Rev Left Radio Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can End The Housing Crisis
Oct 29, 2024
Tracy Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis, co-founders of the LA Tenants Union and co-authors of "Abolish Rent", tackle the urgent housing crisis in this lively discussion. They expose the detrimental role of private equity and landlords in perpetuating inequality. The duo shares inspiring stories from grassroots activism and emphasizes the importance of political education to empower tenants. They argue that housing is a human right and explore strategies like rent strikes to drive meaningful change, linking the struggle for housing to broader social justice movements.
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Capitalist Housing System
- The capitalist housing system demands payment for a basic human need, leading to exploitation.
- The state's role is to inflate property values while abandoning tenants, deepening the crisis.
Socialism vs. Capitalism
- Capitalism prioritizes profit extraction from the masses, distorting necessities like housing.
- Socialism aims to use resources for the highest quality of life for most people.
Corporate Landlords
- In the past, tenants had direct relationships with landlords, allowing for negotiation, however strained.
- Now, large corporations own more properties, making it harder for tenants to negotiate.