Topline:
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to push back a vote on a new rent relief program intended to help tenants displaced by January’s wildfires, as well as recent federal immigration raids.
The proposal: County leaders were scheduled to vote on setting up a new $10 million Emergency Rent Relief Program, with potential for additional funding. Priority would have been given to applicants who lost income and fell behind on rent because of the Palisades and Eaton fires, as well as displaced families running out of FEMA or insurance relocation money.
Families who lost income because of a breadwinner being detained or prevented from working because of federal immigration raids also would have been prioritized.
The vote: The question of forging ahead with the existing plan or delaying it for further consideration narrowly split the board. Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, and Holly Mitchell voted in favor of delaying the decision, while supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis voted against the postponement.
“Our neighbors are suffering now,” Horvath said. “We have the funding. There is demonstrated need. What we don’t have is time to waste.”…