Renters say officials fail to enforce safe housing
David Wagner
covers housing in Southern California, a place where the lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness.
Published May 22, 2025 3:50 PM
Dark smoke rises behind homes in Altadena during the Eaton Fire.
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Adriana Martinez
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Topline:
Pasadena and Altadena renters whose homes were covered in toxic ash during January’s wildfires are now suing local government officials for allegedly failing to inspect their units and require landlords to carry out necessary cleaning.
The details: Individual renters, along with two tenant unions, filed lawsuits Wednesday against the city of Pasadena and the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Citing previous LAist reporting, the complaints allege local officials have refused to enforce tenants’ right to a safe, habitable home.
The backstory: Public health officials have warned residents that ash carried by the Eaton Fire contains levels of lead harmful to human health. But when renters have asked the city and county to intervene with landlords who have refused to arrange for professional cleaning, officials have said tenants need to hire a lawyer and pursue a civil case on their own.
Read on… to learn how Pasadena and L.A. County officials are responding to the lawsuits, and how tenants have been dealing with the lack of clarity.
Pasadena and Altadena renters whose homes were covered in toxic ash during January’s wildfires are now suing local officials for allegedly failing to inspect their units and require landlords to carry out necessary cleaning.
Individual renters, along with two tenant unions, filed lawsuits Wednesday against the city of Pasadena and the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Citing previous LAist reporting, the complaints allege local officials have refused to enforce tenants’ right to a safe, habitable home.
But the renters say that when they asked the city and county to intervene with landlords who refused to arrange for professional cleaning, they were told they needed to hire lawyers and pursue civil cases on their own.
“It felt like, because we weren't homeowners, we weren't really being taken seriously,” said plaintiff Brenda Lyon.
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Renters sue Pasadena and LA County over toxic ash cleanup, lack of enforcement
The other plaintiffs include the Pasadena Tenants Union, the recently formed Altadena Tenants Union and three other renters who allege Pasadena and L.A. County officials failed to uphold their legal obligation to enforce habitable housing conditions.
The city of Pasadena declined to comment on the lawsuits. County authorities have not yet responded to LAist’s request for comment.
Local officials told renters to take their issues to court
Lyon said she, her husband and their baby were forced to leave their duplex unit in Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven neighborhood when the Eaton Fire ignited on Jan. 7.
After the fires died down and the family was able to return, Lyon said they found the home covered in ash and soot. When she asked her landlord about plans for cleaning, she said she was told no remediation work would be provided, and if she didn’t like it, she could move out.
Lyon said she pleaded with Pasadena officials to enforce her family’s right to a habitable home, but the city’s response was to tell her to pursue a civil case against her landlord.
“We were displaced for three months,” Lyon said. “We used our own personal money” to deal with smoke damage, she added.
Pasadena renter Brenda Lyon speaks at a podium in front of a downtown Los Angeles courthouse.
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David Wagner
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LAist
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How Pasadena and L.A. County are responding
In response to LAist’s questions about the lawsuit, Pasadena city spokesperson Lisa Derderian said in an email: “The city has not been served with the lawsuit so can’t comment at this time.”
Earlier this year, Pasadena officials told LAist that disputes over ash can lead to civil cases between landlords and tenants. They told tenants that the city will not get involved because the word “ash” is not specifically mentioned in the city’s building code.
LAist also reached out to the L.A. County Department of Public Health for comment. Officials did not respond in time for this story.
Looking ahead to future fires
Attorney Lena Silver with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles, who is representing tenants in both lawsuits, said the goal is to obtain a court order requiring local officials to inspect rental housing and enforce habitability standards when it comes to wildfire smoke damage.
“No one here is seeking money — we're seeking enforcement of the law,” Silver said. “Unfortunately, we know that it's likely that there could be future urban fires in Los Angeles and in California. Our lawsuit would help future tenants clarify the law.”
The question of who is responsible for cleaning apartments coated in ash after a wildfire has been a source of much confusion for tenants, landlords and local government agencies.
For example, after a code enforcement director in the city of L.A. said tenants would be responsible for cleaning ash inside their own units, city housing officials later changed their guidance and said landlords are responsible for such work.
It’s standard for renters insurance policies to cover damage to a tenant’s personal property, such as their furniture and clothing. But damage to the actual home — including the walls, windows and HVAC systems — is typically addressed by landlords through their homeowners insurance policies.
However, some landlords have told tenants they fear that filing a smoke damage claim could cause their insurance costs to rise.
Where displaced renters have been staying
Landlord refusals have left some renters unable to return to their homes, forcing them to pay for temporary relocation costs on top of their usual rent.
“We hear from families who are living in their cars and edging closer to homelessness every single day,” said Katie Clark, an organizer with the Altadena Tenants Union. “Throughout all of this, Los Angeles County has been virtually silent.”
Clark said other renters have had no choice but to return to smoke-damaged units and suffer the negative health consequences.
Lyon, the Pasadena renter, was able to get her landlord to agree to finish cleaning after Neighborhood Legal Services sent the landlord a demand letter. But she said this lawsuit is needed because many tenants cannot afford an attorney or find free legal aid.
“[Renters] should feel comfortable saying, per the state of California, my property is not habitable,” Lyon said. “Their city should support them and say, ‘You know what, we're going to send someone to do a check on your property, and then if your landlord doesn't comply, we're going to do a citation.’
"That’s why we're here today — to protect tenants of the future.”
The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
UCLA has been a frequent target of the second Trump administration.
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Genaro Molina
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Following a year-long inquiry into the admissions policies and practices at UCLA’s medical school, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice alleges that school leadership “intentionally selected applicants based on their race,” to the detriment of white and Asian applicants.
How does UCLA admit medical students? In a statement, an unnamed UCLA spokesperson responded that the medical school is complying with all federal and state laws.
“The admissions process at [the] David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is based on merit and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant. We are confident in our practices and our mission to maintain access to a high-quality education to all qualified students,” the statement said.
What is the Trump administration looking for?
In a press release, the department noted that “Medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors,” and that this fuels its “focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools.”
A history of lawsuits between Trump and UCLA: The Department of Justice has repeatedly gone after the University of California in Trump’s second term. Earlier this year, the department sued the university over allegations that UCLA officials allowed antisemitism on campus, and unsuccessfully demanded a range of concessions to bring UCLA more in line with its ideology, in addition to more than $1 billion in fines. The administration also tried to freeze the university’s research funding, prompting an effort to have the state of California be a backstop.
What's next: The DOJ says it wants to find an agreement with the university “to ensure that admissions practices are brought into legal compliance.”A UCLA spokesperson said the university is reviewing the report, but did not outline next steps.
Disclosure: Julia Barajas is a part-time graduate student at UCLA Law.
Following a year-long inquiry into the admissions policies and practices at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice alleges that school leadership “intentionally selected applicants based on their race,” to the detriment of white and Asian applicants.
“UCLA’s admissions process has been focused on racial demographics at the expense of merit and excellence — allowing racial politics to distract the school from the vital work of training great doctors,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, an assistant attorney general for the DOJ.
In a statement, an unnamed UCLA spokesperson responded that the medical school is complying with all federal and state laws.
“The admissions process at [the] David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is based on merit and grounded in a rigorous, comprehensive review of each applicant. We are confident in our practices and our mission to maintain access to a high-quality education to all qualified students,” the statement said.
How does UCLA admit medical students?
The school’s website lists the following criteria:
Undergraduate record
Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores
Letters of recommendation
Graduate record (where applicable)
Life experiences (research, volunteerism, clinical, work, leadership, publications)
Admission interviews
AAMC PREview Exam scores (for Traditional MD Program Track applicants only)
The DOJ investigation focused on three items: median GPA scores, MCAT scores and the PREview Exam.
What does the DOJ say about academic scores?
The report looks at median GPA and found that based on materials provided to the DOJ, the scores for some applicant groups were lower than others for the 2023 and 2024 admitted classes. Here’s 2023:
How does race matter in the medical field?
The DOJ investigation also takes issue with “a theory that increasing ‘diversity’ of the healthcare workforce will improve healthcare outcomes for Black and Hispanic patients” that it says was promoted by the program’s director showing an “intent to racially discriminate under the guise of saving lives and conceal her true motive to treat certain applicants unfavorably based on their race.”
The investigation also looks at the PREview Exam, which it says asks open-ended questions about whether applicants are from marginalized backgrounds. “By design, this question asks Black and Hispanic applicants to reveal their race so that DGSOM can know and consider it.”
A number of studies suggest that when patients have doctors of the same race (called “concordance”) it leads to better medical results. A 2018 study of Black men in Oakland suggested doctors and same-race patients had better communication that led to better outcomes, and a 2025 study out of UCLA found Hispanic Medicare patients had a lower readmission rate and length of stay when treated by Hispanic doctors.
What is the Trump administration looking for?
In a press release, the department noted that “medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors,” and that this fuels its “focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools.”
Still, the administration has also curtailed that funding. Last year, the Republican-backed “big, beautiful bill” that President Donald Trump signed into law capped federal debt for professional degree students—a move that could push students to borrow from private lenders, which provide far fewer protections for loan repayment and don’t offer loan forgiveness.
A history of lawsuits between Trump and UCLA
The Department of Justice has repeatedly gone after the University of California in Trump’s second term. Earlier this year, the department sued the university over allegations that UCLA officials allowed antisemitism on campus, and unsuccessfully demanded a range of concessions to bring UCLA more in line with its ideology, in addition to more than $1 billion in fines. The administration also tried to freeze the university’s research funding, prompting an effort to have the state of California be a backstop.
What happens now?
The DOJ says it wants to find an agreement with the university “to ensure that admissions practices are brought into legal compliance.”A UCLA spokesperson said the university is reviewing the report, but did not outline next steps.
Disclosure: Julia Barajas is a part-time graduate student at UCLA Law.
Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment reporter and brings you the top news you need for the day.
Published May 6, 2026 2:14 PM
New self-checkout rules are coming to Santa Ana retail stores next month in an effort to target theft.
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Justin Tallis
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved an ordinance last night requiring retail stores to staff self-checkout lanes in efforts to improve public safety and address theft.
What we know: The approved ordinance requires that retail stores staff at least one employee to monitor self-checkout lanes. Shoppers will be limited to 15 items or fewer, and they would not be able to purchase items that require I.D., like alcohol. Long Beach and Costa Mesa have adopted similar ordinances.
Officials say: Mayor Valerie Amezcua said the ordinance is an attempt at protecting shoppers and employees, not at driving businesses out of Santa Ana.
“Similar to Costa Mesa and Long Beach, where we look at the employees and what benefits them,” Amezcua said, “I want to make sure our Santa Ana residents go home safely, and they don’t put themselves in danger because, again, the quality of their lives matter to me.”
“Unfortunately, we would be forced to consider passage of this ordinance at this time a dismissal of the importance of grocery and a denial of policy consideration in a fair and open manner,” Tim James, director of local government relations for the California Grocers Association, wrote.
What’s the timeline? The new rules will go into effect next month.
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Robert Garrova
explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.
Published May 6, 2026 1:22 PM
Gary Baseman's menu drawing titled "Genghis Cohen."
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Courtesy Gary Baseman Studio
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Topline:
A new art exhibition from L.A.'s own Gary Baseman is breathing life into the mid-century, Googie architecture of Johnie’s Coffee Shop at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax.
Why now? “Off the Menu: Dining and Drawing in LA” features work drawn directly on menus from 40 different local staples, including Musso and Frank’s and Genghis Cohen, and of course, Canter's.
The background: Baseman is known for his iconic cat illustrations and whimsical characters that have shown up in the New York Times, Disney animation and plenty of toys. His L.A. food institution roots go deep: He grew up in the Fairfax district and his mom worked in the bakery at the legendary Canter’s Deli for 35 years.
What Baseman says: “There’s a sense of community and comfort by being in these places,” Baseman told LAist. “This show is all about my love and celebration of L.A. dining culture.”
Read on... for details on how to check the show out.
A new art exhibition is breathing life into the mid-century, Googie architecture of Johnie’s Coffee Shop at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.
Artist Gary Baseman is known for his iconic cat illustrations and whimsical characters that have shown up in the New York Times, Disney animation and plenty of toys.
His L.A. food institution roots go deep: he grew up in the Fairfax district and his mom worked in the bakery at the legendary Canter’s Deli for 35 years.
“Off the Menu: Dining and Drawing in LA” features work drawn directly on menus from 40 different local staples, including Musso and Frank’s and Genghis Cohen, and of course, Canter's.
Gary Baseman's drawing on a Canter's Deli menu.
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Courtesy Gary Baseman Studio
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“There’s a sense of community and comfort by being in these places,” Baseman told LAist. “This show is all about my love and celebration of L.A. dining culture.”
Baseman said the idea for the exhibition can be traced back to his time traveling around the world. At many of his dining stops around the globe, he would... borrow... menus and begin sketching scenes in his cartoon-like style.
“Let’s just say I wouldn’t give them back to the waiter and I would actually start drawing on the menu itself... It was a way of giving them immortality through the body of work,” Baseman said.
Baseman said he loved the idea of opening Johnie’s up again for people to see. He called the location the perfect place for a show like this, which takes visitors on what he calls a “dream reality” tour of L.A.’s food institutions through sketches and drawings.
Designed by the firm Armet and Davis, Johnie’s Coffee Shop occupied the building from 1966 to 2000, when it closed down, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. Johnie’s has also been used for filming locations and shows up in The Big Lebowski, Reservoir Dogs and more.
Johnie’s hasn’t been completely dormant over the past decade though. Under the guidance of the Community Solidarity Project, a mutual aid nonprofit with a longstanding footprint in Mid-Wilshire, the building served as a campaign center for Bernie Sanders, a mutual aid distribution hub, a filming location with student filmmakers and more.
Gary Baseman's menu drawing of Musso and Frank's.
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Courtesy Gary Baseman Studio
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Now it’ll house Baseman’s first solo show in L.A. since 2013’s “The Door is Always Open” at the Skirball Center. The launch of “Off the Menu” was purposefully timed to coincide with the opening of the first phase of the Metro D Line extension, which includes a Wilshire/Fairfax stop.
“Off the Menu” kicks off at Johnie’s on Friday, May 8, with a Metro D Line celebration from 3 to 6 p.m.
A public opening reception will take place: 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, May 9
Then, the exhibition will be open noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday, until June 14.
Boyle Heights is turning the World Cup into a neighborhood celebration with a free block party next month aimed at supporting local businesses and bringing residents together along the 1st Street corridor.
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Jessica Perez
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Boyle Heights Beat
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Topline:
Boyle Heights is turning the World Cup into a neighborhood celebration with a free block party next month aimed at supporting local businesses and bringing residents together along the 1st Street corridor.
The details: The celebration will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. June 18 to mark the Mexico vs. South Korea match. The block party is expected to close 1st Street between Vicente Fernandez and State streets. A large LED screen will be set up near Eastside Luv. Metro, along with Angel City Football Club, will activate the Mariachi Plaza station as a “welcoming platform” with screens showing highlights of the match.
Boosting local businesses: Miriam Rodriguez, president of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce said the event aims to boost local businesses facing economic strain tied to the recent federal immigration raids. Many of the businesses along the corridor will be participating, including Espacio 1839, Street Tacos and Grill, Tenampal, Casa Fina, Birrieria Don Boni, SuperNova Thrift and Distrito Catorce. Some may offer food and merchandise outdoors or host DJs similar to past CicLAvia events in Boyle Heights.
Boyle Heights is turning the World Cup into a neighborhood celebration with a free block party next month aimed at supporting local businesses and bringing residents together along the 1st Street corridor.
The celebration will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. June 18 to mark the Mexico vs. South Korea match.
“There’s a lot of focus on tourism and trying to make LA suitable for people to visit us, but at the end of the day, it’s our business members, our community members, who are here day to day, and they deserve to have a safe space to watch the game,” said Miriam Rodriguez, president of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce.
What to expect
The block party is expected to close 1st Street between Vicente Fernandez and State streets. A large LED screen will be set up near Eastside Luv. Metro, along with Angel City Football Club, will activate the Mariachi Plaza station as a “welcoming platform” with screens showing highlights of the match, Rodriguez said.
Many of the businesses along the corridor will be participating, including Espacio 1839, Street Tacos and Grill, Tenampal, Casa Fina, Birrieria Don Boni, SuperNova Thrift and Distrito Catorce.
Some may offer food and merchandise outdoors or host DJs similar to past CicLAvia events in Boyle Heights.
A music lineup is in the works and other details are still being finalized, Rodriguez said.
Las Fotos Project, JD Sports, Neighborhood Music Schools, and the Angel City Football Club supporter group, known as PodeRosas, are among the participating organizations.
A boost for local businesses
Rodriguez said the event aims to boost local businesses facing economic strain tied to the recent federal immigration raids.
“Soccer brings unity,” Rodriguez said. “We want to … let our community know that even in hard times we’re still here for our businesses.”
“We can all come together and watch and celebrate our culture,” she said.
1st Street Corridor Block Party
When: Thursday, June 18
Time: 5-10 p.m.
Where: 1st Street between Vicente Fernandez and State streets
“Kick it in the Park”: L.A.Mayor Karen Bass on Monday announced a series of recreation and parks facilities hosting more than 100 free FIFA World Cup watch parties across the city, including El Sereno Recreation Center, which will be showing 21 matches.
Find the full schedule, additional celebrations and key information at kickit.lacity.gov.
Casa Mexico Los Angeles 2026: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown L.A. will host Casa Mexico Los Angeles 2026, a five-week community-centered celebration of soccer and culture. The event will feature free public programs, including live match viewing parties, music, gastronomy, exhibitions and more.
Find the full schedule, additional celebrations and key information at casamexico.netlify.app.
