The Brief

Rent control can either be your friend or your enemy. My colleague Caitlin Hernández goes into the origins of the state and L.A.’s tenant protections. Their history goes way back — more than 80 years ago around World War II, when the first round of regulations emerged due to high demand for housing.

History of rent control

Fast forward to today, we’ve seen many changes in tenant rights, especially during the pandemic, but so have the legal battles around them. Rent control is a tangled web of rules, but it does have real effects — and we break it all down here for you. You can also read the rest of Caitlin’s LA Explained guides here.

How To LA

We’re here to help curious Angelenos connect with others, discover the new, navigate the confusing, and even drive some change along the way.

Listen Now

More news

(After you stop hitting snooze)

• California’s culture wars escalated Monday as the state sued a school district over its transgender student policy, and a parents group took the first step toward placing a trio of initiatives on next year’s ballot that would restrict protections for transgender youth.
• Thousands of California correctional officers are in line to get $10,000 bonuses through a new contract as the state prepares to close several prisons.
• The government will negotiate new prices for commonly prescribed drugs used to treat blood cancers and autoimmune diseases, but the cuts won't take effect until 2026. In the meantime, drugmakers are fighting the negotiations with lawsuits.
• LAist interviewed author Jeff Goodell for his new book, The Heat Will Kill You First, Life and Death on a Scorched Planet, in which he argues we need to be taking extreme heat way more seriously.
• A super blue moon will rise into the night sky for the first time in five years tonight. 

Wait... one more thing

Historic signs in Hollywood

The Hollywood sign is seen as it is repainted in preparation for its 100th anniversary in 2023, in Hollywood on Sept. 28, 2022.

(

Robyn Beck

/

AFP via Getty Images

)

When I think of iconic signs in L.A., the first one that comes to mind and for many others is the Hollywood sign. The popular tourist hiking destination was first constructed in 1923 as the "Hollywoodland" sign, but "land" was eventually dropped. And this year, the sign celebrates its 100th birthday.

Graphic designer Kathy Kikkert joined Larry Mantle on LAist's daily news program AirTalk to discuss more iconic signs in Hollywood from her new book, Hollywood Signs: The Golden Age of Glittering Graphics and Glowing Neon. What’s your favorite L.A. sign?