Consumer Rights Attorney. Rent Control Board Member.
Workforce and Economic Development Expert.
Caroline Torosis is a consumer rights attorney and progressive advocate for Santa Monica. Caroline serves as Senior Deputy of Workforce Development & Economic Opportunity to the Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Holly J. Mitchell, where she works to pass laws and regulations that protect workers’ and consumer rights, provide opportunity for our entrepreneurs and small businesses, protect tenant rights, and promote a fair and vibrant marketplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
In her current role, Caroline is currently leading the County’s economic and jobs recovery response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the creation of two new County departments, and the establishment of the nation's longest Guaranteed Income program for 1000 in-need Angelinos. Additionally, Caroline has worked on minimum wage enforcement, financial literacy and small business development, and establishing the County's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Caroline helped author the County’s minimum wage enforcement ordinance, one of the strongest in the nation, and worked with internal and external stakeholders to establish a regional approach to minimum wage enforcement.
As an elected Commissioner on the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, Caroline has worked with both tenants and landlords to enact common sense reforms to the City’s rent control laws. She led the board in banning “pass throughs” – which stops landlord from passing their operating expenses and property taxes onto new tenants – instead asking that these expenses be accounted for in new rental rates. She lead the Board in reforming the construction related rent decrease petition process for tenants. And she ensured that the Agency has always operated with a budget surplus, even throughout COVID-19.
Caroline will use her experience and ability to get things done to tackle some of Santa Monica’s most pressing issues, such as:
- Homelessness by holding LAHSA accountable for more resources for outreach, mental health services and expanding crisis response street teams.
- Public Safety by fully funding our first responders and reducing Police and Fire response times.
- Economic Recovery by reducing fees and cutting red tape for new businesses while establishing a small business and workforce development training and and innovation center within the City.
- Affordability and Housing – Use public land for affordable housing, expand affordable housing trust fund, maintain and expand POD program and Rent Control Protections. Streamline entitlement process for affordable housing to reduce building and holding costs. Establish right to counsel and enforce City’s Tenant Harassment Ordinance
Caroline and her husband Dan are proud Santa Monica residents, and in their spare time enjoy hiking with their dog Olive.
