HACLA Tenants and Other LA Human Right to Housing Collective Members File Lawsuit against Housing Authority

Press Release

January 20, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Bill Pryzlucki, (310) 439-8564

Becky Dennison (213) 840-4664

HACLA Tenants and Other LA Human Right to Housing Collective Members File Lawsuit against Housing Authority

Tenants who were excluded from recent public meetings and processes file suit for violations of the State’s Brown Act and tenants’ right to organize

What: Last month, LA Human Right to Housing Collective members filed a lawsuit in State court to address the Housing Authority’s violations of the right to participate in public processes during the contentious 2011 Agency Plan approval.  The lawsuit will be formally served to HACLA representatives today.

Why: HACLA continuously fails to provide adequate notice for the Board of Commissioner meetings, and regularly takes actions that exclude the public from real participation, all actions that violate the Brown Act. During the 2011 Agency Plan approval process last year, the Housing Authority used a variety of tactics to exclude tenants from participating, provided misinformation to tenants and tenant organizations, and excluded tenant rights organizations from their legal right to educate and associate with tenants upon invitation. Additionally, HACLA continues patterns and practices that violate the Brown Act, such as holding special meetings in lieu of regular meetings, posting agendas only on the door of HACLA on weekends, and not allowing the public into meetings or to address the Board.  Tenants active in the LA Human Right to Housing Collective have taken steps to counteract HACLA’s exclusionary tactics but after HACLA refused to respond to letters with demands to correct these issues, tenants had no choice but to initiate legal action to invalidate the 2011 Plan and correct the participation process in the future.

Who: Los Angeles Right to Housing Collective is a coalition of organizations from across the City of Los Angeles.  Our members consist of tenants, homeowners, immigrants, low income families, homeless people, seniors and youth from across Los Angeles, including East LA, Downtown, South Central, Venice, Koreatown, and Pico Union.  Member organizations include Union de Vecinos, LACAN, POWER,¡Comunidad Presente!, Inquilinos Unidos, SAJE, and others.  We believe that affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing builds stable communities and that housing must be accessible to everyone. In a country with an abundance of resources housing should not be out of reach for the most poor and the most in need.

Spanish speakers available

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Hot Off the Press: Community Connection #37

[enter here to read real stories of Angelenos making history] community connect 37FINAL

It is that time again, Community Connection time! This edition will highlight the Los Angeles Right to Housing Collective’ response to the May 21, 2010 melee in City Council. We will take you to the Mayor’s Mansion and LA Council President Eric Garcetti’s home where residents let him know “that we shall not be moved!” We will also bring you news from Northern Cali where executives of Amerland Group, headed by Ruben Islas, have been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection to faulty fire systems in one of their affordable housing for seniors projects [search back-issues of the CC and read more about Amerland's failures to adequately serve low-income families and individuals].  These are but a few of the stories that are just a mouse click away, join us as we connect communities locally and abroad.

Rent Freeze for Main Street!

Freeze Our Rents Right Now

-Los Angeles, CA

Angelenos, withering under the weight of a depression with no end in sight, are calling for the Los Angeles City Council to give them a break. The break they are demanding comes in the form of a “rent freeze” slated to last for the next 12 months. It is fact that the lion’s share of Los Angeles residents are indeed renters. Plus, in light of the housing bubble collapse, many more Angelenos have been thrust into marginal housing; an already over-burdened social service system; and the ranks of homelessness.

As cuts to crucially needed services continue to send the quality of life for poor residents straight down the toilet, banks and businesses continue to get bailed out. Adding insult to injury  in many instances banks have assumed the role of landlord in foreclosed multi-unit properties. There are numerous reports stating that banks are not making repairs, violating health and safety code standards, and attempting to drive people from their units. Why? Because it is easier to get rid of an empty building, that’s why!

Many of these institutions are direct, or indirect beneficiaries, of the bailout.

A Little History

The City-sponsored “Economic Study of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the Los Angeles Housing Market” (RSO Study) was released in June 2009. This study includes recommendations relative to the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), including calling for the elimination of the 3% “floor” on rental increases allowed by the RSO based on the Consumer Price Index and elimination of the additional 1% rent increase allowed for each utility (gas or electricity) where it’s included in the rent. The study showed that the utility increases allowed in the RSO bears no relationship to the actual cost to landlords, thus providing landlords with a significant windfall at tenants’ expense.

The current CPI rate for 2010 is -.62 %, which means that renters will face unjustified rent increase of 3%, due to the “floor” beginning July 1, 2010, unless the rent increase moratorium is passed.

The City of West Hollywood currently has a 0% allowable rent increase. In San Francisco rent increases are now 0.1%,  in Oakland it is 0.7%, in Santa Monica it is a 1% increase, and in Berkeley it is a 0.1% allowable rent increase.  Why does Los Angeles continue to stand out and to have a 3% minimum increase on the books?

On May 5, 2010, in a 3-1 vote in our favor, we were able to convince the Community & Economic Development Committee that a moratorium is warranted. As with all political struggle our original 12-month demand was reduced to 4 months–of course this was without our knowledge or support. While this falls short of our ultimate 12-month moratorium we are clear that we will continue to fight hard for a vote on Friday that reflects the community’s. Moreover, we will not stop fighting for the Human Right to Housing until all of our demands are met.

If you are a tenant living in Los Angeles we urge you to come and join the growing ranks of tenants fighting for the rent-freeze and the universal right to housing.

Details:

LA City Hall , 200 N. Main, Los Angeles, CA

Friday, May 7^th 10:00am – conference to be held immediately after the vote

Community Connection #36: Hot Off the Press

It is that time again, Community Connection time! In this edition you will join us as we connect the struggle for human rights at home with those struggles abroad. We will also pick a part the latest attempt by the City Attorney, LAPD, Union Rescue Mission, and Business community as they continue to try an banish poor and Black downtown residents. As always, there is plenty of information for everyone and please send us your thoughts.

[Please click on link below to view Community Connection 36]

community connect 36 final

Councilmember Alarcon Calls for Rent Increase Moratorium

–Los Angeles

On the morning of  April 14, 2010 tenants from across Los Angeles crammed into the LA City Council press room waiting anxiously for the press conference to begin. This would not be your usual City Hall pres conference where politicians are surrounded by their staff, lobbyists and the gamut of  deep-pocket special interest players that adorn the corridors of City Hall. Instead, you had an eclectic mix of people adorning colorful t-shirts that boldly stated their organizations, mission and communities standing around the podium.

Today would mark the first time in a long while in which everyday Angelenos would be viewed as a priority. Today Councilmember Alarcon would call for a 1-year freeze on rent-increases in rent stabilized units in Los Angeles.

Councilmember Alarcon opened with a story about he and his wife having lunch at El Pollo Loco. A property owner approached him and said hello, to which Alarcon asked if he was faring okay in these tough economic times. The owner responded that the mortgage meltdown was great for business because there was such a demand for rental property and that  he could raise his rents at will.

That was the make or break moment for Richard Alarcon.

You could sense the pain of uncertainty as tenants from LA CAN, Union de Vecinos, and Comunidad Presente shared their testimony from the podium. Councilmember Alarcon listened quietly, thoughtfully, as Claudia Gomez tearfully told her story about a family of six forced to live in a one bedroom home. It was clear, given the entirety of her comments, that any increase would mean being forced to choose one life sustaining thing over another.

Click Link below to Read Story

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/la-councilman-calls-for-oneyear-moratorium-on-rent-hikes.htm

Claudia G., Union de Vecinos, tells her personal story of unfair rent burden.

Thelmy P., Comunidad Presente, talks about members of their organization who will be devastated by an increase of any sort.

Leonard Woods, LA CAN, tells how it is to be a retired disabled worker and facing rent increases.

Union de Vecinos and Baby Destiny, our next generation freedom fighter.

Joel and the CES family in the house!

Los Angeles Human Right to Housing Collective organizations involved have included: Los Angeles Housing Preservation Alliance, Coalition LA, Coalition for Economic Survival, Comunidad Presente, Esperanza Community Housing, Inquilinos Unidos, KIWA, LA CAN, LACEH&H, Lamp Community, POWER, SAJE, Union de Vecinos, legal partners, and other supporters

LA CAN and allies arrive at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center

Zandra S., LA CAN Member, reminds everyone that housing is a human right.

LA CAN keeps the energy flowing while waiting for the rest of the troops to arrive.

Councilmember Wesson serves chicken, spaghetti, and red kool-aid at the HCED meeting.

Fighting for the human right to housing is catching on, over 500 tenants were in attendance.

Wesson listens as tenant after tenant tells their housing horror stories.

There was overwhelming support for all speakers experiencing gross human rights to housing violations.

Single mother loses her job, her home, and has to move into a garage. The garage owner is seeking to raise her rent another $500 dollars.

Deborah B., LA CAN, tells why it is important to save public housing.

Resident has faced five-illegal evictions as property owner attempts to empty the building.

Each story highlights the pain that people on "Main Street" are experiencing on a daily basis.