Like many Oaklanders, I moved here because of our city's vibrant diversity - the diversity of ages, races, sexual orientations, incomes and professions that gives Oakland its unique and extraordinary character.

But the diversity and character that set Oakland apart from other big cities are facing an existential threat from the ongoing housing crisis and skyrocketing rents that are rapidly gentrifying Oakland's neighborhoods and forcing out so many of our neighbors, friends and family members.

Renters, who make up about 60 percent of Oakland residents, are particularly vulnerable. Many, many families are being priced out of Oakland, in more and more cases leading to homelessness.

Oakland has to do much more to protect renters and to maintain the diversity that benefits and enriches the lives of all of our residents. Unfortunately, state law - the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act ("Costa-Hawkins") - precludes Oakland and other municipalities from enacting rent control for buildings constructed after 1983 and for certain single-family homes and condominiums. 

Right now, Oakland's laws cap the percentage by which owners of Oakland properties that are covered by rent control can increase rents.

However, Costa-Hawkins exempts approximately one-third of Oakland's residential buildings from rent control, and that percentage will only continue to grow over time as new housing comes online. Costa-Hawkins also allows owners of rent controlled properties to set the rent at any level after a renter voluntarily vacates the unit.

Overturning Costa-Hawkins would allow Oakland to apply rent control to all rental units and to prohibit landlords from setting rents at market rates when tenants voluntarily vacate. This would be a game-changer for Oakland. According to a recent national rent report, rents for one- and two-bedroom homes in Oakland increased more than in any other U.S. city over the last year. This makes Oakland the fourth most expensive rental market in the U.S. for a one-bedroom apartment behind only San Francisco, New York and Boston.

Too often in our community, this translates to rent increases for elderly residents, students, teachers, artists, low-income and non-English speaking tenants of 40 percent, 50 percent, 100 percent - increases that are simply evictions by another name. Because of historical and systemic discrimination, these displaced tenants are disproportionately African American and other people of color.

Many Oakland residents are hoping for market corrections and for this latest bubble to burst. But given Oakland's ideal climate, its natural beauty and its location in the center of the Bay Area, any market "corrections" will temporarily adjust prices downward, but not to levels that will make Oakland affordable for many current and former residents.

To address the out-of-control rent increases, it is imperative that we have the ability to apply rent control to all residential properties. Unfortunately, without changes to Costa-Hawkins, Oakland's hands are tied.

I want teachers, gardeners, professors, students, elderly people, children, artists and musicians to be able to remain in or move to our city. Oakland's diversity is what makes our city unique and generates our thriving economy. All of us will suffer a grave loss if Oakland becomes indistinguishable from any hyper-expensive neighborhood in San Francisco or San Jose.

As an Oakland resident for 35 years and as a landlord, I support overturning the provisions of Costa-Hawkins that prohibit Oakland from applying rent control to all residential rental properties.

Without a change to Costa Hawkins, the Oakland we know and love will survive only as a cherished memory.