EDITORIAL PROMOTING BLIGHT COUNCIL DISCOURAGES LANDLORDS FROM RENOVATING THEIR BUILDINGS.

THE do-gooders on the Los Angeles City Council have given tentative approval to a proposal that would ban landlords from evicting tenants while renovating rental units. This is a classic case of good intentions (or politicians' longing to look well-intentioned) begetting disastrous consequences.

Under the city's current rent-control policies, building owners can evict tenants and restore rental rates to market levels if they spend more than $10,000 renovating a unit. But under the six-month moratorium tentatively approved by the council, owners would have neither the incentive nor the ability to renovate aging and dilapidated buildings.

In a city where apartment inspections are rare and building codes are routinely flouted, discouraging landlords from making improvements is an especially bad idea. If there's one thing Los Angeles doesn't need, it's further incentives for blighted housing.

A better plan for protecting tenants is one proposed by Councilman Hal Bernson, which would substantially increase the $2,000 moving allowance tenants receive upon eviction. This would give tenants the money to re-establish themselves in better housing and encourage landlords to renovate and improve their buildings, thereby improving neighborhoods.

L.A. should be able protect tenants without confining them to slum living. Unfortunately, that's been the effect of city policies for too long.