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.