Advocacy 101: Why Housing Providers Must Stay at the Table

Recap from AACSC’s March 2025 Membership Meeting with Executive Director John Edmond

At AACSC’s March Membership Meeting, Executive Director John Edmond led a powerful session on the importance of advocacy for housing providers. With critical policy battles unfolding at the city and state level, this session highlighted why staying informed and engaged is no longer optional—it’s essential for protecting property rights and shaping the future of rental housing in Southern California.

Why Advocacy Matters

Policy decisions directly impact property rights, rental operations, and costs. Without active participation from housing providers, harmful laws may pass unchallenged. John reminded members that lawmakers often hear only from tenant groups—and housing providers must balance the conversation by sharing their own stories.

Pull Quote: “Your voice as a housing provider matters. Without it, others will define the rules for you.”

Understanding Today’s Threats

Just Cause Ordinances: Proposed in Long Beach, these measures could sharply limit how owners manage their properties.
Substantial Remodel Moratoriums: Another Long Beach proposal would prevent relocations for major renovations.
Regional Expansion: If left unchecked, these policies are likely to spread to surrounding cities.

John stressed the urgency of early opposition and coordinated advocacy to prevent restrictive measures from gaining ground.

Building Political Relationships

Housing providers should work to establish first-name relationships with City Council members and local representatives. Practical strategies included:

Inviting officials on property tours to see operations firsthand.
Setting up informal meetings or coffee conversations.
Attending town halls and public forums to increase visibility.

Effective Advocacy Tactics

John outlined practical ways every member can get involved:

Phone Calls & Public Comments: Keep messages short, clear, and respectful.
Letter-Writing Campaigns: Personal stories resonate—AACSC can provide templates.
Showing Up in Numbers: Council hearings and city meetings are opportunities to demonstrate community strength.

The Role of PACs

Political Action Committees (PACs) allow members to collectively support candidates who understand and value the housing industry. John emphasized ethical, transparent contributions to ensure AACSC’s continued access and influence in policymaking circles.

AACSC’s Current Efforts

“Let Us Renovate, Don’t Regulate” Campaign: A petition initiative pushing back against local moratoriums.
Industry Partnerships: Coordinating with aligned organizations to amplify messaging.
Policy Alternatives: Working with legal and policy experts to propose balanced, workable solutions.

Member Engagement Opportunities

Housing providers were urged to get directly involved by:

Signing and sharing petitions
Joining advocacy meetings
Speaking at council hearings
Staying informed through AACSC alerts

AACSC also announced a new legislative tracker launching in April, which will provide members with real-time updates on bills, ordinances, and policies affecting rental housing.

Final Takeaway

John closed the session with a reminder that advocacy is about strength in numbers. Every phone call, every public comment, and every petition signature makes a difference.

Pull Quote: “An attack on one property owner is an attack on all. Our collective voice is our greatest strength.”

✔️ Join the AACSC advocacy task force ✔️ Sign and circulate the “Let Us Renovate, Don’t Regulate” petition ✔️ Attend upcoming city hearings and submit public comments ✔️ Use AACSC’s resources to stay informed and compliant