Topic: Eviction

Los Angeles faces a potential wave of evictions as the deadline for paying back rent missed during the pandemic has passed. Thousands of tenants owe significant sums, with the city's typical rent rising 75% since the pandemic began. Officials estimate that 75,000 people in LA County currently have no permanent housing, a figure comparable to the population of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

A Ronald McDonald House in Canada faced public backlash after moving to evict a family whose four-year-old son was being treated for leukemia because the family was unvaccinated. The discussion clarifies that individual Ronald McDonald House chapters operate as independent entities responsible for their own local fundraising. There is concern that the actions of the Canadian chapter will negatively impact donations to other locations in the United States.

A producer from Kentucky shares the struggle of her parents, who are small-scale landlords in San Diego. They have been unable to collect back rent or evict non-paying tenants due to the moratorium, despite tenants purchasing new cars and boats. The hosts use this to illustrate the unintended consequences of government interference in the rental market.

The Biden administration issued a new 60-day eviction moratorium following a protest by Congresswoman Cori Bush on the Capitol steps. The hosts discuss the legal controversy surrounding the CDC's authority and the failure of states to distribute $40 billion in federal rental assistance. Cori Bush is criticized for spending $70,000 on private security while advocating for the "defund the police" movement.

The CDC issued a new 60-day eviction moratorium despite the U.S. Supreme Court previously signaling that such an extension would be unconstitutional without congressional action. President Joe Biden admitted the move might not pass constitutional muster but allowed the CDC to proceed. Landlords are facing financial ruin as billions in federal aid remain stuck at the state level, with only 2% of funds reportedly reaching property owners.

Congresswoman Cori Bush led a protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the federal eviction moratorium was set to expire. While the White House claimed its hands were tied by a Supreme Court decision, billions of dollars in previously allocated rental assistance remain undistributed by state and local governments.

The CDC's power to halt evictions is based on the theory that homelessness facilitates the spread of disease. However, less than 2% of the $47 billion set aside for landlord relief has been distributed. Analysts suggest the funds are being held up by complex bureaucracy, privacy concerns for landlords, or potential local-level corruption and theft.

California announced a $5 billion rescue package to pay 100% of back rent for qualifying tenants affected by the pandemic. The hosts debate whether the money should go to renters or landlords, predicting an "eviction tsunami" regardless of the bailout.

Mark and Christina Rotundo successfully sued their 30-year-old son, Michael, to force him to move out of their home after he ignored five formal eviction letters. Despite Michael's claims of running a "web business," a judge ruled in favor of the parents, ordering the son to vacate the premises.

A report from RT highlights the case of Tom Crawford, a 63-year-old UK citizen fighting eviction despite claims he paid off his mortgage in full. The bank that originally issued the loan went bust, and the government-run successor company claims only interest was paid. This story is used to illustrate a broader "anti-bank" sentiment growing across Europe as institutions prioritize property seizures over financial settlements.