Rent Control: Illegal in Seattle Since 1981

For those who weren't aware, "rent control has been illegal in Washington state since 1981, when the state Legislature passed a law forbidding cities and towns in the state from regulating the residential rents changed by landlords."

Amy Rolph tells us how national politics affected the contentious local fight. "The proposal appeared on the same ballot as presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, who rallied conservative voters and ushered in a wave of deregulation that would last for years."

As Seattle prices rise, some are calling for a repeal. "But repeal efforts have failed to gain traction. Critics point to mounting evidence that rent control is a flawed system — landlords evicting tenants in San Francisco and the high cost of unregulated units in New York, for starters."