OCEANSIDE — Lack of public support for Proposition 99 at the May 7 council meeting may result in a voting bloc for mayoral candidates Jim Wood, Jack Feller and Rocky Chavez.

“This is to me one of the key linchpins that will decide my vote,” said Jimmy Knott, La Salina Mobile Village resident representative.

Proposition 99 faces off with Proposition 98 in the June 3 election. Proposition 99 allows eminent domain and maintains rent controls, while Proposition 98 bars government acquisition of private property and eliminates rent control.

Knott opposes Proposition 98. “It threatens our very livelihood, “Knott said. “Rent control secured a lot of rents.”

For some, support for Proposition 99 and opposition to Proposition 98 is a no-brainer. “Proposition 98 jeopardizes affordable housing tools,” Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said.

Mayor Jim Wood said Proposition 98 would be devastating to Oceanside and have ill effects on affordable housing for seniors and other citizens.

Councilmen Jerry Kern, Rocky Chavez and Jack Feller abstained from voting in favor of city support for Proposition 99. “I do not want to take a stand on the state ballot, I’m abstaining on this vote,” Kern said.

Chavez protested using the dais to project council members’ own political will. Sanchez countered and said she is defending law that protects Oceanside. “Prop. 98 directly impacts our city,” Sanchez said. “The intent is to abolish rent control as a state.”

Public comments, primarily from senior mobile home park residents, were heated before the 2-0 vote that failed the motion. Kern, Chavez and Feller abstained.

Knott sees the elimination of rent control snowballing into tenant harassment that will prompt seniors to move out and allow owners to increase rents. “They will be committing suicide in your chambers,” Knott said. “Owners will harass them to death if 98 passes.”