Notes on Rigor, Economics, Socialism and Politics
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley hopes to cap annual rent hikes for Wisconsinites and offer more support to student renters in a new policy proposal centered on renters’ rights.
Crowley unveiled the plan, dubbed the “Fair Deal for Wisconsin Renters,” on Wednesday, just under a month before his Nov. 3 election against Republican candidate Tom Tiffany.
The six-pronged proposal comes amid concern about rising housing costs, especially in college towns like Madison where a growing populationhas added strain on the area’s housing market.
A September report from Apartment List shows the median rent in Dane County has increased by roughly 33% since September 2020, though it has steadily decreased since a peak in 2023, when the city had the fastest-rising rent of any major city in the nation.
The median rent in Dane County was reported to be about $1,500 as of September, which was higher than the national median of about $1,400. The median rent statewide was roughly $1,200, or nearly a 30% increase from 2020.
