Culver City CA considering RTC pilot ordinance
According to a Culver City CA press release, the Cit introduced an ordinance to codify a tenant representation pilot project for tenants at 80% or below of area median income (the City already contracts with Bet Tzedek, a legal services provider, to provide eviction defense). According to the press release, “If the ordinance is adopted by the City Council at the April 14th City Council meeting, the Tenant Right to Counsel Program would take effect in May and run for one year. During that year, staff would study the effectiveness of the Program and will report back to the City Council if the costs exceed the amount already allocated to the contract with Bet Tzedek.”
However, as reported by the Culver City News and Culver City Crossroads, the ordinance failed to pass on a 2-2 vote, “with Yasmine-Imani McMorrin and Council Member Bubba Fish voting yes, Mayor O’Brien and Council Member Albert Vera voting no, and Vice Mayor Puza abstaining.” The Vice Mayor noted that he wanted to “make a data-driven decision”, alluding perhaps to some confusion at the March hearing as to the cost of the RTC or the nature of the services provided by Bet Tzedek. The Council instructed staff to return with more information.
