Arguments on Westlake Rent Control

You have published a letter and a news story on Ray Chaikin’s efforts to overturn the Westlake Village rent-control ordinance. He obviously feels that he is being mistreated, and he has the money to pay for a sophisticated campaign to defend himself.

Unfortunately, Mr. Chaikin may have let his advisers lead him into inaccuracies and misleading representations. For example, rents of Oak Forest Mobile Home Park lots are not frozen. They rise annually according to a formula tied to the cost of living in the area. Without the Westlake ordinance (which establishes this formula), they would rise substantially on expiration of current leases.

Mr. Chaikin also says that tenants who “claim to be so poor” are driving “Mercedes and Cadillacs.” Nobody claimed that all of the Oak Forest tenants have limited means. Many, however, are retired and would be forced out of their homes by a substantial rent increase. Of these, many could be financially devastated by the loss of value of their homes (which represent important parts of their retirement savings) should rents increase without bound.

Having no personal ill will against Mr. Chaikin, we wish it were possible for him to resolve his dispute, which questions the integrity of the Oak Forest residents or risks turning one part of the Westlake Village population against another.

KARL G. BALKE

BARBARA A. BALKE

Westlake Village