ELECTION 2013 - The Coalition for Economic Survival (CES) is seriously concerned over LA City Controller and Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel's enthusiastic announcement today about receiving the endorsement of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA).
The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles is one of the key landlord organizations that CES has battled over the years on rent control and tenants' rights issues.
AAGLA endorsements are based on the candidates they believe would be more supportive of landlord issues and will vote on bills of concern to them. They clearly believe that Wendy Greuel is a better candidate for landlords than her opponents. This is a very important factor that tenants should keep in mind when they cast their ballots on Election Day in the Los Angeles Mayoral race.
Greuel's news release announcing the AAGLA endorsement states, "I really appreciate this endorsement from the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. This endorsement is a reflection of the dynamic alliance of support that my campaign has built across Los Angeles. As Mayor, I plan on working with them to ensure that residents throughout our City have an abundance of affordable housing options and that every Angeleno has a place they can call home."
To say AAGLA creates affordable housing is a real misuse of the term," said Gross. "AAGLA has never provided affordable housing for low-income renters unless forced to do so by inclusionary housing laws. In fact, their efforts to oppose rent control and support the weakening of tenants' rights are positions that lead to less affordable housing, which diminishes the ability of Angelenos, particularly low income and working families, from securing a place they can call home.
In addition to today's endorsement, Greuel has myriad key business endorsements including: the Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of Realtors Local PAC, the Los Angeles County Federation of Business (Biz Fed), the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce's Jobs PAC, and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) PAC.
These are all groups that have been at the forefront of the fight to destroy rent control and undermine tenants' rights. Based on this, we have a duty to warn renters that Wendy Greuel does not appear to be a friend of tenants and we urge that they strongly consider this when they cast their ballot on March 5.
CES has been attempting to get all LA Mayoral and City Council Candidates to tell voters specifically what they would do, if elected, to protect rent control, prevent tenant displacement and preserve existing affordable housing. It appears, with the AAGLA endorsement, that renters got an answer from Wendy Greuel.
(Larry Gross is the executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival and an occasional contributor to CityWatch. He can be reached cesinaction.org) –cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 16
Pub: Feb 22, 2013
