“But we also think that the responsibility for the safety of [low-income people] — and let’s face it, it’s low-income people who have this problem — that’s a responsibility for society at large, for everyone, not just for the people who happen to own the buildings where these people make their homes.”
Citation required. You could just as easily argue, “The dominance of corporate landlords is what enables private landlords to keep prices UP”. I see no indication that anyone is taking a hit so that they can keep prices down. That sounds like foolish talk.