I dont understand what the argument of this article is. As someone who has tried to maintain a blue collar job in a large city (im an engine mechanic) Its nearly impossible to live anywhere near your job without rent control.

It was good work and good pay, but spending 65% of it on rent? what incentive do i have to stay when the median home price is a million dollars or more? the thing this article does not take into account is the fact that without rent control or some form of affordable housing, that "amazing city" you live in grinds to a halt pretty fast.

Try living in a city where the bus system never sees regular maintenance because the motor pool is 2 hours away. broken down garbage trucks just sit in the road because wrecker crews cant afford to live anywhere near the metropolis. Ambulances and fire trucks might, or might not, make it to a destination because the fleet techs with diesel certification like myself dont live in your city.

pipefitters and machinists need a place in your city if you want clean healthy water and sewage service. And the next time a drunk backs over a telephone pole, you're going to need a lineman or three to fix it.