LA City Council Approves Right to Counsel Ordinance for Tenants

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a Right to Counsel Ordinance aimed at providing legal representation for low-income tenants facing eviction. This decision, made in a 14-0 vote, is the culmination of a two-year effort led by Councilmembers Nithya Raman and others, and it now awaits Mayor Karen Bass's approval for implementation. The ordinance is designed to assist tenants who earn at or below 80% of the area median income and do not reside with their landlords. Funding for this initiative will come from Measure United to House LA, which has collected significant revenue through a tax on high-value property sales. While tenant rights advocates celebrate the measure's passage, concerns remain about the timeline for full implementation and adequate funding to ensure all eligible renters receive free legal representation. The initiative seeks to address the imbalance in legal representation that has historically disadvantaged tenants in eviction proceedings.