Vice Mayor Freddy Puza stated, “I want to make a data-driven decision,” in regard to creating the pilot program for a Tenant Righ to Council, and at the end of the discussion, abstained from voting on it. The program to provide Culver City tenants with a right to legal council would have required additional funding of just over a million dollars for coming fiscal year. With a shortfall already predicted, Puza offered that this might not be the moment to commit to a new expenditure.
Culver City currently outsources the legal support for housing issues to Bet Tzedek, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to Culver City tenants.
The motion to adopt the ordinance was introduced by Council member Bryan “Bubba” Fish, included the pilot program and to have staff return with data regarding both the right to counsel and the rental assistance needs for consideration. Fish noted that “Passing the ordinance in front of us just allows us to create the program.” The funding, he emphasized, was not yet on the table.
Fish and Council member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin both voted yes,, and Mayor Dan O’Brien and Council member Albert Vera, Jr. voted no.
Council requested staff to return with more information about other types of legal and rental assistance.
Judith Martin-Straw
