A man in a sweatshirt in an office next to windows with sunlight coming through sits in an office.
Peter Rupert, UC Santa Barbara economics professor, talks about rent control, in the a talk with journalist Jerry Roberts.

Former Santa Barbara News-Press editor Jerry Roberts hosted two separate podcasts this week on the topic of rent control in Santa Barbara.

UC Santa Barbara sociology professor Rich Applebaum argues in favor of a rent freeze and rent stabilization, while Peter Rupert, UC Santa Barbara economics professor, argues that only politicians win when government controls the rents.

The city of Santa Barbara earlier this year passed a rent freeze. Property owners cannot raise the rent until 2027, to give the City Council time to pass a rent stabilization ordinance.

Applebaum and Rupert has out the details from different perspectives in the podcasts below. Click on the YouTube links to watch.

Peter Rupert

Rich Applebaum

The Santa Barbara News-Press is hope to the popular local shows Newsmakers with JR and Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina. Check back weekly to catch the latest podcasts.

Joshua Molina is editor of the News-Press and an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of reporting across the South Coast. He is a professor of journalism at Santa Barbara City College and host of local news show SB Talks with Josh Molina.