L.A.'s Plan for a Rent Freeze Is Put on Ice

About 600,000 Los Angeles tenants got the message loud and clear Friday -- as in the past years, these rent-controlled apartment dwellers will likely face a 3 percent rent increase in July, with some facing as much as a 5 percent hike.

L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon and many tenants groups have been arguing against rent increases in these tough economic times, insisting that rent hikes aren't feasible and should be halted -- at least for a short time in the upcoming year. Landlords countered that they rely on the money from the rent increases.

But last Friday the City Council ultimately moved to shelve this idea in front of an unhappy audience.

How did this issue go from approval by the L.A. City Council on May 7, when it even went so far as to have the City Attorney prepare a moratorium, to the motion dying in City Hall?

Here is a quick time line: