Carlos Moreno at Pasadena City Hall
In this era of rising rents, evictions, and uncertainty, duration in one place, in Pasadena, is no guarantee of security.
By Garrett Rowlan
Carlos Moreno, a resident of Pasadena since 1985, faces eviction from the house in which he raised his four children from elementary school through PCC. For 23 years, he paid his rent promptly, took care of the property and even made (owner approved) repairs.
Then came the eviction notice giving him 60 days to vacate.
Carlos was confident the law in Pasadena would protect him. He loves Pasadena and loved raising his children in Pasadena. After searching Pasadena’s website, he found no protection against the eviction despite his belief that the motives likely are a change in the color of the tenants and an increase in rent following superficial improvements.
Even though the eviction is without just cause, there is no provision for reimbursement of moving expenses or assistance with the significant cash outlays that come with renting a new place. Carlos estimates these expenses at $5,000, an amount for which he is totally unprepared.
Carlos Moreno speaking in front of Pasadena City Council
“It is not easy to move,” Carlos laments. He is on disability, his wife works part time and his brother is staying with him while undergoing chemotherapy.
Although Carlos always has voted, he is deeply disillusioned about the value of his vote. He now believes that there are no rent control or just cause eviction laws because Pasadena politicians “only protect the people who have the money to pay…to finance [a] politician’s career.”
has there been a new landlord/owner during the time the tenant rented?
This is all the article said about that “His belief that the motives likely are a change in the color of the tenants and an increase in rent following superficial improvements.”
I bet we see a lot more of this, it must be really tempting for landlords to kick out old tenants so they can significantly increase the rent with ‘market rates’.