[cuz1961]

kick out the renters, renovate the units and turn them into pricey condos WAY out of the former renters’ ability to pay
Then the former renters load up the jalopy and move to Oklahoma, and that round of the cycle is complete

\/

Except they can no longer drive that jalopy out of Calif on Calif roads cuz

it failed smog test.

[RightField]

I think the DMV will issue a short term certificate to get such a vehicle out of state. Back in 2005 we got a 3-day pass to drive our "gross polluter" motorhome out of state. We hadn't been able to register it for a few years previously.

Fun fact: if your vehicle's registered address is any state other than CA, AZ or NV (meaning that's where the annual registration is mailed) you do not have to get your car smogged. We were in Florida for several years, caring for my mother, before we decided to move here permanently. We never had to provide a smog certificate. Of course, where would we even get one in Florida?