Angelenos know how to take the heat. But with life-threatening temperatures rising across the globe, further steps need to be taken to protect those most vulnerable to the extreme heat, such as older adults and young children, and find creative ways to cope in this new climate facing us all. This week the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to advance the motion to require cooling measures, like air conditioning, in all Los Angeles County rental homes.
However, these plans are still being worked out, and it’s not yet clear what types of cooling equipment could be legally required in rental housing when temperatures start to rise to dangerous new levels. These new plans to legally control temperatures inside rentals aren’t that unusual. L.A. County already requires landlords to provide adequate heat to all renters. This new motion simply addresses the need for the same considerations to be taken for adequate cooling for renters during the hottest months of the year.
Many local landlords are against the measure with some saying the new law would be too expensive for them to implement. They argued that air conditioning units would be far too pricey to install and run because of increased electricity bills. However, similar laws are already in place for renters in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
The effects of climate change is an ongoing urgent concern for all California residents, and more steps need to be taken to address the pressing issues facing us all. The needs of all Angelenos must be taken into account so that we can reach a balanced resolution that benefits us all. Let’s keep Los Angeles a “cool” place to live.
You can read more about the motion here.