Dear CAR Member,
As you may know, the state’s housing crisis continues to be the top issue California voters care about heading into next year’s election.
The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is leading efforts to address California’s housing crisis at the local and statewide level, including qualifying our ballot measure for the 2020 November General Election. The initiative would remove the property tax “hit” senior homeowners can experience when moving to another home so that they can relocate anywhere in California, such as new housing and retirement communities or to be closer to family. It also protects the right of parents and grandparents to transfer their family home to their children — a right that’s been under threat or revocation in the Legislature.
These changes are an important part of the solution on housing — opening up existing inventory for purchase and making more efficient use of existing housing stock, while generating needed revenue for local schools and local government. At the same time, the measure will generate 67,000 to 90,000 new transactions on an annual basis, and more over time, as Baby Boomers transition out of their existing homes.
We’ve already launched a statewide signature gathering effort to qualify the measure for the November 2020 ballot. I’m pleased to share the news that signature gathering is off to a fast and robust start, with hundreds of thousands of voters throughout the state signing petitions to place this important measure on the ballot.
In December, we also launched a member program with the goal of collecting 50,000 valid signatures by February 20, 2020, and engaging REALTOR® members in the signature gathering process, which will build political engagement among the membership in preparation for the November 2020 General Election.
Research shows that the measure enjoys broad support — and the more that voters learn about the measure, support levels increase exponentially.
That’s why our local members play such an important role in a winning campaign. You are the best ambassadors to spread the word about the initiative and why it’s so important to place the measure on the 2020 ballot so that voters have the opportunity to be part of the housing solution in California.
Here are three ways to get involved in the signature gathering effort:
- Contact your Government Affairs field representative
- Sign a petition and request a petition at petition@cargrassroots2020.com
- Sign up for our upcoming webinar on January 9 at 10:30 a.m., to hear an in-depth discussion on the policy and our advocacy efforts. Register here.
I hope you will get actively involved in the campaign during our signature gathering phase.
In the meantime, I wish you and yours a very safe and joyous holiday season, and I hope you have a terrific 2020!
Sincerely,
Jeanne Radsick
C.A.R. President