Rosendahl Empowerment Panel

For Immediate Release

February 7, 2008

Contact: Nate Kaplan, 213-978-0770

ROSENDAHL EMPOWERMENT PANEL
HOLDS WORKSHOP ON RENTERS’ RIGHTS

WHO: Councilmember Bill Rosendahl's Empowerment Congress, Affordable Housing/Renters' Rights Committee

WHEN: Saturday, February 9, 2008, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: West Los Angeles Municipal Building - Hearing Room 2nd floor
1645 Corinth Avenue (between Iowa and Santa Monica Blvd.)
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(Parking available behind the Municipal Building)

WHAT: In an effort to address the loss of affordable rental housing and the dislocation of renters due to condominium conversion projects in Councilmember Bill Rosendahl’s district, the Affordable Housing/Renters' Rights Committee of Rosendahl’s Empowerment Congress is sponsoring a teach-in on rent control, evictions, the Ellis Act, relocation, leases, and other affordable housing issues.

The event will provide information useful to renters if they live in housing that is rent-controlled, the target of present and future development , or if they want to know more about municipal and state resources that serve to protect the rights of all renters.

"Renters make up 62% of the residents in my district," said Councilmember Rosendahl. "Yet, they are at an enormous disadvantage -- in terms of information and resources -- in getting their fair share and in getting people to honor their rights. I applaud this committee of the Empowerment Congress for organizing this workshop."

Development-based evictions will be the major focus of the workshop’s broad program, covering the law, issues and resources that pertain to renting in the City of Los Angeles.

"In this district, tenants of some 800 rental units were evicted and forced to relocate in 2006," said Mindy Meyer, Chair of the Affordable Housing/Renters' Rights Committee, "and while the number varies every year, loss of affordable rental housing persists as a serious problem in our district."

Eight housing experts will be presenters at the event. Among them will be a representative of the City's Department of Housing to explain the resources available to: process renter complaints; inspect rental properties for safety and code violations; and for taking action against non-compliant landlords.

The subjects to be covered include: leases; rental agreements and lease attachments; a developer's application to upgrade property or convert to condos; a tenant’s opportunity to influence processes/appeals; tenants' rights, evictions and the Ellis Act; protections for preserving affordable housing; opportunities for affordable housing development; the future of renters in Los Angeles. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions from workshop attendees. "Part of the American Dream is to own a home, not to rent one," said Ken Marsh, a member of the committee producing the event, "With the majority of our population renting and many preferring to," he continued, "renters need to be informed and to weigh in on the issues that directly and exclusively affect them. This event will provide the information renters need to exercise their rights and begin to stand as equals in the American Dream with homeowners."

Refreshments will be served and Spanish translation provided.

All attendees will be given a copy of the Renters' Rights 101 Workbook, containing notes on subjects discussed during the event as well as other useful information.

The event is produced by the Affordable Housing/Renters' Rights Committee of Councilmember Bill Rosendahl's 11th District Empowerment Congress

For further information and/or to RSVP, contact Ken Marsh at 310-903-2173 or email at kmarsh@ca.rr.com.


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