The city of L. A. responds to housing problems by punitive inspection programs that raise landlords legal and repair costs, and eviction controls that limit a landlords authority over their property. The result: only those who have no intention of following the law are willing to be landlords in poor neighborhoods.

A tenant lawyer, Elena Popp, is held up a the hero of the piece. However, like other tenant lawyers, she raises landlords legal expenses and allows tenants to stay for long periods without paying rent. No landlord is going to be willing to put up with this abuse unless the other tenants make up for it by paying increased rent.

Rick Smets

West Hollywood