Los Angeles council adopts temporary tenant protections for remodel evictions after large public turnout

The Los Angeles City Council on March 7 adopted an emergency measure aimed at pausing or tightening evictions tied to “substantial remodels,” advancing the ordinance for first consideration after a specially called session and a 12-0 vote.

Council members opened a special session on the item after a city attorney modification dated March 7 was posted to the council bulletin. The motion as presented included adopting the environmental determination and moving the ordinance, as amended, forward for first consideration; the council then voted to refer the ordinance immediately so it can take effect more quickly.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment during which dozens of tenants, organizers and attorneys told the council that homeowners and investors are using “substantial remodel” claims to push longstanding tenants from their homes and replace them with higher-rent occupants. Multiple speakers said the council had already voted in October to close the loophole and urged the body to implement the promised protections now.

“I ya tengo mi notificación de sesenta días y espero que ustedes voten sí,” said Ignacio Carrillo, a longtime resident who said his building is owned by a real-estate company and that he already received a 60-day notice. Erika Hernández, another resident, told the council her family faces eviction and urged…