state has kept residents treading water to pay the bills. The most recent data is daunting: a 70% increase in Albuquerque-area rent since 2017 that’s been accompanied by a sharp rise in the homeless population. Since the 30-day session is limited to the state’s budget, however, the governor would have to agree to bring the issue before lawmakers. In a 60-day session, lawmakers are able to place bills on the agenda.
Nevertheless, Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Bernalillo, who has filed a bill similar to last years, said the repeal is especially important for those on limited incomes, who, for example, live on their Social Security benefits and are unable to cover steep rent increases.
“Like single moms with children; when rent goes up it’s difficult to balance the budget,” Lopez said.
Lopez said she’s talked to many constituents who are in the midst of the “cliff effect” – when public benefits are suddenly decreased due to a small increase in wages, but the extra money isn’t enough to cover the loss of benefits.
“They have a job, but now earn too much for Section 8,” Lopez said.
Section 8 is a federal rental housing assistance program that pays part of the rent for a tenant with low income.
Lopez said she’s also been alarmed by an increase in Albuquerque Public Schools students and their families becoming unhoused or two or three families living in the same house.
“Some are living in a hotel,” Lopez said. “You talk to these families and it’s because they can’t afford the cost of rent – a first and last month deposit, plus a security deposit.”
‘Make a change now’
Opponents of the repeal say the state does, indeed, have an affordable housing problem, but that rent control is a short term solution, not a long term one.
Last year, Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, said a repeal would “create a patchwork quilt of rules and regulations around the state,” that would result in housing developments mostly occurring in cities and counties without rent control. Instead, he said the state needs to continue to incentivize the development of affordable housing. A repeal is also opposed by the New Mexico Association of Realtors and the Apartment Association of New Mexico.
“Our response is that people are losing their homes now. We could make a change now,” Lopez said.
Lopez won’t be at Saturday’s rally, but organizers expect that almost a dozen lawmakers will, including Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Bernalillo; Rep. Pamela Herndon, D-Bernalillo; Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Catron/Grant/Socorro; Sen. Brenda McKenna, D-Bernalillo and Sandoval; Rep. Eleanor Chávez, D-Bernalillo; Sen. Harold Pope, D-Bernalillo; Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Los Alamos/Rio Arriba/Sandoval/Santa Fe; Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Bernalillo; Sen. Shannon Pinto, McKinley/San Juan; and Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Doña Ana.
In addition, representatives of 14 supporting organizations and unions are expected to attend, like the People’s Housing Project, Albuquerque Teachers Federation, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico, Residents of Barelas and the International District Health Communities Coalition.
The rally is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. on the east side of the Roundhouse, located at 411 S. Capitol Street.