Landlords Should Fund Study on Gentrification Impacts: LA County Supervisor

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles County supervisor called Tuesday for policies to protect tenants in gentrifying neighborhoods and suggested that studies of the issue could be funded by landlords.

Supervisor Hilda Solis previewed a motion, co-authored by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, directing staffers to look at policies that protect rental rates, tenant tenure and freedom from discrimination.

She also proposed an analysis of state and federal laws that regulate the private rental market.

"Displacement pressures are stoking community concerns as capital floods into long-neglected urban areas," the motion states. "The maintenance of diverse, stable neighborhoods is in the interest of public health and orderly development."

Long-term tenants are interested in investing in their community and should benefit when property values go up, Solis said.

Implementing new policies and advocating for legislative changes, if needed, could be costly, but the motion offers a solution.

"There need be little or no cost to the county general fund if administrative costs are recovered through a small per-unit fee paid by landlords," it states.

The motion is expected to be considered next week.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock