LB Rent Control Advocates ("Housing LB") Seek Immediate Moratorium On Evictions And Large Rent Increases Until Council Finalizes Forthcoming "Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance"
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(April 8, 2019, 1:15 p.m.) -- Less than a week after a City Council majority (6-3) voted to direct the City Attorney's office to prepare a draft "Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance" for upcoming Council consideration -- an action its supportive Councilmebers insisted wasn't rent control or "just cause" eviction -- "Housing Long Beach," an advocate of rent control for Long Beach has issued a release calling for a moratorium on evictions and large rent increases until the the Council finalizes the ordinance. .
In a release today (April 8), Housing LB says that although the Council majority's April 2 vote reflects a policy that "will begin to stabilize our neighborhoods that have been devastated, and will in turn provide security to our communities," the group now wants LB's Council to do what it says other governing bodies (it cites Inglewood, Glendale and L.A. County) have done until they finalize similar ordinances.
The group's release says landlord reaction to the LB City Council's April 2 vote has been "vicious" and creates uncertainty for renters. "Unless Long Beach places a freeze on rent increases and evictions, all renters are in jeopardy during this period," says Maria Lopez, Housing LB's Director of Community Organizing.
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The group says it will announce this afternoon (April 8) that tenants at two buildings and possibly a third plan to conduct a "rent strike." "We have nearly 100 residents being forced out of their home because the people of dared to demand basic protections," says Housing LB Board President Cynthia Macias.
As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, after nearly six hours hours of discussion, the City Council voted 6-3 (Price, Supernaw, Mungo dissenting) on April 2 (actually April 3, 12:15 a.m.) to approve a substitute-substitute motion by Councilman Rex Richardson (seconded by Mungo) that directs the City Attorney's office to draft and bring to the Council for discussion and voted action a Tenant Relocation Ordinance.
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The ordinance as directed by the Council majority would require landlords who own properties of four units or more (with some narrow exceptions) to pay a tenant who chooses to leave two months rent (could range from roughly $2,700 to $4.500) triggered by a rent increase beyond a city-allowed percentage (10% within a year) or by eviction beyond city allowed reasons. In addition, the Council motion specified payment of $2,000 to exiting/relocating senior tenants and those with disabilities (source of funds may come from taxpayers if available, otherwise from landlord) payable regardless of the tenant's income level.
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