Kronovet Election Should Concern Renters

Dear Editor,

The election of Robert Kronovet to the Rent Control Board should be a source of great concern to all Santa Monicans who recognize that affordable housing is a human right.

Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights-endorsed candidates Joel Koury (Rent Control Board incumbent) and Christopher Braun both embodied this belief. During the campaign, Mr. Kronovet repeatedly called into question the leadership that Mr. Koury has shown during his first term on the Board by accusing him of protecting the rights of people not worthy of such safeguards.

At the public candidates’ debate, Mr. Kronovet insulted the vast number of people covered by rent control, who would be forced out of our community but for our modest rent protections, when he referred to them as people who know how to abuse the system.

In addition, Mr. Kronovet appeared to adopt a page from the Republican Party play book by contending that these same people – individuals on fixed-incomes and others most in need of stable, affordable housing – are a collective “special interest” group that needs to be stopped.

In light of Mr. Kronovet’s proud support of the Republican Party and its deregulation agenda, this should not come as a surprise.

Santa Monica has changed a great deal over the past generation; but not to such an extent that long-term members of our community do not deserve a reasonable level of government regulation / protection through rent control. We should closely scrutinize Mr. Kronovet’s actions during his coming term in office.

Scott T. Johnson
Santa Monica