Political Gumbo: Now, We Respond

A number of letter writers seemed to be upset about my missive on legal advice on Measure H.

Some people are receiving eviction notices because they paid May 2021 rental rates.

What I said, and I say again and will say later is I don’t offer legal advice, nor has “hemming and hawing” by Pasadena Now forced or influenced landlords to evict anyone.

What we have done is reported that Measure H passed, and rolls back rents to 2021.

That’s a fact.

It’s also a fact we informed the community that most likely this was going to end up in court. That also upset some organizers, and I still don’t know why.

Initiatives end up in court all the time.

It’s also a fact that neither Pasadena Now, the City Council, the Mayor, the City nor organizers can enforce Measure H.

Don’t blame me for that, I didn’t write it and I damn sure didn’t knock on one door and make any promises for or against H.

And that seems to be the real issue.

I have not come out carrying the tenants water.

That’s not my gig.

I tell you what’s going on, and you decide where you stand.

I write the facts and allow local residents to give voice to the issues in guest opinions and letters, even when those voices are critical of us as the letters were — and the fact is many of them were incorrect.

During the campaign we ran more columns on both sides of this issue than any other outlet. Yes, we gave voices to tenants, renters and politicians — your neighbors.

So listen up, if you are getting evicted don’t call me. If you are a landlord and you don’t understand H, don’t call me.

Call a lawyer, if the tenants association can hook you up with a mouthpiece that’s cool too.

But I am not giving you legal advice.

Not my job.

No, I don’t want to see anyone get evicted, and yes I do wish anyone being evicted luck as this is resolved. Not sure why that upsets anyone, but oh well.

Either way, I am not the one evicting you.

I’m just telling it like it is.