L.A. Housing

On Nov. 22 you published “Livable Doesn’t Mean Slums” (by Lauren Saunders, Commentary). There is no doubt that some landlords, like the one Saunders describes, are unscrupulous.

In the interest of balance, you should also note that there are many destructive, dishonest tenants. Saunders feels the courts and Health Department favor landlords, but malicious tenants can use the Health Department to harass a landlord, and the delays of the court system guarantee at least two rent-free months to those who decide to stop paying rent. Although the landlord will win a monetary judgment in such cases, it is meaningless if the tenant is on welfare.

Our society needs low-cost housing, but as problems with government-run projects show, this cannot be achieved without tenant pride and responsibility. We can ill-afford abuses by landlords or tenants. The laws and administrative procedures designed to protect hard-working poor people may have been appropriate when they were established, but they should be reconsidered in a time of drug abuse, moral breakdown, meaningless judgments and high vacancy rates.

It would be constructive if you were to present a balanced, in-depth review of this question.

LAURENCE PRESS

MARCELA PRESS

Los Angeles