Lots of fears about potential price gouging, for sure. And yes, some hotels and landlords are jacking up prices. But they’re the bit players.
And I’m being a little proactive. Lots of lies floating around these days, so I’m trying to take fewer things as fact without seeing the accompanying evidence.
It’s too soon for the real price gouging to get going - insurance companies refusing to pay all that they insured, forcing the fire victims to hire public adjusters or lawyers and therefore still take a haircut on their insurance proceeds by paying these advisors. Contractors charging premium prices for sub-par work and materials.
Yes, price gouging is a very legitimate concern, and one that has played out in previous natural disasters around the country (and the world for that matter).
But for now, it’s just penny ante gouging that is not too hard to avoid. LA is a big area. Widen your search for hotels or rental housing and you can avoid most of the price gouge.
I also think it’s a great idea to name names as to who is doing the price gouging. Nothing quite like the publicity to keep it at bay.
German response to Hitler exemplifies one possibilty, but South Korean response another very different response.
And, not quite incidentally, Ukraine’s response to their Putin puppet Prez Yanukovych’s total and obviously previously planned betrayal of his key campaign pledge to push ahead with application for EU membership — the Maidan demonstrations — is another
As Ben Franklin said: “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
Price controls here do what price controls usually do – reduce supply.
Property owners are making fewer properties available for rent because of a state law barring new listings from charging more than $10,000 a month during the state of emergency, real estate agents and brokers say…
In Los Angeles’ high-end rental market, it’s long been common to find homes advertised for $10,000 a month or more.
But in the wake of this month’s devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, new listings above that amount are effectively barred by state law, just as a crush of wealthy, displaced families are looking for places to go.
Or, as the law states “for NEW listings”, make a first listing for $1-million/day, then change the SECOND (and later listings) to whatever you can get. NOT limited to the “new listings” rent restrictions
If they attended public school, then the county will move them to a different local school. If they attended a private school, either the school will lease space elsewhere, or they will transfer to a different private school (ideally locally so they can still be near their friends). Don’t underestimate how much such an event upends the lives of children. No need to compound the trauma with also changing location to another state!
