My interest in housing advocacy began when I was a young child.  My family came to the United States as undocumented immigrants.  Since we had very few resources, we ended up living in a low-income apartment.  After a few years, a developer sought to evict the residents and tear down the apartments on our block to create more expensive housing.  For weeks, I joined my family and neighbors in protests; we took to the streets telling anyone that would listen that this was our home and we had a right to stay here.  After an extensive battle, we were surprised by the results… we won.  The developers made some improvements to the neighborhood, some of the rents went up, but no building was torn down.  We remained.

I began my career in eviction defense as a volunteer at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles self-help center at the Santa Monica courthouse.  I really wasn’t sure if this was for me.  However, after about my third or fourth intake interview, I began to notice something; I became aware of just how immensely rewarding I found the entire experience.  When someone asked me how their case looked, I would tell them nothing is guaranteed.  We don’t know how the judge or jury will rule.  Sometimes a person with a strong case loses, sometimes a person with a poor case wins.  However, the more they prepare, the better their chances will be.  When I assure someone that together we will have a fighting chance, I would always see their strength begin to grow a little as they allowed themselves the audacity to hope. 

During my time as a law clerk, the stories I’ve heard stay with me.  The grandmother on Section 8 that is being forced out of her apartment simply because the landlord knows he can get much more than $250 per month in rent.  The military veteran that has struggled with homelessness for most of his life due to PTSD, who wants to hang on to the only apartment he’s ever had.  The single mother with limited income that wants nothing more than to provide for her daughter.  She in particular stands out for me because in the middle of her interview, she began to cry a little.  As I reached to hand her a box of tissues, I told her that I understood.  That my mother was also a single mom. 

I’m extremely passionate about housing advocacy.  I believe the battle lines have been redrawn.  Today, Los Angeles is in the midst of a war for its soul. While working as a realtor, my goal was once to help immigrant and first-time buyers acquire their homes.  I feel I’m now needed to help tenants defend their housing rights. 

If given the opportunity to work for you on your case, I assure you that I will do everything I can to be a zealous advocate on your behalf.

 Respectfully,

Cesar Rueda, Esq.