PLATFORM : Heartless Evictions

The city of Los Angeles has experienced an incredible increase in evictions in the past few weeks. Many receiving eviction notices are in a financial bind as a result of the riots.

For example, many merchants cannot generate adequate income to pay their landlords or mortgages because their businesses were damaged, looted or burned. And, those employed at those businesses have lost their jobs or experienced a reduction in income. They are on the verge of becoming homeless because their applications for Small Business Administration loans and their requests for federal emergency aid has not yet been approved.

I understand the exigencies of the landlord--the need to receive income from properties. But landlords have to be more understanding of the tenant’s plight. If landlords continue to evict in these situations, we’ll have more homeless in the city and that will only exacerbate our problems.