Has the definition of “urgency” changed? Apparently in Inglewood it has. What was adopted as an “urgent” moratorium on short-term rentals in Inglewood last month, has morphed into a proposed 10 month extension as the number of listings has increased since 2017.
“We need to take a pause and think of the community since that is who we work for,” said Councilwoman Dionne Faulk, during the Feb. 1, 2022, city council meeting when the urgency ordinance was enacted.
The council implemented the urgency moratorium after a mass shooting took place at birthday party held at an un-regulated short-term rental weeks before the Super Bowl.
At the time the City was seeking to “pause” the growth of the industry that they were aware of since 2017.
During a public hearing held Oct. 27, 2020, the planning department stated the industry “should be allowed to promote tourism, protect housing stock, and create an enforceable structure to allow licensed short term rentals in the city”.
On July 18, 2018, the Planning Commission approved a resolution recommending the city council approve the Zoning Code Amendment to establish short-term rental regulations.
The item was placed on multiple 2020 city council agendas, and pulled from each one of them . A scheduled Oct. 27, 2020 public hearing on the matter was also pulled from the agenda.
The issue appears to only being [publicly] addressed, we believe, is because of the shooting, not because the City wants to address short-term rentals. Airbnb is a member of the City’s local Chamber of Commerce.
The City allowed the Planning Commission to vote on the matter in 2018, months before the re-election of Mayor Butts, Dotson and Padilla, who are now up for re-election with the same issue before them?
The City is beginning enforcement of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) tax collection of 14.5% of hosts earnings, dating back to Jan. 1, 2022, but how much revenue was lost since 2017 when the City first began to notice the upwards trend of listings? Or since Oct. 27, 2020, when the city had the fee schedule before them for adoption but instead pulled the item?
In 2018, the city knew of 421. That list has now grown between 500-800 listings. According to the actual numbers on the budget, the City needed that money.
If the listing is $100 x 14.5% tax is $14.50. $14.50 x 421 / month is $6104.50 x 12 = $73,254 annual and that’s assuming they have only hosted one night per month at this rate. Instead of charging business owners to operate, as they do every other business in the City, they choose to charge residents to park in front of their homes.
The mayor is requesting the Housing Protection Department’s division manager, over short-term rentals, work with him to “straighten things out”, however, city hall insiders allege that’s another “melanie” situation waiting to happen.
If we opine the delay of implementation of municipal code amendments, is for a possible campaign donation, would we be wrong?
11 Comments
I’ve been a teacher in Compton Unified and Los Angeles Unified since 2008 and saved money until I could buy in Inglewood about 4 years ago. I have a very small cottage (one room and a bathroom) behind my house that I rent in order to afford my mortgage. I initially tried long-term renters but I had no control over who they brought over (angry exes, loud friends) and no way to collect rent when they didn’t want to pay. There was never a shooting, but there were tense moments involving my tenants and people that I didn’t even know that made my family and I feel unsafe. After almost a year of them not paying rent, they moved. The city was no help and I lost thousands of dollars.
I began renting the studio as a short-term rental and the best part of it was the guarantee that the apps gave me. They collected money for me, screened my guests, and provided insurance. Best of all, I haven’t had a police visit or so much as a noise complaint because my space is small and my guests usually come for a few days, frequent the local businesses and restaurants that I recommend, then leave raving about how in love with Inglewood they are. I pay a neighbor to clean the place between guests while I’m teaching – she lost a lot of work during the pandemic and now depends on my unit for a large portion of her income. It feels like a good deal for everyone when it’s done right.
I agree with your assessment that STRs should not negatively affect neighborhoods and I think focusing on non-owner operated units or units that are large enough to host a party would allow them to address their concerns without punishing those of us who run our businesses responsibly. I have a baby on the way and this moratorium is financially crippling me – I don’t know what we’ll do if we have to wait until February of next year to start our business again (if we are even able to). My tiny unit has absolutely nothing to do with the unit where the shooting took place, and halting my small business would be like stopping bus service on Prairie because of the bus-stop shooting that happened a few months ago on Century and Crenshaw.
This feels to me like the council didn’t want to deal with the bad public-safety optics of a mass homicide. They don’t have a solution for the violence but are deflecting attention to a minority group of homeowners who they know can’t fight back – it’s a shame.
Have you received the notice from the City about registering your property?
I got a letter today that said to cease operation immediately. Prior to that, the only correspondence I had received was in January saying that I needed to register, but then followed by another letter telling me to ignore the first one. I’ll calling my city councilperson in the morning (or at least between 1st and 2nd period lol).
Call Yakema Decatur in the housing protection department. Her department is over the notices.
Oh that’s helpful – thank you!
Councilwoman Dionne Faulk needs to worry less about Short Term Rentals and more about crime. She is in district 4 which is far away from where the STR shooting took place.
Meanwhile, me and my neighbors have emailed several times about unruly neighbors who have shoot outs, openly drug deal and do donuts right in front of Bennet Kew elementary. Councilwoman Dionne Faulk has not responded to neither myself or any of my neighbors.
On one occasion, these neighbors decided to shut block the street get drunk and play loud music. When officers arrived they were met with bottles being thrown at them. One office privately mentioned to me that said neighbors are already on IPDs radar.
the house on the corner at 117th?
118th st. Its actually two neighbors back to back causing all the rukus!!
the house 117th is also an issue. TRUST!!!
I already know. My folks live down the street.
Another shooting this Sunday in front of Bennet Kew. Emailed council woman Faulk and no response. This time I heard a ricochet near my home.
Tell your parents to stay safe.