10/17/1998 - 2374 ...(See Related VNN Stories)

City of L.A. "Rules" On Ram Parashar's Eviction

L.A., USA (VNN) - VNN has obtained copies of a letter from the City of Los Angeles to ISKCON. In the letter dated Oct, 9th 1998 the City of Los Angeles notifies ISKCON L.A. that the "organization (ISKCON) does not have a valid tax-exempt registration certificate for renting of the housing accommodations located at 3765 Watseka Avenue." The letter further states: "Based upon the above information, the property at 3765 Watseka Avenue is subject to the provisions of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance."

This means the property falls under the city's Rent Control Ordinance, which makes it very difficult to evict a tenant, especially when the property is owned by a corporation as it is in this case. This ruling by the City of Los Angeles Housing Department will have significant impact on the current legal efforts by ISKCON to evict Ram Parashar from the temple apartment. (see VNN story #2108)

According to one legal expert this ruling will make it next to impossible for ISKCON to evict Ram Parashar and his family, or for that matter any of the tenants living in the temple apartments.

The Oxford Law Firm, in a public service announcement, has offered free legal consultation to tenants of the 3765 Watseka Avenue apartments regarding the legal effects of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance on their tenancy. The firm can be reached at (562) 634-3600.

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