Rent Control

Karen S. Kim Whether a proposed rent-control charter amendment would hold up under the scrutiny of a judge is a question being asked by those for and against the measure. The proposed initiative calls for a 3% annual cap on residential and commercial rents. But according to state law, regulating rents on commercial properties is expressly forbidden, opponents of rent control contend. "Were this to pass, there would certainly be a court challenge," Glendale attorney Pat Liddell said Thursday.

A proposed initiative to put the issue of rent control on the city ballot has reached the city attorney, the council was informed Tuesday. City attorney Scott Howard said the notice of a proposed initiative was “defective,” and the sponsor, Rita Younikian, will be so informed in a letter from his office. “The defects can be corrected,” he said. Younikian has become a familiar figure before council, advocating rent control for low income and elderly residents.

Karen S. Kim For the first time since rent control became a heated topic between property owners and tenants, the City Council will consider taking an official stance on the issue. The council will discuss rent control at its meeting Tuesday. Councilman Bob Yousefian, who did not return calls for comment Friday, had asked the council discuss the issue publicly and possibly pass a resolution stating its opposition to rent control. But Councilman Dave Weaver said holding such a discussion is premature on the council's part.

Karen S. Kim In the race to get competing rent-control charter amendments on the ballot, local property owners are running hard toward the finish line while tenants have yet to put on their sneakers. Property Owners for Property Rights Protection -- which includes the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Glendale Assn. of Realtors and Foothill Apartment Assn. -- has aggressively hit the streets over the past few weeks, collecting well over 25% of the signatures required to put an anti-rent-control measure to voters.

I've been following the debates regarding the rent-control initiative, and I have some thoughts and suggestions for my fellow Glendalians, who will eventually vote for or against this initiative. These voters, of course, will most likely be the 20% of our citizens who care about our city. The remaining 80% just don't give a damn. They'll be too busy watching the new dating show on TV. First, let me say that I am neither a landlord nor a tenant. I am a member of the 31% of Glendalians who are homeowners.

Mr. Carlson's recent commentary (June 10) on the perceived benefits of rent control would be almost humorous if it wasn't so blatantly biased and misleading in all of its content. Mr. Carlson blames declining business in Glendale strictly on rent, never pointing out that it seems that the non-rent controlled areas such as Burbank and Pasadena have been expanding at a far faster rate, while you look at rent-controlled areas such as Eagle Rock or Highland Park that have abandoned shops, deteriorating housing, etc. There are far more factors that lead to economic downfall than only rent.

Given the current shortfall in the California budget, and the subsequent cuts in the city of Glendale's budget, one area that has not been covered is with the current proposal of rent control, there may be a massive burden on the existing budget. Currently as written, there are no provisions for a rental control board. The rent control advocates state that their proposal is "innovative" in that there are no exemptions and no need for a rent control board.

Rent control does nothing regarding slum lords. With or without rent control, slum lords will exist. It will not ease overcrowding of apartments. From time to time, the News-Press publishes an owner's name and rental address where the water bills have not been paid in several months and are so far overdue that the city has issued cut-off dates. Rent control does not address several issues. It will address one issue only -- the cost of rent per unit.

What would your town be like if its harshest critic had a seat at the table of power? The question is a natural one for me to ask, as I am one of the harshest critics of what passes for a government in the city of Los Angeles. I have envisioned from time to time what impact I could have as a councilman ranting about backroom deals and policies that pandered to special interests at the public's expense. Not much, I concluded, unless the public was aroused and wanted real change.

Dear Jim Kussman (“Don’t close crossing after accident,” Mailbag, Nov. 30), we did try to tell Councilman Ara Najarian, the rest of the City Council and all of the other city departments involved in the Flower Street railroad crossing about the danger of opening another one in the city; still we have a state-of-the-art crossing at Flower and San Fernando Boulevard. True that in our case we were fighting the Walt Disney Co., and perhaps pleasing them was more important than the possible risking of human lives.

CITY HALL — Average advertised rental rates in Glendale rose as much as 8% during a three-month period in spring, even as other cities saw their rents decrease, according to a city report. From March to May, the average advertised rents for one- and two-bedroom units grew as much as 2.9% to an average $1,511 and $2,104 per month, respectively, according to the Quality of Life Indicators report released last month. The average rate for three-bedroom units in May was $2,277, representing an 8% increase.

Driving penalties are too soft Needless to say, the vehicle code in our state needs a major overhaul. Penalties for speeding, reckless driving, driving under the influence and many other moving violations are way too lenient. Penalties, especially moving violations, should start at $500, and the driver must attend a driving education class, no exceptions. For each subsequent abuse the penalty should double. After three moving violations their license should be revoked and their vehicle confiscated for one year.

Zarian to host Starbird on show City Manager Jim Starbird is scheduled to appear on ?The Larry Zarian Show? Thursday to discuss the latest on the city?s budget outlook as the recession continues to spiral downward. Glendale was forced to close an $8.4-million gap that opened this fiscal year with the crisis on Wall Street and resulting recession. Million more could have to be put on the chopping block as the City Council prepares to craft a budget for fiscal year 2009-10, which starts July 1. Zarian will also likely press for a response to City Hall activists who have claimed repeatedly that the employee salaries and overtime costs are primarily to blame for the city?