Public Hearing for Oregon Rent Control Bill Set for Thursday, March 2nd

Lawmakers will have a public hearing for a bill that would outlaw no-cause evictions and lift the statewide ban on rent control Thursday March 2nd. On Tuesday, economist Eric Fruits testified before a House Human Services and Housing Committee meeting in Salem. He stated that rent stabilization policies would lead to a “self-inflicted housing shortage.” Stephen Barton, director of the Berkeley Housing Department, argued that rent control reduces forced displacement, though it has not brought rents down in the Bay Area. Reducing displacement can also lead to a mismatch of supply and longer commutes as people stay in apartments that no longer suit their needs. Read more.