This just isn't true. Rents decreased in Texas after an increase in supply. Increasing supply will decrease prices. Freeways typically don't cost money so that doesn't apply.
Rent control just rewards people who are lucky enough to get locked in lower rates. The best way to make rent affordable is to increase supply, then the price will fall.
Criminal penalties for the landlords and at least triple refunds issued to affected tenants. Also build so many new apartments that the prices fall since landlords are forced to compete to find tenants.
I can see an issue. Someone makes a bill called the Save Puppies Act with terrible stuff in it and everyone votes for it without reading the bill. No one has time to read every bill. Potentially it could be done with a few bills during presidential election years.
They are freezing salaries because they think employees will not be able to find an employer offering them more money. If they could freeze salaries every year they would.