Rent Control Bill
* Your report on the pending attempts to restrict rent control (May 22) does not describe the full impact of this legislation. It did not mention that the City of Los Angeles’ rent-control law would be weakened, as well as laws in West Hollywood and Santa Monica.
Senate Bill 1257, by state Sen. Jim Costa (D-Fresno), prohibits rent controls on condominium rentals, which is a provision of L.A. rent-control law. L.A.’s rent law currently does not control vacant units or single-family dwelling units. If a majority of City Council members felt that in order to preserve affordable housing and better protect tenants they should include vacancy controls and single-family rental units in the L.A. rent law, SB 1257 would prohibit them from doing so.
This bill is a shortsighted and poor public policy measure. It would handcuff all cities in California from being able to address their community housing needs. It would be nothing more than a financial gift from state legislators to the powerful real estate industry. Unfortunately, it would come at the expense of providing needed protections to tenants, especially seniors on fixed incomes, working families and those on the brink of homelessness.
LARRY GROSS, Executive Director
Coalition for Economic Survival
Los Angeles
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