Los Angeles City Council Meeting - March 7, 2025: Eviction Moratorium, Community Recognitions
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Los Angeles City Council Meeting - March 7, 2025
The Los Angeles City Council convened in regular and special session on Friday, March 7, 2025, to consider an interim control ordinance (ICO) banning substantial remodel evictions, recognize community achievements, and conduct routine business. The meeting included public testimony on the ICO, presentations to the Banning High School girls flag football champions, Holocaust remembrance honoree Hillary Helstein, and women of IBEW Local 11, as well as action on liens and other administrative items.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of March 5, 2025.
- Accepted commendatory resolutions.
- Continued item 6 to Friday, March 14, 2025, without objection.
- Adopted recommendations from the Los Angeles Department of Building Safety to confirm one lien (item 7 as amended), receive and file liens for items 4 and 8, and continue items 1-3, 5 to April 1, 2025, and item 9 to May 6, 2025.
- Items 10-16 (post-hearing items) were adopted unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
Special Meeting – Item 19 (Substantial Remodel Evictions ICO):
- Supporters (tenants, attorneys, advocates): Over a dozen speakers urged passage of the ICO with amendments to protect tenants with pending eviction cases. Several tenants shared personal stories of facing third-round evictions under the substantial remodel loophole, citing the risk of homelessness. Speakers emphasized that the council previously voted unanimously in October 2024 to eliminate this eviction basis. Advocates noted that the city attorney’s office delayed drafting the ordinance, allowing landlords to file new evictions.
- Opponents: David Casheyan of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles called the ICO a "witch hunt" against mom-and-pop owners, claiming fewer than 100 substantial remodels occurred in two years. Another speaker used profane and disruptive language, being removed after multiple warnings.
Regular Meeting – Public Comment (Items 1-9, 17):
- Speakers addressed liens, funding for fire department communications, cannabis taxes, and other topics. One speaker criticized the council’s handling of evidence in a police commission reappointment. Some speakers engaged in disruptive and offensive remarks, leading to removal of one individual.
Presentations and Recognitions
- Banning High School Lady Pilots Flag Football Team: Councilmember McOsker introduced the team, which won the CIF Los Angeles City Section Open Division championship in its inaugural season. Players and coaches shared remarks; the council presented a plaque.
- Holocaust Remembrance Day Recognition: Councilmember Blumenfield honored Hillary Helstein, director of the LA Jewish Film Festival, for her work documenting Holocaust survivor stories through film and education. A clip from her film "As Seen Through These Eyes" was shown.
- Women of IBEW Local 11: Councilmember Hutt recognized the women electricians for Women’s History Month, highlighting their role in breaking barriers in the trades. Diana Limon noted that nationally only 4% of tradeswomen perform physical construction work; Local 11’s apprenticeship is 6% female.
Discussion Items
Item 19 – Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) to Prohibit Substantial Remodel Evictions: The council considered a revised draft ordinance dated March 6, 2025, and an amending motion by Jurado, Blumenfield, and Soto-Martinez. The ICO temporarily pauses the use of "substantial remodel" as grounds for eviction under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance until a permanent ordinance is adopted. Key amendments included extending protections to tenants with pending eviction cases (including those in court) and expanding the ICO’s duration. Council members spoke in support, noting the need to close a loophole that has been used to displace long-term tenants. After debate, the council voted 12-0 to adopt the item as amended and sent it urgent forthwith.
Key Outcomes
- Item 19 adopted unanimously (12-0) and sent urgent forthwith, temporarily banning substantial remodel evictions and protecting tenants with pending cases.
- Items 1-5, 8, 9 (liens) adopted as recommended by the Department of Building Safety.
- Item 7 (lien confirmation) amended by motion Lee/McOsker to waive late and penalty fees; adopted.
- Item 17 (public convenience for necessity application) received and filed as amended.
- Adjourning motions in memory of World War II veteran Ethel Margolin (age 102) and community leader Sandra Mandel; both motions adopted.
- The special meeting was adjourned and the regular meeting reconvened after the ICO vote.
Meeting Transcript
If people really want to get some information about what's happening in your office and then with the county supervisors and all the things that we've discussed, what's the best way for them to find out? The best way is to call 211. Got it. That is kind of our major uh center where people can call, and if you speak different languages, there are people, operators that'll speak to you and direct direct you to the right department. And then they could go to LA LA County.gov. They can also call our offices, the Board of Supervisors, LA County.gov BOS, and they can uh look up whatever, you know, where they live, if who their representative is, you know, which supervisor it is. For us, it's 213 974 411. That's our phone number for the first district. Well, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule. And I will talk to you before you end up your term. So promise me that. I will. Okay. Thank you. Pleasure. Thank you. It's always good to be here. And that's a wrap on this LA Currents. Hello everyone. I'm Susan Huckle, and here's what's happening in LA this week. The Los Angeles Police Department South Bureau collaborated with other leaders at their first annual Human Trafficking Summit. This event aimed to bring awareness, resources, and support to help put an end to human trafficking. Our hope is to end the horrific crime of trafficking in our city. Today we are at the Beehive in South Los Angeles for our first annual South Bureau Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Summit. This is what it looks like when we love our community and do the work that needs to be done to make sure all of our folks, even the folks on the edges, have the kind of community that we all deserve to live in. When I look at this room, this is a beautiful room. This is so great to have policymakers and policy implementers and the do-gooders and nonprofits and survivors here all together. We have our federal, local, state, and city partners here today to just bring awareness. Figaro Corridor is known across the country as being the main track for human trafficking in our city. Last year alone, our Operation South Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force rescued over 121 girls off the Figaro Corridor. The stretch of Figaro Corridor that we were working on, I think it's got um 23 churches and 12 schools. And so you look at that and it's really a family neighborhood. They're families who deserve a neighborhood that feels safe. Young kids walking to and from school and seeing girls half-dressed, and that's just not right. You shouldn't see that in our communities. This isn't okay. This can be ended. This can be stopped. And we should all come together to end the horrific crime of human trafficking. We see you, we hear you, and we are here for you. The 15, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and Play LA made Watts home to the city's first all-access skate park. This new community hub welcomes people of all abilities to roll whatever way they choose and celebrate with the community. Two. This is the first all access skate park. So individuals that need accessibility access to the skate park. They have it here. One of a kind, first in the city. Skating community creates a safe house for to participate in for all. We have people from all over the community coming out to skate. We got pros, we have Olympians, we have young skaters skating for their first time.
openpublica.com