If a tenant took a gun and attempted to force his landlord not to
raise his rent, this would be a criminal act. If government force is
used to obtain the same end, the action is still criminal. The
morality of the issue is obscured by the fact that the theft of one
man's property by another is sanctioned by "law.''
If Mr. McCready and similar would-be controllers of the property
of others are so concerned about the plight of tenants, they should
make the sacrifices necessary to provide low-cost rental housing with
their own funds rather than use government force to commandeer the
property of others.
If, as they claim, "greedy'' landlords are making such a killing
in the apartment rental business, McCready, et al., could make this
big-time money and also accomplish their utopian socialistic goals.
In other words, they could put their money where their mouth is, like
the rest of us greedy capitalists do. What a wonderful example that
would be to the world. But of course they would never think of
putting themselves at risk for others.
BOB NEW
Glendale
Don't enact an ordinance that will turn us into a slum
As a longtime resident of Glendale, it is my opinion that the
current City Council has been the most ineffective and meddlesome
that I can remember.
I think that the situation is analogous to the city of Santa
Monica in the 1970s and '80s, where council members were elected
based upon their support for rent control. As long as they remained
true to this issue, they were allowed to pursue whatever crackpot
issues they chose. As a result, Santa Monica rotted for 20 years.
In Glendale today, the homeowners' associations seem to have just
one litmus test: opposition to Oakmont V. The current council has
been able to create one controversy after another -- flag issues,
flag poles, pay raises, remodeled council offices, rent control,
apartment inspections and complete fiscal irresponsibility. As long
as the council remains steadfast in its opposition to Oakmont V, many
homeowners pay little attention to other matters.
Now the council seems bent on quickly enacting an ordinance to
limit property owners' ability to evict a tenant. If the city wants
to expand its control of how much a landlord can charge, what repairs
need to be made and add to existing laws that define when an owner
can legally evict a tenant, the city should also compensate an owner
when a tenant does not pay his rent, damages an apartment, or racks
up costly legal fees from unlawful detainer actions that occur as a
