Pushing high-density urban development will drive up costs, force minority-owned businesses to close their doors and push them out of their communities
SACRAMENTO, CA – According to an article published recently in Inside Climate News, Lenny Goldberg, long-time executive director of the California Tax Reform Association and main architect of Proposition 15, called the measure a climate-friendly law because it would also help halt suburban sprawl. Goldberg’s concession means Prop 15 would result in higher density urban development, fewer housing choices for inner city residents, increased housing costs and gentrification of longtime communities.
Goldberg was quoted as saying, “A key component of lowering carbon emissions critically depends on intensifying land use, controlling sprawl and strengthening public transportation. Current tax laws do just the opposite by encouraging development where land costs less, outside of cities.”
By making this remarkable declaration, Goldberg is now on record admitting one of Prop 15’s consequences is intended to force higher density urban development, which will likely lead to further gentrification of older neighborhoods, fewer housing choices for inner city residents and ultimately higher housing costs. More importantly, Prop 15 will push up land costs in the suburbs and provide local governments with a financial incentive to reduce the amount of available farmland in favor of higher-taxed commercial development.
“Prop 15’s massive property tax hike will increase gentrification that’s become all too common in the Bay Area and many Southern California communities, and will cause irreparable damage to Black and minority-owned small businesses by driving gentrification in the state’s urban cores,” said Edwin Lombard, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce. “That is why so many advocates for Black businesses are fighting hard to defeat Prop 15. We know it will drive urban land costs up and force many Black businesses to close their doors. Mr. Goldberg’s comments reinforce why Prop 15 will be devastating to Black and minority entrepreneurs throughout the state.”
The real threat of rapid gentrification should Prop 15 pass is a major reason why the California State Conference of the NAACP, Rev. Al Sharpton’s California State National Action Network, and the California Black Chamber of Commerce are working hard to defeat Prop 15 in November. Mr. Goldberg’s comments confirm findings made in the NAACP’s analysis of the impact of Prop 15 on the Black community: “In practice, split roll will consequently serve as an accelerant in gentrifying neighborhoods. As new businesses able to afford rising rents move into an area to serve higher income new residents, longtime neighborhood businesses—as the result of simply being located where they are—will suddenly face added cost pressures from property taxes as well.”
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ABOUT NO ON PROP 15 – STOP HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES AND SAVE PROP 13
No on Prop 15 – Stop Higher Property Taxes and Save Prop 13, a bipartisan coalition of homeowners, taxpayers, and businesses, has been fighting to protect Prop 13 and oppose a split-roll property tax for more than a decade. For more information, please visit www.NOonProp15.org.