The Los Angeles Tenants Union recently took to Twitter and the streets to share its advice with those who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic: “LA, choose food. Choose medications. Choose your future. Keep your rent. #FoodNotRent.”
On Sunday, activists with the tenant rights group and disgruntled Angelenos got behind the wheels of their cars and drove to Mayor Eric Gracetti’s home to protest the moratorium on evictions he issued on March 15. Video on social media showed several vehicles honking as they passed by, while others had signs including one that read “No wages, no rent” in an effort to follow self distancing guidelines.
“[The protest] was in response to the weak legislation that was passed on Friday and the fact that the full eviction ban failed to get the majority of the vote –– something we definitely need,” said Paul Lanctot, an organizer for the L.A. Tenants Union.
The moratorium prohibits landlords from evicting tenants in L.A. during this time if they are able to show they can’t pay rent due to job loss, child care expenses, or medical expenses for themselves or others in their household with COVID-19. The tenants will have up to six months to pay back rent after the local emergency is over.
Lanctot said their proposal includes a more concrete banning of all evictions for the next 30 to 60 days, because as of now it is just a temporary order.
“We are telling folks to basically choose food over rent,” Lanctot said. “[We’re telling them that] if they are worried about April’s rent or if they are worried about May’s rent to not pay it. To send a letter saying that you can’t pay it because of the pandemic crisis going on.”
Woodland Hills resident Tarah Gibson said she’s worried about the pandemic but not as much about her rent since she believes there’s nothing she can do right now.
“I filed for unemployment, so I am waiting to see if I get approved,” Gibson said. “My landlord has been really understanding during this time and knows I'm not trying to get out of rent. She's allowing me to pay her back at a later date.”
Like Gibson, others in South L.A. have also faced job loss and the inability to pay rent. This has led some advocacy groups, such as the L.A. Tenants Union, to support the community during the pandemic.
The union has been holding remote meetings to help L.A. residents who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus restrictions. Last week, the union held a video conference on Facebook to address Angelenos’ concerns about missing rent payments and to discuss how city residents can support each other during the pandemic.
The union is encouraging people to take action by joining their local tenant union chapter.
“A lot of folks are just wondering how they are going to make ends meet and get the basic necessities that they need for their families,” Lanctot said.
Elena Popp, a lawyer who regularly works with the L.A. Tenants Union, advised individuals to get involved if they want permanent protection.
“The Eviction Defense Network is working in coalition with hundreds of other organizations to secure permanent solutions for tenants and homeowners,” Popp said via email. “We are advocating for actual moratoriums from eviction filings and rent and mortgage forgiveness as well as other policies that will get Californians real and permanent housing security.”
Nick Milone is one of the many L.A.residents whose life took a sharp turn when he was forced to move out of his apartment due to the pandemic. Milone now lives with his parents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“My apartment complex is allowing me to do a payment plan for the time being. I sent an email out pleading with them to allow a discounted month or to exempt me,” Milone said.
Milone moved to Los Angeles around two years ago to pursue his dream of becoming an actor and has been working on multiple projects for the past couple months, he said. However, many production companies have shut down due to the threat of COVID-19.
Congress has not included entertainment workers in their relief package because of the requirements for days worked on a job to be eligible, according to a report by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. IATSE revealed that about 120,000 members lost their jobs.
“For people like me that are in the entertainment industry and work multiple jobs that are no longer available, I took any negotiation my landlords gave me to keep up with my already costly rent,” Milone said.
Since Milone knew he wouldn’t be included in the relief package, he said he decided his best option was to move. He still supports the L.A. Tenants Union’s efforts to establish local chapters and repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act and the Ellis Act, he said.
On Monday, Garcetti announced landlords would not be allowed to increase the rent of apartments that fall under the city’s rent stabilization program. Under that program, owners of apartment buildings built on or before October 1987 are allowed to increase rents by about 3% or 4% every year.
“It’s ridiculous to expect people who are losing their jobs, losing hours, to somehow come up with rent in the first place. It’s also ridiculous to place the burden of proof on those tenants, who are trying to make ends meet, to keep up documentation for when they are evicted in court,” Lanctot said. “Evicting residents will only add fuel to the fire of this pandemic. The L.A. Tenants Union is demanding that all rent be forgiven.”