February 19, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Mayor’s Push for Affordable Housing Sparks Displacement Concerns in LA

Renters Face Displacement – Advocates Call for Safeguards

By Dolores Quintana

In an effort to address the pressing need for affordable housing, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has issued an emergency order that has, in turn, led to the displacement of residents from rent-controlled apartments, creating a significant challenge for those unable to afford relocation.

According to an article by the Los Angeles Times, scores of residents are being compelled to relocate due to Executive Directive 1, the mayor’s initiative to expedite the construction of affordable homes.

The directive, credited with accelerating the review process for over 9,000 new apartments categorized as “affordable” with specific rent caps, is under consideration for permanent implementation. If enacted into law, it would eliminate public hearings and some time-consuming reviews for projects deemed 100 percent affordable.

However, renters’ rights groups argue that the city must first implement additional safeguards to protect tenants. Instances include a South L.A. couple, immigrants from Guatemala, facing eviction from their rent-controlled granny flat, slated for demolition to make way for an affordable housing project. Despite eligibility for nearly $25,000 in relocation payments, they have encountered challenges finding affordable L.A. apartments, particularly those that permit dogs.

Maria Patiño Gutierrez, handling land-use policy for the nonprofit Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, expressed concern about the potential loss of apartments regulated by the city’s rent stabilization ordinance, designed to limit rent increases in older apartment buildings. She warns that if the mayor’s program becomes permanent, the number of low-cost apartments targeted for removal, especially in South L.A., will likely increase, resulting in residents being pushed out of their neighborhoods.

While Los Angeles is recognized for having robust tenant protections, renters’ rights groups advocate for additional measures to ensure that low-income renters displaced by affordable housing projects are not compelled to move to distant, more economical areas.

Advocates argue that these tenants should have access to apartments in new affordable projects developed within their communities. Responding to concerns from tenant advocates, Mayor Bass has initiated an assessment of her fast-track strategy, emphasizing the importance of finding ways to protect low-income renters while accelerating affordable housing production.

In an interview with the Times, Mayor Bass acknowledged the need to thoroughly examine the program, stating, “Now that this has come to our attention, we are going to take a microscope to the program. The goal of this is for people to live better, not to hurt people.”

Executive Directive 1 is touted as one of Mayor Bass’ greatest achievements a year into her term as mayor. From January through September, developers submitted applications to build over 12,000 affordable units, nearly double the proposals from the same period the previous year. Projects categorized as 100 percent affordable are expected to result in the demolition of 195 rent-controlled units across the city, with 46 new affordable housing units proposed for each unit being replaced, according to information from the mayor’s team.

Related Posts

New Report Ranks Culver City as a Top Place to Age, But Challenges Remain

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Survey Highlights Strengths and Key Areas for Improvement in Senior Living A newly released report shows that 81% of surveyed...

Free Legal and Recovery Workshops for Los Angeles Residents Affected By Wildfires

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Public Counsel Offers Expert Guidance on Rebuilding, Avoiding Scams, Trauma Public Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s LA Home Burglarized on Valentine’s Day

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Burglary Part of a Growing Trend of High-Profile Crimes in Los Angeles The Los Angeles home of actress Nicole Kidman...

UCLA Students Protest Suspension of Pro-Palestinian Groups On Campus

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Demonstrators March After University Suspends Student Organizations Groups of students gathered on the UCLA campus Tuesday afternoon to protest the...

Metro LA to Begin Ticketing Bus Lane Violators with Camera Enforcement

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Motorists Parked in Bus Lanes Will Face $293 Fines For Each Infraction Drivers who park in bus lanes will soon...

The Department of Public Health to Hold Virtual Town Hall on Post-Fire Air, Soil, and Water Safety

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

LA County Officials Will Discuss Environmental Testing, Recovery Efforts The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will hold a...

Los Angeles County Launches $32.2 Million Relief Grant for Wildfire Victims

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Eligible Households Affected by the Palisades Fires Can Apply Soon The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs...

Culver City Police Seek Suspect in Weekend Battery Incident

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Man Accused of Assaulting a Victim is Still at Large Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a...

(Video) Enjoy Beach Proximity and Prime Amenities at Ocean View Hotel

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

For More Info, Go To Oceanviewsantamonica.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/RmxV3mgYCs pic.twitter.com/30oSvl7Zvf — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) February 17, 2025

Deadly Stabbing Outside Popular Santa Monica Bar on Saturday

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

One Man Killed, Another Injured in Early Morning Attack The Bungalow, a popular restaurant and bar in Santa Monica, was...

Iconic Gloria Vanderbilt Estate Hits the Market for the First Time in 72 Years

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Historic Beverly Hills Mansion With Star-Studded Past Listed at $16.5 Million For the first time in 72 years, the historic...

Melrose Avenue Businesses Forced to Close After Floodwaters Inundate Stores

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Heavy Rains Turned Melrose Avenue Into a River, Causing Severe Damage  Heavy rainfall in the Fairfax District caused flooding on...

State Farm Faces Scrutiny Over Emergency Rate Hike Request From State Official

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Commissioner Lara Demands Answers on Financial Stability and Consumer Impact California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has responded to State Farm’s...

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...