@Jon Schwartz1) To begin with 3 million FMV in California captures innumerable small business owners standing entirely on its own, but if that weren't bad enough, the valuation standard is actually aggregated across all properties owned so it's not in fact in excess of 3 million per property making it much worse still.2) Commercial properties have a very suspiciously expansive scope in the initiative (the devil is in the details, as is typical, and here as well) thus capturing both mom and pop businesses and in many cases even agriculture.3) Unsurprisingly those proffering the provision have acknowledged it is but a first step, once they get their foot in the door with passage of the initiative they will shoot for full repeal of Prop 13 targeting all real estate owners.4) But you make a really great point, sell it as tax on fat cats (while in reality it's scope will hit many many small businesses) makes it palatable to a largely uninformed electorate and further softens them up for delivery of the really big hammer when they shoot for full repeal of Prop 13.

So this is a longer topic but let me give my quick thoughts on 'fat' and overhead in a property management setup:You absolutely need property managers and maintenance.  

I am headed for fat FI, so I can do everything I want.

By limiting middle fat.

By limiting middle fat.

By limiting middle fat.

@Lee Scarlett There is no basis for a legal fight....the mom already signed the deed (the fat lady has sung), the son just has delusions/dreams of doing something with it which will never happen.  

That falls under the legal doctrine of "Pigs get fat and Hogs get slaughtered."

In fact, after seeing the rent rates the thought that popped into my head was "if it were me I'd be sitting fat and happy with that cashflow, but I'd still advertise it for sale at my "make me sell" price and be tickled by the cash-out if it came."

We're all million dollar fat cats juggling 100 apartment buildings in a portfolio, don't'cha'know, and living off our yachts on the Riviera.