THIS JUST IN: City Council CANCELS Rent Control Hearing Scheduled For February 8th
The short notice public hearing on rent control originally scheduled for 1pm February 8th by Councilmembers Kendra Brooks, Jaimie Gauthier, and others HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
HAPCO Philadelphia and its rental coalition partner had complained to City Council that the hearing on a possible rent control bill was never properly posted and promoted to the public.
As a result, City Council President Darrell Clarke cancelled the meeting and will presumably announce another meeting date.
HAPCO Philadelphia has been fighting rent control in the city for years. We’ve warned councilmembers it will wipe out affordable housing by pushing more rental and investment property owners out of the industry. Rent control simply makes being a rental owner unaffordable.
HP’s legal counsel, Paul Cohen, argues that in order for a rent control ordinance to be passed, City Council has to demonstrate there is some sort of rental housing emergency. And Cohen says study after study shows the Philadelphia rental market to be the cheapest among the major U.S. cities.
HP’s rental coalition partner, the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, is commissioning a study to examine the detrimental impact of rent control on rental and investment property owners in Philadelphia. The results will likely be presented to City Council at the rescheduled public hearing.
HAPCO Philadelphia will post breaking news on a new public hearing date once it’s been rescheduled by the City. And once it is, HAPCO Philadelphia will still need all rental owners to SIGN UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST RENT CONTROL!
WHAT: City Council Rent Control Hearing
WHEN: Wednesday February 8th CANCELLED & TO BE RESCHEDULED
TIME: STAY TUNED!
WHERE: Online
HOW TO TESTIFY: Email Laila Khalil in Councilmember Brooks office at Laila.Khalil@phila.gov
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