After a split 6-5 vote Friday, the Los Angeles City Council will make a final decision Tuesday on a proposal to provide eviction defense for nannies, gardeners and other residents who were impacted economically by January’s wildfires.
Last week, the council was unable to advance a list of recommendations that would have prohibited evictions for non-payment of rent and no-fault evictions for tenants who could show proof of economic hardships as a result of the fire emergencies.
The proposal failed by one vote, as it needed a total of seven to advance.
Progressive City Council members Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez introduced an emergency motion calling for such protections last month. They originally called for a rent-hike moratorium for one year and further protections against certain evictions.
Following pushback from their colleagues and landlords, the City Council referred the item to the Housing and Homelessness Committee, where it was refined.
“This motion has been cut and amended and whittled down,” Hernandez said. “It is a completely different motion but still with protections that are incredibly vital for our city.”
Hernandez introduced additional amendments to establish a three-month period for tenants to pay back-rent and expedite the policy, but it was rejected in a 7-4 vote. She argued the proposal would not be invoking a “blanket, wide eviction moratorium,” which many landlords previously criticized and feared would hurt them.
“This is just a small Band-Aid to help folks stay in their housing so that more people don’t fall into this `eviction to homelessness’ pipeline,” Hernandez said.
Councilman John Lee said he could not support the proposal because of the “unintended consequences.” He argued such policies would ultimately worsen the city’s housing crisis.
Councilman Bob Blumenfield had concerns about how the Housing Department could verify whether a tenant experienced financial distress as a result of the wildfires.
Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades, introduced an amendment to use unspent Measure ULA funds for emergency rental assistance. Her amendment failed in a 7-5 vote.
Councilwoman Imelda Padilla was present for Park’s amendment, but left the meeting afterward and did not vote on Hernandez’s request nor on the overall proposal. Councilman Adrin Nazarian and Tim McOsker were absent during the meeting.
Councilman Curren Price recused himself, as he is a landlord.
Lee also had criticized the lack of data to support the need for the proposed policy.
Housing officials said they did not have any figures at-hand, but they estimated that evictions were on pace compared to 2024, with about 1,500 each month, he said.
Soto-Martinez said that was not the case. According to figures compiled by his office, the councilman said evictions increased to 2,400 so far between the start of the fires to last week.
“We’re talking about real people,” said Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who supported the proposal.
Jurado, a tenant rights attorney, emphasized that even if the policy were approved, landlords would still be able to continue eviction proceedings.
“It’s on the tenant to affirmatively defend,” she added.
Earlier last week, the council approved an ordinance temporarily prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants who have taken in unauthorized occupants or pets displaced by the January wildfires.
Under the ordinance, landlords will also be prohibited from raising rent solely on the basis of their tenants having unauthorized occupants or pets.
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors implemented a similar policy for the unincorporated areas impacted by fires, which will be in effect until May 31, 2026.
Gov. Gavin Newsom previously issued an order prohibiting evictions of tenants who sheltered displaced individuals due to wildfires, though it did not include pets. His directive is set to expire March 8.