Tenant advocates urge City Council to direct Housing Department to execute April 25 tenant legal-services contract

Dozens of tenant advocates and legal-service providers urged the Los Angeles City Council on June 17 to direct the Department of Housing to execute a tenant legal-services contract the council approved on April 25.

Speakers said the contract — which commenters said was approved April 25 and signed by the mayor on May 1 — funds legal representation and tenant-assistance programs that serve low-income renters across the city. Several organizations warned that if the contract is not executed within days, providers will lose funding and clients will lose services.

"Ustedes han aprobado, necesitan dirigir, que el Departamento de Vivienda lo ejecute," said Nicholas Gartner, who identified himself as with United Tenants in Los Angeles. "Ese contrato... necesitamos que lo ejecuten."

Public commenters described programs that provide eviction defense, outreach and rental-assistance navigation. Nishha Vías, identifying herself as from Public Counsel, said the program had helped at least one tenant avoid eviction: "Janis estuvo en riesgo de desalojo, pero gracias a las el programa de asistencia... pudimos trabajar con el propietario para poder cubrir su alquiler anterior." Several speakers said the contract currently is not fully executed and will expire in mid/late June if not completed.

Eline Bertha, who identified herself as executive director of a local foundation, told the council the contract supports community organizations and cited city funding figures: "Nosotros hemos dedicado más de 4,000,000 de dólares para los programas de ayuda de inquilinos. Están en peligro dada la falta de fondos." Another speaker said the program has protected "más de 4,200" tenants (as stated by the commenter).

Speakers repeatedly asked the council to direct City Housing to sign the contract and to use emergency authority if necessary. One commenter referenced an emergency provision (recorded in the meeting as "section 10.50.5") and urged the council to consider it if the city attorney’s approval is delaying execution.

The council did not take a formal vote during public comment on June 17 to force execution of the contract. Several speakers warned of immediate impacts if services lapse and asked council members to act before the contract’s stated expiration date. The council opened public comment, heard speakers representing multiple nonprofit legal providers and tenant groups, and then proceeded to other agenda business.

Community groups planning follow-up said they will return to future meetings if the contract remains unexecuted.

Notes: Remarks in Spanish are quoted verbatim from the public-comment record of the June 17 meeting.