PROJECT FOR JUNE 7th, 2021
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS TO: 01 P.M.
I AM LORENA GONZALEZ, PRESIDENT
OF THE COUNCIL.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> BORIS.
>> HERE.
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES.
MOSQUEDA.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
STATEMENT THANK YOU SO MUCH,
PRESENTATIONS.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SO WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE TO THE APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF JUNE 1st 2021 HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES.
>>> APPROVAL OF THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
AS YOU MAY RECALL THIS MORNING
I COUNCIL BRIEFING,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ADDRESSED
AN AMENDMENT THAT HE WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE TO THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO MAKE
YOUR MOTION TO AMEND TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
I MOVED TO SO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR BY ADDING COUNCIL BILL
, AND I JUST WANT TO GET THE
NUMBER FOR THE RECORD HERE.
120096 TWO THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IN KEEPING WITH THE RULES.
>> GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, JUST TO CLARIFY,
THAT IS COUNCIL BILL 120096
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE RELATED
TO APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126127 WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2021 BUDGET MODIFYING
IMPROVISER. AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS
AND BY REFERRING IT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL.
SO, IT HAS BEEN MOVED.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO INTRODUCE COUNCIL
THE 120096.
AND BY REFERRING INTO THE CITY
COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE AMENDMENT?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THE
MOTION CARRIES AND BE AMENDED
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
OTHER ANYMORE COMMENTS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AS AMENDED?
HEARING NONE, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE AMENDED
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE
WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, AND THE COUNCIL'S
WORK PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AND
COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE THIS REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT SYSTEM.
IT REMAINS A STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO END OR ELIMINATE THESE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY
POINT WITHIN THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR IS NO LONGER
SUITABLE FOR ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
>>> I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WAS
NOTED ON THE PUBLISHED AGENDA
TO BE A TOTAL OF 20 MINUTES,
WITH EACH SPEAKING HAVE UP TO
TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL.
HOWEVER COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE
ALMOST 100 PEOPLE WHO HAVE
PREREGISTERED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY.
MOSTLY ON THE SUITE OF BILLS
RELATED TO NEW TENANT
PROTECTIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE HEARING
FROM EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO
PREREGISTERED FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY.
SO, HERE'S WHAT I AM GOING TO
DO IN ORDER TO FACILITATE
HEARING FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS
POSSIBLE.
I'M GOING TO EXTEND PUBLIC
COMMENT FROM 20 MINUTES TO LAST
A TOTAL OF 60 MINUTES.
I'M GOING TO REDUCE THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO FOR EACH
SPEAKER FROM TWO MINUTES TO A
TOTAL OF ONE MINUTE.
SO AGAIN, IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR
THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE
VIEWING PUBLIC TO HEAR FROM AS
MANY PUBLIC COMMENTERS AS
POSSIBLE, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 60 MINUTES.
HOWEVER, EACH SPEAKER IS GOING
TO ONLY HAVE ONE MINUTE TO
ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER USED FOR THIS
REGISTRATION AND USING THE
PHONE NUMBER I.D.
AND PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED
TO THEM UPON CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
GENERAL MEETING LISTENING LINE
CALL IN INFORMATION.
AGAIN, I'LL CALL ON EACH
SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
IF YOU NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT, AGAIN WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE
UNLIKELY TO GET TO EVERYBODY
WHO HAS ALREADY PREREGISTERED
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF IS GOING TO UNMUTE YOU.
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR A PROMPT
AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN UN-MUTED.
THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR Q THAT
IT IS YOUR TURN TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
AGAIN, THAT IS STAR SIX.
AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN UN-MUTED.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME, THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE
ADDRESSING, AND AS A REMINDER
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, OR THE COUNCIL'S WORK
PROGRAM.
SPEAKERS ARE GOING TO HEAR A
TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS THE LEFT
OF THE ALLOTTED TIME.
WHAT YOU HEAR THAT I WOULD ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE BEGIN TO WRAP
UP THE PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THAT
WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CALL ON OTHER SPEAKERS WHO HAVE
REGISTERED.
IF YOU DO NOT END YOUR COMMENTS
AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED
TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE IS GOING
TO BE MUTED.
ONCE YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT YOUR LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, YOU CAN
DO SO ON SEATTLE CHANNEL OR ONE
OF THE LISTING OPTIONS LISTED
ON THE AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN
UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
NOW.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO GO
AHEAD AND MAKE A FORMAL MOTION
TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT FROM
20 MINUTES TO 60 MINUTES.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, IT
WILL BE EXTENDED TO 60 MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
EXTENDED TO A TOTAL OF 60
MINUTES.
FOR THE RECORD IT IS TO: 10
P.M..
SO, WE WILL GO UNTIL
APPROXIMATELY 3:10 P.M.
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
FIRST SPEAKERS THAT I HAVE ON
MY PREREGISTERED LIST ARE AS
FOLLOWS.
I HAVE ANGIE GERALD, BUT YOU
ARE SHOWING UP IS NOT PRESENT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE DOUBLE
CHECK YOUR CALL IN INFORMATION
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CALLING
INTO THE RIGHT NUMBER WITH THE
NUMBER THAT YOU PREREGISTERED
WITH.
IF YOU DO SHOW UP AS PRESENT ON
MY END I'LL BE SURE TO CIRCLE
BACK TO YOU AND GIVE YOU YOUR
ONE MINUTE.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL CAVANAUGH.
>> MY NAME IS DAN.
I'M A MEMBER. MY MOM HAS BEEN A
TEACHER MY WHOLE LIFE.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER ONE OF HER
STUDENTS CAME TO LIVE WITH US
BECAUSE HER MOM COULDN'T PAY
THE RENT ANYMORE.
SHE WAS DOING POORLY IN SCHOOL
BEFORE SHE CAME TO LIVE WITH US,
BUT WHAT SHE HAD A STABLE ROOF
OVER HER HEAD, WASN'T
CONSTANTLY MOVING AROUND, HER
ABILITY TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL, TO
FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, IT WAS
NIGHT AND DAY FROM ONE HER
HOUSING SITUATION WAS UNSTABLE.
OTHER KIDS IN THAT SITUATION
DON'T HAVE A SAFETY NET.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF A SCHOOL
YEAR EVICTION ON A CHILD'S
DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS THEM AROUND
FOR THE REST OF THEIR JIK LIVES.
OVER 90% OF EVICTIONS IN
SEATTLE IS IN HOMELESSNESS OVER
2000 KIDS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL ARE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW.
NOW, EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING A
TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS AFTER
COVID.
WE NEED TO BALANCE THE SCHOOL
YEAR EVICTIONS.
THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS
OVERWHELMING.
WE WON'T BACK DOWN.
PASS THE BILL AND OTHER
RENTERS' RIGHTS BILLS.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDAN
FOLLOWED BY KATE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JORDAN.
I'M A SEATTLE HOMEOWNER
SPEAKING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
WORKING-CLASS MOVEMENT FOR RENT
PROTECTION.
I URGE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
RESOLUTION 31998.
ENCOURAGING THE MAYOR AND
GOVERNOR TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM ON ALL EVICTIONS
UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF THE
YEAR.
ALSO I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON
THE THREE BILLS WHICH GIVE MORE
HUMANE TERMS TO RENTERS.
PLEASE PASS THESE BILLS WITHOUT
DELAYING OR WEAKENING THEM WITH
AMENDMENT CONCESSIONS TO
CORPORATIONS.
MANY THOUSANDS IN OUR CITY ARE
ON THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL,
CAPITALISM ROUTINEL SACRIFICES
THE WELL-BEING OF THE MANY IN
ORDER TO PROTECT THE PROFITS OF
THE FEW.
THE IMPACT OF THIS TRAUMA IS
ALWAYS HARDEST ON THOSE PEOPLE
OF COLOR, THE DISABLED, LGBTQ,
AND OTHER MARGINALIZED
INDIVIDUALS.
THE COVID PANDEMIC IS A WAKE-UP
CALL TO THE MUCH LARGER CLIMATE
EMERGENCY AND ECOLOGICAL CRISES.
THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR
FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL
LIVES ARE CONNECTED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS KATE FOLLOWED BY MAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS KATE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A
MEMBER OF THE STATE HOUSE STAY
HEALTHY AND A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 2. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
RENTERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE FOR
PASSING THREE VITAL RENTERS'
RIGHTS BILLS.
THE CITY COUNCIL SOUND AT HOME
DEFENSE CLOSES THE LOOPHOLE AND
TENANT PROTECTIONS AND PROVIDES
A DEFENSE OF CERTAIN EVICTIONS
OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
IT WILL HELP TO PRESENT THE
TSUNAMI OF INVENTIONS
ANTICIPATED.
WE KNOW THAT EVICTIONS
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS.
SEATTLE IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING
A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, AND WE
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
ADEQUATELY PROVIDE RESOURCES TO
THOSE ALREADY IMPACTED.
TAKING ACTION NOW TO KEEP FOLKS
HOUSED WILL PREVENT THIS CRISIS
FROM GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KATE, FOR CALLING
IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MAY.
GO AHEAD MAY, IF YOU ARE WITH
US MAKE SURE YOU HIT STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI, I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 5 ASKING THAT WE AMEND
CB 120046.
SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA MONICA
HAVE EACH PASSED THEIR JIK OWN
SCHOOL YEAR EVICTION BANDS.
THAT IS PROTECT STUDENTS AND
EDUCATORS WHERE ALSO ENTERING
SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS AREN'T
LEFT IN A IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.
NEITHER CITY BANDS EVICTIONS
DUE TO LACK OF PAYMENT FOR
VIOLATIONS OF OTHER LEASE TERMS.
BOTH PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
EXCEPTIONS INCLUDING A VITAL
ONE FOR OWNERS WHO NEED TO FIX
THEIR PART HEARD OF THE MARKET
FIRST PERSONAL USE.
THIS BILL ALLOWS A TENANT TO
NOT PAY RENT AND ALSO WOULD
MAKE THE EVICTION WINDOW SO
SMALL IT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO
PRACTICALLY ENFORCE.
LEAVING SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS
STUCK WITH NO INCOME AND
EFFECTIVELY NO PROPERTY.
LET'S PROTECT STUDENTS AND
TEACHERS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER
CITY IN OUR NATION, BUT LET'S
ALSO PROVIDE A SINGLE LIFELINE
FOR SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS BY
ALLOWING THEM JUST CAUSE IN THE
CASE THEY NEED TO OCCUPY THE
PROPERTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, MAY.
NEXT UP IS TRAM.
WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO ANGIE
AFTER TRAM.
>> HI, I AM THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL THE 120090, 77 AND 46.
ALL WHICH WOULD HELP SLOW DOWN
THE EVICTION TSUNAMI WE ARE
ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE.
SEATTLE HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF
EVICTIONS IN THE COUNTY, AND WE
ARE LOOKING AT 120 TO 180,000
INDIVIDUALS ENTERING THE
HOMELESSNESS SYSTEM THE SUMMER.
HOUSING ISN'T A RACIAL JUSTICE
ISSUE.
82% OF LANDLORDS ARE WHITE,
WHILE 58% OF BLACK HOUSEHOLDS
ARE RENT BURDEN.
IT IS A GENDER ISSUE.
WOMEN AT CHILDREN OUR GREATEST
RISK.
IT IS AN LGBTQ+ ISSUE.
ONE IN FOUR TRANS FOLKS EXPENSE
HOUSING DETERMINATION.
THIS IS AN ABOUT PROPERTY
RIGHTS, IS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS.
RENTAL PROTECTION TO PREVENT
LANDLORDS FROM PROVIDING
HOUSING.
IT PREVENTS RENTERS FROM BEING
HOMELESS.
I URGE COUNCIL TO PASS THE
BILLS WITHOUT DILUTING THEM AND
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM TO THE
END OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
TRAM.
NEXT UP IS ANGIE.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANGIE.
I'M A PROUD DIVIDER IN THE
BALLARD CITY AREA AND A MEMBER
OF SEATTLE GRASSROOTS
LANDLORDS.
WE ARE IN A HOUSING PRICES.
GRASSROOTS LANDLORDS PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IT'S
LIKE WE ARE ANTICIPATING A
MAJOR FIRE SEASON, AND INSTEAD
OF HELPING PEOPLE FIGHT SMALL
LOCAL FIRES CITY COUNCILS MAKE
IT WAY HARDER.
CITY COUNCIL KEEPS RAILING
AGAINST GREEDY CORPORATIONS,
BUT YOUR POLICIES ARE ONLY
GRADING ADVANTAGES FOR THEM.
DEEP-POCKETED INVESTORS ARE
BECOMING THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN
MEET THE INTENSE DEMAND FOR
SEATTLE HOUSING.
WITH JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE
EXPENSIVE AND MORE EXCLUSIVE.
COUNCIL SHOULD DO EVERYTHING
YOU CAN TO HELP GET FEDERAL AND
STATE FUNDING TO RENTERS AND
HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE MOST NEED
IT.
AND FOCUS ON ENABLING AS MANY
OH OH TO OFFER SAFE, STABLE
PLACES FOR RENTERS TO LIVE WITH
REASONABLE PROTECTIONS FOR ALL
PARTIES.
AND TRYING TO CANCEL RENTS AND
STOP ALL EVICTIONS, CITY
COUNCIL IS CAUSING EVEN WIDER
PROBLEMS.
YOUR ONGOING LEGISLATIVE TSUNAMI
AS DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON
SMALL PROVIDERS AND IS GETTING
A MORE DEEPLY INEQUITABLE AND
UNAFFORDABLE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR CALLING IN, AND
SHE.
>> HI.
I'M A RENTER IN CAPITOL HILL.
THIS PASSED WEEK I'VE BEEN
TALKING TO VOTERS ALL OVER THE
CITY.
I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT TO THE
LAST PERSON WHO DOES, TOO, THE
REAL FIRE IS THAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY IS FOR
RENTERS.
RENTERS ARE STRUGGLING AND
SUFFERING IN ENORMOUS NUMBERS.
I THINK TO CALL IT A SYNONYMY
OF LEGISLATIVE TSUNAMI IS JUST
COMPLETELY INACCURATE.
THE REAL TSUNAMI THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE FACING IS IF YOU
DON'T EXTEND THIS EVICTION
MORATORIUM, WE ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKED AT THOUSANDS OF
EVICTIONS, LITERALLY THOUSANDS
IN SEATTLE ALONE.
ONE IN EVERY SEVEN RENTERS
NATIONALLY IS BEHIND ENOUGH ON
RENT AND WILL BE FACING
IMMEDIATE EVICTION AT THE END
OF THE MONTH IF WE DON'T
EXTEND.
I SPOKE WITH RENTERS WHO TOLD
ME THEY ARE IN THAT EXACT
POSITION AND WORKING PEOPLE
REALLY UNDERSTAND CLEARLY THE
NEED TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM
TO PROTECT RENTERS MORE BROADLY
UNDER THESE BILL OF RIGHTS.
WE ALSO NEED COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES' BILL. NO LOOPHOLES, NO
DELAYS AND NO WATERING DOWN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS HANNAH.
FOLLOWED BY JACK.
>> HI.
THIS IS HANNAH.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE FOR BRINGING
FORWARD SO MANY CRITICAL PIECES
OF RENTERS' RIGHTS LEGISLATION.
ALONGSIDE OUR MOVEMENT OF
RENTERS AND WORKING-CLASS
HOMEOWNERS AND LANDLORDS.
WE NEED TO BAND EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND EDUCATORS
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, CLOSE
THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE, AND TO
CREATE EVICTION DEFENSE FOR
RENTERS FACING RENTAL THAT'S
DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
RIGHT NOW, RENTS IN SEATTLE ARE
RISING AT 2.5 TIMES THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
WAGES HAVEN'T RISEN TO MEET
THAT, AND WE ARE STILL DEALING
WITH THE ECONOMIC SHOCK OF
COVID.
ACCORDING TO A CENSUS BUREAU
SURVEY, 270,000 WASHINGTON
STATE RENTERS HAVE LITTLE TO NO
CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO PAY RENT NEXT MONTH.
IF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS
NOT EXTENDED BEYOND THE END OF
JUNE, IT WILL SPELL THOUSANDS
OF EVICTIONS.
PARTICULARLY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND WOMEN WHO ARE HIT HARDEST
EVICTIONS.
THE NEED TO EXTEND THE CITY AND
STATE MORATORIUM TO THE END OF
THE YEAR HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY
WASHINGTON CAN, THE WASHINGTON
LOW INCOME ALLIANCE, THE
WASHINGTON STATE ORGANIZATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, HANNAH.
NEXT UP IS JACK FRANCIS.
FOLLOWED BY JACOB.
JACK, WELCOME.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JACK FRANCIS.
I'M 23 YEARS OLD GENDER FLUID
AND . I HAVE BEEN EVICTED
THREE TIMES SINCE TURNING 18.
I'M CALLING HERE TODAY TO TELL
YOU AND TESTIFY THAT BEING
EVICTED, ESPECIALLY BEING UNDER
23 AND BEING EVICTED WITH NO
JOB EXPANSILE IS TERRIBLE.
ESPECIALLY BEING LGBTQ AND NOT
BEING ACCEPTED BY ANY MY BLOOD
RELATIVES AND MY BLOOD
BIOLOGICAL MOTHER BEING THE ONE
TO EVICT ME TWO OF THE THREE
TIMES.
IT IS REALLY INDESCRIBABLE.
IT IS PRETTY HORRIBLE FOR
PEOPLE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THIS THING.
REGARDLESS OF THE LGBTQ,
EVICTION IS GENERALLY A VERY
BAD THING.
I CANNOT EVEN FATHOM WHAT A
LITTLE CHILD WOULD HAVE TO EVEN
EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY
PROCESS.
BEING THROWN OUT ON THE STREETS
AND THAT BEING TOLD TO DO THEIR
JIK HOMEWORK AND THEN MAYBE
HAVING A TEACHER WHO ISN'T
ACCEPTING OF ALL, YOU KNOW, WHO
CARES IT IS YOUR PARENTS'
RESPONSIBILITY.
SHAME ON YOUR CHILD FOR BEING
HOMELESS AND NOT DOING THEIR
HOMEWORK.
BAND SCHOOL YEAR EVICTION.
NO WATERING DOWN, HAVE A HEART
FOR THE -- STATEMENT NEXT UP IS
JACOB.
FOLLOWED BY LAURA.
JACOB, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MY NAME IS JACOB
SCHEER, I'M AN ADVOCACY
ORGANIZER FOR REAL CHANGE.
I'M CALLING IN IN FULL SUPPORT
OF THE THREE RENTERS' RIGHTS
COUNCIL BILLS ON THE AGENDA
WHICH ARE EACH VITAL MEASURES
THAT WE NEED TO TAKE
IMMEDIATELY TO KEEP PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME AND
HOUSING INSECURE PEOPLE IN
THEIR JIK HOMES.
WE STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE VICTIM
MORATORIUM TO THE END OF THE
THE SOLUTION TO OUR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IS NOT A
MYSTERY.
WE NEED TO BRING AND KEEP
PEOPLE INSIDE.
OUR UN-HOUSED NEIGHBORS THAT WE
WITNESSED THROUGHOUT OUR CITY
DID NOT APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE.
IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE OF
IHLEN IN HUMAN PROCESS LIKE YOU
EVICTIONS THAT WE ARE IN THIS
PROCESS.
EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS
LIVING ON OUR STREETS AS A
STORY MANY TIMES THAT INCLUDES
AN EVICTION.
ONLY BY ACKNOWLEDGING HOUSING
AS A HUMAN RIGHT CAN WE BEGIN
TO MORE TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE
DESTITUTION AND MISERY ARE NOT
IT'S ON TO PART OF OUR CITY
SLANTED.
REAL CHANGE EXPECTS AND DEMANDS
FULL COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR EACH
OF THESE CRUCIAL EVICTION
PROTECTION BILLS AND FOR
COUNCILMAN THE SAWANT'S
EVICTION MORATORIUM RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS LAURA.
>> LAURA, JUST REMEMBER TO PRESS
STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HELLO EVERYONE I AM LAURA.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
SPEAKING TODAY.
I AM A RENTER AND FOUNDER OF
THE AUDUBON ORGANIZATION TO
CURE THE CITY OF ACTION FOR
HIM.
WE HAVE OVER 100 PEOPLE IN OUR
GROUP.
ALMOST 7000 FOLLOWERS ON
TWITTER AND SEND OUT A MONTHLY
NEWSLETTER TO ABOUT 1000
SUBSCRIBERS WHO CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE AND
HOUSING JUSTICE.
MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY WANTED
TO CALL IN TODAY BUT HAD TO BE
AT WORK.
WE ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
TENANT BILLS TODAY, WE ARE
TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT WILL
HAPPEN WHEN THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM IS LIFTED.
THE THOUSANDS OF TENANTS AND
THOSE WITH SEVERAL MONTHS OF
RENT THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME
TO RECOVER FROM THE ECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC
EVICTION SKILL, THEY LEAD TO
HOMELESSNESS.
WE DO NOT NEED ONE MORE PERSON
TO LOSE THEIR HOUSING IN OUR
CITY.
WE ARE INSPIRED BY ALL THE
OTHER MEMBERS IN THE STATE
HOUSED A HEALTHY COALITION.
WE WERE VERY FIRED UP BY THE
RALLY THIS WEEKEND.
WE MET SOMEONE WHO IS VERY
CONCERNED.
HE KEEPS HEARING FROM HIS
NEIGHBORS EVERY DAY IN THE
SMOKING SECTION OF THEIR
BUILDING.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE
GOING TO DO WHEN THE MORATORIUM
ENDS.
THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO PAY BACK THE RENT.
WE NEED SOLUTIONS BEFORE --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
LAURA.
NEXT UP IS KATE MARTIN FOLLOWED
BY CHARLOTTE.
KATE, WELCOME.
>> IF YOU ARE WITH US, KATE,
YOU NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX SO
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> MY NAME IS KATE MARTIN.
I AM IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDER AND AN OWNER-OCCUPIED
TYPE SHARED HOME THAT I HAVE
WITH SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE.
I PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR ALL PEOPLE AND TWO PEOPLE
WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF
TENTS.
I'M NOT GREEDY, OUT TO HER
ANYBODY.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT THESE BILLS
HAVE NO FISCAL NOTE, I HAVE A
QUESTION THAT.
THERE IS A FISCAL NOTE.
FOR ME TO BE HAVING SOMEONE NOT
PAY RENT FOR A YEAR, TWO YEARS,
MAKES ME UNAFFORDABLE, MAKES IT
UNAFFORDABLE FOR ME TO CONTINUE
OFFERING THE SEVEN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING SLOTS, INCLUDING TWO
THAT ARE FREE THAT I HAVE AT MY
HOUSE.
I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THIS
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ACTUALLY
SOLVES THE PROBLEM, OR THAT IT
DOESN'T PUT BURDEN ON PEOPLE
WITH A PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.
AGAIN, I'M NOT GREEDY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE A
CARVEOUT FOR OWNER-OCCUPIED.
ASKING YOU TO MAKE A CARVEOUT
FOR SMALL MOM-AND-POP'S.
YOUR TALK ABOUT CORPORATE
GREEDY LANDLORDS, I DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU ARE REFERRING TO, IT'S
NOT ME.
I ASK YOU TO MAKE EXCEPTION SO
I CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WHAT
I DO.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS CHARLOTTE FOLLOWED
BY CODY.
>> HI.
IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS OUR GROUP
SEATTLE GRASSROOTS LANDLORDS
HAS WORKED WITH LEGAL EXPERTS
TO DRAFT SEVERAL COMMONSENSE
PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE BILLS
BEING CONSIDERED TODAY.
WE ALSO CREATED A WEBINAR AND A
BLOG EXPLAINING OUR PROPOSALS
AND SENT THEM TO OUR CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE CALLED, EMAILED, AND MET
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AND THEIR
STAFF.
WHEN OUR CONCERNS, AND YET NOT
ONE SINGLE ONE OF OUR PROPOSALS
HAS BEEN INCORPORATED.
NOT EVEN OUR ESSENTIAL PROPOSAL
TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND OWNERS
FROM AGGRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO
HARASS OTHERS ON RENTAL
PROPERTY.
THIS CITY COUNCIL IS RECKLESSLY
ENDANGERING BOTH RESIDENTS AND
OWNERS OF RENTAL HOUSING BY
REFUSING TO INCLUDE EVEN BASIC
SAFETY PROTECTIONS IN THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE.
THE TRAGIC RESULT IS GOING TO
BE NOTHING LESS THAN THE
DESTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS CODY, FOLLOWED BY
TATYANA.
CODY, WELCOME.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS CODY AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOR.
I'M A MEDICAL RESEARCHER.
OUR GROUP [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
LOWEST LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY
WITH PROTECTION FROM MEDICAL
PRACTITIONERS.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR THEIR JIK SIGNATURES
EARLIER TODAY BUT THE LETTERS.
IS AN INCREASINGLY MORE
RECOGNITION OF SCHEDULE ONE
DESIGNATIONS IS BASED IN
ARCHAIC INFORMATION.
IF THE CITY OF KASSEL WE WILL
BE THE EIGHTH CITY IN OUR
COUNTRY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
BENEFITS BY DEEP IMMOLATION.
WE FIND THESE SUBSTANCES ARE
INCREDIBLY VALUABLE IN THE
TREATMENT OF SEVERAL DISORDERS.
NOT ONLY DID THESE MEDICINES
CARRY LOW TO NO EVICTION THEY
ARE BENEFICIAL IN TREATING THE
ABUSE OF OTHER SUBSTANCES.
BASED ON DELIMITER EVIDENCE,
THESE MEDICINES ACHIEVE THE
SUCCESS PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU, I SEE MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS TATYANA, FOLLOWED BY
JEFFREY.
JEFFREY, YOU'RE SHOWING UP IS
NOT PRESENT ON MY END, SO
PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOU'RE
CALLING INTO THE RIGHT NUMBER
WITH THE NUMBER THAT YOU USED
TO REGISTER.
IF YOU CALL IN I'LL MAKE SURE
TO GIVE YOU YOUR ONE MINUTE.
ATYANA, FOLLOWED BY DER
SPELLER.
TATYANA, WELCOME.
>> HEAD.
ACTUALLY CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN, GO AHEAD.
>> I LIVE IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
DECRIMINALIZING PSYCHEDELICS IN
SEATTLE, AS WELL AS PLEASE
EXTENDING THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
NOT ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR RENT
RIGHT NOW.
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SUFFERING
FROM AN ONGOING AND WORSENING
CRISIS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
AND EPIDEMIC LEVELS OF
PROBLEMATIC SUBSTANCE USE.
THE CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE AFFIRMING THAT
PSYCHEDELICS ARE EFFECTIVE,
RELIABLE AND SAFE ALTERNATIVES
TO HELP ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IS
UNDENIABLE.
THE RESPONSIBILITY ON OUR
SHOULDERS IS TO END THE WAR ON
DRUGS AND ENSURE THE SUBSTANCES
ARE, AND REMAIN AS ACCESSIBLE
AS POSSIBLE TO ALL.
IN OUR ORDINANCE WE DETAIL OUR
GATHER INFO MODEL OF EXCHANGE
WHICH WILL ENSURE THE GREATEST
AMOUNT OF EQUITY AND ACCESS TO
NATURAL PSYCHEDELICS FOR OUR
RESIDENTS.
WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT
PRACTITIONERS IN THE HEALING
ARTS PROFESSION ARE PROTECTED
IF THEY CHOOSE TO PARTNER.
PLEASE, SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY NEXT UP IS DEREK SPELLER,
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA.
DEREK, WELCOME.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS DEREK
SPELLER.
I'M 38 AND CURRENTLY I'D PREFER
TO BE RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT THE
TENT CITY THREE.
I SHARE THE VIEW OF KENT CITY
THREE AGAINST THE KNOW CAUSE
EMISSIONS.
AGAINST CHILD EVICTIONS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT'S ALL I'LL CONCEDE MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
DEREK.
NEXT UP IS JESSICA FOLLOWED BY
JENNIFER.
WELCOME, JESSICA.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS JESSICA.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I
WORK IN DISTRICT 2 AT A SHELTER
FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.
ALSO A COMPASSIONATE PEER
COUNSELING.
HELPING FOLKS RECOVER FROM
EATING DISORDERS.
I ALSO AM VOLUNTEERING WITH THE
SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN TALKING TO
HUNDREDS OF VOTERS ON THE
STREET.
JUST RECENTLY ANOTHER PERSON
WHO WORKS IN SOCIAL SERVICES
WAS TALKING TO ME ON THE STREET
ABOUT HOW SERIOUS THIS UPCOMING
ENDING OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM IS GOING TO BE FOR
RENTERS.
PEOPLE ARE REALIZING, THE
PEOPLE I AM SPEAKING TO, AND
EVEN JUST REALIZING, TRYING TO
FIND SHELTER FOR A YOUNG MAN
WHO CALLED OUR HOTLINE
YESTERDAY.
IT IS NOT THAT EASY TO ACTUALLY
GET A HOLD OF ANYBODY AT A
SHELTER BECAUSE THERE IS EVEN
NOT ENOUGH ROPE TO AT SHELTERS.
PLEASE PASS THE RENTER
PROTECTION BILLS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
AND MORALES FOR PUTTING THESE
FOURTH.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PASS
THEM TODAY WITHOUT DELAYS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR CALLING IN TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JEFFREY FOLLOWED BY
JENNIFER.
JEFFREY, WELCOME.
JEFFREY, JUST REMEMBER TO PRESS
STAR SIX SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THERE WE GO, CAN YOU HEAR ME
NOW?
>> WE CAN.
THE DISTRICT A RESIDENT AND
VOTER AND A SMALL LANDLORD.
A LOT OF THE COMMENTS TALK
ABOUT HOUSING STABILITIES AND
EVICTIONS, BUT THE NEW
REGULATIONS MAKE SURE THE
EXISTING HOUSING SHORTAGE WILL
CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST A
GENERATION BY MAKING ANY
HOUSING PROVIDER THINK TWICE
ABOUT PUTTING A PRIVATELY HELD
HOUSING UNIT ON THE MARKET.
IF YOU ARE A RENTER, WHO DO YOU
WANT YOUR HOUSING PROVIDER TO
BE FIVE, 10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW?
PARTICULARLY IF YOU MARRY, HAVE
CHILDREN, OR HAVE A DOG?
WHERE WILL YOU LIVE?
WITH CITY COUNCIL PUSHING SMALL
LANDLORDS OUT OF BUSINESS,
SMALL PUBLIC APARTMENT, PUBLIC
HOUSING IF YOU QUALIFY, OR
MOVING ELSEWHERE.
THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT COMPEL
ME OR ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE
THEM WITH FAMILY HOUSING.
THINK CAREFULLY IN THE LONG-
TERM ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL AND
WHAT HOUSING YOU WILL WANT TO
HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE.
I PERSONALLY HAVE A 1200 SQUARE
FOOT TWO BEDROOM HOUSING UNIT
THAT WE USED TO RENT, WE
REOCCUPIED AND IS GOING TO BE
AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR.
I CHALLENGE ANY CITY
COUNCILMEMBER TO CONVINCE ME TO
PUT IT ON THE OPEN MARKET.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS JENNIFER FOLLOWED BY
KEITH.
JENNIFER, WELCOME.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER.
I'M A LONGTIME RENTER IN
DISTRICT 5 CALLING ABOUT
COUNCIL BILL 120046.
MY FAMILY WAS SERVED AN
EVICTION NOTICE WHEN I WAS IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG, BUT
MY MOM'S BARELY SPOKE ENGLISH
AND IT NEVER CROSSED HER MIND
TO FIGHT OUR LANDLORD.
I REMEMBER BEING SO CONFUSED
AND AFRAID.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO PROTECT
TENANTS AND CHILDREN FROM
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
THE NEXT DAY HOWEVER, A MEMBER
OF MY MOM'S CHURCH, A SMALL
LANDLORD, SEEING HOW FRIGHTENED
WE WERE, OFFERED TO HELP US OUT.
IT TURNS OUT HE WAS LEAVING ON
A MISSIONS TRIP AND WOULD LET
US RENT HIS HOME WHILE HE WAS
ON.
HE WAS HAPPY TO SENT THE RENT
AT WHATEVER WE COULD AFFORD.
WE NEED TO READ SMALL LANDLORDS
AND RECOGNIZE THERE IS A
DISTINCTION.
THESE LANDLORDS RELY ON
PROTECTIONS TO ALLOW THEM TO
MOVE BACK INTO THE RENTAL
PROPERTY IF NEEDED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
JENNIFER.
NEXT UP IS KEITH FOLLOWED BY
COREY.
KEITH, WELCOME.
>> HI.
I'M CUTE, A RESIDENT IN
DISTRICT 6 CALLING IN FOR A
FRIEND.
HE WOULD CALL HIMSELF, BUT HIS
FAMILY LIVES IN FEAR OF HIS
RENTER WHO HAVE MADE INDIRECT
OR GRUESOME THREATS TO HARM
THEM.
MY FRIEND PURCHASED A HOME FOR
HIS FAMILY TO MOVE INTO, AND IS
A NICE GUY HE AGREED TO RENT IT
BACK TO THE SELLER TO GIVE THE
SELLER'S FAMILY MORE TIME TO
MOVE TODAY, THAT SELLER IS
STILL IN THE HOME AND REFUSES
TO VACATE.
IF THE SCHOOL EVICTIONS BAN IS
PASSED AS IS, LOOPHOLES CREATED
BY IMPRECISE LANGUAGE WILL MEAN
THAT MY FRIEND IS STUCK.
UNABLE TO COLLECT RENT OR MOVE
HIS FAMILY INTO THEIR HOME
INDEFINITELY.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO PROTECT
CHILDREN, HOWEVER WE NEED TO
AMEND CB 120046 TO ALLOW JUST
CAUSE FOR LANDLORDS WHO NEED TO
MOVE INTO THEIR PROPERTIES.
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE
COUNCILMEMBER'S OFFICE HAS
SHOWN MY FRIEND THEY UNDERSTAND
THE NEED FOR SUCH AMENDMENT,
AND IS GRATEFUL FOR IT.
I'M PROUD THAT MY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS'S OFFICE IS ON THAT
LIST.
I HOPE THE VOTES WILL FOLLOW
THEIR CONCERNS, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS COREY BREWER.
FOLLOWED BY KEVIN.
COREY.
WELCOME.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU.
COREY BREWER CALLING.
I'M WITH WINDERMERE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, ON
MULTIPLE RECENT LOCATIONS YOU
PUBLICLY MISCHARACTERIZED BOTH
MYSELF PERSONALLY, AND MY
BROKERAGE WINDERMERE AS A QUOTE
UNQUOTE, CORPORATE LANDLORD.
EITHER I MYSELF KNOW MY
FRANCHISE WINDERMERE BROKERAGES
A LANDLORD, MUCH LESS A
CORPORATE LANDLORD.
WE ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT ME
IN PUBLIC, BUT NOT RETURN MY
CALLS PERSONALLY TO I DISCUSSED
THIS AT LENGTH WITH YOUR
HOUSING POLICY ADVISER LAST WEEK
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT YOU
MISCHARACTERIZED ME
INTENTIONALLY, BUT BEFORE YOU
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT COMMENTOR
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO INSIST
ON A PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM YOU.
ARE BROKERAGE REPRESENTS SMALL
MOM-AND-POP HOUSING PROVIDERS
LIKE THE PEOPLE YOUR HEARING
TESTIMONY FROM TODAY.
THEN, BECAUSE I HAD TO USE THIS
MEETING, SINCE YOU WON'T
PERSONALLY RETURN MY CALL,
AFTER YOUR APOLOGY, I'D STILL
LIKE TO HAVE A FULL MINUTE TO
COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS FOR
THE COUNCIL TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MR. BREWER FOR
CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS KEVIN FOLLOWED BY
KEN.
KEVIN.
>> I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 6.
AS WELL IS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
I'M CALLING IN FAVOR OF THE
RENTER PROTECTION MEASURES
BEING DISCUSSED TODAY.
WE MUST EXTEND THE MORATORIUM,
BAN SCHOOL YEAR EVICTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD VOTE
TODAY TO PASS THESE MEASURES.
THE MORATORIUM IS SET TO EXPIRE
IN JUST 23 DAYS.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE RICHEST
CITIES IN THE WORLD, AND GET 7%
OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HOMELESS AT
SOME POINT DURING THE YEAR.
CLEARLY HOUSING CANNOT
GUARANTEE SHELTER FOR SCHOOL
KIDS.
WE ARE SAYING NO LOOPHOLE
AMENDMENTS, NO DELAYING.
VOTE TODAY TO PASSES INFORMED
PROTECTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
KEVIN.
>> I'M A UNION ORGANIZER AND A
RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 3. I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE AND THE
HOPE THAT YOU ALL ADOPT OUR
RESOLUTION.
LAST WEEKEND I ATTENDED A
CEREMONY.
THE CEREMONY ALLOWED ME TO GET
MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HURT
ME, FOCUS MY ENTIRE ATTENTION
ON PROVING MYSELF.
I AM NOW SPEAKING TO YOU WITH
LITTLE TO NO ANXIETY IN MY
LIFE.
IT'S THE HAPPIEST I'VE EVER
BEEN.
THERE ARE INARGUABLE
THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS TO THIS
MEDICINE.
BENEFITS FOR ANTIDEPRESSANTS OR
YEARS OF THERAPY CAN'T
NECESSARILY REPLICATE.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF
CONTINUING OUTDATED DRUG LAWS
THAT ONLY SAVED PRESIDENTS AND
ROOM LIVES?
FOLKS COULD HAVE SAFE ACCESS TO
MEDICINES THAT COULD
EXPONENTIALLY IMPROVE THEIR
LIVES.
WHY WOULD WE EVER WANT TO KEEP
THESE PEOPLE FROM FINDING INNER
PEACE QUESTION MARK
└> NEXT UP IS SEAN BUTTERFIELD.
WELCOME.
>> HI.
I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THE LANDLORDS AND LANDLORD
GROUPS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TODAY.
THE SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING
CRISIS IS BACKING RENT CONTROL
AND SOCIAL HOUSING.
NOT PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WHO ARE
INCREASINGLY SAVAGE.
WHEN IT IS THEY WHO ARE IN FACT
PUTTING CHILDREN AND THEIR
PARENTS ON THE STREETS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THE LEGISLATIONS PREVENTS THIS
FROM HAPPENING DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR WHICH IS THE ONLY
DECENT THING WE AS A CITY CAN
DO IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOUSING
CRISIS DRIVEN BOTH BY GREEDY
LANDLORDS LIKE THIS, PLEASING
WORKING PARENTS FOR EVERY PENNY
THEY CAN AND THE GLOBAL
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
WE AVERTED HER LANDLORDS TELL
THIS COUNCIL TODAY THAT THEY
NEED MORE CARVEOUTS FOR OWNER-
OCCUPIED'S FOR EXAMPLE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
DIFFERENCE IT MAKES TO THE
CHILD IS BEING FORCED INTO
HOMELESSNESS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR WHERE THE LANDLORD LIVES.
WE HAVE HEARD THEM COMPLAIN
THAT THESE POLICIES UNFAIRLY
AFFECT SMALL LANDLORDS, BUT THE
REALITY IS MANY SUCH LANDLORDS
HIRE CORPORATE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND RELY
ON THEM TO KICK OUT THERE JIK
TENANTS AND LARGE REAL ESTATE
ENDOWMENTS ORGANIZE THEIR
COMPANY.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ALAN SOLOMON,
FOLLOWED BY LOGAN.
>> HI.
I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I'M
CALLING IN TO URGE HER SUPPORT
OF COUNCIL BILLS RELATING TO
TENANT PROTECTIONS . AS THE
MORATORIUM COMES TO AN END, THE
LONG-LASTING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC
EFFECTS OF COVID-19 CONTINGENT
LINGER.
IT IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER THAT WE CLOSE THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION THE PULL AND
PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND
TEACHERS.
AS AN ATTORNEY WHO WORKS
DIRECTLY WITH TENANTS FACING
EVICTION, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND
THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF
EVICTIONS OF COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR IN SEATTLE, ESPECIALLY
BLACK COMMUNITIES.
ALL THE BLACK RESIDENTS MAKE UP
LESS THAN A PERCENT, THEY
REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 18% OF
NO CAUSE EVICTIONS LIKE THE
ONES COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'
BILL ASSIGNED TO PREVENT EITHER
DIRECTLY FROM TENANTS WHO HAVE
CONTINUOUSLY BEEN THREATENED BY
THEIR LANDLORDS THAT THEY WILL
BE EVICTED ONCE THE MORATORIUM
ENDS USING THIS IT BACK
LOOPHOLE.
THIS LEGISLATION MAYBE THE ONE
THAT PREVENTS SOMEONE FROM
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
IN QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS LOGAN SWAN. LOGAN,
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS LOGAN, I'M A
UNION IRON WORKER AND DISTRICT
TO RENTER.
I'M CALLING AS A BUILDING
CASEWORKER, AND ACTOR PROVIDER
OF HOUSING.
FROM EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS.
WE DEMAND OTHER COUNCILMEMBER
SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION TODAY.
UNIONS AND LABOR ORGANIZERS
OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THIS
COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION FROM
THE MLK LABOR COUNCIL TO THE
SEATTLE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION .
AS WELL AS ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENTING LOW INCOME RENTERS
AND PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER VOTE THAT
PUTS FORWARD CLEARLY THE
INTEREST OF TWO GROUPS.
WORKING FAMILIES ON ONE SIDE,
AND OWNERS AND BOSSES ON THE
OTHERS.
WORKING FAMILIES ARE FACING
MULTIPLE INJURIES AVERAGING 13%
SO FAR THIS YEAR.
LANDLORDS ARE EVICTING THREE
FAMILIES A DAY ON AVERAGE.
90% OF THOSE AFFECTED ARE NOT
FINDING OTHER HOUSING AND ARE
PUSHED INTO HOMELESSNESS.
FAMILY EVICTIONS OF CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES, SIGN THE
RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM AND CLOSE THE JUST
CAUSE PEOPLE TODAY.
WITHOUT TRIFLING AMENDMENTS AND
WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS ARIANNA FOLLOWED BY
CHRIS.
ARIANNA, WELCOME.
>> I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM AND
CLOSING THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE.
WE HAVE 45,000 PEOPLE ARE RISK
OF EVICTION IF WE DO NOT EXTEND
THE MORATORIUM.
THOSE PEOPLE WE BREAK OUR
SAFETY NET.
U.S. CENSUS DATA HAS SHOWED
THAT 87%.
29% OF OUR COMRADES WITH
LEARNING DISABILITIES ARE
BEHIND ON RENT.
100% OF OUR COMRADES WHO CANNOT
WALK UP BEHIND ON RENT.
14% OF BLACK RENTERS ARE
BEHIND.
14% OF ASIAN.
10% OF LATINX.
7% OF WHITE RENTERS ARE BEHIND.
THE RACIAL DISPARITY IS
ENORMOUS.
IT IS NOT ONLY NEGLIGENT TO
LIFT THE MORATORIUM IN THIS
MOMENT, IT IS INCREDIBLY RACIST.
IF WE LET THIS MORE TIME
EXPIRE, WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF
OURSELVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING INTO
THE.
>> I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND
KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.
I AM URGING SUPPORT OF
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM TO THE
END OF THE YEAR.
ALSO, URGING SUPPORT FOR CB
120090.
77 AND 46.
IN PARTICULAR I'D LIKE TO SPEAK
BRIEFLY ABOUT BILL 46.
WOMEN WITH CHILDREN ARE AT THE
GREATEST RISK OF EVICTION.
EVICTIONS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE
OF HOMELESSNESS, FURTHERING
INSTABILITIES FOR ADULTS WITH
CHILDREN, AND ONLY 12.5% OF
EVICTED RESPONDENTS FOUND NEW
HOUSING WHILE THE REST SUFFERED
HOUSING INSTABILITY OR
HOMELESSNESS.
IN PARTICULAR, MEANING HOMELESS
SHELTERS DID NOT ALLOW BOYS
OVER THE AGE OF 12 OR WITH
UNIQUE FAMILY COMPOSITION SUCH
AS GRANDMOTHERS LIVING WITH
THEM OR EXTENDED FAMILY LIVING
WITH THEM.
RISKING FAMILY SEPARATION.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THESE
THREE BILLS AND EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND.
NEXT UP IS RYAN MILLER FOLLOWED
BY CHRIS RUDY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS RYAN
MILLER WITH WOODLAND PARK SHARE.
I'M CALLING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM, AND
ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS
EVICTION TO COVER LEASES.
WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIONS, MANY
RENTERS LIVING UPON THE STREETS.
ARE NUMBERS ON THE STREETS WITH
ONLY IT FINANCIALLY GROW.
I ALSO SUPPORT THE PROTECTION
FOR PEOPLE FACING EVICTION DUE
TO FINANCIAL DISPARAGES,
DISABILITY TO PUT APPLIED THE
MONEY DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
FINALLY, IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT
MORALLY ACCEPTABLE TO CONSIDER
DONATING CHILDREN OR EDUCATORS
ONTO THE STREETS DURING A
PANDEMIC LIKE THIS.
THAT'S JUST -- IF WE HAVE TO
REALLY DEBATE THAT -- THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS CHRIS RUDY.
CHRIS, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE DISCOURSE ABOUT THIS
IMPORTANT HOUSING BILL.
MY NAME IS CHRIS RUDY AND I MAY
SIX RENTER ASKING THE COUNCIL
TO AMEND CB 120046 TO ALLOW AN
EXCEPTION FOR SMALL LANDLORDS
WHO NEED TO OCCUPY THEIR RENTAL
PROPERTIES.
I'M ACTUALLY CALLING TODAY ON
BEHALF OF A FRIEND.
A FRIEND OF MINE PURCHASED HIS
FIRST HOME LAST YEAR AND FOR
THE SAKE OF THE FELLOWS FAMILY,
DELAYED HIS OCCUPANCY SO THEY
COULD STAY THERE A LITTLE
LONGER.
IS NOW AN ACCIDENTAL LANDLORD
STUCK WITH A TENANT WHO REFUSES
TO LEAVE.
THE TENANT HAS THREATENED HIM
SAYING HIS WORD OF MY FRIEND IS
MOVING MY FRIENDS FAMILY
INCLUDING HIS WIFE AND TWO
YOUNG CHILDREN MIGHT BE CHOPPED
UP AND MURDERED.
UNFORTUNATELY MY FRIEND WAS
TOLD THE THREATS ARE TOO
INDIRECT TO BE USED AS GROUNDS
FOR REMOVAL.
I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE TODAY
CHARACTERIZE THOSE WHO WANT TO
AMEND THIS BILL AS GREEDY
CORPORATIONS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THINK
FUNDAMENTALLY IS A GOOD BILL,
BUT IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN
THAT.
MY FRIEND IS A PERSON OF COLOR
AND HE IS IN CALLING YOU
HIMSELF BECAUSE HE TERRIFIED OF
RETALIATION.
TWO SEPARATE ATTORNEYS HAVE
TOLD HIM IF THE SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTION PASSES, HIS TENANT
WILL CONTINUE TO PAY --
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN,
CHRIS.
NEXT UP IS -- FOLLOWED BY
MADELEINE OLSON.
>> HI.
I'M A SMALL LANDLORD.
DISTRICT 5. I HAVE BEEN ON
BOARD.
MY TENANTS HAVE BEEN GREAT TO
ME AND I LOVE TO SEE THEM STAY.
KNOWING THAT IF IN THE WORST
CASE SCENARIO MY LIFE OR MY
FAMILY ENDS UP IN A SITUATION
WHERE WE NEED TO OCCUPY A
RENTAL PROPERTY, WE CAN.
WITHOUT THAT OPTION I FEEL LIKE
IT IS JUST TOO RISKY.
I ASKED FOR THE COUNCIL TODAY
AMEND CB 120046 TO INCLUDE AN
EXCEPTION FOR SMALL LANDLORDS
WHO MIGHT NEED TO IN A WORST-
CASE, OCCUPY THE RENTAL
PROPERTY.
I AM A SOUTH ASIAN ORIGIN PERSON
OF COLOR.
I AM NOT A CORPORATE LANDLORD.
SO, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO
ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MADELEINE OLSON.
EXCUSE ME.
FOLLOWED BY JOHN GRANT.
JOHN, YOU'RE SHOWING UP IS NOT
PRESENT ON MY END OVER HERE.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE CALLING INTO
THE RIGHT NUMBER WITH THE RIGHT
INFORMATION.
OTHERWISE WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
FROM MADELEINE OLSON AND THEN
WE WILL HEAR FROM --
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MADELEINE, I RENTER
IN GRAND LEDGE.
I'M CALLING TO URGE THE COUNCIL
TO BAN EVICTIONS ON STUDENTS
AND TEACHERS.
AND TO CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE
LOOPHOLE SPIRIT ANY DELAYS ARE
UNACCEPTABLE.
RENTERS AND SCHOOLCHILDREN
DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF BEING
ABLE TO WAIT AROUND FOR THE
COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON THESE
BILLS.
WHEN THEIR ABILITY TO STAY
HOUSED IS IMMEDIATELY AT RISK.
HOW IS THE CITY GOING TO
ADDRESS THE MASSIVE NUMBER OF
EVICTIONS WHEN THE MORATORIUM
IS ENDING?
WE KNOW THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS
WHO ARE GOING TO BE EVICTED ARE
GOING TO END UP HOPELESS.
THESE ARE SIMPLE COMMON SENSE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND UNIONS
WORKING FOR THE SUPPORT FOR
THIS BEING DISCUSSED TODAY.
EVERYONE CALLING IN SUPPORT
TODAY.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASSIVE
PROTECTIONS WITHOUT WATERING
DOWN WITHOUT DELAY.
YANKEE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS THE LIFE. WELCOME.
>> HI.
I'M A RENTER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
I WANT TO CALL IN TO URGE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO PASS ALL FOUR
PIECES OF RENTERS' RIGHTS
ADDITION WITH NO LOOPHOLES AND
NO DELAYS.
THIS PASSED WEEK I SPOKE WITH
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL ACROSS
SEATTLE ABOUT THESE BILLS AS A
VOLUNTEER OF SAWANT'S OFFICE.
OUR MOVEMENT GATHERED OVER 500
SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF THESE
RENTERS' RIGHTS PROTECTIONS
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALL
ACROSS THE CITY.
FROM PICO HILL TO THE U
DISTRICT 2 WEST SEATTLE.
LIKE ME, THESE PEOPLE ARE
OUTRAGED THAT THE CITY THAT IS
HOME TO A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
CORPORATION LIKE AMAZON AND
STARBUCKS, ALSO HAS OVER 2000
HOMELESS CHILDREN IN ITS PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
DOZENS OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE
WITH INCLUDING TEACHERS,
PARENTS, STUDENTS AND ACTUAL
SMALL LANDLORDS, WANTED TO CALL
IN TODAY BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE
OF MEETING WAS SCHEDULED DURING
THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL AND
WORK ON THEIR BEHALF I WANT TO
URGE THE CITY COUNCIL CAPACITY
FOUR BILLS TODAY.
AND ALSO IN FUTURE TO PASS,
SOME OF US WANTS FULL RENTERS
BILL OF RIGHTS INCLUDING RENT
CONTROL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS UT HAWKINS FOLLOWED
BY DANIEL.
>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME.
HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM UT HAWKINS.
I AM A MOTHER, I AM A DAUGHTER,
AND I AM AN EDUCATED.
I AM OF THE MUSCOGEE CREEK
NATION AND I HAVE A LIVED
EXPERIENC AS A BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS WOMAN.
I'M ALSO SERVING AS THE VICE
PRESIDENT.
I'D LIKE TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY ASK
THAT YOU EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM AND VOTE TODAY TO
PASS THE FULL RENTERS' RIGHTS
BILL TO PROTECT STUDENTS,
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS FOR
WHICH I AM HERE IN
REPRESENTATION FOR.
AS LEADERS, WE HAVE BEEN
THROUGH A LOT THIS YEAR.
ESPECIALLY IN RESPONSE TO THIS
PANDEMIC.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU FOCUS ON
THE STABILITY NEEDED FOR
CHILDREN TO RECOVER FROM THIS
PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE.
HOUSING INSTABILITY FROM
EVICTIONS IS VERY MUCH A
DISRUPTION THAT CARRIES LONG-
TERM IMPACTS FOR STUDENTS AND
SCHOOLS.
EVERY DAY THAT IS MISSED IN A
CLASSROOM, EVERY VARIOUS
EDUCATOR, EVERY LOSS OF
COMMUNITY SUPPORT, EVERY
DISTANCE --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
I'M SORRY WE COULDN'T HEAR ALL
OF YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO EMAIL US
WITH THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS
AND WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT
THOSE COMMENTS.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL FOLLOWED BY
NATHAN.
DANIEL, WELCOME.
>> HI, AND HELLO TO SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS GIVING ME A FIRST-HAND
PERSPECTIVE ON HOMELESSNESS.
SUPPORTING THESE TRANSFORMATIVE
TENANT PROTECTIONS IS
SUPPORTING THOSE AT GREATEST
RISK OF EVICTION, WOMEN WITH
CHILDREN EVICTIONS ARE A
LEADING CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS,
YET WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN'T BE
WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT THE
INFINITE PROMISE TO CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES WILL BE
PERPETRATED IF WE ARE WILLING
TO PRETEND THAT THE PANDEMIC
DIDN'T HAPPEN AND THAT ALL
LEASE LAWS BIASED IN FAVOR
THOSE LANDLORDS, ARE A MORE
IMPORTANT PRESIDENT TRUMP OLD
WHEN SETTING A NEW ONE.
WE WON'T LET THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BE
DESTROYED DUE TO THE FACTORS
OUTSIDE THEIR CONTROL.
THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE AN
OPTION.
LOOK AT THIS CLOSER THERE ARE
HUGE RACIAL AND GENDER
INEQUITIES THAT NEED TO BE
RECOGNIZED AS BEING FORCES AT
WORK IT.
THE SPEAKER, FOR EVERY 1000
EVICTED PEOPLE, ONLY 100 --
ONLY 120 HAVE HOUSING STABILITY.
I'M SUCKING MY SCREW THAT ALL
OF.
LONG STORY SHORT, PLEASE
SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> EXCELLENT WAY TO PUNCTUATE
THAT.
I'M SORRY, THE TIME CRUNCH
CREATES A LITTLE SENSE OF
URGENCY.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS NATHAN FOLLOWED BY
LUKE.
>> ONE MORE TIME, NATHAN.
STAR SIX.
NATHAN, WE HAD YOU FOR A MINUTE
AND NOW WE -- I SEE YOU AS
MUTED.
SO, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO --
THERE WE GO.
OKAY, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE OF THE LANDLORD
EXPLOITED LOOPHOLE SEATTLE HAS
THIS.
IT IS TIME TO CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLE.
OVER 200,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN
WASHINGTON ARE BEHIND ON RENT
AND AN ESTIMATED 60,000 OF
THOSE ARE LOCATED IN KING
COUNTY ALONE.
ESTIMATED BETWEEN ONE AND THREE
PEOPLE PER HOUSEHOLD, ANYWHERE
FROM 60,000 TO 180,000 ARE AT
THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AT THE
END OF THIS MONTH.
OVER 85% OF THOSE EVICTED WITH
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN.
THIS KIND OF INSTABILITY DURING
CHILDHOOD IS INTENSELY
CORRELATED WITH NEGATIVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES AND EDUCATIONAL
OUTCOMES.
THE RISK MENTION HERE IS CUT
AND DRY.
IF THE LANDLORD WANTS TO EVICT
A PERSON FOR PROTECTIONS LIKE
THESE THEY CAN.
AS A SOCIETY WE NEED TO ASK
OURSELVES WHICH PEOPLE ARE BEST
SUITED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL
BURDENS.
DOORS WHO HAVE MORE OR LESS.
RESPECTFULLY I'M URGING TO
STAND WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS LUKE FOLLOWED BY --
LUKE, WELCOME.
>> HI.
I'M A RENTER IN CAPITOL HILL.
I LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
MEASURE BANNING THE EVICTIONS
OF STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND
EDUCATORS.
IN SEATTLE, BLACK AND BROWN
FOLKS ARE EVICTED AT MUCH
HIGHER RATES THAN OTHER
TENANTS.
DATA FROM 20 TEAM FOUND 40% OF
HOMELESS STUDENTS ARE BLACK.
23% WERE LATINO.
THEY ONLY MAKE UP 14% 12% OF
THE STUDENT BODY RESPECTIVELY.
I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
EXTEND EVICTION MORATORIUM AND
VOTE FOR COUNCILMAN RUSSELL
WANTS MARTUCCI. DID NOT AMEND
THE LEGISLATION ANYWAY AS IT
WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THE MOST
THE VAST MAJORITY OF LANDLORDS
ON THIS CALL THAT ARE GROSSLY
EXAGGERATING THEIR HARDSHIPS.
IN QUEUE.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS -- FOLLOWED BY
BARBARA FINNEY.
WELCOME.
>> HI.
I IMPLORE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS TO
AMEND CB 120046 TO ALLOW OWNERS
IN THE MOST DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES
TO MOVE THEIR JIK ON FAMILIES
INTO THEIR OWN RENTAL PROPERTY
AS A LAST RESORT.
I'M A PERSON OF COLORED AND A
DISABLED LANDLORD MYSELF.
A YOUNG LANDLORD, A WOMAN OF
COLOR WHO HERSELF LIVES IN A
RENTAL PROPERTY WORKED FOR 20
YEARS TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A
RENTAL PROPERTY.
SHE USED 100% OF THE RENTAL
INCOME TO CARE FOR FOSTER
CHILDREN.
THE PASSED 12 MONTHS , A
NONPAYING TENANT HAS PUT HER IN
AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.
SHE CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET AND IS
HAVING DIFFICULTY PAYING HER
OWN RENT AND HAS WITHDRAWN FROM
THE FOSTER PROGRAM.
SHE ALSO CAN'T SELL HER HOME
BECAUSE NOBODY WILL BUY IT
GIVEN THE SITUATION.
SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IN THE
WORST CASE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
MOVE INTO HER OWN RENTAL
PROPERTY HERSELF THE SCHOOL
YEAR EVICTION MORATORIUM,
WITHOUT AMENDMENT, REMOVES EVEN
THAT LIFELINE FROM HER DUE TO
PROCEDURAL LIGHT POLES THAT
RENTERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
PLEASE ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT TO
CB 120046.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS BARBARA FINNEY
FOLLOWED BY -- WHIPS.
SARAH.
BARBARA, WELCOME.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BARBARA.
I'M A DELEGATE TO THE MLK LABOR
COUNCIL, A MEMBER OF THE
RENTERS' RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
FOR LEADING A BAN ON SCHOOL
YEAR EVICTIONS OF CHILDREN IN
ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND
STAFF.
THE MLK LABOR COUNCIL IS
STRONGLY SUPPORTING THIS
LEGISLATION, WITHOUT ANY
WATERING DOWN.
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON
EMISSIONS THROUGH THE END OF
2021.
CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE ON JUST
CAUSE EVICTIONS AND SUPPORT
COVID THAT PROTECTIONS FOR
RENTERS.
KNOW WATERING DOWN, NO
LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY, BARBARA.
WE ARE GOING TO CIRCLE BACK TO
JOHN GRANT.
WHO IS NOW WITH US.
HE WAS PREREGISTERED A LITTLE
EARLIER, BUT WASN'T SHOWING UP
AS PRESENT.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM JOHN
GRANT AND THEN SARAH.
JOHN, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND
OTHER MEMBERS.
I AM THE CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSING
INSTITUTE.
WE ARE A REGIONAL LANDLORD THAT
OWNS OR OPERATES OVER 2400
UNITS OF RENTAL HOUSING AND 70
PROPERTIES ACROSS SIX DIFFERENT
COUNTIES IN THE GREATER PUGET
SOUND AREA.
MANY IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' PROPOSAL
TO REFORM THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE.
WE ALSO THANK COMMITTEE CHAIR
SAWANT FOR SERVICING MANY OF
THESE CONCERNS.
AS A PROPERTY OWNER WE BELIEVE
THAT REQUIRING JUST CAUSE IS A
BEST PRACTICE AND A POLICY THAT
HELPS PROPERTY OWNERS LIMIT
THEIR LIABILITY.
BECAUSE THE POLICY IS OWNERS TO
COMPLY WITH EXISTING FAIR
HOUSING LAWS.
THIS POLICY WOULD HAVE NO
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE
BUILDINGS WE OWN, AND IN FACT
WE BELIEVE WOULD IMPROVE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LANDLORDS
AND TENANTS BY BRINGING
CONSISTENCY.
IMPROVING JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS
ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND WE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
COUNCIL'S ACTION AND ENCOURAGE
YOU TO PASS THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS SARAH FOLLOWED BY
JEFFREY.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE AN ERROR
ON MY END.
THAT'S A DUPLICATE.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM SARAH
AND THEN SONJA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS SARAH.
I'M A TECH WORKER AND A RENTER
IN SEATTLE.
I'M CALLING AND ON BEHALF OF MY
PARTNER, MATTHEW, WHO IS A
TEAMSTER AND MEMBER OF
SEATTLE'S EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
AND CAN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE
HE'S AT WORK.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME
LANDLORDS ON THIS CALL THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE
TRYING TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND
A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO
STUDENTS TODAY WHOSE FAMILIES
ARE FACING INCREASINGLY HOSTILE
CONDITIONS IN THE RENTAL
MARKET.
LET ALONE THE DIFFICULTY
TEACHERS HAVE GETTING HOUSING
WHERE THEY WORK.
AND EVICTION GREATLY
DESTABILIZES A STUDENT ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY TO ACCESS
QUALITY EDUCATION.
MY PARTNER WANTED ME TO CALL IN
AND SAY HIS UNION SUPPORTS THIS
MEASURE TO STOP EVICTIONSFOR
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND TO
TELL THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
LISTEN TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS AND NOT THE REAL
ESTATE LOBBY ON THIS ISSUE.
ALSO TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, HERSELF AN EDUCATOR FOR
HER LEADERSHIP AND ACT OF
SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS AND
EDUCATORS ON A LOT OF THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS SONJA.
SONJA, WELCOME.
>> HI.
AS A WORKING MOM AND DISTRICT 3
AND A LANDLORD MYSELF, I
SUPPORT ALL THE BILLS BEING
DISCUSSED TODAY, ESPECIALLY THE
CHILDREN'S EVICTION BAN.
THIS IS TRULY A NO-BRAINER BUT
IT'S A REAL STUNNING INDICTMENT
ON THIS UNEQUAL SYSTEM OF
CAPITALISM THAT WE HAVE TO
FIGHT SO HARD FOR THIS.
I'M HEARING FROM ALL THE
GRASSROOTS LANDLORD LOBBY TODAY
THAT THIS -- THESE BILLS ARE
THE SOURCE OF ALL THEIR
TROUBLES.
THESE BILLS ARE SUPPORTED BY
THOUSANDS, SO DON'T BLAME US
FOR WRITING FOR RENTERS' RIGHTS
WHEN CAPITALISM ITSELF IS
PUSHING OUT SMALL LANDLORDS.
I URGE YOU, IF YOU ARE TRULY
STRUGGLING, TO CONTACT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
AND GET INVOLVED IN HELPING TO
SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
FIGHT TO CANCEL COVID DEBT AND
MORTGAGES, AND DON'T BLAME THE
REST OF US.
YOU ALREADY GET A CARD OUT
BECAUSE YOU ALREADY COVERED IN
THIS.
SO, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT BIG
BANKS, REAL ESTATE CORPORATIONS,
AND THE WEALTHY PAY FOR THIS,
NOT WORKING PEOPLE.
EVICTION IS VIOLENCE AS A
PREVIOUS CALLER OUTLINED.
WE NEED ALL THREE BILLS TO PASS
AND WE NEED TO STILL FIGHT TO
CANCEL COVID DEBT AND WIN RENT
CONTROL WITHOUT LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
I ALSO HAVE KATIE WILSON AND
ERIC SWENSON, BOTH OF WHOM ARE
SHOWING UP IS NOT PRESENT ON MY
END.
KATIE AND ERIC, MAKE SURE YOU
CHECK YOUR CALL IN INFORMATION
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
SPEAKING.
>> OKAY, JUST REMEMBER TO HIT
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> I'M PRESSING WHAT YOU --
>> I CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
>> AND WE LOST TWO.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> HELLO.
HELLO.
SORRY FOR THAT.
GOODNESS GRACIOUS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
EXTENDING THE TIME SO MORE
VOICES CAN BE HEARD.
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS.
PROTECTING OUR MOST FOLDABLE
POPULATIONS.
ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
IS HOW THIS ISSUE IS DIVIDING
PEOPLE.
IT IS PUTTING LANDLORDS IN
DIFFERENT GROUPS.
IT IS PUTTING SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
INTO DIFFERENT GROUPS.
IT WOULD INADVERTENTLY AFFECT
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE WHO
ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.
SO, I'M CALLING TO ASK FOR NO
DELAYS AND KNOW WATERING DOWN.
IN THE STRONGEST POPULAR
REGULATION TO BAN SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS.
FOR ALSO JUST IN GENERAL, JUST
FOR COVID DEBT PROTECTION.
THE PRICE OF COVID SHOULD NOT
LAND ON THE MOST VULNERABLE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE OTHER
SOLUTIONS.
BESIDES THE PRICE OF COVID.
NO FAULT OF PEOPLE ZONE.
TO BE ACCRUING DEBT WHEN
THERE'S PLENTY OF RESOURCES IN
THE WORLD.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO LAND ON THE
MOST FOLDABLE.
THAT DOESN'T --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING IN TODAY.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> I'M A SEATTLE HOMEOWNER
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE
RENTERS' RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS IN
FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
THE PEOPLE'S VACCINE ALLIANCE
JUST PUT OUT A REPORT THAT
AFTER COVID STARTED, [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR EXAMPLE,
THE CEO OF MARINA WHO WAS NOT A
BILLIONAIRE BEFORE IS NOW A
BILLIONAIRE.
THE HAVE A LIST OF OTHERS.
THIS IS NOT EVEN COUNTING LIKE
PEOPLE LIKE JEFF BEZOS WHOSE
WEALTH HAS INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER COVID.
THIS IS A CONTEXT IN WHICH WE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BILLS IN
FRONT OF YOU.
THERE IS A SIMPLE CHOICE IN
FRONT OF YOU.
DO YOU WANT THE WORKING CLASS
TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF COVID?
OR, DO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING
TO STOP THE WEALTH TRANSFER
FROM WORKING-CLASS TO
BILLIONAIRES LIKE -- TO
BILLIONAIRES?
ELEMENTARY DECENCY SHOULD
SUGGEST AN ANSWER.
SO, I WOULD URGE YOU TO PASS
THE RESOLUTIONS IN THEIR
TOTALITY AND WITH NO DELAYS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS ERIC FOLLOWED BY
DANIEL.
ERIC, WELCOME.
ERIC, JUST REMEMBER TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
THERE YOU GO.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE FOR
45 YEARS AND AN EDITOR WRITER,
NOW WORKING FULL-TIME TO
PROMOTE PSYCHEDELIC HEALING.
I'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN
RELIEVING THE ANXIETY OF
DEPRESSION THAT OFTEN
ACCOMPANIES THE END OF LIFE.
A SINGLE DOSE OF MAGIC
MUSHROOMS AS THEY'RE CALLED,
CAN BRING PEACE, EVEN JOY TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FINAL
DAYS.
RATHER THAN TELL YOU MY OWN
HISTORY OF DEALING WITH
PSYCHEDELICS, I WANT TO FOCUS
ON WHAT COULD HAPPEN AFTER
SEATTLE DECRIMINALIZE A
PSYCHEDELICS.
I SEE DECRIMINALIZATION IS
MERELY THE FIRST STEP IN
SEATTLE BECOMING THE LEADER IN
ALL ASPECTS OF PSYCHEDELIC
HEALING.
RESEARCH, TRAINING, PRACTICE,
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THESE SUBSTANCES HAVE ALREADY
BEGUN TO REVOLUTIONIZE MENTAL
HEALTH.
TO TREAT DEPRESSION AND PTSD
FOR EXAMPLE.
THE FDA HAS DESIGNATED MAGIC
MUSHROOMS AND ECSTASY AS
BREAKTHROUGH THERAPIES.
LET US TAKE HEED OF THE
POWERFUL ROLE THE PSYCHEDELICS
ARE PROVING, THEY CAN PLAY IN
CREATING A BETTER WORLD.
I URGE SEATTLE TO HELP BRING
THESE -- THANK YOU FOR CALLING
IN, ERIC.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL FOLLOWED BY
SEBASTIAN.
DANIEL, WELCOME.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DANNY AND I'M A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. I
SUPPORT THE LETTER SUBMITTED
TODAY BY COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS
AND HERBOLD PROPOSING
DECRIMINALIZATION OF
PSYCHEDELICS.
PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINES HAVE BEEN
ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL
POSITIVE FORCES IN MY LIFE.
PSYCHEDELICS HAVE EMPOWERED ME
WITH TOOLS TO BATTLE ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION, STAGNATION AND,,
WHILE MAKING THE MORE CONNECTED
TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND
GIVING ME A PROFOUND
APPRECIATION FOR BEING ALIVE.
LIKE A FRESH BLANKET OF SNOW ON
A PIECE SLOPE, PSYCHEDELICS
GIVE ME A PERSPECTIVE I NEEDED
TO BREAK OUT OF OLD HABITS, AND
FIND A BETTER PATH FORWARD IN
LIFE.
MY HEART TODAY IS FULL OF LOVE
FOR MYSELF AND FOR THE WORLD.
IS PERSPECTIVE THAT I'VE TAKEN
DIRECTLY OUT OF MY EXPERIENCES
IN THE PSYCHEDELICS.
THESE NONADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES
HAVE INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL TO
HELP OUR SOCIETY, AND DESERVE
TO BE EXPLORED AS THE MEDICINES
THEY ARE WITHOUT FEAR OF LEGAL
PERSECUTION.
AFTER MULTIPLE SCIENTIFIC
STUDIES FROM REPARABLE SOURCES
SUCH AS JOHNS HOPKINS HAVE
SHOWED EFFICACY, THE WORLD IS
STARTING TO NOTICE THAT SEATTLE
WAS LIKE A BEHIND.
I URGE YOU TO PASS AN ORDINANCE
THAT WOULD MAKE THESE
DECRIMINALIZED AND ACCESSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS SEBASTIAN FOLLOWED
BY MASON.
I ALSO HAVE BECCA, ELSIE, WHO
IS SHOWING UP IS NOT PRESENT ON
MY END IF SHE CALLS BACK AND I
WILL MAKE SURE TO GIVE THAT
SPEAKER A FULL MINUTE.
SEBASTIAN, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN AND I'M A
STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT AND A RENTER
FOR DISTRICT OR.
I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO PASS
BILL 120090, 77, 46.
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 60,000
HOUSEHOLDS ARE BEHIND ON RENT,
AND AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR
HOMES WHEN THE MORATORIUM
EXPIRES.
SOME MAY SUGGEST THAT THESE
PROTECTIONS ARE JUST CALLED --
IN THIS JUST CALLS BILL ARTIST
-- HOWEVER THAT IS NOT TO.
THIS BILL GOES FURTHER IN
PROVIDING PROTECTIONS TO
TENANTS.
CLOSING THIS WILL LIMIT THE
LANDLORD'S ABILITY TO RETALIATE.
WITHOUT THE CLOSING OF THE
LOOPHOLE, MANY RENTER
PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HARD
FOR FOR CAN SIMPLY BE DEBATED.
SIMPLY PUT, SEATTLE SHOULD NOT
HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS AND
THOUSANDS OF UN-HOUSED
INDIVIDUALS WHILE THE WEALTHY
HAVE ACCUMULATED MORE WIFE
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE HIGHEST RATES OF
CONTRACTING COVID AND LOSS OF
INCOME.
NO MORE LOOPHOLES, NO MORE
FAMILY SAFETY NO CAUSE
EVICTIONS, KNOW WATERING DOWN
OF THE PROTECTIONS THESE
COUNCIL BILLS WILL INSTITUTE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MASON.
AGAIN, I'M SHOWING AS
REGISTERED BUT NOT PRESENT,
KATIE WILSON AND ONE MORE
PERSON.
FOR NOW, WE'LL HEAR FROM MASON
FOLLOWED BY MATT SMITH.
MASON, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND LAW
PROFESSOR AND I RESEARCHED DRUG
POLICY.
WE FACE MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG
OVERDOSE CRISES THAT HEAVILY
IMPACT SEATTLE. LAST YEAR U.S.
OVERDOSE DEATHS REACHED A
RECORD HIGH OF OVER 83,000.
PUNITIVE DRUG POLICIES HAVE
MADE THINGS WORTH OVER DECADES.
CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY KNOW
THIS AND THEY ARE
DECRIMINALIZING THESE THINGS.
SEVEN CITIES HAVE DONE SO AND
IF YOU DECRIMINALIZE, YOU'LL BE
IN GOOD COMPANY WITH CITIES
LIKE CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS,
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA AND ANN
ARBOR, MICHIGAN.
CLINICAL TRIALS SUGGEST THEY
ARE NOT ADDICTIVE, REDUCE
SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE
OVERCOME ADDICTION.
IN THE NETHERLANDS, PEOPLE CAN
BUY THEM OVER THE COUNTER.
THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT
COMMISSIONED A STUDY ON THEIR
RISKS AND CONCLUDED THAT THE
RISKS TO PUBLIC HEALTH WERE
NEGLIGIBLE.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS,
HERBOLD AND SAWANT FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF DECRIMINALIZATION
AND URGE THE ENTIRE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
NEXT UP, MATT SMITH FOLLOWED BY
ELIZABETH.
MATT, WELCOME.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MATT SMITH, A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 2. OVER THE
LAST YEAR AND A HALF, WORKING
FAMILIES HAVE STRUGGLED WITH
JOB LOSS, LOCKDOWNCONDITIONS,
ENORMOUS UNCERTAINTY AND
DISRUPTION.
WE ARE FINALLY STARTING TO
EMERGE FROM THIS DEADLY
PANDEMIC.
WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON
PROVIDING STABILITY FOR WORKING
PEOPLE, NOT PUSHING OUR
COMMUNITY INTO ANOTHER CRISIS.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THE IMPROVING
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS TO RAISE
RENT AT DOUBLE THE NATIONAL
RATE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
QUICKLY APPROACHING A NEW
EVICTIONS CRISIS WHEN THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRES.
IMAGINE BEING A CHILD RIGHT NOW
WHO HAS JUST HAD THEIR
EDUCATION AND THEIR LIFE
DISRUPTED FOR A YEAR AND A
HALF, STARTING TO EMERGE FROM
THAT SITUATION AND THEN BEING
EVICTED FROM YOUR HOME.
BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT
SCHOOL YEAR OR DURING THE NEXT
SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO PRIVATIZE?
MASSIVE PROFITS FOR CORPORATE
LANDLORDS?
OR, TAKING ACTIONS TO PROTECT
OUR COMMUNITY FROM THIS COMING
CRISIS?
PASSED THESE THINGS AND CLOSE
THE LOOPHOLES, NO DELAYS, NO
WATERING DOWN.
WE NEED ACTION FROM THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
FOLKS, WE ARE AT 3:11 P.M.
I COMMITTED TO 60 MINUTES OF
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'VE HEARD FROM ABOUT 54
PEOPLE.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE LAST
PERSON, ELIZABETH COLLIN.
THEN, WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE OUT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO GO
AHEAD AND TAKE UP SOME OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
SO, OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT ARE
FOR TODAY IS ELIZABETH COLLIN.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
>> I'M SORRY IF I
MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS HERE.
I AM NOT A CORPORATE LANDLORD.
I AM A WORKING-CLASS SMALL
LANDLORD.
I HAVE ONE PROPERTY IN DISTRICT
3. I'M A RETIRED TEACHER, SO I
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
HOUSED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
I MANAGE THE PROPERTY MYSELF
BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD A
PROPERTY MANAGER.
BUT, I AM POISED TO SELL MY
PROPERTY IS A SINGLE-FAMILY
DWELLING BECAUSE I DON'T CHARGE
ENOUGH IN RENT FOR IT TO BE
ATTRACTIVE TO AN INVESTOR.
IT WOULD BE A SINGLE-FAMILY
DWELLING, MEANING THAT AS MANY
AS SEVEN PEOPLE WILL BE OUT OF
THE HOME.
NO ONE HERE HAS MENTIONED HOW
MY MORTGAGE, PROPERTY TAXES,
UTILITIES, INSURANCE AND
MAINTENANCE WILL BE PAID FOR IF
MY RENTERS CAN'T PAY DURING AN
ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.
NO ONE HAS MENTIONED THIS.
WHERE IS THE FISCAL PLAN
ATTACHED TO THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO IGNORE SMALL
LANDLORDS ON THIS POINT IS NOT
PROVIDING STABLE HOUSING
BECAUSE IT IS HOUSING THAT WILL
NOT BE PAID FOR.
SO, I ASK YOU, WHO ARE YOU
DESIGNATED TO PAY FOR THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION?
I URGE --
>> THANK YOU, ELIZABETH FOR
CALLING IN.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
THIS AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
CALLED IN TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM 55 MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
ON THE VARIOUS MATTERS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS POINT
AND MOVE TO OTHER ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.
>>> AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU
THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK BUT
DID SIGN UP, I APOLOGIZE.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO SEND YOUR
COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL.
AT COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. WE DO
READ OUR EMAIL AND GET THOSE IN
REAL TIME.
FEEL FREE TO SHOOT US YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>>> NEXT UP IS PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE.
>> PAYMENT OF BILLS, COUNCIL
BILL 120095, AND ORDINANCE A
PERFORATING MONEY TO PAY
CERTAIN AUDITED CLAIMS FOR THE
WEEK OF MAY 24th, THROUGH MAY
28, 2021.
AND ORDERING THE PAYMENT
THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU.
SO MUCH.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120095, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT'S BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED.
THE BILL PASSES, ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WITH THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
>>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD?
AGENDA ITEM 1, COUNCIL BILL
120080.
AND ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND
USE AND ZONING, IS PENDING FOR
SIX MONTHS A MORATORIUM
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE 125764
AND EXTENDED BY ORDINANCES
12006, 126090, AND 126241 ON
THE FILING, ACCEPTANCE,
PROCESSING, AND/OR APPROVAL OF
ANY APPLICATION TO ESTABLISH A
NEW PRINCIPAL OR ACCESSORY USE
OR CHANGE IN PRINCIPLE OR
ACCESSORY USE, FOR ANY SITE
CURRENTLY USED AS A MOBILE HOME
PARK, AS DEFINED IN SECTIONS
23.848, POINT 032 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ASK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MADAM CLERK, I WILL MOVE TO
PASS COUNCIL BILL 120080.
IS THERE A SECOND QUESTION MARK
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH IT'S BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED.
I AM ASSUMING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU ARE
GOING TO REPORT OUT ON THIS
ITEM.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT IS.
PAYMENT ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO
HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AS I SHOULD THIS MORNING AND
I'VE BEEN SHARING FOR PROBABLY
THE LAST TWO YEARS, AS YOU KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS NOT
HERE TODAY.
I WILL SPEAK TO THIS ITEM SINCE
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD CREATE A LONG-TERM
RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE BY
ESTABLISHING AN MANUFACTURED
HOME PARK OVERLAY.
TO PRESERVE THE LAST TWO
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME
PARKS IN SEATTLE.
BOTH ARE LOCATED IN DISTRICT 5.
THAT LEGISLATION, THIS
LEGISLATION IS CURRENTLY ON
HOLD, PENDING A CHALLENGE TO
ITS DETERMINATION.
THE CURRENT MORATORIUM IS SET
TO EXPIRE ON JULY 10th.
WE HOPE TO EXTEND THIS
MORATORIUM FOR THE FINAL TIME
TODAY TO ALLOW FOR THE APPEAL
TO BE RESOLVED AND FOR COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER OUR LEGISLATION TO
PRESERVE THESE PARKS FOR THE
LONG-TERM.
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN IN
DISCUSSIONS WITH LEGAL ON THIS
AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
HEARING NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED .
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WHERE THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
>>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM 2? AGENDA ITEM 2.
RESOLUTION 31998.
A RESOLUTION URGING MAYOR
DURKAN AND GOVERNOR INSLEE TO
EXTEND THE CITY AND STATE
EMERGENCY MORATORIUMS ON
EVICTIONS THROUGH NO EARLIER
THAN THE END OF 2021.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
31998.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> GREAT, WONDERFUL.
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU
ARE THE SPONSOR OF THE
RESOLUTION SO I'M GOING TO HAND
IT OVER TO YOU TO ADDRESS THIS
ITEM.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL MAKE
THE GENERAL COMMENTS I HAVE AND
THEN MOVE THE AMENDMENT, IS
THAT OKAY?
OR, DO YOU WANT ME TO MOVE THE
AMENDMENT?
>> NO, LET'S ADDRESS THE BASE
BILL AND THEN WE'LL HAVE YOU DO
THE AMENDMENT. THAT, WE CAN
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT AND DO THE ROLL CALL
ON THE AMENDMENT.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
THIS RESOLUTION URGES THE MAYOR
AND GOVERNOR TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS TO AT
LEAST THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THIS RESOLUTION LAST CAME FOR A
VOTE ON MARCH 15th. TWO WEEKS
BEFORE THE CITY AND STATE
MORATORIUMS WERE POISED TO
EXPIRE.
AT THAT TIME, RENTERS WERE
TERRIFIED THAT THEY COULD LOSE
THEIR HOMES IN TWO WEEKS, AND
HOUSING ACTIVISTS AND
ORGANIZATIONS DEMANDED THAT THE
MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR EXTEND
THE MORATORIUM TO THE END OF
THE YEAR.
MINUTES BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING ON THAT DAY WHETHER
RESOLUTION WAS GOING TO BE
VOTED ON, MAYOR DURKAN RELENTED
AND EXTENDED THE MORATORIUM FOR
AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS.
LATER, GOVERNOR INSLEE DID THE
SAME.
AS WE SAID AT THAT TIME, THIS
WAS A VICTORY FOR THE RENTERS'
RIGHTS STRUGGLE, BUT IT WAS
ALSO ONLY A PARTIAL VICTORY
BECAUSE IT WAS EXTENDING THE
MORATORIUM TO ONLY THREE MONTHS.
I PROPOSED THAT THE TIME, AND
THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED,
TO DELAY THE VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION UNTIL TODAY, JUNE
7th.
BECAUSE EVICTION MORATORIUMS
ARE NOW GOING TO EXPIRE ON JUNE
30th UNLESS THEY ARE EXTENDED.
LIKE IN MARCH, THE EVICTION
MORATORIUMS ARE PERMITTED TO
EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS
MONTH, IT WILL SPELL A REAL
DISASTER FOR RENTERS.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU'S SURVEY, 270,000
WASHINGTON STATE RENTERS HAVE
LITTLE TO NO CONFIDENCE THAT
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY RENT
NEXT MONTH, WHICH IS 18% OF ALL
STATE RENTERS.
98,000 WASHINGTON STATE RENTERS
THINK IT IS VERY, OR SOMEWHAT
LIKELY, THAT THEY WILL BE
EVICTED IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
ALREADY AS PUBLIC, AT
TESTIMONIALS HAVE STATED AND AS
I HAVE SAID IN MY COMMENT IN
PREVIOUS WEEKS, THE DATA FROM
THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN
SEATTLE ITSELF SHOWS THAT RENTS
ARE STARTING TO SKYROCKET.
STARTING IN JANUARY ALREADY,
AND THAT THEY ARE PROJECTED TO
INCREASE AT A GREATER RATE THAN
THE RENTS WERE GOING UP IN THE
PRE-PANDEMIC PERIOD.
SO, RENTERS ARE FACING A DIRE
SITUATION BOTH IN TERMS OF
KEEPING UP WITH CURRENT RENT,
NOT TO MENTION THE DEBT THAT
THEY ARE BEING FORCED TO
ACCUMULATE.
WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND WON THE
RIGHT TO A LAWYER FOR RENTERS
FACING EVICTION.
EVICTION DEFENSES FOR RENTERS,
AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY.
ALL OF THOSE ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE
AN EXCUSE TO FAIL TO EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WHEN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
ENDS, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF
SEATTLE RENTERS COULD BE SERVED
WITH EVICTION PAPERWORK, WHICH
IS ALSO KNOWN AS UNLAWFUL
DETAINER IS.
AN UNKNOWN NUMBER WILL SET THE.,
MOVING BEFORE THEY ARE FINALLY
SERVED WITH THE EVICTION
PAPERWORK, THEN STATISTICALLY
HALF OF THOSE ACTUALLY SERVED
WITH FORMAL EVICTION PAPERWORK
WILL BE EVICTED BY DEFAULT
BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE TO
RESPOND TO THE PAPERWORK OR
APPEAR IN COURT.
ONLY THOSE WHO MAKE IT TO THE
EVICTION HEARING CAN AVOID
EVICTION USING SEATTLE'S
EVICTION DEFENSE, WRITE TO
COUNSEL AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I OPPOSE EVICTIONS BECAUSE
HOUSING SHOULD BE A HUMAN RIGHT.
AT THE VERY LEAST HOWEVER, THE
HOUSING EMERGENCY RENTERS ARE
FACING DUE TO THE ECONOMIC
SHOCK OF COVID-19 NEEDS TO BE
RESOLVED BEFORE ELECTED
OFFICIALS EVEN CONSIDER LIFTING
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION, IT'S A
RESOLUTION URGING MAYOR DURKAN
AND GOVERNOR INSLEE TO EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM TO THE
END OF THIS YEAR.
I WANT TO MOVE THE AMENDMENT,
AND THEN I HAVE SPECIFIC
COMMENTS ABOUT THE AMENDED
VERSION.
SO, I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH
UPDATES THIS RESOLUTION TO
ACCOUNT FOR CHANGES OVER THE
PASSED THREE MONTHS.
SINCE IT WAS LAST DISCUSSED.
CAN I GET A SECOND?
IS THERE A SECOND?
SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THE AMENDMENT ADDS UP-TO-
DATE STATISTICS AND ALSO
LANGUAGE ON RECENT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING.
FOR EXAMPLE" FROM A WASHINGTON
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
OUTREACH LETTER QUOTE, WE ARE
CALLING FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM TO THE END
OF THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE
RENTERS HAVE TIME TO ACCESS
RENTAL RELIEF PROGRAMS, GET
BACK TO THEIR NORMAL INCOMES,
AND CAN GET CAUGHT UP ON RENT.
WE WANT SOME IMPORTANT POLICIES
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT
TO MAKE SURE THOSE POLICIES ARE
EFFECTIVE, WE NEED TO ENSURE
RENTERS HAVE TIME TO CATCH UP
ON RENT.
END QUOTE THE AMENDED
RESOLUTION ALSO QUOTE FROM A
WASHINGTON LOW INCOME HOUSING
ALLIANCE LETTER STATING QUOTE,
INCREDIBLE NUMBERS OF RENTERS
ARE APPLYING FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND IT WILL TAKE
MONTHS TO GET THE FUNDS
DISTRIBUTED.
LIFTING THE MORATORIUM AND
ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO PROCEED
WITH EVICTIONS A MONTH FROM NOW
WOULD BE GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE
END QUOTE.
FRANKLY, IT IS, I AGREE WITH
THEM IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT
ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD EVEN
CONSIDER LIFTING THE MORATORIUM
BEFORE RENTERS I ABLE TO GET
CAUGHT UP ON THEIR PASSED RENT
AND STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AFTER
THIS WAS UNPRECEDENTED
EMERGENCY.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO ACCOUNTS FOR
THE TENANT BILL 5160 THAT
SHAMEFULLY ENDS THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM STATEWIDE ON JUNE
30th.
WHILE THE STATEWIDE MORATORIUM
IS SCHEDULED AT THIS MOMENT TO
END ON JUNE 30th, ACCORDING TO
SENATE BILL 5160, THERE IS
NOTHING LEGALLY STOPPING
GOVERNOR INSLEE FROM ISSUING A
NEW MORATORIUM PROCLAMATION.
AND SENATE BILL 5160 SAYS
NOTHING ABOUT THE CITY'S
MORATORIUM.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT,
UPDATING THE RESOLUTION
LANGUAGE, AND ALSO TO SUPPORT
THE RESOLUTION AS A WHOLE, BUT
AT THIS TIME, I THINK WE HAVE
THE FIRST VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT
TO UPDATE THE LANGUAGE AND THEN
THE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION AS A
WHOLE.
I'LL JUST HAVE SOME CLOSING
COMMENTS LATER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY HOW WE ARE
GOING TO HANDLE THIS.
BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT ONE, I WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE
ANY COMMENTS ABOUT PROPOSED
AMENDMENT ONE AS PUBLISHED ON
THE AGENDA.
HEARING NO COMMENTS OR SEEING
ANY HANDS RAISED FOR QUESTIONS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT ONE?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, THE AMENDMENT PASSES.
THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED RESOLUTION IS NOW
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION AS
AMENDED, AND OF COURSE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AS THE
PRIME SPONSOR YOU WILL GET THE
LAST WORD ALL RIGHT,'S SCANNING
THE ZOOM ROOM FOR ANY HANDS AND
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO COUNCILMAN THE
SAWANT, YOU GET THE LAST WORD.
YOU CAN CLOSEOUT DEBATE AND WE
WILL CALL THIS TO A VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THE NEW
YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
RECENTLY WROTE AN EDITORIAL
WITH THE ORWELLIAN TITLE TO
PREVENT EVICTIONS AND
MORATORIUMS.
THIS EDITORIAL ADVOCATES FOR
ENDING EVICTION MORATORIUMS
AROUND THE COUNTRY BY MAKING
THE NEOLIBERAL BOOTSTRAPS
ARGUMENT THAT POOR RENTERS NEED
THE THREAT OF EVICTION TO BE
MOTIVATED TO ACCESS RENTAL
ASSISTANCE MONEY.
WE KNOW THAT SUCH NEOLIBERAL
ARGUMENTS HAVE NO TRUTH, AND
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OVERWHELMING
STATISTICAL EVIDENCE, BUT WE
ALSO KNOW THIS IS A NEW LINE OF
THE CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENT
NOW.
WE ARE SEEING IT BEING USED
AROUND THE COUNTRY TO RENTERS'
RIGHTS FROM PHILADELPHIA TO
OLYMPIA, AND IS BEING USED AS A
THING AGAINST ANY ADVOCACY OF
EXTENDING THE EVICTION
MORATORIUMS.
NATIONALLY.
THE REALITY IS THAT RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AGENCIES NEED TIME
TO DISTRIBUTE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
FUNDS.
RENTERS DO NOT NEED THE THREAT
OF EVICTION.
RENTERS NEED SOME GUARANTEES
THAT THEY WILL NOT LOSE THEIR
HOMES.
AS PROGRESSIVES, WE HAVE A DUTY
TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS
NEOLIBERAL NARRATIVE.
HOUSING SHOULD BE A HUMAN RIGHT
ND NOT USED AS LEVERAGE LIKE
THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL
BOARD PROPOSES.
I WOULD URGE THAT WE SEND A
CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR'S
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICES OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT
RENTERS AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND DEMANDING
THAT THE MORATORIUM BE EXTENDED
THROUGH AT LEAST THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR THOSE
CLOSING COMMENTS.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO CALL THIS
RESOLUTION TO A VOTE, SO WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDED
RESOLUTION?
SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AS
AMENDED, AND THE CHAIR WILL
SIGN IT.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE AFFECT MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
>>> MOVING ON TO ITEM 3. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 3
INTO THE RECORD?
>> A REPORT OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE, AGENDA ITEM
3. COUNCIL BILL 120046.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
TERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL
RENTAL TENDENCIES, PROVIDING A
DEFENSE TO CERTAIN EVICTIONS OF
CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND
EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR, AND AMENDING SECTION
22.20 6.160 OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
COUNCIL PASS THE COUNCIL BILL
WITH A DIVIDED REPORT.
WITH COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
MORALES AND LEWIS IN FAVOR, AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS,
I'M SORRY, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THIS IS THE LEGISLATION FROM MY
OFFICE BANNING THE EVICTION OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
IT IS COMMON SENSE, BUT THERE
ARE ALSO MOUNTAINS OF RESEARCH
SHOWING THAT WHEN CHILDREN ARE
EVICTED IT HAS DEVASTATING
IMPACT ON THEIR ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT AND THEIR
DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOSING HOME
REPORT FOUND THAT QUOTE, OF
EVICTED RESPONDENTS OF SCHOOL-
AGED CHILDREN, 85.7% SAID THEIR
CHILDREN HAD TO MOVE SCHOOLS
AFTER THE EVICTION, AND 87.5%
REPORTED THEIR CHILDREN'S
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SUFFERED
VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF THE
EVICTION, END QUOTE.
IN 2018, THE STATE FOUND THAT
NEARLY 4200 SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE HOMELESS
AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
THAT IS A STAGGERING 7% OF ALL
PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND A
PRACTICAL TERMS IT MEANS THAT
IN AN AVERAGE CLASS OF 30
STUDENTS, TWO WILL BE HOMELESS
AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
THIS IS A RACIAL JUSTICE AND
BLACK LIVES MATTER ISSUE AS
WELL.
JUST AS SEATTLE LANDLORDS EVICT
BLACK TENANTS AT MUCH HIGHER
RATES THAN OTHER TENANTS, WE
ALSO SEE THAT BLACK STUDENTS
AND OTHER STUDENTS OF COLOR
DISPROPORTIONATELY FACE
HOMELESSNESS AND WE SHOULD MAKE
SURE OF COURSE TO UNDERSTAND
THE CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN
EVICTIONS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF
ENDING UP HOMELESS.
WE KNOW THE LOSING HOME REPORT
FOUND THAT 9 TIMES OUT OF 10,
EVICTIONS RESULT IN
HOMELESSNESS.
FULLY 40% OF HOMELESS STUDENTS
WERE BLACK AND 2018, AND 23% OF
HOMELESS STUDENTS WERE LATINX,
EVEN THOUGH THOSE COMMUNITIES
CONSTITUTE ONLY 14% AND 12%
RESPECTIVELY OF SEATTLE'S
PUBLIC STUDENT POPULATION.
PREVENTING SCHOOL YEAR
EVICTIONS WILL REDUCE AT LEAST
THIS ONE FORM OF SYSTEMIC
RACISM, THAT IS AFFECTING OUR
STUDENTS.
IN THE CLASS OF 2018 FOR
EXAMPLE, 55.2% OF HOMELESS
STUDENTS GRADUATED ON TIME,
COMPARED TO 85 -- 84.5% OF
STUDENTS WHO WERE HOUSED.
WE SEE A DRAMATIC IMPACT OF
HOMELESSNESS AND EVICTIONS ON
CHILDREN GRADUATION RATES.
THE ACADEMIC RESEARCH INTO THE
IMPACT OF EVICTION AND HOUSING
INSTABILITY ON STUDENTS AND
CHILDREN IS ALSO REVEALED.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEGATIVE
EFFECTS OF INSTABILITY ON CHILD
DEVELOPMENT REPORT PUBLISHED BY
THE URBAN INSTITUTE FOUND THAT
QUOTE, CHILDREN EXPERIENCING
RESIDENTIAL INSTABILITY
DEMONSTRATE WORSE ACADEMIC AND
SOCIAL OUTCOMES THAN THEIR
RESIDENTIALLY STABLE PEERS,
SUCH AS LOWER VOCABULARY SKILLS,
PROBLEM BEHAVIORS, GRADE
RETENTION, INCREASED HIGH
SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES, AND LOWER
ADULT EDUCATION ATTAINMENT.
END QUOTE.
SIMILARLY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
TURNOVER IN SCHOOL STAFF
SIGNIFICANTLY HARMS THE
SCHOOL'S EFFECTIVENESS.
THAT IS WHY THIS IS SUCH A
STRONG BILL WHERE IT INCLUDES
NOT ONLY SCHOOLCHILDREN, BUT
ALL EDUCATORS, STAFF, IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, ON PUBLIC SCHOOL
CAMPUSES.
AS I'VE SAID IN THE PASSED, THE
EVICTION OF CHILDREN FROM THEIR
HOMES AND ONE OF THE RICHEST
CITIES IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD IS A THING AND
INDICTMENT OF CAPITALISM.
AT THE VERY LEAST, THE CITY HAS
THE POWER RIGHT NOW TO STOP
EVICTIONS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR AND SHOULD DO SO
IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR THE
INITIAL REPORT.
I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN
AMENDMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO BRING FORWARD AND THERE ARE
I THINK -- LET ME SEE, AT LEAST
ONE OTHER AMENDMENT.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, TO
MAKE YOUR MOTION FOR A PROPOSED
AMENDMENT ONE.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH IS
A PURELY TECHNICAL AMENDMENT
ADDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
IT WAS SENT TO THE COUNCIL
OFFICES LAST FRIDAY.
DEVELOPED BASED ON A SUGGESTION
OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP
ON THIS, AND I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING MORE TO ADD FOR THE
SECOND.
>> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT PROPOSED
AMENDMENT ONE.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT ONE?
HEARING AND SEEING NO
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
HAVE ANOTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENT?
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
YOU TO MAKE YOUR MOTION AND
THEN HAVE A SECOND AND WE WILL
THEN ALLOW YOU TO ADDRESS YOUR
PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120046 BY ADDING LANGUAGE FROM
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT TWO.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, BACK TO
YOU TO ADDRESS YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST I WANT TO START WITH A
THANK YOU TO CONSUMMATE THE
SAWANT FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT
SHE AND HER TEAM, AND THE
COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE HAVE DONE
TO BRING FORWARD THIS
LEGISLATION.
FOR A VOTE TODAY.
I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
UNDERLYING BILL AND I WANT TO
THANK HER FOR HER WORK WITH ME
AS I BROUGHT FORWARD A
POTENTIAL IDEA FOR AMENDMENT.
WE HAD SOME OTHER IDEAS THAT WE
WOULD HAVE LIKE TO INCLUDE THAT
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON,
AND I MAKE NOTE ON THAT HERE
VERY SOON.
WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE
COULD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
POTENTIAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE
BEEN COMING UP FOR A VERY SMALL
SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY THAT
HAS RAISED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL UNINTENDED IMPACT
TO HOUSING STABILITY.
IN A VERY RARE SITUATION THAT
THERE IS A HOMEOWNER WHO HAS A
FINANCIAL LIMITATION OR OTHER
LIFE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT
NECESSITATES THEM TO
POTENTIALLY MOVE BACK INTO
THEIR HOMES.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A VERY
SIMILAR TO THE VERY NARROW
SITUATION THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED
IN THE JUST CARE STATUTE THAT
IS ALREADY IN EFFECT.
THE AMENDMENT THAT I HAVE
CIRCULATED FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION TODAY, WHICH IS
OUTLINED IN AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO, IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS
VERY NARROW CONCERN AND APPLYING
AN OWNER MOVED IN AS AN EXAMPLE
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
MORATORIUM.
THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH
HOUSING ACTIVISTS, TENANTS
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND
MEMBERS OF THE LABOR COMMUNITY.
I THINK OVERALL, THERE IS A
BROAD UNDERSTANDING AND DESIRE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BILL
MOVES FORWARD, AND THE PASSED
TODAY, WHICH I'M STRONGLY
SUPPORTIVE OF, AND THAT IT
CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS THAT ARE COMING UP
ABOUT POTENTIAL MISUSE OF ANY
OF THE EXEMPTION STATUTES
ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH I'M
VERY COMMITTED TO AND
CONSUMMATE THE SAWANT AND I HAD
EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THAT.
AND SEE THAT IF THERE IS A
SITUATION THAT ARISES FOR THESE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAPPEN TO BE
VERY SMALL LANDLORDS WITH ONE
OF THESE HOUSING UNITS THAT
THEY DO NEED TO MOVE BACK INTO,
GIVEN THEIR FINANCIAL
LIMITATIONS OR OTHER HARDSHIPS,
AND LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT WE
APPLY THE VERY SAME LANGUAGE
THAT WE ALREADY HAVE INCLUDED
IN THE OTHER TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
TODAY.
AND THAT WE VARDY INCLUDED IN
THE JUST CAUSE LEGISLATION AS
WELL.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THAT
THIS JUST CAUSE ADDITION HERE
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
NOT -- IS JUST FOR THE OWNER
MOVE IN AS A JUST REASON FOR
EFFICIENT.
THIS IS NOT A LOOPHOLE AS THERE
IS MANY REASONS THAT MANY
OWNERS COULD NEED TO MOVE INTO
THEIR HOMES INCLUDING LIFE
CHANGES LIKE THE BIRTH OF A
CHILD, THE LOSS OF A JOB WHICH
SO MANY FOLKS HAVE EXPERIENCE,
ILLNESS OR RELOCATION.
THESE CASES, WHICH WE EXPECT TO
BE VERY FEW, HAVE MEANT THAT
SOME OF THE OWNERS WHO HAVE --
SOME OF THESE RENTER UNITS ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OWN
ABILITY HAVE HOUSING STABILITY.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD ADD IN THE
OWNER MOVE IN EXEMPTION FOR
OWNERS TO REQUIRE THEM TO GIVE
THE 90 DAYS NOTICE AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE ADHERING TO
THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE
JUST CAUSE LANGUAGE.
THIS NARROW AMENDMENT IS
INTENDED TO BE A RESPONSE TO
THOSE CONSENTS WE'VE HEARD
ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING
INSTABILITY IN THE HOUSING
MARKET IN THOSE VERY FEW
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SOME OF
THESE VERY SMALL LANDLORDS ARE
INCOME RESTRICTED WITH ONE
SINGLE RESIDENCE, AND MAYBE
THEY CAN'T DEPEND ON THAT
RESIDENCE ANYMORE.
SITE, THEIR INCOME ANYMORE AND
THEY NEED TO MOVE INTO THEIR
OWN FAMILY'S HOME.
WE KNOW THAT SEATTLE'S HIGH
COST OF HOUSING, THERE ARE FEW
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OWNER MAY
NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO
LINE UP OTHER HOUSING OPTIONS
FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME
POTENTIALLY REQUIRED IN THE
LEGISLATION AS IT IS CURRENTLY
WRITTEN.
IN THESE VERY NARROW
CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE HOPING
THAT THIS HELPED TO CREATE
GREATER HOUSING STABILITY FOR
FOLKS IN THIS SPECIFIC
SITUATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE
IS A ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT
WE HAVE BEGUN TO ADDRESS HERE
TODAY WITH THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US.
THROUGH THE OTHER ORDINANCES
THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO PASS
TODAY.
AND THAT THERE IS A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR LANGUAGE
AROUND OWNER MOVE IN'S IS
STRENGTHENED.
THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
VIOLATING ANY OF THESE NARROW
EXEMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE WRITTEN
INTO THE STATUTE.
I NOTED EARLIER DAN COUNCIL
BRIEFING I AM VERY INTERESTED
IN TREBLE DAMAGES, MAKING SURE
THAT RENTERS RECEIVED TRIPLE
THE AMOUNT OF THEIR RENT THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE BE PAID TO COME
IN THE FORM OF RENT HAD THEY
STAYED IN THE PLACE.
IF THERE IS ANY VIOLATION OF
THE ORDINANCE.
ALSO, THAT WE SEEK TO ENHANCE
THE ENFORCEMENT STATUTE BY
REQUIRING PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION THAT INCLUDES ANY
DAMAGES.
AS WELL, BE PAID TO THE RENTER.
I THINK THAT MANY OF THESE
THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR
US TO WORK ON, THEY WILL APPLY
BROADLY TO THE OTHER DATA
PROTECTION BILL THAT WE ARE
CONSIDERING TODAY.
AND THE JUST CAUSE LANGUAGE
THAT IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE
WORK TO BE DONE AND I AM HOPING
THAT IN THE CASE OF THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION, UNFORTUNATELY
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO INCLUDE
SOME OF THE STRONGER
ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS THAT
COUNCILMAN THE SALON AND I HAD
BEEN WORKING ON DUE TO THE TIME
LIMITATIONS.
BUT, I AM VERY COMMITTED TO
VOTING ON THIS BILL TODAY, DID
NOT WANT TO HOLD IT UP.
GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT IT IS
IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
WE KNOW HOW URGENTLY NEEDED IT
IS AND IN AN EFFORT TO MOVE
FORWARD THIS NO PROVISION, I AM
ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
WITH THE COMMITMENT, WITH THE
FULL THROW THE COMMITMENT THAT
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE ARE STRONGER ENFORCEMENT
STANDARDS RELATED TO THE
DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE ARE ADHERING TO
ARE JUST CAUSE LANGUAGE.
I DO WANT TO THANK AARON HOUSE
FOR THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT'S
OFFICE AND A BROAD SWATH OF
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING FROM THE
TENANTS RIGHT GROUPS, LABOR
ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING RIGHTS
GROUPS, AS WELL.
I THINK THERE IS BROAD
UNDERSTANDING THAT ALONE THIS
IS NOT ENOUGH.
THAT THIS MORATORIUM INCLUDING
LANGUAGE FROM THIS AMENDMENT
NEEDS TO BE COUPLED WITH RENTAL
RELIEF AND REPAYMENT FOR SMALL
LANDLORDS.
ONE MEMO WE RECEIVED SAID THIS
MORATORIUM IS IMPORTANT, IT'S
NICE, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP RENT
DEBT FROM ACCUMULATING.
RENT RELIEF AND OTHER FORMS OF
MONETARY SUPPORT WILL
DEFINITELY HELP.
AND IS MUCH NEEDED, AND THAT
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH IMMEDIATE
HEALTH, SAFETY AND HOUSING AND
EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, SHOW THAT
RENT AND HOUSING SUPPORT IS ONE
OF THE HIGHEST REQUESTS WHERE
MOST OF THEIR MONEY GOES.
SO, EXCITED TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION, HOPEFUL THAT WE
CAN INCLUDE THIS NARROW
ADDITION HERE TODAY AND WE KNOW
THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO DO,
BOTH IN TERMS OF IMPROVING
ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO MAKING
SURE THAT WE DO MORE WITH
RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE
RENTAL, EXCUSE ME WITH THE
FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS IN
THIS FALL'S SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
PROCESS.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR THE INTRODUCTION
OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TWO.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TWO?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TALKING
THROUGH THIS AMENDMENT.
WITH ME IN A VERY CAREFUL
MANNER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
COMMITMENT TO NOT HOLDING UP
THE VOTE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY
OVERALL, I WOULD SAY ON
RENTERS' RIGHTS, THE CITY HAS
REAL WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF
MAKING SURE THAT THE LAWS WE
PASS IN FAVOR OF TENANT
PROTECTIONS ARE ACTUALLY
ENFORCED.
THAT'S A LARGER CONVERSATION
THAT I WOULD REALLY BE
INTERESTED IN HAVING, AND
SOMETHING THAT MY STAFF AND I
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH
RENTERS AND RENTERS ACTIVISTS
OVER THE YEARS.
AS I'VE INFORMED COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, I'M NOT GOING TO BE
SUPPORTING ADDING THIS LOOPHOLE
TO THIS SCHOOLCHILDREN EVICTION
BAND THAT WOULD ALLOW LANDLORDS
TO EVICT CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN ORDER TO
MOVE THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS AND TO THE PROPERTY.
I AGREE THAT THIS IS VERY
LIKELY ONLY A VERY NARROW ISSUE.
I ALSO AGREE THAT IF IT'S
APPLIED IN SUCH A WAY THAT ONLY
SMALL LANDLORDS WHO ARE FACING
THIS SPECIFIC DIFFICULT KIND OF
SITUATION, THEN IT'S NOT -- YOU
CANNOT CHARACTERIZE IT AS A
LOOPHOLE.
THE REASON I WOULD BE CONCERNED
ABOUT IT IS TWO FOLD.
ONE IS I DON'T THINK IT IS
NEEDED BECAUSE WITH LITTLE
FORESIGHT, WITH A LITTLE
FORESIGHT, LANDLORDS SHOULD BE
ABLE TO ARRANGE TO MOVE IN OVER
THE SUMMER SO THAT THEY DON'T
FORCE A CHILD TO MOVE DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT ALSO ENTAILS HAVING TO MOVE
SCHOOLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT IS AN ONEROUS BURDEN TO
PUT ON A CHILD.
SO, SORRY, IN THAT SENSE I,
PROBABLY THIS MAY NOT ARISE
VERY OFTEN, BUT I WOULD ALSO BE
CONCERNED THAT IT MAY NOT BE
USED BY GENUINE LANDLORDS.
AGAIN, THAT BRINGS UP THE
OVERALL QUESTION OF ENFORCEMENT
AND THE CONCERN THAT AN
UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORD MIGHT USE
A FALSEHOOD SAYING THEY INTEND
TO MOVE INTO THE UNIT.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE NO INTENTION
OF ACTUALLY OCCUPYING.
AFTER THE FACT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE RENTERS, OR NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT AND
FOLLOW-UP.
GET REPARATIONS FOR IT.
ALSO, I THINK THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD ALLOW ANY BUILDING OWNER,
NOT JUST SMALL ONES, TO MOVE
THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS INTO THE UNIT.
SO, I STILL AGREE THAT IT IS
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE VERY
DAMAGING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
I WOULD HESITATE TO BE PARTY TO
OPENING THAT DOOR.
THAT'S WHY I WILL NOT SUPPORT
THIS AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
INTEREST IN IMPROVING THE
ENFORCEMENT IN THE FUTURE, AND
AS I SAID BEFORE, MY OFFICE HAS
BEEN EAGER TO LOOK INTO
RENTERS' RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT
OVERALL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD
REALLY BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, AND IN THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER WHO WANTS TO LOOK
INTO THIS.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU
AS THE PUBLIC, THAT I'VE
DISCUSSED WITH A SMALL LANDLORD
WHO IS FACING A SPECIFIC
SITUATION THAT SOUNDS EXTREMELY
PROBLEMATIC.
IT IS AN OUTLIER SITUATION, BUT
NONETHELESS IT SEEMS LIKE A
VERY TROUBLING SITUATION.
BUT, THE LANDLORD ALSO
THEMSELVES AGREED THAT IT IS AN
OUTLIER SITUATION.
I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS PUBLIC
APPRECIATION FOR THE SMALL
LANDLORD SAYING THAT THEY
REALLY SUPPORT RENTERS' RIGHTS
AS A WHOLE.
THAT THEY HAD SOME SPECIFIC
CONCERNS, AND THAT THEY WOULD
BE WILLING TO SPEAK OUT IN
FAVOR OF RENTERS' RIGHTS AS A
WHOLE BECAUSE AS A SMALL
LANDLORD, THEY UNDERSTAND AND
APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR
RENTERS' RIGHTS TO BE
STRENGTHENED.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TWO?
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO OTHER
COMMENTS FROM OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU HAVE
THE LAST WORD IF YOU COULD
CLOSE OUT DEBATE ON PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TWO, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
WE CAN CALL IT TO A VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I
JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMMBER SAWANT FOR HER
COMMENTS AS WELL AS WE LOOK
FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING
OVERALL ENFORCEMENT MONITORING
AND REALLY COMPLIANCE WITH
LEGISLATION THAT'S ALREADY ON
THE BOOKS.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE
ALSO LOOK TO EXPAND THE
MORATORIUMS THAT ARE IN PLACE
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOLKS ARE ADHERING TO THE
EXISTING LAWS.
AS WE ALLOW FOR GREATER
PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS, THAT
EVERYBODY KNOWS FOLKS HAVE
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FUTURE
CONVERSATION, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR
BROADENING THE ENFORCEMENT
ELEMENT OF THIS, WHICH I WILL
BE THERE WITH YOU TO FURTHER
THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALSO THAT
FOLKS ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
THIS IS A VERY NARROW SITUATION
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
INFREQUENT SITUATION.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
EMAILS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED.
THERE'S A FEW STORIES, ONE
EXAMPLE OF CORRESPONDENCE THAT
WE RECEIVED WAS A FAMILY WHO
HAS BEEN LIVING WITH OTHER
FAMILY, BUT THEY HAVE SINCE
WELCOMED A NEW BABY AND HAS
ALWAYS INTENDED TO MOVE BACK IN
THE HOME THAT THEY HAVE
PURCHASED AND DON'T HAVE THE
MEANS TO BOTH PAY FOR A
MORTGAGE AND TAKE ON ADDITIONAL
DEBT.
WORK, HOUSING COSTS.
WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS
INTENDING TO TRY TO FIND
STABILITY IN THE OVERALL
MARKET, THOUGH WE ARE VERY,
VERY CLEAR THAT THE OVERALL
INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION IS
TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTFUL.
VERY STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATED
FOR THIS.
THE HOUSING AND TENANT FOLKS,
TO SEATTLE EDUCATION AND MARTIN
LUTHER KING COUNTY LABOR
COUNCIL.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE STRONG
COALITION THAT IS SUPPORTING
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY, AND SO
THIS VERY NARROW AMENDMENT IS
AGAIN, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE,
NOT A LOOPHOLE.
THERE'S LOTS OF LANGUAGE THAT
WE ALREADY -- THAT HAS ALREADY
INCLUDED THIS TYPE OF -- THIS
TYPE OF ALLOWANCE, WHICH ALSO
INCLUDES THE TWO OTHER BILLS WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY THAT
LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT JUST CAUSE
REASON FOR ENDING MONTH-TO-
MONTH AGREEMENTS.
WHICH IS INCLUDED IN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S AND
MORALES' RIGHT TO REFUSE A
LEGISLATION THAT'S ALSO UP FOR
A VOTE THIS AFTERNOON WHICH I'M
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF.
WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING
TOWARDS A GREATER I THINK
BROADER SWATH OF MAKING SURE
THAT ALL OF OUR ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS ARE PROPERLY IN
PLACE SO THAT IF THERE IS ANY
OF THESE SITUATIONS IN WHICH A
LEASE MOVES AUTOMATICALLY TO A
MONTH-TO-MONTH CONVERSION, THAT
THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE AND
OTHER PROTECTIONS ARE APPLIED,
APPLIED APPROPRIATELY, AND THAT
WE ARE STRONGLY ENFORCING WHO
IS USING ANY OF THESE
STANDARDS.
BECAUSE THIS IS PARAMOUNT THAT
WE GET THIS RIGHT, AND WITH A
STRONG MESSAGE LANDLORDS THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO BE WATCHED IF
THEY'RE USING ANY OF THESE
PROVISIONS.
OVERALL, HOUSING STABILITY IS
ABSOLUTELY THE GOAL OF THE
LEGISLATION AND THE NARROW
AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF US.
WITH THAT, LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE OVERALL BILL, AND
BILLS IN FRONT OF US TODAY, AND
THANKS VERY MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR CLOSING OUT DEBATE ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TWO.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH A
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT?
>> WARRIORS?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, AND THE
AMENDED IS NOW BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER
AMENDMENTS BEING BROUGHT
FORWARD ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
SO, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR
GENERAL COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU ARE
THE PRIMARY SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL, SO YOU WOULD GET THE LAST
WORD.
BEFORE THAT, JUST WANT TO SEE
IF ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ON THE BILL
AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
COLLEAGUES, FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO ARE NOT ON THE RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE, I OFFERED
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS, WHICH I
BELIEVE WOULD MAKE THIS
LEGISLATION BETTER.
WANTED TO OFFER THOSE
AMENDMENTS THEN, DEBATE THOSE
AMENDMENTS THEN, A COMMITTEE,
RATHER THAN REHASH THEM HERE.
BUT, I DO WANT TO EXPLAIN MY
VOTE ON THIS.
I AGREE WITH THE SPONSOR OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT EVICTIONS
PRESENT HARDSHIPS FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES.
NO ONE WANTS TO HAVE THIS
DISRUPTION THAT LEADS TO
LEARNING LAWS AND INSTABILITY
FOR CHILDREN.
I VOTED IN FAVOR OF NUMEROUS
TENANT PROTECTIONS DURING THE
PASSED YEAR, INCLUDING THE
WINTER BAN ON EVICTIONS FOR LOW
AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS.
FREE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THOSE IN
NEED AND FACING EVICTION, AND
THE PAYMENT PLANS FOR THOSE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE
COVID PANDEMIC.
TODAY AS A PART OF THE
RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE
ANOTHER'S EXTENSION TO THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM TO PROVIDE
MORE TIME TO HAVE MORE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE MONEY FLOW FROM THE
FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS
TO BOTH HOUSING PROVIDERS AND
TENANTS.
BEFORE JOINING THE CITY COUNCIL
I HELPED TO BUILD AND PRESERVE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF
LOW INCOME HOUSING, AND I
WORKED AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
HELPING TO ALLOCATE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE A MORE
TARGETED, DIRECT AND EFFICIENT
SOLUTION IS TO FUND TENANT AND
LANDLORD ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN
NEED.
RATHER THAN ADDING ANOTHER
REGULATION THAT COULD BE
LEGALLY CHALLENGED BECAUSE IT
LEAVES ONE PARTY, THE PROVIDERS
OF THE HOUSE, BEARING THE BRUNT
OF THE COST.
REGULATING, RATHER THAN FUNDING
THE SOLUTION ON A PERMANENT
BASIS IS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A
NEGATIVE SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT NOT
ON SO-CALLED CORPORATE
LANDLORDS THAT CAN ABSORB THESE
COSTS PROPOSED BY THE
COUNSELOR, BUT ON THE SMALLEST
LANDLORDS IN OUR CITY.
FOR THE THREE ORDINANCES BEFORE
US, AND OFFERED AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD HAVE EXEMPTED SMALL
LANDLORDS OWNING FOUR OR FEWER
UNITS IN SEATTLE.
REGARDING THIS BILL, 120046,
THIS PERMANENT BILL THAT
SINGLES OUT EDUCATORS FOR
SPECIAL RENTAL PROTECTIONS, ONE
OF MY AMENDMENTS WOULD HAVE
TARGETED THE BILL TO ASSIST
TEACHERS AND SUBSTITUTE
TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM
SPECIALISTS, RATHER THAN EVERY
SINGLE EMPLOYEE AT THE SCHOOL
WHO MIGHT NOT BE INVOLVED IN
THE DIRECT EDUCATION OF
CHILDREN.
MY AMENDMENT WAS TO HAVE KEPT
THE SPECIAL NEW PROTECTION FOR
THE SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE
MADE THE BILL MORE LIKE THE LAW
FROM SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH
LIMITS EVICTION PROTECTIONS TO
WHEN THERE IS NO FAULT OF THE
TENANT WHO IS AN EDUCATOR.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN
BROADER THAN SAN FRANCISCO'S
BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE STILL
BANNED THE EVICTION FOR SCHOOL
CHILDRE AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE
CHANGED THIS PERMANENT
ALTERATION OF LANDLORD-TENANT
RELATIONS TO AN 18 MONTH PILOT
PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHETHER
IT'S EFFECTIVE FROM WHAT ITS
IMPACT IS.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THIS BILL
IS DIFFERENT FROM RECENT COVID
RELIEF BILLS BECAUSE IT WOULD
BE PERMANENT.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FOCUS ON
GETTING TARGETED FUNDING TO
THOSE IN NEED, RATHER THAN
PERMANENTLY ALTERING THE
CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT
PUT THE BURDEN ENTIRELY ON THE
HOUSING PROVIDER.
SO, TO BE CONSISTENT WITH MY VO-
TECH COMMITTEE, I'LL BE VOTING
NO ON THIS COUNCIL BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES
WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS
ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED.
SO, I DID ACTUALLY WANT TO JUST
ADD A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT FOR
THE BILL THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO
BE VOTING ON.
I WANT TO SIGNAL THAT I AM VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PARTICULAR
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
AS A REMINDER, I HAVE
PERSONALLY SPONSORED
LEGISLATION, AND WE HAVE ALL
SUPPORTED MULTIPLE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION OVER THE LAST YEAR
AND BEYOND.
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RENTAL
ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT
IN THIS SPACE.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN
PARTICULAR, SOME OF THESE BILLS
HAVE IDENTIFIED FUNDS.
VERY MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO
ADDRESS THE ISSUES RELATED TO
STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
AND OF COURSE KEEPING STUDENTS
HOUSED HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT
I HAVE PERSONALLY CHAMPIONED
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR.
DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS NOW.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR FAMILY'S
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROMISE
LEVY INCLUDES, FOR THE FIRST
TIME EVER, DEDICATED FUNDING TO
THE TUNE OF $600,000 A YEAR TO
ADDRESS THE EXPERIENCE OF
STUDENT HOMELESSNESS.
WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED FUNDING FOR
CHILD CARE FOR FAMILIES
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE HAVE ADDED LANGUAGE, WE
ADDED LANGUAGE TO THE JUMPSTART
SPENDING PLAN TO REQUIRE WORK
WITH SMALL LANDLORDS, IN
ADDITION TO LANGUAGE FOCUSED ON
FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE
CHILDREN.
ARE 2020 BUDGET PROCESS ENSURE
THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO GO TO
FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGED
CHILDREN OF OVERALL RENTAL
ASSISTANCE -- FOR OVERALL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES.
MY SUPPORT OF THIS BILL IS
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS A
HOLISTIC WAY FOR US TO CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS, THE
HOUSING STABILITY NEEDS OF OUR
FAMILIES AND KIDS.
YES, MORE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS
NEEDED.
YES, MORE DOLLARS TO ALLOW FOR
AND INVEST IN THE FAMILY'S
HOUSING STABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY
NEEDED, BUT THAT ISN'T ENOUGH.
WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION, AS
POLICYMAKERS, TO FIX REGULATIONS
WHEN REGULATIONS ARE PART AND
PARCEL OF ONE OF THE CAUSES FOR
WHY THAT HOUSING INSTABILITY
BEGINS AND CONTINUES TO PERVADE
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO FUTURE CONVERSATIONS WITH
ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPRESSED
INTEREST AND IDENTIFYING
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOUSING
INSTABILITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY OFFICE
HAS BEEN FOLLOWING VERY CLOSELY
IS SPENDING.
ON THE FAMILY EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEGUN
TO LEARN IS THAT MANY OF THE
DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
TO SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY STUDENTS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE SPENT AT
THE LEVEL THAT WE EXPECTED.
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF AT-
HOME LEARNING.
SO, THERE WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
POTENTIALLY WORK TOGETHER AS A
COUNCIL TO REPRIORITIZE SOME OF
THOSE DOLLARS TO STILL MEET
THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BUT, BE VERY NIMBLE AND QUICK
WITH SOME STABILITY AS A
RELATES TO EXISTING REVENUE
RESOURCES.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU
ALL, AND TO MAKING SURE THAT WE
ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
SO, I'M EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS
BILL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING
SO WANT TO CLOSE OUT DEBATE.
THEN, WE CAN VOTE ON THIS BILL
AND MOVE ON TO THE OTHER SUITE
OF BILLS.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON
THIS BILL AND YOUR SUPPORT OF
IT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
LEWIS.
FOR STANDING WITH RENTERS IN
THE COMMITTEE, AND VOTING
AGAINST THE AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN BROUGHT
FORWARD, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
IN THE INTEREST OF RENTERS.
SPECIFICALLY I WANTED TO NOTE
THAT ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS,
WHICH WOULD HAVE DIVIDED PUBLIC
SCHOOL WORKERS INTO WELL-PAID
EMPLOYEES, BETTER PAID
EMPLOYEES, WHO WOULD HAVE
ACCESS TO THIS EVICTION
PROTECTION, AND OTHERS WHO
WOULD NOT.
IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE
COMMITTEE REJECTED THAT
AMENDMENT, AMONG OTHERS.
IT IS REFLECTED -- THE IDEAS
AND THE SENTIMENTS OF MANY RANK-
AND-FILE WORKERS AND UNION
MEMBERS.
WHO STAND FOR SOLIDARITY AMONG
ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL WORKERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, AMONG
THE MANY OTHER UNIONS
REPRESENTING WORKERS IN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHO
HAVE TAKEN SUCH POSITIONS IN
THE PASSED.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HAVING
PUBLIC ACTIONS AND SOLIDARITY
WITH THE ONGOING STRIKE AT THAT
TIME OF THE TEAMSTERS, 174,
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.
OVERALL I APPRECIATE THE
ORGANIZING OF THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL ASSOCIATION HAVE
SPOKEN UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN
DEFENSE OF THEIR STUDENTS, AND
FELLOW WORKERS IN PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
EVERY DAY EDUCATORS SEE THE
DEVASTATING IMPACT OF HOUSING
INSECURITY ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY ARE ORGANIZING ACTUALLY,
S.E.A.
ORGANIZING WAS CRUCIAL ALSO FOR
THE FEES MY OFFICE DEVELOPED IN
2016 ALONGSIDE THE WASHINGTON
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK THEIR
SUPPORT FOR TODAY'S LEGISLATION
IS ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATED AND
I WANTED TO ESPECIALLY THANK
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INCLUDING
JENNIFER AND UT, THE PRESIDENT
AND THE VICE PRESIDENT.
ALL OF WHOM WHO MAKE TIME TO
MEET WITH MY OFFICE TO DISCUSS
THE LEGISLATION AND ALSO RANK-
AND-FILE UNION ACTIVISTS FROM
S.E.A.
LIKE BRUCE JACKSON WHO BROUGHT
THE RESOLUTION TO THE S.E.A.
REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION
WHICH PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY.
AND ANOTHER ONE WHO PRESENTED
TO US AS A MEMBER OF THE
RENTERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK
ND THE COALITION THAT HAVE
ADVOCATED FROM CITY COUNCIL.
AND MOST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK
THE RANK AND FILE UNION MEMBERS
AND SOCIALISTS THAT HAVE HELPED
ADVOCATES FOR THIS BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
THAT DOES CLOSE OUT DEBATE ON
THIS PARTICULAR BILL SO I WILL
ASK THAT THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASS AMOUNT OF THE
AMENDMENT OF THE BILL.
>> SUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> NO.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
>> AYE.
>> SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE ON MY BEHALF.
WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM FOUR.
WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM FOUR
INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120077 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
DETERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL
RENTAL TENDENCIES FOR RENT DUE
DURING THE CITY'S COVID CIVIL
EMERGENCY ANOAMINDING 22.066160
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
AND IT PASSES WITH A DIVIDED
REPORT WITH SAWANT MORALES AND
LEWIS IN FAR REST AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE SO I WILL HAPPENED IT
TO YOU TO PROVIDE THE
COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
>> YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO HER TO
MAKE REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW I HAVE MUTED MYSELF.
THANK YOU FOR FACILITATING THAT
HAND BACK OVER TO COUPLE MEMBER
MORALES.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT TO
YOU TO WALK US THROUGH THIS
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
CHAIR SAWANT AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
I AM EXCITED TO BRING THIS
BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES.
I DO WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING
THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE HOUSE
STAY HEALTHY COALITION.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM
FOR SEVEN MONTHS NOW.
AND I AM REALLY EXCITED TO BE
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AT THEIR
REQUEST AND I WANT TO THANK
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
HOUSING JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, THE LGTB
SHIP AND TENANTS UNION AND REAL
CHAIR AND SHARE THE CITIES AND
THE LANDLORDS, SOLID GROUND AND
LEHIGH AND MANY OTHERS THAT ARE
PART OF THE WORK.
I THINK ITS IMPORTANT THAT THEY
ARE PUSHING US AS A COUNCIL FOR
MORE TENANT PROTECTIONS AND
HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR
NEIGHBORS THAT RENT IN THE
CITY.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL
EQUITY LIST, COUNTY RENTERS OWE
AN AVERAGE OF $4700 IN BACK
RENT.
COMBINED APPROXIMATELY 39,000
RENTERS OWE $186 MILLION IN
PANDEMIC RELATED BACK RENT.
AND WE KNOW OVER A THIRD OF
BLACK LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE
BURDENED WITH DEBT.
THESE ARE NEIGHBORS WHOSE WORK
REQUIRE THAT THEY ARE AT
INCREASED RISK TO COVID.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY UNINSURED.
THAT SOMETHING LIKE MEDICAL
EMERGENCY DURING A PANDEMIC
COULD SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT
PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO PAY FOR
FOOD AND CHILD CARE AND OTHER
BILLS.
THESE REALLY ARE SOME OF THE
ESSENTIALLY WORKERS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND
HEARING ABOUT FOR THE LAST YEAR
AND THE PEOPLE WITHOUT WHOM OUR
CITY WOULD HAVE FALLEN APART
LAST YEAR.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT WE
CAN TO HELP PROTECT THEM.
WE KNOW THAT 58% OF PEOPLE
FACING A PANDEMIC RELATED
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ARE LOW
INCOME THEMSELVES ALREADY.
59% ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND 71% LOST EMPLOYMENT RELATED
INCOME IN THE LAST YEAR.
SO WHEN YOU COUPLE THIS WITH
THE FACT THAT IN JUST A FEW
WEEKS THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
AT THIS POINT WILL END, YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY TO
PROVIDE A DEFENSE TO EVICTION
FOR RENTERS THAT HAVE FALLEN
BEHIND BECAUSE OF A FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP.
THE IMPENDING AVALANCHE OF
EVICTIONS IS MORE THAN AN ISSUE
OF MONEY BUT A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.
BROUGHT ON BY GENERATIONS OF
THESE INVESTMENTS.
ALL RIGHT?
THAT IS SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CALLING.
BROUGHT ON BY GENERATIONS OF
INVESTMENTS AND WE KNOW THAT
THIS DISIN INVESTMENT IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OUR
RACIST HOUSING POLICIES HAVE
REALLY CONTINUED TO HAUNT US
AND THAT'S PART OF THE
CHALLENGE HERE.
WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR SOME
OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT ARE
LONGSTANDING.
SO WHAT WILL THIS BILL DO?
THIS BILL WILL ALLOW TENANTS TO
ASSERT A HARDSHIP DEFENSE AT
ANY TIME.
IF YOU ARE A RENTER AND WILL
FACE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DURING
THE CIVIL EMERGENCY YOU WILL BE
PROTECTED.
IF A LANDLORD DOES SERVE AN
EVICTION NOTICE TO TENANTS
BASED ON NONPAYMENT OF RENT
THEY MUST INCLUDE A STATEMENT
THAT NOTIFIES TENANTS OF THEIR
RIGHT TO ASSERT A DEFENSE BASED
ON NONPAYMENT OF RENT CAUSED BY
A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DURING THE
COVID EMERGENCY.
ONCE IN COURT TENANTS WILL HAVE
ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION NOW
THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL
LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED
EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AS PART OF THAT RIGHT TO
COUNSEL PROCESS, TENANTS ARE
ASKED TO SELF CERTIFY THAT THEY
ARE FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
FOLLOWING THAT RENTERS WILL BE
ALLOWED TO ASSERT THIS DEFENSE.
AS I MENTIONED TO COUNCIL THIS
MORNING I THING THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO REITERATE.
LANDLORDS HAVE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE AS WELL.
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED THAT KING COUNTIES
WILL BE OFFERING THIS TO $150
MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO
TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
AT THE CITY WE ARE OFFERING $20
MILLION IN REPRESENT
ASSISTANCE.
I THINK ITS IMPORTANT THAT
LANDLORDS ARE AWARE OF THAT AND
THAT THEY ACCESS THOSE
RESOURCES BEFORE CONSIDERING
EVICTING SOMEONE.
I WILL HAVE SOME CLOSING
COMMENTS BUT I WILL LEAVE IT AT
THAT COLLEAGUES AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS?
I SEE A COUPLE OF HANDS RAISED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS NEXT.
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS
RENTER RIGHTS BILLS AND HAPPY
TO COSPONSOR IT IN THE RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE AS WAS STATED
IT PROTECTS RENTERS FROM BEING
EVICTED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA YOU
ARE NOT MUTED.
>> SORRY.
>> IT PROTECTS RENTERS FROM
BEING BEHIND IN THEIR REPRESENT
IN THE COVID EMERGENCY.
IT IS IMPORTANT AND NOT THE
SAME AS COVID DEBT AND RENTER
AND MORTGAGE DEBT FOR WORKING
CLASS HOMEOWNERS IS WHAT WE
NEED TO FIGHT FOR BECAUSE
RENTERS WOULD OWE THE BACK
REPRESENT AND HURT PEOPLE'S
CREDIT AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY
FACE LAWSUITS.
AT THE LEAST IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT CITY COUNCIL PASS THIS
BECAUSE LIT MEAN THAT PEOPLE
WON'T BE EVICTED AND FORCED
INTO HOMELESSNESS FOR THAT BACK
RENT THAT WAS ACCUMULATED THAT
REPRESENTERS WERE FORCED TO
ACCUMULATE DURING COVID.
SO I HOPE OUR COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL VOTE YES AND I WANT TO
KNOW THAT THIS IS BOTH AN
ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND RACIAL
JUSTICE BILL BECAUSE OF THE END
DIMMIC RACISM UNDERSTAND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE FACING
GREATER DEBT AND SO THEREFORE
ARE AT A GREATER RISK OF
EVICTION ONCE THE MORATORIUM
END AND WE THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT CITY COUNCIL
PASS THIS RESOLUTION URGING THE
MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
TO MAKE SURE THEY DO IT.
LAST SEPTEMBER APARTMENT
LIST.COM A WEBSITE FOR
LANDLORDS AND IS FOLLOWED BY
CORPORATE LANDLORDS REPORTED
THAT 31% OF RENTERS HAD UNPAID
RENT AND THE SHARE OF WHITE
RENTERS IS AT 24% AND BLACK AND
LATINO RENTERS ARE 48%.
EVEN THE CORPORATE LANDLORD
WEBSITES ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE
DISPARITIES BETWEEN WHITE
RENTERS AND RENTERS OF COLORS
AND RENTERS OF COLORS ARE
FACING A DIRE SITUATION AND IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PASS THIS
BILL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON DID YOU
WANT TO MAKE COMMENT?
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I WILL PUT YOU IN THE CUE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR THE
RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE FOR
120077 I HAD OFFERED TWO
AMENDMENTS AT COMMITTEE ON MAY
26th IT WOULD HAVE EXEMPTED
SMALL LANDLORDS AND ALLOWED
THIS REGULATORY CHANGE FOR 18
MONTHS SO THAT IT
CORRESPONDENCES TO THE
POTENTIAL LINGERING EFFECTS OF
THE COVID RECESSION.
WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FACED BY
SMALLER HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT
LACK THE ECONOMY OF SCALE TO
AVOID THESE COSTS AND I DON'T
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SUCH LEGISLATION PERMANENT AT
THIS TIME.
NEITHER OF THESE PASSED SO I
VOTED NO AT COMMITTEE AND
NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN MATERIAL
WAY SINCE THAT TIME I WILL VOTE
NO TODAY.
WHILE THIS LEGISLATION IS
FRAMED AS BEING RELATED TO
COVID CIVIL EMERGENCY IT WOULD
BE PERMANENT.
RATHER THAN MAKING WHOLESALE
PERMANENT REGULATORY CHANGES TO
EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT PUT
THE ENTIRE BURDEN ON THE
HOUSING PROVIDER REGARDLESS.
I BLEAK WE COULD GET MORE FUNDS
IN THE HANDS OF TENANTS TO MAKE
THEM WHOLE, THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY SOME
BRIEF COMMENTS ABOUT ALL THREE
BILLS.
I RELUCTANTLY VOTED YES FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR EVICTIONS BUT NOT
FOR SOME OF THE REASONS THAT
COUNCIL PEDERSON OUTLINED BUT
THE MAIN CONCERN AND I VOLTED
YES IS THAT ULTIMATELY WE WANT
TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILY AND EDUCATORS BUT THERE
IS SOME ISSUE ON THE DEFINITION
AND HOW BROAD THAT BILL IS.
NEVERTHELESS I VOTED YES
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO THROW
THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH
WATER.
HOWEVER ON THIS BILL I CAP VOTE
YES ON THIS ONE.
I THINK THAT MY MAIN CONCERN IS
THE HOST HERE.
I THINK WE HEARD THIS FROM
LEGAL COUNSEL AS WELL AND THE
PREEMPT SHUN ARGUMENTS.
WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
OF CITY TENANT PROTECTIONS THAT
WORK WITH STATE LAW.
AND I THINK THIS PANDEMIC FIELD
HAS CHANGED THE LANDLORD TENANT
AND THE LANDSCAPE.
I THINK THIS PIECE MEAL
APPROACH WITH LONG-TERM
CONSEQUENCES WILL BE DIFFICULT
TO UNWIND.
SO REGARDING COUNCIL BILL
120077.
IT IS A DEFENSE.
IT MEANS YOU HAVE A DEFENSE
GOING TO COURT BUT DOESN'T MEAN
IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
I AM ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT
RAISING EXPECTATIONS.
SO WHAT YOU WILL HAVE IS
SOMEBODY TO COME IN TO COURT'S
CERTAIN THE DEFENSE OF COVID,
THAT'S WHY YOU COULDN'T PAY
YOUR RENT DURING THE
MORATORIUM.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT A JUDGE
OR JURY IS GOING TO BUY THAT.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET
TO WALK AWAY FROM
RESPONSIBILITIES.
OF COURSE THESE ARE NOT.
I'M NOT PASSING JUDGMENT
BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED BY THIS RECESSION.
AND WHAT IT HAS DONE BUT
OBVIOUSLY TO RENTERS BUT A
MORATORIUM DOESN'T MEAN YOU
DON'T HAVE TO PAY.
IT MEANS AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE
TO PAY LATER OR WORK SOMETHING
OUT WITH YOUR LANDLORD WITH IN
THIS.
AND SO WITH THAT, AND WHAT WE
HAVE LEARNED FROM LEGAL COUNSEL
AND THE BRIEFINGS THAT WE HAVE
HAD AND HOW IT WORK WITH STATE
LAW AND THE -- I DON'T THINK IT
WORKS WITH STATE LAW.
THAT WAS MADE CLEAR TO US.
BUT IN ANY EVENT I'M SORRY BUT
I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
RAISED SO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
YOU WILL GET THE LAST WORD AS
THE PRIME SPONSOR AND WE WILL
CLOSE THAT DEBATE AFTER YOUR
COMMENTS AND CALL THE BILL TO A
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, SO I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
SPONSORING ME.
I NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT.
COLLEAGUES WE KNOW THAT
THOUSANDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS WILL
FIND THEMSELVES CAUGHT WITH A
GROWING MOUNTAIN OF DEBT AND
LOOMING DEADLINE FOR WHEN THAT
DEBT COMES DUE AND IF WE DON'T
DO SOMETHING TO PROVIDE A
DEFENSE FOR RENTERS NOW WE WILL
FACE DEPRESSION LEVELS OF
HOMELESSNESS.
OUR SYSTEM IS ALREADY
OVERBURDENED.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
AND EVEN IF A QUARTER OF THE
RENTERS WHO CURRENTLY OWE RENT
THAT FALL IN TO HOMELESSNESS
OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM CAN COLLAPSE.
THIS IS ABOUT PROVIDING SOME
PROTECTION IN THE FORM OF A
DEFENSE SO THAT THERE IS AT
LEAST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM
TO HAVE YOU KNOW DISCUSSION TO
BE ABLE TO WORK OUT THE
PAYMENTS AS COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
TALKED ABOUT AND WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR
AS WE TALK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT
LEVELS AND DIFFERENT MECHANISMS
IN PLACE FOR FOLKS.
SO WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS
IMPENDING CRISIS WITH THE
GRAVITY THAT ITDY THAT
DESERVES SO THAT RENTERS THAT
HAVE FACED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
DON'T FACE EVICTION TOO AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SAYS WE
ARE NOT SAYING THEY DON'T OWE
IT BUT WHEN THEY ARE DEALING
WITH THE HARDSHIP DURING THIS
ERA AND TIME THAT THERE IS SOME
PROTECTION FROM THEM, FROM
GETTING EVICTED.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY THEY
CAN'T PAY THE RENT FOR NOW.
PASSING THIS BILL WILL DO JUST
THAT.
AND WILL HELP KEEP TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF RENTERS FROM THE
THREAT OF EVICTION.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY AND GIVE
THEM THAT PROTECTION AND THAT
DEFENSE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES THAT CONCLUDES ON
120077.
I WILL ASK THAT CLERK CALL THE
ROLL.
>> JUAREZ.
>> NO.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> NO.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND TWO
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF?
WELL WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM FIVE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE COUNCIL
BILL 120090 NEW RENTAL TEN
NANCYS GIVING A TENANT A RIGHT
OF FIRST REFUSAL AFTER THE
EXPIRATION OF TEN NANCY FOR A
SPECIFIED TIME REQUIRING A
LANDLORD DECLINING TO GIVE
TENANT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND
CREATING ACTION AND PROVIDING A
DEFENSE TO WHIFF A LANDLORD
REFUSES TO GIVE A TENANT A
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND
ALLOWING AGREEMENT AND AMENDING
24.34 0-14.08.50 AND 22.2061.0
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
AND THE CITY RECOMMENDS IT
PASSES WIH SAWANT, MORALES IN
FAVOR AND COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBERS SAWANT AND
MORALES, IS COUNSEL MEMBER
MORALES GOING TO SPEAK.
>> I AM SURE COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS WILL WANT TO ADD POINT.
>> TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THIS BILL AS I SAID IS
JOINTLY COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' OFFICE
AND MY OFFICE AND COSPONSORED
BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
IT CREATES A RIGHT OF FIRST
REFUSAL FOR RENTERS TO RENEW
THE LEASE UNLESS A LANDLORD HAS
A JUST CAUSE FOR REFUSING TO
RENEW THE LEASE.
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
BY THE SUSTAINABLE COMMITTEE
SINCE MARCH AND I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBERS ENGAGING ON THIS
ISSUE AND APPRECIATE BEING ABLE
TO WORK ALONGSIDE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES ON THIS BILL.
WE HEARD FROM TWO PANELS OF
RENTERS AND RENTER RIGHT
ACTIVISTS AND DISCUSSED THE
LEGISLATION DEVELOPED BY OUR
TWO OFFICES AND THROUGH THOSE
DISCUSSIONS AND TECHNICAL
FEEDBACK BECOMES CLEAR WHAT
RENTERS NEED IS THE RIGHT OF
FIRST REFUSAL AND WHERE THERE
IS A FIRST CHANCE TO SIGN A NEW
LEASE BEFORE OFFERING IT TO ANY
OTHER RENTERS UNLESS THERE IS A
JUST CAUSE.
RENTERS NEED A NEW LEASE LONG
BEFORE THERE IS ANY QUESTION OF
EVICTION.
I MEAN WE HAVE HEARD FROM
HUNDREDS OF RENTERS THAT HAVE
BEEN IN THIS SITUATION OR ABOUT
TO BE IN THIS SITUATION AND
STRONGLY ADVOCATING FOR THE
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL TO MAKE
SURE THAT SEATTLE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION COVERS ALL RENTERS.
FEW RENTERS THAT ARE TOLD BY
THE LANDLORD THAT THEY WILL NOT
HAVE THE LEASE RENEWED WILL
REFUSE TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE LAW
SAYS THEY CAB BE EVICTED
BECAUSE IN REAL LIFE
REPRESENTERS WILL END UP DOING
THIS AND STARTING TO LOOK FOR A
NEW PLACE TO LIVE EVEN THOUGH
THEY KNOW IT IS UNJUST AND
UNDERSTANDABLY THEY DON'T FEEL
CONFIDENT WITH HAVING TO
POTENTIALLY FIGHT IT OUT IN
COURT.
IN THE COURSE OF DISCUSSING THE
BILL IN THE COMMITTEE WE HEARD
FROM DOZENS OF RENTERS THAT
CALLED IN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
AND SEVERAL TESTIFIED AT THE
COMMITTEE TABLE WHO ALL
RECOGNIZE THE LEGISLATION IS
BASIC COMMON SENSE AND I WANTED
TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL
OF THE RANK AND FILE RENTERS,
NOT ONLY THOSE THAT TESTIFIED
PUBLICLY BUT THOSE THAT SIGNED
THE PETITION AND THE COMMUNITY
PETITION AND RELEASE FROM MY
OFFICE AND JUST HUNDREDS OF
RANK AND FILE RENTERS THAT HAVE
SPOKEN UP.
BUT STAR BILLY IS A STARBUCKS
WORKER THAT TESTIFIED AT OUR
COMMITTEE THAT SAID "AS A
BARISTA IN THE CITY I STRUGGLED
FOR MONTHS TO FIND AN
AFFORDABLE APARTMENT TO RENT,
NOW THE APARTMENT THAT I MOVED
IN TO HAS BECOME LESS
AFFORDABLE EACH TIME I RENEW
THE LEASE BECAUSE THEY RAISE IT
EVERY YEAR AND I AM AFRAID WHEN
THE LEASE IS UP THEY WILL
REFUSE TO RENEW IT AND PUT IT
ON THE STREET.
" AND ONE CALLER SPOKE IN FAVOR
OF THE BILL AND SAID "THE FIRST
TIME THAT I WAS EVICTED IT WAS
AFTER LIVING IN THE HOUSE ALONG
WITH MY ROOMMATES THROUGH TWO
FULL SIX MONTH LEASES WITHOUT
ANY PROBLEMS AND PAYING THE
REST ON TIME.
AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE
SECOND LEASE HOWEVER OUR
LANDLORD ABRUPTLY DECIDED HE
WOULD NOT RENEW THE LEASE AND
WE WOULD ALL BE HAVING TO MOVE
OUT.
THE SECOND TIME I WAS EVICTED
MY LANDLORD WAS CONVERTING OUR
PLACE INTO AN AIRBNB.
AND THIS PUTS THE RIGHT OF
FIRST REFUSAL TO THE PART OF
SEATTLE'S LAW THAT IS CHAPTER
7.24 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE.
IF THE LANDLORD DOES NOT OFFER
A NEW LEASE AND HAVE JUST CAUSE
60 TO 90 DAYS BEFORE THE LEASE
AND A DATE THEY CAN BACK UP
THAN SDDI HAS THE POWER TO
INVESTIGATE AND EITHER OFFER A
NEW LEASE OR PRESENT A JUST
CAUSE NOT TO.
AS DCI CAN ISSUE A CITATION OR
NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND ISSUE
COMPLAINT IF A LANDLORD REFUSES
TO FOLLOW THE LAW ALL THIS CAN
HAPPEN BEFORE THE LEASE END SO
I DEALLY THE ISSUES CAN BE
RESOLVED AND THE RENTER CAN GET
A NEW LEASE WITHOUT ANYONE
GOING TO EVICTION COURT.
BESIDES DISCUSSING WITH REST,
WE DISCUSSED WITH LANDLORDS AND
INFORMED THE COUNCIL THIS
MORNING SEVERAL SMALL LANDLORDS
SUPPORT RENTER RIGHTS
LEGISLATION AND SOME SIGNED THE
PETITION AND SOME LANDLORDS
OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION AND ONE
OF THE LANDLORDS MADE AN
ARGUMENT AGAINST THIS
LEGISLATION WHERE HE SAID THEY
ARE -- THAT SOME RENTERS ARE
QUOTE, UNQUOTE HEADACHES AND
THE LEASE, IT IS A CONVENIENT
TIME TO GET RID OF THE HEADACHE
RENTERS.
THE FACT IS OVER THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS MY OFFICE HAS SUPPORTED
MANY REPRESENTERS FACING ABUSE
FROM THEIR LANDLORDS WHEN I
HEAR CLAIMS LIKE RENTERS ARE
HEADACHES I ASKED WHAT THIS
MEANS.
THIS LEGISLATION ALLOWS
LANDLORDS TO REFUSE A NEW LEASE
WITHOUT A JUST CASE.
IT IS A QUESTION OF HAVING --
BEING COMPLIANT WITH SEATTLE
JUST CAUSE.
THE LIST OF JUST CAUSES TO
REFUSE TO RENEW THE LEASE AND
NOT ANY HEADACHE.
IN OTHER WORDS IF A RENTER
REPORTS A LANDLORD TO THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
INSPECTIONS FOR HOUSING COURT
VIOLATIONS OR VIOLATING THE
REPRESENTERS' RIGHTS THAT MIGHT
BE A HEADACHE FOR THE LANDLORD
BUT IT IS A COMPLETELY LEGAL
AND JUST FOR THE RENTER TO SEEK
READDRESSAL AND NOT A JUST
CAUSE TO KICK OUT THE RENTER
AND NOT AN EXAMPLE BUT A CASE
WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN MANY TIMES.
JUST IN CLOSING AND THE INITIAL
REMARK OF SPEAKING CLOSING
AGAIN BUT LAST WEEK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
DISTRIBUTED FOUR TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS.
KNOP OF THEM MAKE ANY
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE AND AFTER
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS MAKE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS WE CAN
MOVE THOSE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
IF COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WANTS
TO MOVE THE AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THE INITIAL
INTRODUCTION THAT HAVE BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES OR LEWIS,
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE?
>> YES.
>> PLEASE.
>> I WILL BE BRIEF.
I DO THINK COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR PROVIDING A GOOD OVERVIEW
OF THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF HOW
THIS WILL WORK.
AND I THINK YOU KNOW FOR 40
YEARS TENANTS HAVE BENEFITED
FROM SOME KIND OF JUST CAUSE
PROTECTION IN BE THE CITY WHICH
IS -- HAS BEEN GREAT.
THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE NO
GUARANTEE THAT THEIR HOME WILL
CONTINUE TO BE THEIR HOME ONCE
THEY ARE CURRENT LEASE END AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE HERE.
THIS BILL BRINGS THE BEST
ELEMENTS OF THE TWO PREVIOUS
BILLS THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
AND I WERE WORKING ON AND LIKE
THE PRIOR LEGISLATION PROPOSES
A SIMPLE FIX.
THAT WILL ENSURE ALL TENANTS
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE OR
WHAT KIND OF CONTRACT THEY HAVE
THAT THEY WILL BE PROTECTED
FROM A THREAT OF NO FAULT AND
NO CAUSE REMOVAL FROM THEIR
HOMES AND PROVIDES TENANTS THE
FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO
EITHER STAY IN THEIR HOME ON A
NEW LEASE OR MONTH-TO-MONTH
LEASE OR TO VOLUNTARILY LEAVE
AND ALSO ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO
PURSUE REMOVAL IF THEY HAVE A
JUST REASON, CAUSE REASON FOR
DOING SO.
AND LASTLY IT STRENGTHENS THE
TENANTS' BARGAINING POWER TO
RESCIND MUTUAL LEASE
NEGOTIATION WHERE THEY WERE
PRESSURED INTO SIGNING IT.
THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING FOLKS,
OUR NEIGHBORS THAT RENT,
KEEPING SOME PROTECTIONS FOR
THEM AND EXTENDING PROTECTIONS
FOR THEM AND ENSURING THAT MORE
RENTERS WILL BENEFIT FROM
TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
THAT IS OFFERED BY THE CITY.
SO YOU KNOW AS WE START TO MOVE
THROUGH RECOVERY.
AS THE EMERGENCY TENANT
PROBLEMS ARE LIFTED IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT OUR NEIGHBORS
THAT RENT CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
SOME STABILITY AND THIS IS
ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO MAKE SURE
THAT HAPPENS.
I DO WANT TO THANK DEVIN
STILLERNIL OF MY STAFF.
HE HAS BEEN A TROOPER.
REALLY MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT TENANT
PROTECTIONS AND THE WORK WE ARE
DOING TO PROTECT THE HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS ALL REFLECT WHAT WE
ARE HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AND
FROM OUR HOUSELESS NEIGHBORS
AND FROM OUR RENTERS IN
COMMUNITIES SO I REALLY WANT TO
THANK HIM FOR HELPING SHEPHERD,
BRINGING THEIR IDEAS INTO OUR
COUNCIL OFFICE AND BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL TODAY.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE BRIEF ON THIS AND
REST MOSTLY ON MY EXCERPTS THAT
I MADE AT COMMITTEE.
YOU KNOW I DID HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY THEN TO ADDRESS
THAT SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES THAT
HAVE BEEN RAISED BY A LOT OF
FOLKS THAT HAVE CONCERNS OVER
THIS BILL ARE MOSTLY ADDRESSED
BY THE FACT THAT WITH JUST
CAUSE, THERE CAN BE NOTICE
PROVIDED.
SO IT IS NOT A -- YOU KNOW, IF
YOU STILL DO NOT WANT TO FOR
WHATEVER REASON RENEW A LEASE.
THIS IS A PRETTY REASONABLE
CHANGE TO MAKE SURE THAT SPIRIT
OF OUR JUST CAUSE EVICTION
PROTECTIONS ARE DEFENDING
TENANTS WHEN THEY ARE SEEKING A
RENEWAL TO ROLL THEIR TEN NANCY
THAT THEY DEPENDED ON AND THE
PLACE WHERE THEY FOUND
COMMUNITY AND LIVING AS OUR
NEIGHBORS TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT.
I THINK THAT WE IN A LOT OF
WAYS TEND TO TAKE FOR GRANTED
THE INVESTMENT THAT THE TENANTS
MAKE.
WHEN THEY REALLY PUT DOWN ROOTS
AND BECOME PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY AND
THIS IS REALLY MAKING SURE THAT
WE CONTINUE TO HOLD TENANTS UP
AS EQUAL MEMBERS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT SOMEHOW
FOLKS THAT ARE MORE FUNGABLE
AND THEY DON'T DESERVE THE
COMMUNITY THAT FOLKS THAT OWN
HOMES CAN ENJOY.
THIS GETS US ONE STEP CLOSER
AND I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS
AND DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
ADD BUT THE COSPONSORS DID NOT
ADD.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WILL
LEAVE IT THERE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BEFORE
WE CLOSE THE DEBATE?
ACTUALLY WE WILL NOT CLOSE IT
OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR
AMENDMENTS WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
SO I GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF THERE.
OKAY.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE
SPONSORS OF THE BILL.
SO NOW WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
CONSIDER -- WE HAVE FOUR
DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS TO
CONSIDER AND I AM GOING TO HAND
IT BACK OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO IMPRESSIVE ME
DIRECTION ON WHO IS GOING TO
ADVANCE THOSE AMENDMENTS.
>> IT DOESN'T MEMBER TO ME
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, DO YOU
WANT TO MOVE THE FIRST THREE
AND I WILL MOVE THE LAST ONE?
>> SURE.
THAT WORKS FOR ME.
SHALL I? I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
TO ADOPT PROPOSED AMENDMENT
ONE COUNSEL MEMBER MORALES.
>> THIS IS A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
FEDERAL LAW SUPERSEDE LOCAL LAW
IN THIS MATTER.
>> GREAT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT ONE?
HEARING NOW WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE?
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
ADOPTED AND THE AMENDED BILL IS
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TWO.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I MOVE AMEND TWO.
>> SECONDED.
>> AND MOVED AND SECONDED ON
AMENDMENT TWO AND I WILL GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO
ADDRESS AMENDMENT TWO AND TAKE
COMMENTS.
>> SURE.
THIS AMENDMENT JUST CLARIFIES
THAT A NEW LEASE WILL START ON
THE DAY FOLLOWING THE
EXPIRATION OF THE PREVIOUS
LEASE.
>> PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT
TWO?
>> HEARING NONE WILL THE CLERK
CALL THE ROLE ON ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT TWO.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMEND IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
I WILL HAND IT BACK OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR
AMENDMENT THREE.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT THREE.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED AND ON AMENDMENT THREE
SO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES I WILL
LET YOU ADDRESS IT AND WE WILL
TAKE COMMENTS.
>> THIS JUST CLARIFIES THAT
LANDLORD AND TENANT CAN AGREE
TO A NEW LEASE BEFORE THE 60,
90 DAY WINDOW MANDATED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT THREE?
HEARING NOW WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT THREE?
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
HAVE YOU AMENDMENT FOUR.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT FOUR.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED
ON AMEND FOUR.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ADDRESS AMENDMENT FOUR?
>> YES THIS IS ALSO A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT.
IT REMOVES REDUNDANT LANGUAGE
ABOUT HOW MUTUAL DETERMINATION
AGREEMENTS WORK WHEN THE RENTER
HAS A HOUSING VOUCHER.
>> GREAT.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOUR?
>> HEARING NONE WILL THE CLERK
CALL THE ROLE ON THE ADOPTION
OF AMENDMENT FOUR?
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> AYE.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED AND THE
AMENDED BILL IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
OKAY.
THAT DOES COVER ALL OF THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WE NOW HAVE
A FULLY AMENDED BILL BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION
COUNCIL BILL 120090 ESPECIALLY
WITH THE TECHNICAL, THE GOOD
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
IF A SIMILAR STATE LAW HAD NOT
RECENTLY PASSED AND A SIMILAR
STATE LAW HAS PASSED HOUSE BILL
1236, AND IN MY OPINION,
COUNCIL BILL 120090 IS PRE-
EMPTED BY THE STAY LAW THAT
INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO
THAT HOUSE BILL 1236.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, LOCAL LAWS
ARE GENERALLY PRE-EMPTED BY
STATE LAWS THAT CONFLICT ON THE
SAME SUBJECT MATTER EVEN IF THE
STATE LAW DOES NOT INCLUDE A
PREEMPTION LAW.
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY THE CITY
COUNCIL'S PROCEEDINGS TO ADOPT
THE CITY LAW THAT COULD BURDEN
THE CITY WITH SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL
RISKS.
CONSISTENT WITH MY THROAT AT
COMMITTEE LEVEL I WILL VOTE
KNOW ON COUPLE BILL 120090
BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS WITH
PREEMPTION BY THE STATE
GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
ABOUT THE BILL AS AMENDED
>> ALL RIGHT NOT SEEING ANY
HANDS RAISED.
ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
REMARKS.
>> I DO BUT I WOULD LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO SPEAK.
>> SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO SAY AND I AM NOT SEEING
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS SO YOU GET
THE LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
ALONGSIDE OUR OFFICE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THE
BILL TO POTENTIAL LEWIS AND
THANK YOU COUPLE MEMBER LEWIS
FOR COSPONSORING.
IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL
IMPORTANT VICTORIES THAT RENT
ERGS ARE WINNING TODAY IN
SEATTLE.
AS PROTECTION FROM UNJUST AND
DEVASTATING EVICTION.
WITH THIS BILL WE ARE CLOSING
THE LOOPHOLE THAT HAVE LEFT
RENTERS ON A SIX YEAR LEASE
WITH ZERO PROTECTIONS AT THE
END OF THE LEASE.
AND YOU KNOW WE THIN COUNCIL
MEETING PASSED LEGISLATION
PROVIDING RENTERS WITH
ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS BECAUSE
OF COVID AND PROTECTION FOR
CHILDREN AND WE HAVE URGED THE
MAYOR AND GOVERNOR TO EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND ALL
CRUCIAL VICTORIES AND WE NEED
TO BE CLEAR THAT EVICTION IS
ONLY ONE ISSUE THAT RENTERS
FACE.
A CRUCIAL ISSUE BUT IN ADDITION
TO THAT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT
RENTERS ARE FACING UNAFFORDABLE
RENT INCREASES AND AS FAR AS
LANDLORD LAW IT IS BUSINESS AS
USUAL NOW THAT VACCINATIONS ARE
AVAILABLE AND THE ECONOMY IS
GOING BACK TO WHAT SEEMS LIKE A
LITTLE BIT OF NORMALCY SINCE
THE LAST YEAR.
AND NATIONWIDE WE ARE SAYING
EVERY TIME AVERAGE RENTS
INCREASED AND THIS WAS LE
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
EVERY TIME AVERAGE RENTS
INCREASED BY ONE HUNDRED
HOMELESSNESS INCREASES BY 15%
AND THE STAGGERING CAUSE OF
RENT INCREASE AND HOMELESSNESS
INCREASE AND RENT IN SEATTLE
HAVE INCREASED BY ONE HUNDRED
MANY TIMES OVER.
HAVING INFORMED CITY COUNCIL WE
HAVE SEVERAL RIGHTS BILLS
RELATED TO RENT INCREASES
INCLUDING RENT CONTROL AND WE
WILL BE BRINGING TO THE
COMMITTEE THIS MONTH.
FIRST WHAT WE HAVE IS A BILL
THAT WE HAVE.
>> INTRODUCED REQUIRING
LANDLORDS TO GIVE SIX MONTH
NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASES THAT
IS A SUCCESSFUL MEASURE AROUND
THE WORLD.
WE WON'T BE CHARTING NEW
TERRITORY BUT FOLLOWING OTHER
CITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY PASSED
SUCH A LAW.
WE HAVE SENT TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY OFFICE FOR INTRODUCE
OF THE BILL FOR RELOCATION
EXTRANEOUS FOR RENTERS FORCED
TO MOVE BY UNACCEPTABLE RENT
INCREASES AND SHARED A
REPRESENT CONTROL BILL THAT
WILL LIMIT THE INCREASES TO NO
MORE THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION
AND DE VOID OF THE PROBLEMATIC
úLOOP HOLES THAT LAWS IN NEW
YORK OR CALIFORNIA HAVE
INTRODUCED THAT AFFECT RENTERS
BADLY AND AFFECTS THE ABILITY
OF RENT CONTROL TO PROVIDE
PROTECTION.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS I
HAVE CALLED FOR A RENTER BILL
OF RIGHTS AND INCLUDING THESE
ISSUES AND I THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE IN
MY OFFICE FOR MAKING SURE THAT
WE HAD EVERYTHING READY AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD ALL OF
OUR TECHNICAL WORK AND OUR
ORGANIZING WORK READY TO GO.
I WANTED TO THANK ADAM
SOUGHTSKY AND NICK JONES AND
THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE AND
TALKING TO RENTERS AROUND THE
CITY.
I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY
THAT CALLED IN SUPPORT OF THE
RENTERS RIGHTS BILLS TODAY AND
IN THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE
MEETINGS AND URGE EVERYBODY
THAT IS WATCHING TO JOIN US AT
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABLE MEETING ON JUNE
22nd TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSION OF
THE UPCOMING RENTER RIGHTS
BILLS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
THAT DOES END THE DEBATE AND SO
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> JUAREZ.
>> NO.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSON.
>> NO.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZELEZ.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND TWO
OPPOSED.
THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHAF.
OTHER BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COUNCIL?
>> HEARING NOW THIS DOES
INCLUDE THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON THE AGENDA AND OUR NEXT CITY
MEETING IS ON TUESDAY.
I'M SORRY.
IS THAT RIGHT, TUESDAY?
I THINK IT IS A MONDAY.
JUNE 14th.
MONDAY JUNE 14th, 2021 AT 2:00.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A
WONDERFUL AFTERNOON.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK