Hundreds of low-income renters and their advocates will converge on Los Angeles City Hall today to urge city leaders to pass measures protecting renters.
The Los Angeles City Council is expected to consider a motion that would require owners of the city’s 650,000 rent-controlled units to report to the city whenever they increase their rent. Another measure being considered would require that repairs around the property be done according to code.
A group of about 300 renters and their supporters will hold a rally before a 10 a.m. council meeting, at which one of the motions will be discussed.
Mike Dennis of the East Los Angeles Community Corporation said the measures are “very important steps … but more aggressive action needs to be taken to address the housing crisis with no delay, because the housing crisis is real and it’s devastating working class neighborhoods.”
Dennis said his group is calling on city leaders to address the Ellis Act, a state law that allows property owners to evict renters in order to do rehabilitation work, which he said serves as an incentive for owners to allow their properties to go into disrepair.
Once residents move out of rent-controlled properties, they become market-rate properties, under the city’s rent control program.
