Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Drought: LA mayor won't agree to tenants paying for water without meters
Listen
• 0:49
Maywood resident Robert Taylor fills a bottle with tap water in his home on Sept. 26.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Landlords in Los Angeles want tenants in rent-stabilized units to share the cost of their building's water bill. But Mayor Eric Garcetti says he only supports tenants paying for their water usage if they have their own water meters.
"I've been supportive of individual meters so individuals could track their own use," Garcetti said.
As KPCC reported, the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles is lobbying the city to allow landlords to change the lease terms for renters currently covered by L.A.'s rent stabilization ordinance. In exchange for tenants paying for water usage, landlords would agree to reduce rent. Currently, landlords can only change those terms with a new lease, and the majority of renters in L.A. don't currently pay for water.
The landlords' plan does not call for individual meters. Rather, residents would collectively pay the building's water bill. A third-party group would create a formula to determine how the bill would be split, so that larger units, and/or units with more occupants, paid more.
Support for LAist comes from
Councilman Mike Bonin questioned whether using formulations like that would be fair.
"The only way to do it is with individual meters," he said, echoing Garcetti. "As a drought-fighting tool, you need to have the use tied directly to the cost.
But installing thousands of water meters in L.A.'s apartment buildings would be a costly endeavor. The LA Department of Water and Power says one meter on a ground floor apartment can cost approximately $2,000. It gets progressively more expensive the higher you go, and does not include labor costs.
Jim Clarke of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles claims that some landlords have been quoted upwards of $10,000 by the LADWP to purchase and install a metering unit.
Garcetti said that some action needs to take place so renters assume their share of water conservation.
"I agree with the landlords, right now: there's unaccountability," he says, "You can let the faucet run, and somebody else pays for it."
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist