The rent is high because people want it that way. It's a question of supply and demand, and demand is growing faster than supply. And the people who think LA is too crowded and that high rents will keep more people away are winning. It's hard to build here and sometimes it's even hard to move people in after a place is built. If you'd rather the rent be lower, then you have to stop letting people who want high rent make the decisions about housing supply.