Los Angeles is about to experience the biggest mass eviction in generations – and it might be just the beginning of a huge wave of mass evictions – unless we stop a corporate real estate giant that is trying to force hundreds of families out of their homes.

The multi-billion dollar firm Douglas Emmett is using the need to install fire sprinklers as a pretext to evict every resident of its 700 rent controlled units of the Barrington Plaza apartments in West LA -- even though sprinkler experts say the work can be done without evictions. Tenants aren't just fighting to stay in their homes. They are fighting a precedent that could be devastating to renters all over California.

Mike talks with residents and tenant advocates on this episode of What’s Next, Los Angeles, and explains why Douglas Emmett's eviction strategy is bogus, and what Los Angeles should be doing about it.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Barrington Plaza Tenants Assn:  https://www.bptenants.org/

Barrington Plaza residents sue owners over alleged misuse of state law for mass evictions: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-14/barrington-plaza-residents-sue-owners-over-misuse-of-state-law-for-mass-eviction

The mass evictions at Barrington Plaza will happen again if L.A. doesn’t act to protect renters: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-05-18/mass-evictions-barrington-plaza-renters-decarbonization-protections

They face L.A.’s largest eviction in years. But these Westside renters won’t go quietly: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-05-26/westside-renters-barrington-plaza-mass-eviction

Fire-plagued apartment complex to remove tenants for sprinkler retrofit: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-05-08/fire-plagued-apartment-complex-to-remove-tenants-for-sprinkler-retrofit

In a Westside council race, a major landlord’s $400,000 donation causes a stir:  https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-12/westside-council-landlord-donations

Coalition for Economic Survival:  https://www.cesinaction.org/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.