Michael Lipson
Interesting article in this week’s New Yorker Magazine
written by Nathan Heller and titled “California Screaming.”
It deals with gentrification issues/debate taking place up
in San Francisco. Makes what’s happening here sound
like small potatoes…but there are many similarities and
some of the issues/ideas/organizational efforts that have
been underway up in the Bay Area, might have some relevance
or interest to activists/concerned citizens on both sides of
the issue. For a glimpse of article.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/07/07/140707fa_fact_heller
Yolanda Gonzalez
My religion is Rock and Roll. But my peace of mind is Opera and classical music. Last night was a wonderful performance of opera at Burton Chase Park. It was wonderful to see so many people show up for the performance. I believe I saw a new and young Placido Domingo from Mexico. Let’s keep Opera alive. Hope to see more people show up for the concerts.
Elizabeth Wright
A few months ago, a friend was extremely upset – he had hit and hurt a cyclist with his car. That it was solely the cyclist’s fault dimmed, but did not eliminate, his pain.
Many times recently I have driven in the Triangle, and on Abbot Kinney after dark, and had to hit the brakes hard because a pedestrian just walked out into the street in front of me without even looking, or a cyclist did a dart and swerve maneuver. All were wearing dark clothing. The cycles had no lights or dim lights.
The philosophy of pedestrians and cyclists seems to be “All y’all keep following the rules and I’ll be okay. I’m not responsible for doing anything to avoid an accident – that’s your responsibility.”
To the people who bicycle, skateboard, and walk after dark. Do you know anyone in a wheelchair as a result of a traffic accident? I do. Scars? I do. Mangled hand? I do. Dead? I do. Every accident with one of you has 2 victims – the one who was hit and the driver of the car.
– NEVER ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SEEN. By time a car is close enough to see that tiny little red blinker you may already be in danger.
– WEAR WHITE OR YELLOW. It is not a maturity demo to blend into the pavement.
– USE REFLECTIVE TAPE. And remember how close a 25 mph car will be when its headlights shine on your tape.
– LED LIGHTS ARE CHEAP – USE THEM.
– OBEY THE TRAFFIC LAWS. Start a trend.
– PAY ATTENTION. It may keep you out of a wheelchair.
Yolanda Gonzalez
It is a shame that visitors come so far away to see a dirty Venice Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Dicks from Australia allowed me to take their picture waiting for the bus to take them downtown to Union Station. Waiting at a dirty bus stop on the corner of Abbot Kinney and Venice. But they have at least enjoyed other areas of this city. How are we to encourage tourism in LA?
Roslyn Walker
Ref: Fourth of July issue
What a wonderful “Venice Update.” I LOVED IT.
Diana Austin
Ref:Fourth of July issue
Really good one. Thanks!
Robin Murez
Ref: Fourth of July issue
Two of the pictures in your 4th of July Parade Pic’s are of my class: I’m teaching a class this summer at Otis College of Art all about Endangered Species. We created Otis’ first ever 4th of July Parade entry with our golf cart transformed into a Rhinoceros, Shark bikes, Honeybee stilters, dancing Condors, that Armadillo wagon, big animal heads and more. Glad you saw us. It was great fun.
Bill Hooey, president of Fair Housing Coalition
There is a situation brewing inside the Los Angeles City Hall that every homeowner in Los Angeles should be concerned about. The Los Angeles Housing Department wants legal jurisdiction over single family homes in LA.
A little bit of History…
Originally the job of the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) was to monitor the “Rent Stabilization Ordinance” (the RSO). If a landlord were to raise the rent more than three percent a year, tenants could complain to the LAHD and they would intervene to stop the illegal rent increase.
Over the years, the LAHD grew in size and power because it generates millions of dollars for the City of Los Angeles. At this time, they have about 170 inspectors and they visit every apartment in the city once every three years looking for code violations so they can fine the landlords.
Their policies and practices violate state law yet no one in the City Council or the Mayor office seems concerned about that. The policy of the LAHD is to cite the landlord for ever code violation even when renters admit to having caused the problem. This is a violation of state law. The upper management of the LAHD operates much like a small group of criminals and their only goal is to generate as much money as possible for the city and violating state laws or the US Constitution does not concern them. We have won three lawsuits against them and they have decided to ignore the court’s ruling. The story is much too long to explain here. I simply want to give you a short overview of this city agency.
Now, they are lobbying the Los Angeles City Council to pass a law so when a bank sends a letter to a homeowner that he/she is late on their mortgage payments and they are now in default, the bank will be required to register that action with the LAHD. There will be a $250 filing fee and if the bank is late on filing with the LAHD, there will be another fine of one thousand dollars per day until all fees are paid.
The LAHD also wants authority over foreclosed property and they want the authority to do home inspections before the new owner takes possession. What doesn’t make sense is that the Department of Building and Safety already has this jurisdiction. Do we really need two city agencies doing the same job? If the LAHD is granted this authority by the LA City Council, it won’t be long before they will ask for the authority to enter private single family homes and do routine inspections for code violations. This agenda is all about making money for a city government that doesn’t know how to put the brakes on spending.
I attended the Housing Committee Meeting two weeks ago when all these new ideas were presented. I did not see one person from any homeowners association in the room at city hall. Homeowners organizations need to stay on top of this. If a bank has to pay new fines or fees, the bank will pass them to the homeowners so in the end, it becomes much harder for a homeowner to get out of default.
If you are concerned, contact me at 323-397-8740.
441
Comments–11 July 2014
Michael Lipson
Interesting article in this week’s New Yorker Magazine
written by Nathan Heller and titled “California Screaming.”
It deals with gentrification issues/debate taking place up
in San Francisco. Makes what’s happening here sound
like small potatoes…but there are many similarities and
some of the issues/ideas/organizational efforts that have
been underway up in the Bay Area, might have some relevance
or interest to activists/concerned citizens on both sides of
the issue. For a glimpse of article.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/07/07/140707fa_fact_heller
Yolanda Gonzalez
My religion is Rock and Roll. But my peace of mind is Opera and classical music. Last night was a wonderful performance of opera at Burton Chase Park. It was wonderful to see so many people show up for the performance. I believe I saw a new and young Placido Domingo from Mexico. Let’s keep Opera alive. Hope to see more people show up for the concerts.
Elizabeth Wright
A few months ago, a friend was extremely upset – he had hit and hurt a cyclist with his car. That it was solely the cyclist’s fault dimmed, but did not eliminate, his pain.
Many times recently I have driven in the Triangle, and on Abbot Kinney after dark, and had to hit the brakes hard because a pedestrian just walked out into the street in front of me without even looking, or a cyclist did a dart and swerve maneuver. All were wearing dark clothing. The cycles had no lights or dim lights.
The philosophy of pedestrians and cyclists seems to be “All y’all keep following the rules and I’ll be okay. I’m not responsible for doing anything to avoid an accident – that’s your responsibility.”
To the people who bicycle, skateboard, and walk after dark. Do you know anyone in a wheelchair as a result of a traffic accident? I do. Scars? I do. Mangled hand? I do. Dead? I do. Every accident with one of you has 2 victims – the one who was hit and the driver of the car.
– NEVER ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SEEN. By time a car is close enough to see that tiny little red blinker you may already be in danger.
– WEAR WHITE OR YELLOW. It is not a maturity demo to blend into the pavement.
– USE REFLECTIVE TAPE. And remember how close a 25 mph car will be when its headlights shine on your tape.
– LED LIGHTS ARE CHEAP – USE THEM.
– OBEY THE TRAFFIC LAWS. Start a trend.
– PAY ATTENTION. It may keep you out of a wheelchair.
Yolanda Gonzalez
It is a shame that visitors come so far away to see a dirty Venice Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Dicks from Australia allowed me to take their picture waiting for the bus to take them downtown to Union Station. Waiting at a dirty bus stop on the corner of Abbot Kinney and Venice. But they have at least enjoyed other areas of this city. How are we to encourage tourism in LA?
Roslyn Walker
Ref: Fourth of July issue
What a wonderful “Venice Update.” I LOVED IT.
Diana Austin
Ref:Fourth of July issue
Really good one. Thanks!
Robin Murez
Ref: Fourth of July issue
Two of the pictures in your 4th of July Parade Pic’s are of my class: I’m teaching a class this summer at Otis College of Art all about Endangered Species. We created Otis’ first ever 4th of July Parade entry with our golf cart transformed into a Rhinoceros, Shark bikes, Honeybee stilters, dancing Condors, that Armadillo wagon, big animal heads and more. Glad you saw us. It was great fun.
Bill Hooey, president of Fair Housing Coalition
There is a situation brewing inside the Los Angeles City Hall that every homeowner in Los Angeles should be concerned about. The Los Angeles Housing Department wants legal jurisdiction over single family homes in LA.
A little bit of History…
Originally the job of the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) was to monitor the “Rent Stabilization Ordinance” (the RSO). If a landlord were to raise the rent more than three percent a year, tenants could complain to the LAHD and they would intervene to stop the illegal rent increase.
Over the years, the LAHD grew in size and power because it generates millions of dollars for the City of Los Angeles. At this time, they have about 170 inspectors and they visit every apartment in the city once every three years looking for code violations so they can fine the landlords.
Their policies and practices violate state law yet no one in the City Council or the Mayor office seems concerned about that. The policy of the LAHD is to cite the landlord for ever code violation even when renters admit to having caused the problem. This is a violation of state law. The upper management of the LAHD operates much like a small group of criminals and their only goal is to generate as much money as possible for the city and violating state laws or the US Constitution does not concern them. We have won three lawsuits against them and they have decided to ignore the court’s ruling. The story is much too long to explain here. I simply want to give you a short overview of this city agency.
Now, they are lobbying the Los Angeles City Council to pass a law so when a bank sends a letter to a homeowner that he/she is late on their mortgage payments and they are now in default, the bank will be required to register that action with the LAHD. There will be a $250 filing fee and if the bank is late on filing with the LAHD, there will be another fine of one thousand dollars per day until all fees are paid.
The LAHD also wants authority over foreclosed property and they want the authority to do home inspections before the new owner takes possession. What doesn’t make sense is that the Department of Building and Safety already has this jurisdiction. Do we really need two city agencies doing the same job? If the LAHD is granted this authority by the LA City Council, it won’t be long before they will ask for the authority to enter private single family homes and do routine inspections for code violations. This agenda is all about making money for a city government that doesn’t know how to put the brakes on spending.
I attended the Housing Committee Meeting two weeks ago when all these new ideas were presented. I did not see one person from any homeowners association in the room at city hall. Homeowners organizations need to stay on top of this. If a bank has to pay new fines or fees, the bank will pass them to the homeowners so in the end, it becomes much harder for a homeowner to get out of default.
If you are concerned, contact me at 323-397-8740.
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