Ballot Measure to Curb Rent Control Moves Forward in Culver City

Property owners in Culver City have rallied and have submitted signatures for a ballot initiative to require that any rent control ordinance be put to a vote of Culver City’s residents. During late March, Ron Bassilian, president of Protect Culver City Political Action Committee, delivered to Culver City’s Clerk a petition signed by over 4100 people, far more than the 2801 signatures required for the ballot initiative to qualify.

If passed, the ballot measure would reverse the City Council’s decision to freeze residential rents for one year pending City Council review of a possible permanent rent control ordinance and would require voter approval for any action on rent control. Proponents of the ballot measure have claimed that the City Council “overreached” and exceeded their elected mandate by imposing the rent freeze and possibly imposing a permanent rent control ordinance. Those familiar with Culver City have acknowledged that the City Council may propose a competing ballot measure.

Culver City’s City Clerk has forwarded the signatures to the Los Angeles County Registrar /Recorder for verification. Once the County Registrar / Recorder has qualified enough signatures, the City Clerk will report on whether the petition qualifies for the ballot. It is anticipated that this process will take about one month.