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# Pico neighborhood landlord pleads not guilty to charges
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/pico-neighborhood-landlord-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges/
- Published: 2003-07-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:34:55.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Real Estate & Housing, Pico, #archive-import

*By The Surf Report is sponsored by: BY JOHN WOOD Daily Press Staff Writer*

An eastside Santa Monica landlord pleaded not guilty this week to criminal charges that allege she harassed her Mexican-American tenants into moving so she could raise the rent.

Jaroslava Liska’s attorney, Eric Meller, entered the plea on his client’s behalf in Santa Monica Superior Court this past Tuesday. He said Liska is out of the country on business but will return for her next court appearance scheduled for Aug. 27.

Liska, who owns a six-unit complex at 1711 Delaware Ave., stands accused by City Hall for allegedly violating Santa Monica’s tenant-harassment ordinance.

The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office filed charges against Liska in May for allegedly harassing the Vivanco family into moving from the rent-controlled apartment they have lived in for 17 years.

A bench warrant was issued for Liska July 1 when she failed to appear at her original arraignment. Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins retracted the warrant this week after Meller told the court Liska felt faint and dizzy on that morning and couldn’t show up.

Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky said some plea negotiations have taken place but no resolution has yet been reached in the case. He would not comment on the nature of the discussions.

A separate civil action against Liska filed in January by the Vivancos is pending. Meller said that matter will be tabled until the city’s criminal charges are resolved. He declined to respond to the allegations in either of the cases.

Candido and Elvira Vivanco, and their four children, pay $654 a month for their two-bedroom, rent-controlled apartment. Neighbors said similar units in the building go for more than $1,000.

Liska sent the Vivancos a 30-day notice in December, alleging the family is disruptive because their children play outside, kick balls against the apartment walls and play loud music.

The Vivancos allege Liska dislikes family renters so much that she didn’t allow their children to play outside or have friends over, according to the civil lawsuit, which accuses Liska of yelling at the children and trying to get the family to sign a lease that would increase their rent if they had any more children.

But tenants in the Delaware Avenue complex described the family as friendly and good neighbors. They said Liska

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 19, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)