by Kerry Dougherty

Why is it that leftists hate landlords?

Is it the second syllable – “lords” – in the name? The fact that they are landowners? Or is it that landlords make fat, juicy targets when the left tries to gin up divisions between the so-called haves and have nots?

Why do I ask?

Well, in New York City, Zohran Mamdani’s vilification of landlords was the cornerstone of his mayoral campaign. One of his first actions in office was to pressure the city’s Rent Guideline Board to freeze the rent on about 1 million properties beginning October 1.

Did they also freeze the utility bills on these frozen rentals? The city taxes? Insurance?

Of course not.

The evil landlord is expected to eat those skyrocketing costs because as everyone knows, all landlords are heartless fat cats who sit around at night, counting their money.

What Mamdani doesn’t seem to know is that the best way to ensure that there is a shortage of rental units is to create an environment where there is no return on investments for the owners.

NYC-style landlord targeting is beginning in Virginia where Democrats are crowing about the tenants’ rights measures they passed in the last session.

As of July 1, tenants in Virginia now have 14 days – up from the current 5 – to squat in a rental unit before a landlord can begin eviction measures for non-payment. Continue reading.