Eviction Notice Data Shows Concentration in District 6

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board heard new data Thursday showing City Council District 6 had the highest number of eviction notices for both January and February 2025, raising concerns about housing instability in a specific area of the city. The information, presented during Executive Director Helen Morales’ report at the March 6 meeting, marks the first time the department has reported eviction notices broken down by Council district.

“For January 2025, Council District 6 had the largest number of eviction notices,” Morales reported to the Board. “For February 2025, Council District 6 again had the highest number of eviction notices, with 13 cases.”

Represented by Councilmember Steve Madison, District 6 is situated in the western portion of Pasadena. It extends from the natural boundary of the Arroyo Seco into parts of the central city. District 6 is precisely bounded by the Arroyo Seco Channel, California, Madison, Del Mar, Los Robles, Colorado, and returns to the Arroyo Seco Channel. This creates a roughly polygonal shape that encompasses both residential and commercial areas.

The data revealed different types of notices filed in January, including breach of lease, failure to pay rent, and illegal activity.

February showed a different pattern with nuisance, owner-to-owner relative move-in, and subtenant and sole possession cases.

Morales indicated the department plans to put this information on a Geographic Information System (GIS) to better visualize the locations of these notices across the city.

“We are really trying to get at the heart of this data, trying to really understand what’s going on so that we can outreach and so that we can go out and do the work that we need to be done in certain areas,” Morales explained. The department aims to use this information to conduct targeted outreach and necessary intervention in specific areas.

Board Members expressed surprise at the findings, with some noting they had expected different patterns across the city.

“I would have put my money on District 3 or where I’m at,” said Board member Allison Henry, who found the concentration in District 6, followed by District 7, particularly noteworthy. She described the data as “gripping and actionable” and suggested sharing it with the City Council.

Henry emphasized that the eviction notice concentration “wasn’t an isolated issue in one part of the city” and highlighted the data’s value for communicating with Councilmembers who might not have initially supported tenant protections.

Board Member Arnold Siegel found the District 6 concentration “very interesting” and questioned whether it represented “just a few buildings or is it all across District 6.”

Vice Chair Brandon Lamar also expressed concern about the findings, remarking, “I wonder what we would be without rent control tenant protections,” indicating appreciation for existing protections while worried about the current situation.

The Department’s reporting system for eviction notices is relatively new, having just started collecting this geographic data in January 2025, with Director Morales noting they “haven’t seen any” unlawful detainer actions (formal eviction lawsuits) in the reports yet.

During the same meeting, the Board also welcomed Stanko Zovko, new manager for outreach and enforcement, who brings eight years of experience building affordable housing in Phoenix and three years enforcing fair housing rights.

The Board received updates on the department’s registration of rental properties throughout the city, with Morales reporting a 75% substantial compliance rate as of February 27, 2025, representing about 5,650 properties registered of 7,532 total.