AUGUST, 2016
INCLUDED IN THIS EDITION:
- Tenant Protection Buyout Plan
- More Facing Displacement - Villa Carlotta: Hotel Conversion Stopped
- Mayor's Tenant Outreach - CES Tenants Leaders Met - Victory for Grocery Workers
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LA City Council Panel Backs Plan to Protect Renters from Unscrupulous Landlords

By Dakota Smith  - Wednesday, August 17, 2016

When Los Angeles landlords seek to remove tenants from rent-controlled properties, they're required by law to compensate their renters.
 
But in a heated housing market, some landlords simply offer a sum of cash to get the renter out. The practice is called "cash for keys," and is sometimes unethical because tenants don't get the full amount afforded to them under the law and mistakenly think they're getting a deal.
 
Seeking to curb the practice, a Los Angeles City Council committee on Wednesday backed a plan to create a tenant buyout notification program designed to head off unscrupulous landlords.
 
Tenants' right groups and renters praised the proposed program at the hearing, saying "cash for keys" offers are targeted at immigrants and non-English speakers.
 
"Many tenants don't know their rights," said Carlos Aguilar, a representative for the Coalition for Economic Survival, "and think they have no other choice than to take that money and leave."

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Testifying left to right- CES Member Los Feliz Tenant Facing Landlord Cash for Key demands Mark Voyce and CES Director of Organizing Carlos Aguilar
CES Testifies in Support of 
Tenant Protection Buyout Program Proposal

Thursday, August 18, 2016

In response the growing tactic of unscrupulous landlords attempting to coerce tenants living in rent controlled units to move by offering them "cash for keys," the Los Angeles City Council Housing Committee considered a Tenant Protection Buyout Program proposal on August 17, 2016.

Coalition for Economic Survival Director of Organizing Carlos Aguilar told the Committee, "While Ellis Act evictions spread throughout the city, we have seen an additional trend that greatly concerns us. Landlords are even bolder using more illegal tactics and offering cash for keys to get tenants out."



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Hollywood Apartment Building Will Not be Turned into Hotel

by  Emily Alpert Reyes - Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Caption from picture to the left: Then-L.A. City Council candidate David Ryu speaks in 2015 at a rally organized by Larry Gross, right, with the Coalition For Economic Survival, for residents of the Villa Carlotta apartment building in Hollywood. 

A h otly debated plan to turn a Hollywood apartment building into a hotel was abruptly scuttled Wednesday in the face of stiff opposition from the local lawmaker who represents the area.

But the future of the Villa Carlotta remains unclear, leaving it in doubt whether former tenants will have any right to return.

The storied Franklin Avenue building has been the center of protests by tenant activists since a new owner bought it and started planning to convert it into a boutique hotel.

Tenants have already been ejected under the Ellis Act, which allows landlords to boot residents from buildings that fall under rent control if the property is being taken off the rental market.



Developer Checks Out of Villa Carlotta Hotel Conversion Plans ... Victory for Community

by Tim Deegan - Thursday July 28, 2016

Sarah Dusseault, chief-of-staff for  Councilmember David E. Ryu (CD4) provided this statement: "Councilmember Ryu's goal is to create and preserve great neighborhoods and protecting Villa Carlotta and its rich history is an important part of that effort.

"Working closely with Larry Gross and the  Coalition for Economic Survival and the tenants throughout this process has invigorated the Councilmember's work to protect tenants rights and prevent displacement."



City of Los Angeles Launches 
Rent Control Awareness Campaign


Coalition for Economic Survival staff and tenant leaders joined with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department management staff and reps from the Apartment Association of Greater LA and California Apartment Association to announce LA's "Homes for LA Renters Campaign," a city outreach campaign, entitled "Home for Renters," to make tenants and landlords aware of the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
 
CES tenant leaders from the Cove Apartments in Los Feliz and Premier Apartments in South LA are featured in the city outreach campaign and participated in the news conference.
 
CES led the effort to win rent control in LA. These tenant protections are meaningless unless implemented and enforcement. Making tenants aware of what their rights are ensure the law's implementation and enforcement.

CES Tenant Leaders Meet 

Coalition for Economic Survival 's Tenant Leader Development Committee met on Saturday, July 16, 2016. CES members from a number of neighborhoods across Los Angeles came together to share their housing struggles and engage in discussions to help strengthen their organizing efforts to ensure safe and affordable housing for themselves and tenants throughout the city.
 
Some of the issues tenants were battling included: management refusal to address poor housing conditions, illegal Section 8 terminations and evictions, threats of displacement due to demolition and landlord intimidation tactics to discourage tenant organizing.
 
The group celebrated Pico Plaza Apartment tenants victory in obtaining just compensation from their landlord to vacant their apartments for a day while construction work is being performed.
 
Tenants attending the meeting came from the following LA area buildings: Gramercy Place Apartments (Arlington Heights), La Villa Hermosa Apartments (Exposition Park), Premier Apartments (South LA), Pico Plaza Apartments (Pico Union), James M Wood Apartments (Westlake), Marathon St Apartments (Hollywood), Canoga Park Apartments (Winnetka), Casa Longwood (West Adams), and Morgan Place Apartments (Hyde Park).


Grocery Workers Secure Contract Victory Soon After Hundreds March in Their Support in LA


On August 10, grocery workers across Central and Southern California approved a contract with the companies, which own Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons Stores.

The contract contains raises of nearly a dollar an hour over the three year span of the deal, automatic increases to compensate for new minimum wage laws, retirement security, and improved notice of scheduling.
 
Just a week earlier the Coalition for Economic Survival joined with other community, labor and religious groups to participate in a march and rally in support of Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons grocery workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 770.

The lowest paid grocery employee had been making $10.20 an hour, and some part-time employees are only guaranteed 24 hours a week.

At the same time Ralphs made over $3.6 billion in profits last year. That equals $69 million every week.

This was an important workers victory. Congratulation to the UFCW and its members.


S how you support for the work of CES by making a beginning of the year Tax Deductible   Donation Now!

The economic justice victories that CES has won over the years such as rent control in the cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood, creating the city of West Hollywood and winning numerous laws to combat slum housing, secure tenants' rights and preserve affordable housing has only been possible with the generous financial support from people like you. 2016 is CES' 43rd Anniversary year. Help make it another year of victories by clicking here to donate now

Find Out About Your Rights At
CES' Tenants' Rights Clinic

Tenants are welcome to come to CES' Tenants' Rights Clinic held every Wednesday evening at 7 pm and Saturday morning at 10 am in the Senior Center located in the Community Building in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Bl, West Hollywood (just west of La Brea, between Vista St. and Fuller St. at Martel Ave. ).

Tenants are assisted on a one-to-one basis by one of our experienced and knowledgeable volunteer attorneys and counselors. No appointment needed. First come, first serve.

Find Out More Details Here

Support CES' Work When You Shop for Your Groceries
Sign Up for Ralphs/Food-4-Less Community Contribution Program:

Food4Less Ralphs
Supporting CES' work couldn't be easier. Through the Ralphs/Food-4-Less Community Contribution Program, each time you use your Ralphs or Food-4-Less Rewards Card, a portion of your total purchase is donated to support CES' work. This donation does not reduce your individual rewards earning. Registering is quick, easy, and free.

To particitpate you need to register online at www.ralphs.com, or by calling (800) 443-4438. Then go login to your account. Link your card to your organization by clicking on Community Rewards - Re-Enroll. Then Type our NPO number 93059 or Organization Name: Los Angeles Center for Economic Survival, in this case. Remember to click on the circle to the left of our organization name. Finally Click on Enroll to finish your enrollment process. Now every time you shop you'll be supporting CES. 

Contact CES at (213) 252-4411 or  contactces@earthlink.net and we will explain how to register to support CES' work while you shop.


Coaltion for 
Economic Survival (CES)

514 Shatto Place, Suite 270
Los Angeles, California 90020
Ph: (213) 252-4411
Web Site:  CESinAction.org

Coalition for 
Economic Survival