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# The government bureaucracy just grows
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/the-government-bureaucracy-just-grows-editor/
- Published: 2006-06-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T18:18:14.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Hanna Levinson Santa Monica*

I was amazed to hear recently that the budget for the department of the Rent Control Board is something like $5 million annually, and that was several months ago when I called them and was told so. That and they didn’t have the power to help me get my bathroom painted and patched from falling plaster. It was suggested I call the health department and file a complaint.

Not exactly the relationship I want to nurture with my landlord, and a seemingly poor alternative to negotiating my rights as a renter. I’m truly not sure how this Rent Control Board serves my needs as a renter; perhaps this city council will enlighten us at the June 8 City Council meeting.

Why not do away with them altogether? At least cut the department significantly. According to SMDP columnist Bill Bauer, there are 27,500 rental units each paying $142 per year. Seems they’re mostly just making paperwork and collecting a very whole lot of money from every single renter in this city. Reduce their department size, consolidate the bureaucracy. The whole system is chokingly over-bloated, and for this renter, apparently ineffective.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 12, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061206.pdf?ref=smdp.com)