Walt Rubel Commentary: State must protect rights of renters

The Christmas-time eviction notice to an 82-year-old Las Cruces woman suffering from leukemia has drawn renewed attention to the plight of renters in an economy where the increasing cost of housing becomes out of reach for more state residents each day.

Sandra BarMcQ wasn’t behind on her rent. She had paid on time each month, but that didn’t matter to Purple Mountain Real Estate and Investments LLC, who sent her a notice in November informing her that her lease had been revoked and she needed to be out of the property by the end of December.

When local residents rallied to her cause, the corporate overlords extended their version of Christmas mercy - a one-month extension.

In an interview with the Las Cruces Bulletin, property manager Betty Zwilling said no reason was given for the eviction, and she never discusses these decisions with residents.

“They always have an excuse, and they want to argue, and I don’t want to argue with anyone,” she explained.

Yes, of course. How inconsiderate of those being booted out of their homes for no reason other than to boost corporate profits to be argumentative about the whole thing.

Under New Mexico law, property owners can evict renters like BarMcQ who are on a month-to-month lease for no reason. That is something state legislators need to take a hard look at during this year’s 60-day session, which started last week.

Freshman Rep. Sarah Silva, D-Las Cruces, organized the rally in support for BarMcQ, and said she would introduce legislation this session to give renters greater protections.

Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, D-Albuquerque, said she would introduce a bill that would allow communities to establish rent control. More government action is needed to combat the growing practice of “buy, strip or flip,” in which out-of-state corporations buy property in New Mexico, jack up the rent to increase its value, and then sell it, she said.

The city and state are both making an admirable effort to increase affordable housing through government construction projects, but that will only take us so far.

Our nation has never considered housing to be a right. In fact, we mythologize home ownership as, “the American dream,” as if people in the rest of the world are still living in yurts. It was a dream that was within reach for most young families of past generations. That’s not the case anymore.

With more people being crowded out of the real estate market and into the rental market, it makes them even more vulnerable to corporate greed and more in need of government protection.

I wrote a column a few weeks ago arguing that the free market system really doesn’t work with health care. The same is true when it comes to providing basic shelter. The housing market will always be a critical part of the economy, as people with money strive for homes that are bigger and better. I’ve got no problem with the profits being made there.

But I do have a problem with obscene corporate profits being made at the expenses of those who are only seeking basic shelter. The government does have a duty to protect those renters. A failure to act this session will result in more New Mexico residents being forced from their homes and living on the streets.


Walt Rubel can be reached at [email protected].

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