May 7 2025
1522 Hi Point Street 9
Los Angeles. CA. 90035
323-( )
Via First Class and Priority Mail
“This is another example where the city government intentionally acts against the health, safety, and welfare of tenants. An intercom system is a necessity”
Judge David O. Carter
Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse
411 West Fourth Street,
Courtroom 10 A
Santa Ana, CA, 92701-4516
Hi Point 1522 LLC
C/O Power Property Management Inc.
8885 Venice Blvd Suite 205
Los Angeles, CA. 90034
Mayor Karen Bass and City Council
City Hall
Los Angeles, California 90012
Re: Denial of housing services to Black tenants, such services claimed to
be only entitled to those who are paying luxury rents
The city code enforcement sent an inspector out Tuesday May 6, 2025
about 1:45 pm and this shall be a memorialization of that inspection of this
property at 1522 S. Hi Point St 90035.
- The inspector Mark Bridge said he did not have copies of the two
recent complaints I filed with code enforcement, numbered 932473
and 934688. He asked me to explain the issues. He said the
department does not give the inspectors copies of the complaint. - I have complained to housing and code enforcement about the need
for entitlement to tandem parking. This was not addressed by the
inspector. My research is that the code enforcement has authority over
the entire property including the parking lot and spaces. The filing of a
code violation complaint gives the inspector authority to inspect. He
made no diligent inspection of the tandem parking part of my
complaint. - I reported debris at the back of the building two doors laying up
against the building but not attached to the building. The
inspector admitted the doors are debris but said he would not site the
owner because it is not a substantial amount of debris . My opinion is
that since the doors are standing up against the building, they
represent a health and safety hazard because unattached they could
fall and injure someone. To that extent I disagree with the inspector.
I reported a hole in the outer wall of building near the laundry room.
Looks like some piping was repaired but they left a gaping hall in the
wall. The inspector said he will site the owner for that and took a
picture. - I did provide a full copy of the code violation complaints to the owner
and resident manager prior to the city inspection. - I reported that the hot water boiler or water tank every two months or
so stops working and we then have no hot water. The inspector said I
would have to call that in when it happens. - I reported a water leak from the kitchen ceiling. I cannot tell if it is
coming from the tenant above or from rain water. The inspector took a
picture of the kitchen cabinet and said he will site the owner for repairs
and he will follow up return in 45 days. - I reported an abandoned vehicle with expired registration and flat tire
in numbered parking stall #4. I told him the car has been there for
months not moving. He took a picture of the car. - I reported the non-working intercom in my unit as well as the non-
working intercom at the front of the building. The intercom system was
authorized by the city certificate of occupancy dated 1973. The city
also requires a permit for installation of the motor for the intercom
system. “In Los Angeles, an electrical permit is generally required for
any new or altered electrical work, including the installation or
replacement of an intercom system’s motor.” (Source: Google). A code
violation complaint gives the city authority to investigate the intercom
system. - A recent Judge in a petition for writ case ruled that the
intercom is a housing service. (Case 23STCP00644 Los Angeles
Superior Court Johnson vs City of Los Angeles.) Thousands of
buildings across the city have some type of intercom system,
especially multi-family dwellings.The city LAMC section states that the
intercom “including but not limited to” is a housing service. The
inspector said he would not address the non working intercom
because the City has determined the intercom is a luxury, not a
necessity. I disagreed. - I will be filing another complaint over the non-working intercom and
denial of tandem parking. - An intercom is for purposes of communication, security and the health,
safety and welfare of tenants. This is another example where the city
government intentionally acts against the health, safety, and welfare of
tenants. An intercom system is a necessity. There is no city regulation
that says the intercom system is a “luxury” or that the city has any
authority to deny tenant repairs of such. The inspector on behalf of
Mayor Karen Bass is implying that only those paying luxury rent
amounts are entitled to a working intercom; this is a discriminatory
practice by city government officials. The inspector’s position was that
as Black tenants, we are not enticed to a working intercom or full and
equal housing services, parts to use the Akuxox system. - My rent agreement does not say that the Intercom in my unit is a
luxury. - I reported to the inspector that while the bathroom sink had recently
been resurfaced, the contractors from Power Property Management
failed to follow lead-safe repair practices. The inspector attempted to
minimize the damages that had occurred to my health and safety. He
said that my only recourse would be to ask the owner to do something
about it, but he never gave me any opportunity to have the City further
investigate the owners practices. I showed the inspector pictures of
the apartment while the sink resurfacing was being done that showed
that it was not being done properly. From my experiences, tenants
cannot depend on the city of Los Angeles government to protect them
from health, safety, and security hazards. The property owner did not
adhere to required containment and cleaning procedures. I told the
inspector there was white dust over everything in my apartment, as a
result of the repairs, including the floor and fixtures. I had asked the
owner (and copied the city employees) that I be relocated during
repairs but the owner did not respond. The inspector did not indicate
that he was going to cite the owner for this improper practice. By copy
to the owner of the property, I request that the owner incur the expense of vacuuming and shampooing my carpet for the unsafe lead contaminated dust that was left behind by the contractors, all rights
reserved to claim additional damages.
Reference:
“Housing services are services that are connected with the use or
occupancy of a rental unit including, but not limited to, utilities (including
light, heat, water and telephone), ordinary repairs or replacement, and
maintenance including painting. The term also includes the provision of
elevator service, laundry facilities and privileges, common recreational
facilities, janitor service, resident manager, refuse removal, furnishings,
food service, parking and any other benefits, privileges or facilities. (LAMC
Sec. 151.02, Definition of Housing Services).”
The code enforcement inspector Mark Bridge, under the authority of
Mayor Karen Bass, has denied myself and my roommate, the entitlement
to housing services that are stated in the LA municipal code section
above.
Sincerely,
Geary J. Johnson
1522 Hi Point St 9
Los Angeles. CA. 90035
323-( )
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Honorable David O. Carter
District Judge
Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse
411 West Fourth Street,
Courtroom 10 A
Santa Ana, CA, 92701-4516
[LA alliance for human rights et al. at all v. City of Los Angeles et. al CASE 2:20-cv-02291 DOC (KESx)
Dear Judge and possible parties in housing related cases:
I am not a party to any lawsuits at this time that might be before you. I am not involved in any litigation. However I write as a concerned citizen —-friend of the court so to speak—-and as a tenant living in city of Los Angeles.
I bring to your attention a court case (petition for writ) that was filed in Superior Court Los Angeles. I attach a copy of one transcript from a court hearing. 23STCP00644 GEARY J. JOHNSON VS LOS ANGELES HOUSING DEPARTMENT, ET AL.
In short synopsis, this case involved requesting the court to rule on the city housing decision to not grant a reduction in rent due to reduction in housing services. The case concerned a rent controlled property. The City, property owner, and Court basically took the position that services not spelled out in the written rent agreement were not an entitlement to the tenant. IMO housing includes housing services. Los Angeles city law does not mandate that services have to be spelled out in the rent agreement to be housing services. State law specifies that only lease agreement for one year or more must be in writing. Rental agreements of less that one year, as in the attached case, do not have to be in writing. Nevertheless, this case examined a rental agreement where a tenant was entitled to repairs and parking, yet the city, property owner, and I believe court felt the tenant was not entitled to parking or repairs. The local LAMC quoted below does not say services have to be in the written rent agreement.
I read with interest your cases over the years on housing. Affordable income restricted is one thing while rent controlled housing is another. We need more rent controlled housing. But we also need a city government (I note the Mayor’s Karen Bass office and CD 5 have been specifically informed of this) that recognizes tenants are entitled to full and equal housing services (state law Unruh Act), and that tenants are entitled to protection of housing services recognized by the conduct of the parties, as recognized under state law cases.
It seems incongruous for the Court to crusade for more housing—-which is needed—- while Los Angeles city officials fight against providing housing services. Intercoms and parking are valued housing services across the County.
Sincerely,
Geary J. Johnson
RAC 410.04
Housing Services Defined
“Housing services are services that are connected with the use or occupancy of a rental unit including, but not limited to, utilities (including light, heat, water and telephone), ordinary repairs or replacement, and maintenance including painting. The term also includes the provision of elevator service, laundry facilities and privileges, common recreational facilities, janitor service, resident manager, refuse removal, furnishings, food service, parking and any other benefits, privileges or facilities. (LAMC Sec. 151.02, Definition of Housing Services).”
LA Rent Control (RAC) and Permits (LADBS) 