Metroblogging LA doesn't seem to know. Neither does Franklin Ave.
Anybody hear from him, or her, or whoever the self-styled 'Nerd' may be?
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Friday, September 21, 2007
Where In The World Is 'LA City Nerd?'
Metroblogging LA doesn't seem to know. Neither does Franklin Ave.
Anybody hear from him, or her, or whoever the self-styled 'Nerd' may be?
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
NATIVE INTELLIGENCE: The Bukowski Fault?
A new post at Native Intelligence:
Read the rest at Native Intelligence.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
It was while burdened with my usual load of literary LA baggage that I tripped over a particularly bold pronouncement that protruded from a Time Magazine article this week.
The piece told of a local effort to preserve author and poet Charles Bukowski's bungalow at 5124 De Longpre Avenue in East Hollywood [just a block from the intersection of W. Sunset Blvd and N. Normandie Ave]. The bit of the story that made me stumble was in the lead paragraph, the part that said Bukowski's residence is "... the epicenter of a cultural earthquake that continues to rock Los Angeles's literary landscape."
Really? A place in which Bukowski flopped and farted on a regular basis is the epicenter of a cultural quake that continues to rock LA's literary landscape? What magnitude are we talking? ...
Read the rest at Native Intelligence.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Bee Might Feel The Sting Of ABQ Trib Closure
I missed this one a couple weeks ago when I posted a collection of links to blog posts regarding the likely closure of The Albuquerque Tribune ...
It sounds as though Albuquerque's Regional Spelling Bee might become collateral damage, a sad situation indeed, not just for the community, but for the company that owns The Trib, The E.W. Scripps Company.
This was in the latest post on the regional bee:
Scripps is sponsor of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. [The Bee celebrated its 80th year in 2007 (there was no Bee during World War II years 1943, 1944, and 1945). Its history is detailed in a Wikipedia entry.]
Check this out: A list of champions and their winning words that goes back to 1925. Click here.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
It sounds as though Albuquerque's Regional Spelling Bee might become collateral damage, a sad situation indeed, not just for the community, but for the company that owns The Trib, The E.W. Scripps Company.
This was in the latest post on the regional bee:
The Trib is sending letters out this week concerning the regional bee. Basically, we're saying what we know now: The Trib will close if no buyer is found. We've heard rumors that we're going to be shut down any time from Sept. 30 to Jan. 1.
Scripps is sponsor of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. [The Bee celebrated its 80th year in 2007 (there was no Bee during World War II years 1943, 1944, and 1945). Its history is detailed in a Wikipedia entry.]
Check this out: A list of champions and their winning words that goes back to 1925. Click here.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Landlord Won't Give A Receipt ...
Can a landlord and/or building manager legally refuse to provide a receipt for payment of rent?
It seems like something an apartment renter should be entitled to by law. And, indeed, it is a law (specifically California Civ. Code § 1499), which says:
Although some may assume that payment of rent by check will suffice, since a canceled check can function as a receipt, there are many conceivable situations in which a canceled check may not be enough. Whatever the reason, whether for financial purposes, or simply as a consumer protection, renters in California have a legal right to be provided a receipt upon presentation of payment.
NOLO explains it to landlords this way:
It would also seem a particularly prudent practice for renters in Los Angeles whose units are protected by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), especially if it ever becomes necessary for a tenant to prove that payments were made promptly.
Although the vast majority of property owners and renters are honest and responsible folks, sometimes people get taken advantage of on both sides of the transaction. It's one reason why paper documents like leases, for example, replaced the spit handshakes of the Wild West.
The soaring cost of rent in Los Angeles has already proved temptation enough to inspire at least one "ruse to evict low-rent-paying tenants." The Los Angeles City Council closed one particular loophole earlier this year, but the need for watchfulness remains just as surely as the old adage "get it in writing" still holds true.
Besides, this shouldn't be a big deal.
Receipts are simple slips of paper provided routinely for the purchase of $1 packets of chewing gum. Shouldn't the same standard be applied for the average rent payment of $1,607 a month (average rent as of 2Q 2007)? It's not a composition. It's initials (or a signature), a dollar amount and a date.
However, if the landlord still refuses to provide a receipt, Los Angeles County renters can file a complaint at the county's Department of Consumer Affairs. Just click on the Complaint Form link.
(By the way, the DCA responds to such consumer-related questions via e-mail. Follow this link to their Ask Us A Question page.)
— TJ Sullivan in LA
It seems like something an apartment renter should be entitled to by law. And, indeed, it is a law (specifically California Civ. Code § 1499), which says:
"A debtor has a right to require from his creditor a written receipt for any property delivered in performance of his obligation."
Although some may assume that payment of rent by check will suffice, since a canceled check can function as a receipt, there are many conceivable situations in which a canceled check may not be enough. Whatever the reason, whether for financial purposes, or simply as a consumer protection, renters in California have a legal right to be provided a receipt upon presentation of payment.
NOLO explains it to landlords this way:
Many states require landlords to give tenants a receipt for the rent. This protects tenants who pay in cash, who would have no other way to prove that they did indeed pay the rent if they are challenged by the landlord. Although most tenants now pay by check or credit card, landlords in these states must still issue receipts if asked. And if the check bounces, the fact that you gave the tenant a receipt for that rubber check will not hinder you in your attempts to get the tenant to pay.
Many states give tenants a "renters' tax credit," which they can take when they file their income taxes, and tenants who pay in cash will need that receipt to back up their deduction.
It would also seem a particularly prudent practice for renters in Los Angeles whose units are protected by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), especially if it ever becomes necessary for a tenant to prove that payments were made promptly.
Although the vast majority of property owners and renters are honest and responsible folks, sometimes people get taken advantage of on both sides of the transaction. It's one reason why paper documents like leases, for example, replaced the spit handshakes of the Wild West.
The soaring cost of rent in Los Angeles has already proved temptation enough to inspire at least one "ruse to evict low-rent-paying tenants." The Los Angeles City Council closed one particular loophole earlier this year, but the need for watchfulness remains just as surely as the old adage "get it in writing" still holds true.
Besides, this shouldn't be a big deal.
Receipts are simple slips of paper provided routinely for the purchase of $1 packets of chewing gum. Shouldn't the same standard be applied for the average rent payment of $1,607 a month (average rent as of 2Q 2007)? It's not a composition. It's initials (or a signature), a dollar amount and a date.
However, if the landlord still refuses to provide a receipt, Los Angeles County renters can file a complaint at the county's Department of Consumer Affairs. Just click on the Complaint Form link.
(By the way, the DCA responds to such consumer-related questions via e-mail. Follow this link to their Ask Us A Question page.)
— TJ Sullivan in LA
So Much For Peak Season
The Los Angeles Times reported today that Southern California's dismal home-sales figures last month ranked it as the worst August in 15 years:
* * * Also, while we're on the subject of housing ... A hat tip is long overdue to Curbed LA, which has does an outstanding job with its original daily reporting and considerable linkage to all things housing in Los Angeles. Definitely worth a regular visit.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Sales last month were the worst for any August since 1992, according to research firm DataQuick Information Systems. Last month 17,755 homes were sold in the six-county region, compared with 27,875 a year earlier, for a 36.3% drop.The story also included the usual expression of uncertainty about what it all means. John Karevoll, DataQuick's chief analyst, was quoted as saying: "Things are slow, but the big question is, 'Is this a normal post-cycle lull or is the sky falling?' I don't think we know yet."
* * * Also, while we're on the subject of housing ... A hat tip is long overdue to Curbed LA, which has does an outstanding job with its original daily reporting and considerable linkage to all things housing in Los Angeles. Definitely worth a regular visit.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Right Back After This ... (cough)
I know, I know.
I was supposed to be back late last week, and I was, except ... I caught a post-vacation cold, my first cold in more than two years, and, well ... what day is today?
The fuzz is still in my head, so it's going to be a couple more days before I return to regular strength.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
I was supposed to be back late last week, and I was, except ... I caught a post-vacation cold, my first cold in more than two years, and, well ... what day is today?
The fuzz is still in my head, so it's going to be a couple more days before I return to regular strength.
— TJ Sullivan in LA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)