{"id":5046,"date":"2026-07-20T23:40:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T23:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5046"},"modified":"2026-07-20T23:40:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T23:40:08","slug":"letters-outlawing-rent-setting-algorithms-wont-end-housing-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5046","title":{"rendered":"Letters: Outlawing rent-setting algorithms won’t end housing crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Outlawing algorithm won\u2019t end housing crisis<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cCalifornia\u2019s Legislature can lower rents with these bills\u201d (Page A10, June 26).<\/p>\n

Read more Labor-backed citizens group appeals North San Jose data center proposal<\/a><\/p>\n

The June 26th op-ed gets two things right:\u00a0Californians, particularly working families, need more affordable housing; and additional housing supply is the solution.<\/p>\n

But ironically, the author also suggests outlawing data-based rental pricing tools. Such bans might hurt the investment Californians desperately need to increase housing supply. Property developers would be greatly disincentivized to build in areas where modern management tools are forbidden. San Francisco restricted the use of algorithmic rent pricing in October 2024, and rents are climbing faster\u00a0there than in any other city in the nation \u2014 22% year-over-year, in fact.<\/p>\n

Tackling California\u2019s affordable housing crisis will take a concerted effort to boost supply, not outlawing an algorithm based on false assumptions that it enables collusion and price-fixing.<\/p>\n

Mario H. Lopez<\/strong>
\nHispanic Leadership Fund<\/em>
\nWashington, D.C.<\/em><\/p>\n

Politicians are forsaking state\u2019s environment<\/h4>\n

As a doctor serving the Bay Area\u2019s safety-net patients, I see firsthand the health consequences of both the housing crisis and climate change. Recent debates over the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) have put these urgent public health priorities in tension.<\/p>\n

My state Assemblywoman, Buffy Wicks, has long described herself as pro-housing and pro-environment. Last year she championed AB 130, which streamlined environmental review to accelerate housing development. But AB 130, and its companion SB 131, went too far. Exemptions for environmental protections were negotiated behind closed doors, including one for advanced manufacturing facilities with potentially devastating consequences for communities already burdened by pollution.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

This year, SB 954 restores many essential CEQA safeguards. Yet to date, Assemblywoman Wicks appears not to have supported it. She\u2019s backed the , a November ballot measure that could further weaken CEQA. California needs leaders willing to build more housing without sacrificing environmental protections.<\/p>\n

Katherine Brooks<\/strong>
\nBerkeley<\/em><\/p>\n

MLB should let tech call balls and strikes<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m a 7th grader who plays baseball, and I\u2019m tired of seeing bad calls decide the game.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m on the field, I try my best, and I know umpires have a really hard job. But they are human, and they make mistakes. Since MLB already has the technology to track exactly where the ball goes, why are we still letting humans call balls and strikes?<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The \u201cchallenge\u201d system is okay, but it\u2019s not enough. We should just use the computer for every single pitch. It\u2019s way more accurate, and it would make the game more fair for everyone.<\/p>\n

Read more Here\u2019s the No. 1 concert we\u2019ve been counting down the days to see this summer<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s stop arguing about bad calls and just use the technology we already have to get it right.<\/p>\n

Arjun Baviskar<\/strong>
\nDublin<\/em><\/p>\n

State must balance economy, environment<\/h4>\n

Re: \u201cPoll points to strong Prop. 45 backing\u201d (Page A1, July 16).<\/p>\n

The article about polls showing Proposition 45 looking like a winner is sad. It is the ancient false dichotomy between the environment versus the economy.<\/p>\n

Proposition 45 would drastically weaken CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act \u2014 the state\u2019s main general environmental protection law. They cite the affordability crisis as an excuse to lessen protection for the environment, but you can\u2019t ensure affordability by harming our vital environment.<\/p>\n

A strong economy and a healthy environment go together. They depend on each other \u2014 and we need both. Proposition 45 is a loser.<\/p>\n

Vicky Hoover<\/strong>
\nSan Francisco<\/em><\/p>\n

Unreliable electricity makes gas necessary<\/h4>\n

I completely support cleaner, safer and more environmentally friendly energy. Electricity is one source that also includes solar, hydro power and wind. Thus, encouraging all-electric homes, businesses and vehicles is the right step towards meeting our current and future best interests.<\/p>\n

However, the \u201celephant in the room\u201d is PG&E (and other electricity suppliers). PG&E is woefully and too frequently unreliable. On hot days, it is often unable to meet current demands.<\/p>\n

It is currently absurd to mandate the installation of electric-only appliances and heating\/cooling systems or demand only electric vehicles on our roads.<\/p>\n

Until and unless PG&E can guarantee consistent and sufficient supplies of electricity, gas-powered appliances need to be available. I\u2019ll happily switch to all electric once we have plentiful and steady supplies of electricity.<\/p>\n

Read more 6 arrested in San Jose smoke shop robberies; 2 linked to gang beatings, police say<\/a><\/p>\n

Marcia Friss<\/strong>
\nSaratoga<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Also: Forsaking environment | Balls and strikes | Seeking balance | Unreliable electricity. East Bay Times reader letters to the editor for July 21, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\nLetters: Outlawing rent-setting algorithms won’t end housing crisis - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=5046\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Letters: Outlawing rent-setting algorithms won’t end housing crisis - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Also: Forsaking environment | Balls and strikes | Seeking balance | Unreliable electricity. 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