40th CES CES Logo 40th CES
Coalition for Economic Survival
Los Angeles Mayoral Election News 
May 2013

The Choice: Garcetti or Greuel?

A Lot at Stake for LA Renters

The Los Angeles Mayoral Election and Rent Control, Tenants' Rights and Affordable Housing

  

On Tuesday, May 21, Angelenos will go to the polls to vote for the next Mayor, City Attorney, Controller, and City Council Members who will represent them. Unfortunately, if the March primary is any indication, it will be a very small percentage of those eligible who will determine the outcome. For renters, who make up 62% of LA's residents, there is a lot at stake.

  

Los Angeles is a city of renters and renters need to look at the record, positions, and who's backing these candidates to make an informed choice when they cast their votes. CES takes a look at the race for Mayor by posing the question:

  

 

What does the following landlord 

and big business groups all have 

have in common?

  

* Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles

* Central City Association

* Beverly Hills/Greater LA Assoc. of Realtors

* Los Angeles County Federation of Business 

* Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

* Valley Industry and Commerce Association 

 

1) They have all been at the forefront of the fight to destroy rent control and undermine tenants' rights. These groups have supported new luxury housing development at the expense of existing affordable housing resulting in the displacement of long term, low rent working family, disabled and senior renters. 

 

A N D .............

 

2) They all support Wendy Greuel for Mayor!

 

 

Where Do They Stand? 

 

 

WENDY GREUEL

 

From 2001 to 2007 Los Angeles lost nearly 15,000 of rent controlled units due to condominium conversions and housing demolitions to for the purpose of building new condos. Wendy Greuel represented City Council District 2 in the San Fernando Valley at that time. During those years, Council District 2 ranked among the top Council Districts citywide in the number of rent controlled units lost. Unfortunately, Ms. Greuel took no action to stem the tide of destruction as thousands of her constituents were displaced from their homes and communities.

 

Vacant Sherman Oaks Lot Where Rent Control Housing Was Demolished in Greuel's District

Based on recommendations in a LA Controller Wendy Greuel December 2012 auditGreuel wants to move the City's effective and award-winning housing code enforcement out of the LA Housing Department (LAHD) and into the troubled Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) -- even though her own audit shows numerous problems with the Department of Building and Safety. This move would be disastrous for tenants and for ensuring safe and decent housing for residents of the city. Landlord groups, who have consistently attacked the Housing Department's code enforcement program, would, no doubt, applaud the move.

 

Ms. Greuel is receiving significant support from developers who are currently attempting to destroy rent controlled affordable housing throughout the city. The support these developers could get under a Greuel administration should worry tenants across the city. Some examples are: 

Save Wyvernwood Apartments!

 

The Miami-based Fifteen Group developers who are attempting to demolish the second largest rent control complex in Los Angeles is backing Ms. Greuel. The mainly low income Latino families living in the 1200 unit Wyvernwood Apartments in Boyle Height are at risk of displacement. Fifteen Group wants to build 44,000 units of mostly luxury housing, a project larger than Park LaBrea, thus families that have lived there for generations could lose their homes and pushed out of their long time community.

 

CES recently filed a complaint with the LA Ethics Commission based on the possibility of a developer providing illegal contributions to the Wendy Greuel mayoral campaign. CES wants the Ethics Commission to investigate $11,150 in donations made by the developer, members of his family and an employee to determine whether these contributions might be laundered by the developer in violation of the city's campaign finance laws.  CES had organized tenants in a 104-unit Sherman Oaks apartment complex who successfully stopped numerous attempts by this developer to convert the building into high priced condominiums, but he continues to seek the a way to get his conversions approved.

 

 

ERIC GARCETTI

 

Eric Garcetti, on the other hand, has a long record of introducing motions to protect tenants and affordable housing, which have become laws. His actions include:

 

* Spearheaded the creation of the nation's largest affordable housing trust fund.

 

* Authored the law to prevent the demolition of housing without the construction of replacement housing.

 

* Authored the law to prevent landlords from unilaterally changing tenants terms of tenancy or rules or apartment rules, thus giving landlords the ability to unjustly evict tenants.

 

Foreclosure Eviction * Put forth the Foreclosure Eviction Ordinance, which protect tenants living in rental properties not subject to the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) from eviction on the grounds of foreclosure. This was nation's first tenant foreclosure eviction protection law.

 

* Voted to cut Systematic Code Enforcement Program (SCEP) fees in half and have landlords pay their fair share.

 

* Authored the City resolution against the 2008 statewide measure Proposition 98, which would have wiped out rent control and tenants' rights protection law in the city and throughout the state. He participated in a news conference with CES and Mayor Villaraigosa to warn voters of this dangerous ballot measure. Tenants Rights

 

* Provided CES important support in our efforts to protect Section 8 tenants from being evicted in Echo Park, which is in his district. A landlord challenged the city's right to extend rent control to a HUD subsidized complexes to opt out of the federal program. The U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals eventually upheld the city's right and tenants continue to be protected.

 

 

Now it is up to you, the voter, 
to decide on Tuesday, May 21. 

Your Home May Depend on the Outcome.

 

 

  
Support the Work of CES
Make a Donation NOW!
Show you support for the work of CES by making a  Donation Now!

The economic justice victories that CES has won over the years such as rent control, creating the city of West Hollywood and winning numerous laws to combat slum housing, secure tenants' rights and preserve affordable housing has only been possible with the generous financial support from people like you. As CES begins its 40th Anniversary year, help make 2013 another year of victories by donating now. 
 

  Find Out Your About Your Renters' Rights
 
Tenants are welcome to come to CES' Tenants' Rights Clinic held every Wednesday evening at 7 pm and Saturday morning at 10 am in the Senior Center located in the Community Building in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Bl, West Hollywood (just west of La Brea, between Vista St. and Fuller St. at Martel Ave. ).

Tenants are assisted on a one-to-one basis by one of our experienced and knowledgeable volunteer attorneys and counselors. No appointment needed. First come, first serve.

Find Out More Details Here

 
Check Out and Subscribe to CES' Blog
Blog OT Logo

Get up to the minute news, analysis, information on events and reports on actions by subscribing to "Organizing Times," a Blog related to CES activities and more......  

 

  Click Here

 

 
CES is on Facebook
Shaking Out Tenants Check out the new CES Facebook page. Take a moment to go to our page and click 'JOIN."
You'll get up to the minute news and information.

 
Follow CES on Twitter
Follow CES on Twitter.

Click Here



Follow CES Exec Dir Larry Gross on Twitter
 
 

For information on broader progressive issues, news and activities.

 

Click Here  


Shaking Out Tenants
Coalition for Economic Survival (CES)
514 Shatto Place, Suite 270
Los Angeles, California 90020
Ph: (213) 252-4411
Email: contact@earthlink.net
Web Siwww.CESinAction.org
Join Our Mailing List

Support CES' Work by Joining or Making a Donation
Donate Now


    

Support CES' Work When You Shop for Your Groceries

Sign Up for Ralphs/Food-4-Less  Community Contribution Program:

RalphsFood4LessSupporting CES' work couldn't be easier: through the Ralphs/Food-4-Less Community Contribution Program, each time you use your Ralphs or Food-4-Less Rewards Card, a portion of your total purchase is donated to support CES' work. This donation does not take away from your individual rewards earning. Registering is quick, easy, and free.

 

Contact CES at (213) 252-4411 or contactces@earthlink.net and we will explain how to register to support CES' work while you shop.