Rent-control dilemma

Re “Tenants want landlords to try their life,” Oct. 31

The city of Los Angeles is reaping what it has sown. The fact is that with L.A.’s rent control we have a situation that not only suppresses new construction of low-income housing, it makes existing housing more expensive by artificially rewarding long-term tenancy and penalizing folks entering the rental market. It also creates a natural breeding ground for abuse on both sides, landlords and tenants. Who wouldn’t want to buy or possess something for 40% of its value? After all, what do you expect when you ask a small group to provide for an entire city what that city will not and cannot provide for itself?

MORGAN MCBAIN

Venice

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I found it laughable to read that people living in a rent-controlled apartment cannot pay higher rent because they have “financial obligations to relatives in Mexico.” Many tenants who pay market-rate rents also have financial obligations to relatives, usually their own children, who live in this country. I don’t see any bleeding-heart liberal lawyers fighting for their rights with this excuse when they are faced with a rent increase.

JUNE MOFFETT

Santa Ana