Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- torch / tɔrtʃ / (v.) – to burn something completely
Example:In just a few hours, the fire torched the entire building, leaving nothing to be saved.
- gouging / ˈɡaʊ dʒɪŋ / (n.) – the practice of illegally or secretly charging someone a huge amount of money for something
Example:After the storm, some stores were accused of price gouging for basic supplies.
- make inroads / meɪk ˈɪnˌroʊdz / (idiom) – to move closer to accomplishing or achieving a challenging goal
Example:The new recycling program is starting to make inroads in reducing waste in the city.
- obscenely / əbˈsin li / (adv.) – in a manner that most people find offensive, not appropriate, and not acceptable
Example:The landlord demanded an obscenely large rent for a small apartment.
- egregious / ɪˈgri dʒəs / (adj.) – very bad and very noticeable
Example:The company faced a lot of criticism for its egregious treatment of workers, especially during the busy season.
Article
Read the text below.
Southern California’s expensive housing market is going to get a lot more competitive after deadly firestorms torched more than 12,000 homes and other structures in the Los Angeles area, leaving tens of thousands of people without a place to stay.
Already, there are reports of rent gouging, prompting elected leaders to issue stern warnings against the practice and plead with the public to report unethical property owners who hike up rents above the allotted 10% cap.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement that it is illegal for landlords to accept rent that exceeds the cap, even if someone is offering to pay a higher amount.
“You cannot jack up prices and take advantage of disaster victims, plain and simple,” he said at a news conference.
A modern three-bedroom condo in a downtown LA high-rise, for example, that was offered at $5,500 a month in October popped back up on Zillow with a new asking rent of $8,500.
The entire state has struggled with the twin crises of housing and homelessness, only recently starting to make inroads to build more affordable homes.
California law prohibits price gouging after an emergency has been declared, meaning that individuals and businesses cannot increase the price of goods and services such as gas or rentals by more than 10% from before the emergency was declared.
Price gouging is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine for each violation. Protections related to housing are generally in effect for 30 days. But Gov. Gavin Newsom extended prohibitions on motel, hotel and rental housing to March 8.
Tenants’ rights and landlord association groups have called for strict enforcement against rent gougers amid media reports of obscenely high prices.
People on social media are crowd-sourcing examples of egregious increases, and even inputting their findings into a shared Google document.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- In your opinion, why are some people taking advantage of the Los Angeles fire emergencies through price gouging, even though laws don’t allow it? Do you think stricter penalties could stop this behavior? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Do you think price gouging is justifiable in some situations? Why do you say so? If you were a landlord, how would you balance your needs with the tenants’ needs during a housing crisis? Discuss.
Discussion B
- More than 12,000 homes and other structures in the Los Angeles area were destroyed by the firestorms. After losing their houses in a disaster, what are the most essential items for people to have? How can communities and the government support families affected by disasters? Discuss.
- The entire state of California is struggling with the twin crises of housing and homelessness. What is the situation of housing in your city? Is there a city in your country that’s struggling with the same crises? What do you think causes these crises? Discuss.
