ACTION Apartment Association

Penalties for post-fire price gouging in LA County just got a lot more expensive

02/11/2025 5:44 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The L.A. County Board Supervisors voted Tuesday to increase the maximum fine from $10,000 to $50,000 for illegally raising prices and rents by more than 10% in the wake of last month’s fires.

Property prices drop as sellers and buyers remain at odds in post-fire market

02/11/2025 9:13 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Marguleas and other experts warn homeowners against selling too soon. “We’re telling everyone: do not sell property now, because you’ll be losing equity,” he said. “Every month you wait, your property value is going to go back up to normal.”

Worker Relief Fund Launched

02/11/2025 9:10 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Administered by AidKit in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and the City of Los Angeles Economic Workforce Development Department, the fund prioritizes workers who reside in LA County, are at least 18 years old, and have experienced employment disruption due to the emergency.

SM.a.r.t Column: The Water Crisis Behind LA’s Fire Disaster

02/10/2025 10:42 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The crisis exposed how aging infrastructure, designed for a different era, has left one of America’s most fire-prone cities vulnerable to modern mega-fires.

More Pro-Housing Measures on Agenda

02/07/2025 4:16 PM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The items comes after the newly seated Council directed staff to draft an ordinance that would allow large housing projects in non-residential neighborhoods to be swiftly approved ("Council Makes it Easier to Build Large Housing Projects," December 18, 2024).

L.A. City Council committee rejects rent freeze, advances eviction protection proposal

02/06/2025 8:30 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

A key Los Angeles City Council committee on Wednesday rejected an effort to freeze rents citywide, but advanced a series of eviction protections for people economically affected by recent fires.

In a 3-1 vote, the Housing and Homelessness Committee approved a motion that would bar landlords from evicting tenants for a variety of reasons, including for nonpayment of rent or if an owner wanted to move into a unit. Such evictions would be prohibited only for tenants who were economically harmed by the fires, and the prohibition would last one year.

The motion heads to the full City Council, where it's unclear it has the votes to pass.

L.A. to bar landlords from evicting tenants for welcoming fire refugees into their homes

02/05/2025 11:38 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to prohibit landlords from evicting tenants for allowing people or pets displaced by last month's fires to live with them.

In a 14-0 vote, councilmembers granted preliminary approval to such an ordinance, which supporters say is needed because some residential leases ban unauthorized people or pets.

County Preps for Homeless Count

02/04/2025 11:19 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is seeking volunteers for the February 20 homeless count in Santa Monica, which was postponed due to the wildfires that burned across the region last month.

SM.a.r.t Column: Peril, Prevention, and the Path Forward

01/31/2025 10:25 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

As the southland fires continue to burn, we must look beyond immediate firefighting to address long-term resilience through comprehensive protection strategies.

Housing at Airport Site Picks Up Steam

01/30/2025 9:01 AM | Margaret Fulton (Administrator)

Affordable housing -- which has been largely ignored in crafting a plan for the future use of Santa Monica Airport land -- took center stage at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.