Los Angeles Begins Discussions on City’s Eviction Moratorium
Since 2020, the City of Los Angeles has been subject to an Eviction Moratorium whose expiration date is tied to the expiration of the City’s Local Emergency, which has been repeatedly extended every 30 days.
The Association had continually advocated for both the City’s Eviction Moratorium and Rent Increase Freeze to, at minimum, be evaluated and modified based on the circumstances of today which are diametrically different from what existed in 2020. At this juncture, two years have passed, and it is time for these no longer interim emergency measures to expire.
In December 2021, a motion introduced by Councilmembers Buscaino and Krekorian was advanced by the City Council directing the City’s Administrative Officer (CAO) to report back in 30 days on all emergency ordinances and policies that are in effect for the duration of the local emergency. The purpose of the report is to help inform the Council about policies that are connected to the City’s declaration of local emergency so that they can determine what actions to consider going forward. The City’s eviction moratorium and rent increase freeze are two ordinances that are tied to the local emergency and; therefore, fall within the scope of the report.
The CAO report was issued on February 17th and was the subject of discussion at this week’s February 22nd Special Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment meeting. During the meeting’s public comment period, the Association urged the Committee to establish a date certain for the immediate end of the eviction moratorium and rent increase freeze.
The Ad Hoc Committee instructed the CAO, in combination with other City offices to, among other related matters, “provide recommendations on a plan for phasing out temporary COVID-19 policies and programs”. In addition to the Committee’s instruction, this week a motion was introduced by Council President Martinez and Councilmember Cedillo directing the City’s Housing Department to report back in 30 days “on recommendations and possible amendments to the eviction moratorium” and data on the emergency rental assistance program inclusive of the number of Los Angeles City residents on the program’s waitlist and individuals who may have qualified for rental assistance but not have received assistance from either the State or City programs.
It is anticipated that the City Council will consider another 30-day extension of the City’s local emergency and through that the extension of all policies and ordinances whose expiration is tied to the expiration of the local emergency during the first week of March. We are hopeful that the recent discussions of the past week, will result in further discussion by the full City Council in the coming days of March. We will continue to strongly advocate for the end of the eviction moratorium and rent increase freeze.