Governmental Affairs
The Southland Association of Realtors Governmental Affairs committee met with Carmen Trutanich, candidate for City Attorney at its monthly meeting on May 6, 2009. Mr. Trutanich spent a good deal of time with the committee discussing his qualifications and goals for office of City Attorney. Mr. Trutanich stated that he is never before sought political office, but feels at this time a change is needed in the City Attorney office and believes he has the qualifications to take on that task.
Mr. Trutanich’s stated that his superior level of legal and business expertise, coupled with his commitment to an honest, fair, and transparent City Hall, make him the most qualified candidate for City Attorney. He spent his early career at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where he served with distinction on the elite hardcore gang prosecution team and founded the environmental crimes division.
A successful courtroom lawyer for the past 29 years, Mr. Trutanich has put murderers, rapists, and gang leaders behind bars. His legal victories and his spotless ethical record have earned him the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating from his fellow lawyers. California Lawyer magazine named him one of the top ten lawyers in the field of environmental law. California Super Lawyers has bestowed its Super Lawyer title on Mr. Trutanich for four consecutive years, placing him among the five percent of the state’s lawyers who receive this prized designation.
Mr. Trutanich feels he has the broad experience needed to re-establish our faith in City Hall, trust within our community, and the integrity of the Office of Los Angeles City Attorney.
Mr. Trutanich’s opponent was also invited to speak at the meeting, he declined.
Los Angeles City Council extends Rent Control to new construction
May 22, 2007, the Los Angeles City Council voted to extend rent control
to newly-constructed rental buildings constructed on sites that within
the last five years included demolished rent-controlled apartment units.
Pursuant to the ordinance, a developer can choose between two options
subsequent to the demolition of a rent-controlled building. The
developer can either subject the entire building to rent-control or
allocate 20% of the units to those households making 80% AMI or less.
The California Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of
Greater Los Angeles do intend on filing a lawsuit based on the conflict
with the Costa-Hawkins state law, as well as other issues.
Due to Councilmember Parks' leadership, and in large part to the
mobilization of key stakeholders, the City Council voted to exempt
demolished buildings with three or fewer rental units and buildings with
four or fewer rental units where one of the units is occupied by the
owner of the building for a period of three or more years. In addition,
recommended changes were incorporated into the ordinance which would
allow the affordable housing units to count toward the density bonus
threshold. We thank Councilmember Parks for his leadership on the
exemption/density bonus issues.
Lastly, a HARDSHIP EXEMPTION was implemented for cases of undue
financial hardship. Please note that the exemption application must be
filed with the Los Angeles Housing Department within 90 days.
Relocation Update
On April 11th, L.A. City Council PASSED a measure that could essentially eliminate (condo conversions) the lowest cost entry level housing in the City. The new city ordinance is so onerous as to restrict condo conversions by apartment building owners.
- increase relocation fees that owners of apartment buildings must pay to tenants from $8,000 for seniors or disabled tenants (qualified) to $17,080.00, for other tenants relocation will increase from $3,200 to $9,040 these rates apply for tenants whose income is 80% (AMI) or below or resident in the unit five years or longer. For tenants resident for less than 5 years, a relocation fee must be paid of $14,850 to qualified tenants and $ 6,810 to others.
- require building owners to notify tenants of their intent to convert to 180 days
- increase housing production fees by 198% from $500.00 to $1,492.00
- Enforces the denial of project applications if a rental vacancy rate of 5% is not present in the community
It is because of such policies that rental housing stock has declined in our city. The city should look at methods to encourage investment in housing by the real estate community to increase supply and solve this problem.
If you have comments about this policy, the contact information of our elected officals is below.
Our region:
Hon. Wendy Greuel 213 485 3391 or 818 755 7676 councilmember.greuel@lacity.org
Hon. Tom LaBonge 213 485 3337 or 818 755 7630 tom.labonge@lacity.org
Hon. Jack Weiss 213 473 7005 or 818 756 8083 councilmember.weiss@lacity.org
Hon. Dennis Zine 213 473 7003 or 818 756 8848 councilmember.zine@lacity.org
Hon. Tony Cardenas 213 473 7006 or 818 778 4999 councilmember.cardenas@lacity.org
Hon. Greig Smith 213 485 3343 or 818 756 8501 councilmember.smith@lacity.org
Others:
Hon. Ed P. Reyes 213 485 3451 councilmember.reyes@lacity.org
Hon. Bernard C. Parks 213 473 7008 councilmember.parks@lacity.org
Hon. Jan Perry 213 473 7009 jan.perry@lacity.org
Hon. Herb Wesson 213 473 7010 councilmember.wesson@lacity.org
Hon. Eric Garcetti 213 473 7013 councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org
Hon. Jose Huizar 213 485 3335 councilmember.huizar@lacity.org
Hon Janice Hahn 213 473 7015 janice.hahn@lacity.org
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New Issues
Sidewalk at point of sale.
Gas valves and low flush toilets are examples of the kind of "point of sale" ordinances that we recognize . Legislators often find themselves with issues that they can’t Police or enforce and try to get REALTORS to do the work for them at POINT OF SALE. We are against point of sale items because it increases the work load and liability of REALTORS. If a safety issue is proposed then surely this should effect all homes and not just those at point of sale. The fact that a home is sold has nothing to do with a safety retrofit that should be required on all homes. Point of sale also effects affordability, as the cost may be passed to the buyer.
Currently, there is a move in the city of Los Angeles to have sidewalks repaired at point of sale.
Cities are the party responsible for notifying the owner when a sidewalk needs repair. (See California Streets and Highways Code, Sec. 5610-5618.)
We consider that this piece meal method of repairing sidewalks is not efficient, and pays no regard to those needing repair the most. It may result in the city repairing sidewalks that don’t need repair at a cost of $8 sq.ft. The total cost may be increased greatly by the need to add ramps and move electrical boxes and utilities, this may result in a charge of $10,000 for the seller. Unfortunately, not everyone who sells a home has enough equity to pay for the replacement of sidewalks and still buy a new home. If a sidewalk needs repair or replacement the city should notify the owner regardless of whether the property is being sold and request the work be carried out. The owner should be able to choose who carries out the repair.
City of Los Angeles Motion Contact:
Help
Joey Lewis, Director of Member and Community Relations; Email: JoeyL@srar.com
Getting Involved
Want to get Involved:
REALTORS® are a special interest group working to promote and protect private property rights and to protect and promote the brokerage and management of real estate. Join the Governmental Affairs Committee if you wish to know what is happening politically or wish to volunteer. We learn about and debate the issues, take positions and hold events with legislators. Speak to Joey Lewis via email at JoeyL@srar.com
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