Summer
rojan
University of Southern California
Vol. LXXIV, No. 14
Los Angeles, Calif.
Wednesday, August 2, 1978
Area landlords continue to raise rents despite passage of Prop. 13
By Therese Wells
Staff Writer
STRIKE THREE — Mayor Tom Bradley had some trouble starting a hitting streak last Tuesday. The mayor didn’t strike out with the kids from the summer sports club however.
Police surveillance to undergo closer scrutiny
By Millard T. Goods
Stiff Writer
Local police surveillance, is coming under closer scrutiny by the City Council, local political organizations and the Los Angeles Police Department. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against LAPD on behalf of five organizations that claim they were illegally infiltrated.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is charged with the primary responsibility for maintaining public order in Los Angeles...The department recognizes that special care and precaution must be taken in this area to avoid interfering with or impairing the constitutional rights of citizens to maintain their privacy, to speak and dissent freely, to write and publish and to associate privately and publicly for a lawful purpose.” That excerpt from an LAPD memo dated April 10, 1975 delineates the department’s standards and procedures with regards to the Public Disorder Intelligence Division (PDID).	(Continued on page 2)
Despite the passage of Proposiation 13, local landlords have continued to raise rents over the summer, said Bonnie George, off-campus housing coordinator for the Office of Residential Life.
Students returning to apartments in the university area should expect to find an increase of an average of $10 - $15 dollars a month, in some cases much higher, she said. George cited as examples a two-bedroom apartment on Hoover, where the rent has increased from $230 to $275 since February, and a three-bedroom apartment in the Wilshire area which has increased $50 in the last month.
Housing office figures indicate that compared to a year ago, the cost of a furnished single has increased from a high of $175 in Aug. 1977, to $300 now. Similar increases are noted in one-bedroom apartments which have jumped from a maximum of $220 last year, to $350 now, and two-bedroom apartments which show a rise from $300 to $400. Even the cost of rooms in private homes has increased, many now costing as much as $200, where the previous high last year at this time was $125.
George said virtually no one has lowered rents, despite the fact that landlords are now paying fewer taxes. A number of landlords have retained the rent levels of the spring semester with no increase, which George believes is keeping with the spirit of Proposition 13. Since the value of money is decreasing and the cost of upkeep, maintenance and utilities is always increasing, these landlords are covering the difference without passing it on to tenants, she said.
She sees the problem of supply and demand as the real stumbling block to rent roll-backs in the university area. As long as adequate housing near campus is
scarce, students are going to be willing to pay a higher price to secure whatever housing is available. Area apartments will continue to be filled to capacity, regardless of the rent charged, and some local landlords tend to exploit this fact, she said.
Most landlords at this point seem unwilling to talk about rent increases. Mike Hodash, owner and manager with Jack Chernoff of Hoover House, claims he is not raising the rates of tenants whose rent had been previously adjusted, though listings in the Housing offices indicate otherwise. He would not comment on whether or not he intended to increase rental fees for new tenants, but claimed his rents were among the most reasonable in the area.
He did, however, indicate that if he became dissatisfied with his tenants, he would not hesitate to raise the rents.
There are a number of courses of action available to students, should they wish to do something about rate increases.
Last week Gov. Jerry Brown established a statewide hotline for tenants whose rent has been increased since May 31. Landlords reported to this toll free hotline (800-952-5537) will be contacted by a member of the Commerce department and urged to comply with the voluntary rent relief program. The program appears to be about 50% successfull.
Locally, the Coalition for Economic Survival, a tenant’s rights organization at 15768 W. Pico Blvd, is currently compiling a log of pertinent information from tenants whose rent has been increased. They hope to use this information to convince the City Council to pass mandatory rent relief programs if the voluntary program is not successfull.
Cheaper than the Caribbean
Go ahead — Escape this weekend to Catalina Island
By Lucy Meierding
If you’ve been dreaming of that distant exotic island to run off to, but can’t seem to get out of Southern California, try Catalina Island. It’s not exactly your little paradise, but it’s close, colorful, and cheaper than the Caribbean.
Catalina Island, about 20 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, offers something for everyone in search of a quiet weekend retreat. For those who prefer to remain in touch with civilization, the harbor town of Avalon maintains an adequate amount of subdued hustle and bustle. And the more adventurous explorers are free to backpack or sail around the rest of the island where the seals and buffalo roam. Here in the canyons and quiet coves, one can find complete solitude, since most visitors don’t get any further than Avalon.
An attraction for tourists and fisherman alike, the island is owned jointly by the Santa Catalina Island Company and Island Conservancy. Developed primarily by William Wrigley Jr., who once owned the island and ran the company, Catalina was advertised as a fisherman's paradise in the early 1900s. But in 1975, 86 per cent of the island was controlled by the
Catalina Island Conservancy in an effort to preserve its unspoiled environment. Now the Island Company manages only the Two Harbors area and most of Avalon. Avalon still maintains the air of a quaint little resort from the 50s.
The most ideal way to visit Catalina is by sailboat. Explore the island at your leisure, pull into a cove and kick back in the
sun with a fishing pole. No hassles with transportation arrangements, hotel reservations, or expenses; that’s the way to go.
But if you're not the master of your own ship, then join the rest of us second-class tourists, and hop on a sea plane or passenger ferry.
The sea plane lands near Avalon from San Pedro and
Long Beach. It’s fast and fun, but more expensive too. The ride is $27 round trip.
The ferry also runs daily from San Pedro, Long Beach, and now Orange County. It costs $10 round trip and lasts nearly two hours. The ride over is exciting on a clear day when you can see the island slowly approaching, and the water is not too rough. But it’s a long
haul to attempt a return the same day. Try to stay over at least one night.
It’s best to make reservations at least a few weeks in advance for hotel accommodations. Spaces are hard to come by and rates go up about $10 in the summer season. Prices can range from $20 to $50 per day for decent summer lodgings. Many prefer to wait until the winter season when prices drop and crowds disappear. A few notable hotels are the Pavilion Lodge, located on the beach in the center of town, and the Zane Grey, an older hotel with a nice view and a romantic secluded atmosphere.
Three campgrounds are also available on Catalina, and must be hiked or backpacked into. At a measly $2.50 per night, the fee makes camping out well worthwhile.
Once you’ve reached and settled on the island, there are lots of things to do. Take an island tour, or glass bottom boat ride. Visit the famous Casino or the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden. You can shop, fish, swim, golf, hunt, hike, or go horseback riding, bicycling, waterskiing, skin and scuba diving.
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