Paloma Esquivel

"Social housing” could soon expand across L.A. with significant help from Measure ULA, also known as the "mansion tax." Prospective tenant-owners agree to keep housing costs affordable and not make a significant profit.

The Mountain fire has burned more than 20,000 acres and destroyed 134 structures in Ventura County. It was about 26% contained as of Sunday morning.

Residents tried for years to get the city to help with dangerous and unsanitary conditions at their property. Despite multiple inspections, the hazards persisted. Then the city ordered the owner to vacate the premises. Now some tenants are homeless.

Under “just cause” eviction rules, L.A. landlords can evict tenants only for specific reasons, one of which is to “substantially remodel” their properties. The City Council directed the city attorney to draft a recommendation to remove that reason.

Tenant advocates had pushed for stronger rules to protect tenants from harassment, saying existing law was ineffective. Landlords said the changes would lead to unnecessary lawsuits.

The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance was adopted in 2021 to better protect renters from being intimidated or threatened by their landlords. But advocates said it was ineffective.

Advocates have long urged L.A. to provide lawyers for low-income tenants facing eviction in court. Now, the city is moving toward making that change.

Measure ULA has faced numerous challenges since it was approved, and its fate is uncertain, but the city is moving forward to develop programs with the tax money.

Local officials had applied for federal FEMA funds to help support newly-arrived migrants who have struggled to find housing in the city.

Rules require that affordable housing built with federal grant money be accessible to people with disabilities. Los Angeles failed to do that, officials said.