Landlords

Re: "It's time to unseat feudalism, claim inalienable rights," Community Commentary, Aug. 6, Roberta Gutierrez' futile and ignorant attempt to rewrite the Constitution. I'll make the complex as simple as I can. Socialists like Roberta Gutierrez can't seem either to understand the Constitution or tell the difference between "government" and "private property" and its owners, of which the Constitution specifically protects against exactly what Gutierrez ignorantly portends that 67% of the population (renters)

Regarding Jim Carlile's letter dated July 24: Jim lives in Burbank, but he keeps referring to "our landlords in Glendale." You don't live in Glendale so how can you comment as to how wonderful Glendale landlords are? I don't see the logic here. Second, what does he think Glendale landlords should charge? Market value isn't enough? Market value is more than enough for bonus repairs if the building is kept up on a regular basis. Glendale does not have rent control but no tenant should have to pay high rents for an apartment that isn't up to code or standards.

Karen S. Kim Glendale Apartment Assn. President Herbert Molano is asking both sides of the city's fierce rent-control debate to call it quits. Molano, a Glendale landlord who recently proposed that the City Council adopt a rent-mediation program, sent the council a letter asking for help in stopping two community groups from putting competing rent-control and anti-rent-control initiatives to voters. The Glendale Tenant Assn. and Property Owners for Property Rights Protection instead should concentrate on formulating a rent-mediation program that works, Molano said.

Tim Willert CITY HALL -- Renters and landlords descended on City Hall Tuesday night to hear the council and the Housing Authority address skyrocketing rents and discuss several possible solutions, including rent control and rent mediation. A report on the issue of increasing rents and their effects on low- and fixed income tenants, requested by both bodies, was presented by City Atty. Scott Howard. "We are in a time when rents are escalating rapidly and vacancy rates have dropped," Howard told audience members, many of whom had to be moved downstairs from the crowded council chambers to watch the joint public meeting on a TV monitor.

Re: Joe Thompson ("Tenant/landlord disputes can be resolved amicably"). I have to say that Joe Thompson has been one lucky tenant. Now, I am not saying that landlords are all bad. I think he is just lucky that he hasn't met one in 30 years. I didn't think much of the mask idea and was glad that nobody went through with it. However, I understand the fear of being recognized and retaliated against for complaining to a government agency (or several)

I am writing regarding "Property owners, landlords make their last stand," (News-Press, Aug. 21) and "City to vote on tenants' rights" (Aug. 19). First, concerning the property owners making their last stand, some landlords don't do anything about bothersome tenants regardless of not having to give reasons for evictions. Here's a good example. A landlord rented a unit to a parent and a teenager and the teenager's friend. The teenager and the parent moved out, leaving the friend in charge of the unit.

None of the opponents of rent control has come forward with meaningful arguments that consider the system, but only their own personal Lilliputian realm. None have any alternative solution. Everything they argue is about "me" and "my money," not solving the problem. The opponents of rent control are so convinced by each others' arguments that they fail to understand what rent control is being proposed. Arguments that rent control will not allow a landlord to cover costs, for example, defy the facts.

CITY HALL — Council members Tuesday unanimously supported developing a plan that seeks input from tenants, apartment owners and commercial property management groups about parking concerns in the city. Mayor John Drayman directed city staff during a City Council and Glendale Housing Authority joint meeting to research the parking issues. City officials have received complaints for several years about the availability and accessibility of parking spaces in commercial and apartment buildings, Senior Planner Kristen Asp said.

Karen S. Kim For some tenants, a recently passed just-cause eviction law doesn't have much muscle outside the walls of a courtroom. The ordinance, passed Aug. 20 by the City Council, aims to cut down on retaliatory evictions by requiring landlords provide just cause, such as nonpayment of rent or violation of tenant obligations, to evict a tenant. But unless tenants are willing to argue the case in court, the ordinance offers little protection against an eviction notice.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- Two Glendale landlords delinquent in paying their water bill have until Sept. 11 to settle their account with the city. Glendale Water & Power announced Friday it has notified the tenants of the two buildings that service may be disconnected. Residents would have to move out Sept. 14 if they don't have water. The two landlords are H.B. Peters, who owns two units at 824 W. Glenoaks Blvd. and Thomas Nachazel, who owns four units at 234 to 236 N. Columbus Ave. The amounts owed range between $100 and $800, said city spokesman Ritch Wells.

In a novel and potentially precedent-setting legal case, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in Glendale ordered Dish Network to pay for the removal of three satellite dishes from an apartment building whose owner says were ordered by tenants without his approval, but who have since moved out. Christopher Spencer was awarded $850 in small claims court for the cost of removing the equipment from his apartment building in Burbank and $110 for...

Landlords in California will have clear authority to ban smoking in apartment buildings under a measure signed Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) authored the legislation, which takes effect Jan. 1, in response to concerns that the law was murky on whether smoking can be banned in apartments. Under SB 332, landlords must notify tenants where smoking is prohibited in an apartment complex, including whether it is banned in specific apartments.  L.A. TIMES

MPG Office Trust Inc., the largest office landlord in downtown Los Angeles, reported a profit in the second quarter as the sale of some large commercial buildings boosted the bottom line. "Operating conditions are still challenging, but MPG is making headway clearing out some junk in the trunk," said analyst Michael Knott of Green Street Advisors. "MPG has made some nice progress but really needs a strong rebound in downtown L.A. leasing and cash flow. " The Los Angeles real estate investment trust, which also owns several buildings in Orange and San Diego counties, finished the quarter with a profit of $118.4 million, or $2.42 a share.

LA CRESCENTA — High rents continue to plague businesses on Foothill Boulevard and have left one property empty after its only tenant moved out last month in search of lower expenses. Curves moved out of its space at 3800 Foothill Blvd. after the landowner declined to drop the property’s rent low enough, said Faith Cartland, owner of the women’s-oriented weight-loss business and gym. The gym is now at 3115 Foothill Blvd. “It could be a little bit bigger, but then I would have to pay more rent,” Cartland said of the new space.

BURBANK ? The family of a Colorado boy mistakenly believed to be trapped in a 38-inch Mylar balloon last week didn?t make much of an impression during their time in a rental home here. Several neighbors near the Heene family?s former Burbank address said they didn?t know the family, who lived in west Burbank from June 2006 to June 2007. Afterward, the family moved to Colorado. But Heene?s landlord, Carrie Cavalier, said things weren?t as wholesome as they seemed. ?

Glendale needs rent control Today, we are living in a recession — everyone tries to cut their expenses as much as possible. However, they cannot do anything about their major monthly expense — the rent. Rent control is a law practiced in some cities. It limits the increase of rents and protects tenants from eviction. Some cities in California, such as Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills have rent control, but, unfortunately in Glendale, there is no rent control.

CITY HALL — City staff announced Monday that they plan to meet with property management companies this summer after they received complaints about landlords who rented parking spaces to non-tenants and about the lack of parking in the city. They will set up forums with property management companies to discuss the pros and cons of parking in Glendale, said Alan Loomis, the city’s principal urban designer. “Essentially, the issue in multifamily zones has to do with a sort of separation between how the parking spaces are rented relative to the [total]

CITY HALL — Council members Tuesday unanimously supported developing a plan that seeks input from tenants, apartment owners and commercial property management groups about parking concerns in the city. Mayor John Drayman directed city staff during a City Council and Glendale Housing Authority joint meeting to research the parking issues. City officials have received complaints for several years about the availability and accessibility of parking spaces in commercial and apartment buildings, Senior Planner Kristen Asp said.

CITY HALL — Council members Tuesday will discuss whether to once again get involved with stabilizing rents, six years after Glendale emerged from the thorny issue of rent control with a failed voluntary program to mediate tenant-landlord disputes. Councilman Ara Najarian called for the discussion in July following weeks of five-minute public diatribes from Glendale resident Rita Younikian on the need for rent control in a city where low-income residents are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.

The city of Glendale has filed a criminal complaint in Glendale Superior Court against the owners and managers of a La Crescenta apartment complex for alleged violations involving retaliation and failure to pay relocation fees to tenants. The 33 count complaint was filed against Valderas Drive Properties, LLC, of Los Angeles, and Starpoint Commercial Properties, of Beverly Hills, managers of 2121 Valderes Drive. The complaint contains six infractions and 27 misdemeanor counts. The firm was the target of numerous complaints by residents for attempts to evict tenants and for violating state and city rules in remodeling the property.