November 5, 2024 - Proposition 33

 

Proposition 33 is the third attempt by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to repeal a California law known as Costa-Hawkins. This is clearly a case where the third time is not a charm.

 

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has spent nearly $50 million to promote the yes on 32 campaign. Realtors and property owners of rentals have spent more than double that supporting a no vote on Prop 32.

 

The not-for-profit tax return, form 990 submitted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation states its primary purpose as to provide health care for people who have AIDS. According to the Westside Current, The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has purchased a dozen single renter occupancy apartment buildings. A report in the Los Angeles Times in November of 2023 describes truly terrifying living conditions in those apartments and how tenants who went on rent strikes were evicted with most of their belongings lost.

 

I have written in the past about the profit in being a not-for-profit and it appears to me at a glance that the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is doing just that. They have had surpluses for the past few years as follows. A surplus is the amount by which the revenue brought in exceeds the expenses spent by the organization.

2019 - $98.6 million

2020 – $146.2 million

2021 – $ 200.8 million

2022 – $181.54 million

This means the Aids Healthcare Foundation has increased its assets by over $500 million during that four year period.

 

If all of that was not bad enough, the fact is that the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is disseminating commercials that include photographs of vice president Kamala Harris as though she is endorsing Proposition 33. She has made no such endorsement. That is disqualifying dishonesty in my book.

 

I will vote no on Proposition 33.