Traci Park Joins Conservative Majority in Rejecting Protections for Renters Affected by the Fires

On Friday, LA City Council failed to pass a measure that would have protected renters facing eviction after January’s devastating fires. The proposal, led by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, needed eight votes to move forward but fell short—thanks in part to Traci Park, who once again sided with landlords over struggling Angelenos.

Instead of acting to keep people in their homes, Park and conservative ally John Lee argued that more study was needed, a classic delay tactic. As renters reel from economic hardship, Park has made it clear where she stands—with corporate landlords and wealthy homeowners, not the majority of working-class residents in her district.

Park’s opposition to renter protections isn’t new. She’s consistently worked to benefit corporate landlords while ignoring the needs of everyday Angelenos. Despite the fact that 75% of renters in LA live in properties owned by large investment firms, she’s refused to support strong tenant protections and has instead blocked necessary reforms.

During her campaign, Park courted wealthy homeowners’ associations while ignoring renters. She even refused to attend a debate at Mar Vista Gardens, the only public housing complex in her district. Once in office, she introduced policies to give secretive homeowner groups more influence while renters continued to struggle.

It’s no surprise that Park prioritizes landlords—her campaign was bankrolled by them. In 2022, she accepted $1.2 million from real estate giants like Douglas Emmett, Kilroy Realty, and the California Apartment Association. Douglas Emmett alone funneled $566,000 into her campaign. Now, she’s paying them back by standing aside while they carry out mass evictions.

Park has been instrumental in allowing Douglas Emmett’s eviction of 700+ tenants at Barrington Plaza, a rent-stabilized building. After two deadly fires, instead of installing fire sprinklers while keeping tenants housed, Douglas Emmett opted to empty the building to jack up rents. When former Councilmember Mike Bonin opposed the plan, Douglas Emmett dumped cash into Park’s campaign—knowing she’d support their eviction plan. Since taking office, Park has refused to challenge the legality of these evictions or push the City Attorney to intervene. Instead, she has left hundreds of tenants to fight on their own.