Third in a series
Re “Rent Control – When the Feeling of Home Disappeared”
[Editor’s Note: Distressing reports such as the following incident are bobbing up around Culver City this season. The unprecedented notion of rent control is being heatedly discussed in some quarters of the city following two recent deaths suffered by persons just informed of titanic-sized rent increases. City Hall remains stoutly opposed to the concept.]
After the new owner of Harmony Village, the venerable apartment layout across from Police Dept., took control in the late spring, she gave a mandate to some of the 12 tenants:
Rents are being raised (105 percent in some cases), and the tenants had 60 days to decide their fate, pay up or leave.
“We had no options,” said Jose Garcia, a 19-year resident with his wife.
“So we had to ask for mediation at City Hall. By law, the only ones served were those who showed up, although a lot of other tenants wanted to show up.
“They gave six people the notice, and eventually they did it in three stages.”
Mr. Garcia has a curious theory about why papers were served incrementally.
Strategy.
“I think they did it that way because there is power in numbers, and with smaller numbers, the fighting would have been reduced.”
Tenants did what was logical.
To Repair or Not Repair?
“We asked for more time,” said Mr. Garcia, who has served as the unofficial manager for the complex since the longtime former owner lived off-site.
“Since our place is falling apart, I asked them…
“They did a walkthrough. They came in and saw holes and mould. We have mould in our place you probably could get sick from. Holes in the walls. Tile falling apart.
“They said they would do some repairs. But (it has been months) they haven’t done anything.
“At the mediation, we asked them if they would at least reduce the rent. We were willing to pay some increase.
“Being here so long, we realized we (were paying rent) below market. “When I spoke to the man who was representing the new owner, we tried to deal with them. They gave us an extra 30 days. That was it.
“They couldn’t see that our place was falling apart,” Mr. Garcia said, almost disbelievingly. I felt they wanted to get us out of here, every single one of us.”
(To be continued)
