Councilman Dennis Zine at AAGLA

At the regular monthly Saturday morning meeting at Apartment Association of Greater L.A. (AAGLA) on May 8, Councilman Dennis Zine gave a very lively and informative review of the political aspects of the proposed one-year rent freeze, introduced by Councilman Richard Alarcon. If you are not a member and want to keep up on developments that affect rental-property owners, you may want to contact AAGLA and see if their services and activities would benefit you.

The vote on the item may be deceptive because we cannot be sure whether the item was supported merely on a four-month basis (as opposed to one year) or whether a "yes" vote means that particular councilmember will also favor a long-term rent freeze. However, here's the vote: (Ayes) Alarcon, Hahn, Garcetti, Huizar, Krekorian, Reyes, Rosendahl and Wesson. (Noes) Parks, Koretz, LaBonge, Perry, Smith and Zine. (Cardenas was absent.)

Councilwoman Hahn introduced an amendment to exempt "mom-and-pop" buildings of five units or less (only if owned by individuals, not a large corporation). This motion passed, but that could change in the final vote, so don't become complacent if you are a small-property owner.

Bottom line...Councilman Zine is an apartment owner himself so he understands the rising expenses and other difficulties of properly maintaining properties. He's a strong supporter of what is right and what is fair for both owners and tenants. He opposes oppressive regulations, which ultimately hurt both. He emphasized that the battle has just begun if rental-property owners do not want to lose more of their property rights (although we've already lost most to the RSO).

Several things are very important:

(1) Write to your Council representative and tell him/her that they must NOT impose a rent freeze that can bankrupt many of the apartment owners who are already providing low-cost housing throughout the city. Go to www.lacity.org for information on how to contact your Councilmember. (A detailed list will appear on a later post on this blog also.)

(2) Come to the Council meeting for the next vote on this matter on Friday, May 21, and fill out a card to speak. All the cards are counted and entered by the City Clerk as part of the permanent on-line file. If you are uncomfortable about actually speaking, you can decline later. However, having your card counted as a property owner is VERY IMPORTANT.

Here's the info: (PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR "URGENT" FOR THIS MEETING.)

10:00 a.m. (ARRIVE BY 8:30 a.m. in order to get a seat.)
Friday, May 21, 2010

City Council Chambers (Rm. 340)
Los Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street (enter on Main Street--between Temple St. and First St.)
Los Angeles CA 90012

Parking is not easy. There are some lots on Alameda St. or there is parking under the mall, which you can enter on Los Angeles St., north of Temple St. (More info on parking will appear on this blog before the meeting.)