Killer Views

What Would a Libertarian Say About Rent Control?

January 5, 2020March 7, 2019 by Donna Barstow

Someone asked me that the other day, and it’s actually something I struggled with for a long time. I am evicted as of March 31, and I am in wracking agony and fear. I have no place to go, and no one to help me move. But the other side, the landlord’s rights, is important … Read more

Here is a Picture of My Eviction Notice.

January 5, 2020February 24, 2019 by Donna Barstow

Photo of 90-day Eviction Notice Pretty scary, huh? I can tell, you my heart beat a mile a minute when I saw this on my door. I’ve lived at 2965 Waverly Drive, Apartment 6, for … Read more

What’s Worse Than Being a Convict? Being Evicted.

January 5, 2020February 15, 2019 by Donna Barstow

In 2016 HUD decided that it’s discrimination not to rent to someone with a criminal record. If you’re a felon, the landlord has to rent to you. But if you have an eviction on your record, the city, state, AND the federal government allow you to be discriminated against for years! No apartment for years! … Read more

How Our Councilman Punched a Hole in Our Landlord, Taylor Equities

January 5, 2020January 10, 2019 by Donna Barstow

When you have a really bad landlord, you have to pull out all the stops. How we got Councilman Ryu to chew up our landlord, Taylor Equities.

Dear Readers

January 5, 2020January 9, 2019 by Donna Barstow

Recently, you may have noticed the odd piece of grammar, and my reluctance to use proper names, with the substitution of nonsensical ones. Sorry about that! Only the names have been changed. This will continue for a period of time and then we’ll be back to normal. Meanwhile, you can trust that every photo and … Read more

This Time Our Beverly Hills Landlady Fought Back!

January 5, 2020November 30, 2018 by Donna Barstow

We weren’t targeting a business. a restaurant, or even Vicky Mense. We were just asserting our civil right to peacefully protest, which includes urging actions. It doesn’t matter to us who owns that restaurant: what matters are the grievances the tenants continue to have at 2965 Waverly Drive.. Which is owned by Steven Taylor and Vicky Mense.

Our Backyard Blight Makes Us Feel Like Pigs

January 5, 2020November 13, 2018 by Donna Barstow

Ugly would make sense if Taylor Equities was actually fixing or improving the building. But none of this is repairs, and most of it has made beautiful living spaces into cramped hell-holes.

Yes on 10, But Wishy-Washy in Los Angeles

January 5, 2020October 24, 2018 by Donna Barstow

Obviously, Yes on 10 will pass in Los Angeles. With 64% renters, according to LA Curbed (it was just 54% in 2017, they wrote!) it’s a shoo-in. And we’re no dummies: rent fees are ENORMOUS in Los Angeles – most of your income for many folks. And it appears that lawmakers agree: the Los Angeles … Read more

Vicky Mense: Beverly Hills Evictor

January 5, 2020October 15, 2018 by Donna Barstow

Although we have been quiet here of late on Waverly Drive, we have been buzzing behind the scenes. We had our first action! (That is renter/union lingo for taking it to the streets.) We had a protest, in Beverly Hills of all places! Taylor Equities is the name on the sign in front, and on … Read more

I Hope You Don’t Live in One of These 44 Apartment Buildings

January 5, 2020September 25, 2018 by Donna Barstow

We recently discovered that We Are Not Alone. In fact, Taylor Equities (nee Ness Properties) owns at least 44 multi-family buildings (apartments) and even a couple of business locations. (Taylor has recently hired a new management company: Los Angeles Property Management Group. Is this an admission that he is a lousy landlord, or is he … Read more