Some landlords in Los Angeles are profiting from the wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes. Tens of thousands of L.A. residents now have nowhere to live. They are trying to find a house to rent. However, some landlords are raising their rents by thousands of dollars. Local newspapers say some rents in L.A. have doubled after the wildfires began. Making a profit in a crisis is called price gouging. The California governor introduced a price-gouging law on January the 7th. This was after he declared a state of emergency.
The wildfires shocked America. More than 105,000 people had to leave their homes. The fires destroyed large parts of some of LA's most exclusive areas. Many celebrities lost their beachfront houses. Actress Paris Hilton lost her house in upmarket Malibu. She wrote on social media: "It feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces." The mother of Beyonce also lost her house. She wrote: "It was my favourite place, my sanctuary, my sacred happy place. Now it is gone." Many people are blaming climate change for the fires. Little rain left Los Angeles very dry. The risk of wildfires is high.
Try the same news story at these levels:
Los Angeles Fires - Level 0, Los Angeles Fires - Level 1 or Los Angeles Fires - Level 3
Sources- https://www.newsweek.com/la-renters-pride-gouging-los-angeles-wildfires-2013645
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-wildfire-evacuees-price-gouging-predatory-businesses-landlords/
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/hundreds-of-la-landlords-hike-rents-to-capitalize-on-desperate-fire-evacuees-202317417.html
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