Bell Gardens Takes First Step Toward Rent Control

The Bell Gardens City Council on Monday approved the first step in establishing rent control in the city where 77% of the residents are renters.

The council ordered the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would regulate how much rent a landlord can charge and would force property owners to keep their rental units safe and clean.

City leaders tackled the issue less than two months after four of the five council members were ousted from office in a successful recall campaign which was largely funded by absentee landlords. Councilwoman Rosa Hernandez, the only council member who was not recalled, said rent control is needed to protect tenants in case the new council is allied with landlords.

However, City Atty. Peter Wallin said that since the four council members must leave office in just over a month, the final decision on whether to pass a rent-control law in the city will be up to the new council.