But with the answers I have received from those services that I investigated, I would never know if it was worth it or not, based upon the lack of substance that was presented to me upon initial contact.I also found that many of the people singing the praises of particular coaching services tend to be the ones working for them, which to me lessens credibility IMHO. 

I pulled this list from Oaklands Rent Adjustment Program page.The following are subject  to exemptions from Rent Control.Subsidized Housing.Motels, hotels if occupancy not more than 30 days.Hospital, dormitory, extended care facility, etc.Non-profit cooperative owned and occupied by majority of residents.New construction (built after January 1st, 1983)Substantial rehabilitation.3 units or less owner occupied properties.The unit that an owner occupies in any building.Non-profit facility-homeless/substance abuse treatment.Unit in trust for the developmentally disabled.Shared facilities with owner and tenants (bath/kitchen).Costa Hawkins-Single family home or condominium.Vacant unitsLink: https://www.oaklandca.gov/reso...The most notable is the houses built after Jan 1, 1983 exemption. 

In that case there is no harm in you paying cash for properties.

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

If we do nothing wrong, we don't cheat, lie, steal, ect, then we have not harmed ourselves.

When they ask what the issue is you reply the endangering residents is bad enough but then trying to extort an injured tenant harmed in their managed property due to their negligence, wow that's bad BUT then to work to cover it up..... well I'd just hope Ellison is pro-PM and anti tenant, oh yeah, not so much huh.

Prop. 21 is unnecessarily draconian and will likely cause more harm than good.

No harm no foul.

There are ALWAYS unintended consequences to these kinds of laws/rules and the hubris of the govt to believe they can perfectly legislate so as to avoid anyone being harmed/hurt is what will ultimately be 'our' collective downfall. 

Ignoring the internal revenue code, the judge-made-law substance-over-form doctrine and sham-transaction doctrine might also stand in your way.But FWIW, you'll only have to "logic" your way out of it if you're examined or audited.