Letter: Zina’s issue goes beyond landlord and tenant

I spoke before the La Cañada Flintridge City Council on Dec. 15 about property owner Arun Jain and his attempts at terminating a multiyear lease established prior to his August 2014 property acquisition and the eviction of tenant Zina’s Healthy Corner.

Councilwoman Laura Olhasso stated the city of La Cañada Flintridge has little recourse and involvement because it is a landlord/tenant matter. Olhasso dismisses the fact that Jain is an appointee of the City Council and vice chairman of the LCF Planning Commission, making this a very relevant matter.

How do Jain’s actions as “landlord” separate him from vice chairman of the LCF Planning Commission when he justifies his actions by citing violations of not having a conditional use permit for outdoor seating issued by the commission of which he is vice chairman?

Jain’s motives are less than transparent and the City Council’s dismissive position that this is a “landlord vs. tenant” issue only makes the city of La Cañada Flintridge complicit in Jain’s abuse of power and overreach.

Jain would have every right to view this as a landlord vs. tenant issue if he were not vice chairman of the Planning Commission so perhaps the City Council should seek his resignation so he can pursue his landlord objectives without being an official representative of the city of La Cañada Flintridge.

Keith Teruya

La Cañada Flintridge