Los Angeles to Provide Private Attorneys to Tenants Facing Eviction

The Los Angeles City Council will expand a COVID-era program to assist renters facing eviction, after a 12–0 vote Dec. 12 approving an ordinance that will provide legal counsel for such tenants. Council President Paul Krekorian recused himself from the vote due to a conflict of interest as he is a landlord and Councilors Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price were absent during the vote. Proposed in February, the ordinance—called Right to Counsel—will first provide counsel for zip codes in the city with the most vulnerable population, according to city officials. An expected 2,500 residents should be able to have representation in the program’s first year—2024 —and 10,000 by 2029, the last year of the program under the ordinance....