Council Approves Noel Weiss' "9 & 17" (More money for displaced renters in condo-conversions), with Compromises and a Sunset Clause

Man, I hope I get this right (please post comment clarifications), cause it's confusing as hell. Even Jancie Hahn admitted that when they voted on "9 & 17", last week, not everyone was clear on what was in and out, admist all the amendments, motions and clauses. And for the reminder and clarification that seventy percent (70%) of Los Angeles residents are renters, as opposed to owners.

ZD would like to add that this number may increase as it has become less and less affordable to OWN a home, and less and less worth the investment it used to be worth considering over renting. (Why just pay rent, when you can be paying to own?) Well now they are saying property taxes and other associated owners costs are making renting a wiser financial decision.)

And thanks to the CM Hahn for going on the record today to say, "The City has been negligent" in it's housing policy. And other CMs who agreed the city has NO housing policy. And thanks to Noel Weiss, author of the original/clean "9 & 17" that went before the committees and council for a vote, with a few amendments attached.

One public comment speaker brought up a good point regarding "means testing" that would require tenants to provide financial income information to landlords. "A person's income is between him and the I.R.S., not him and his landlord." (A little too personal of information for just any Joe.) Also, means tesing is like telling a driver the amount of money they pay for gas, depends on how rich, or poor they are. WHO CARES HOW RICH OR POOR YOU ARE -- YOU'RE GETTING KICKED OUT ON YOUR ASS SO SOME LAND SPECULATORS AND GREEDY DEVELOPERS CAN MAKE A BUCK. YOU'RE PAYING PEOPLE FOR THE PAIN IN THEIR ASS AND COST OF RELOCATION. THAT COST SHOULDN'T BE PASSED ON TO SOMEONE RICH OR POOR. O.K. rich liberals, maybe we should make rich people pay more for DWP services based on "means testing".

And regarding paying based on how long you live there; have to live there three years for a certain amount, more than three years for a higher amount. MORE B.S. Excuse me, if I live there ONE DAY, and have to move, I still have to put down first, last and security, hire movers, deposits and hookups on all new utility companies, new accessories and items associated with moving in...whether it's ten years or ten seconds.

PLUS, means testing will add more beuracracy and actually drive overall costs up (according to a Deming mindset), will be nearly impossible for landlords to verify income (so make up something low), and opens it up for legal challenges.

So to sum it up: Today Council approved Noel Weiss' "9 & 17" solution, that he showed me months ago, when it was just a little old pdf file no one wanted to aknowlege. It double the money property owners have to pay tenants they kick out into the streets for one of their luxury condo-conversion in violation of Charter vacancy laws, affordable housing requirements and zoning laws. However, it was supposed to nearly triple it for ALL tenanats, without "how long you lived there" requirements and means tests. But everyone agrees, with all the rampant land dedications and tract map approvals popping up faster than Prop. 215 dispensaries, if we wait any longer, there won't be any displaced tenants left to pay. So something, now, with a sunset clause to revisit in a year now, is better than possible perfection later.

BOTTOM LINE: THANK YOU NOEL WEISS FOR YOUR LEGENDARY AND HISTORIC LEGISLATION THAT IS HAS NOT ONLY GOTTEN MORE MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING SCREWED BY LAND SPECULATION, COMMUNITY-WRECKING DEVELOPERS AND THEIR COUNCILMEMBER CAHOOTS-COHORTS -- YOU HAVE FORCED THE CITY TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER TWENTY YEARS!!! HE'S NOEL WEISS -- HE'S THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP! THE CITY NEEDS TO CREATE A DEPARTMENTAL AGENCY CALLED, "NOEL WEISS!" Sorry Wendy, Noel Weiss wins. PLUS, on a personal note, WHO DO YOU THINK TOLD ZD ALL THAT SMART STUFF HE'S BEEN SAYING SINCE DAY ONE AT CITY HALL. ON DECK: Valley Village. Council, it was on the agenda today, but it ain't over. That's a dangerous disaster, waiting to happen with no sewage and narrow roads. Better shut it down, before IT shuts the rest of your political career down.

ZD LEGISLATIVE REVIEW: Another ass-backward execution of a City plan. A compromised and confusing solution, that no one is completely happy with, but everyone agrees, a little something now is better than a lot of nothing later. (BUT I SAY YOU HAD TO VOTE YES ON WHAT WAS BEFORE US, SO I APPLAUD THAT!) In a year, Council will revisit, and if they do not approve a continuation, it will turn into a clean "9 & 17" for ALL steamrolled constiuents.

AND NOW AFTER ONE YEAR AT CITY HALL, AND BLASTING NOEL WEISS' INFORMATION ON RADIO, BLOG, COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT "ON THE RECORD" -- ALONG WITH CHUCK TENNIN, BZ HAWK -- AND NOEL'S CO-HELPER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LA PLANNING COMMISSION -- ZUMA DOGG IS PROUD TO SAY, IN THE MOST EXCELLENT TOM LEBONG STADIUM VOICE EVER...

TODAYyyy...
is TRULYyyy
a GREAT-DAY
IN THE CITY OF LOS ANELES!!!
(Residents cheer, while developers, mayor and councilmembers cry and loath the day the Brown Act went into effect.)

And for all the nuts and bolts of the vote and ordinance, go to lacity.org or read about it in the Daily News or LAzy Times.