Paloma Esquivel is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She was on the team that won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for public service for investigating corruption in the city of Bell and the team that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for coverage of the San Bernardino terror attack. Prior to joining The Times in 2007, she was a freelance writer, worked in Spanish-language radio and was an occasional substitute teacher. A Southern California native, she graduated from UC Berkeley and has a master’s in journalism from Syracuse University.
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The Mountain fire has burned more than 20,000 acres and destroyed 134 structures in Ventura County. It was about 26% contained as of Sunday morning.
Tenant advocates had pushed for stronger rules to protect tenants from harassment, saying existing law was ineffective. Landlords said the changes would lead to unnecessary lawsuits.
Under “just cause” eviction rules, L.A. landlords can evict tenants only for specific reasons, one of which is to “substantially remodel” their properties. The City Council directed the city attorney to draft a recommendation to remove that reason.
Residents tried to get the city to help with unsafe conditions. Despite inspections, hazards persisted. Then the city ordered the owner to vacate the premises.
The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance was adopted in 2021 to better protect renters from being intimidated or threatened by their landlords. But advocates said it was ineffective.
Advocates have long urged L.A. to provide lawyers for low-income tenants facing eviction in court. Now, the city is moving toward making that change.
Measure ULA has faced numerous challenges since it was approved, and its fate is uncertain, but the city is moving forward to develop programs with the tax money.
Local officials had applied for federal FEMA funds to help support newly-arrived migrants who have struggled to find housing in the city.
Rules require that affordable housing built with federal grant money be accessible to people with disabilities. Los Angeles failed to do that, officials said.
The Los Angeles Housing Department had issued an order to vacate 5700 S. Hoover St. because of the conditions in the building.