Co-op Housing, Anyone?

The recent news article “Test of Tenants’ Rights” gave another example of oppression and hardship being created by greed. Landlords in Isla Vista are known to be slumlords as they rent-gouge and treat tenants like dirt. More buildings are going up in I.V. and they’re getting taller and more urban looking to the point that they look out of place in a small seaside college town. It’s ridiculous that those who manage these properties don’t even live here. Sadly, the problems I.V. is facing are widespread in other communities as well. Rents are going up at a much faster rate than people’s wages and renters are getting less for their money. It’s getting out of control and there needs to be a fair solution. Renters should have democratic control over the destiny of their community. There should not be a small number of people in power economically oppressing the vast majority. It seems that the application of cooperative values could be the answer. Perhaps it’s time for co-op housing communities to start sprouting up.