>>> Good afternoon, everyone.
Thank you for showing up for
this event.
I am Mariko Lockhart, director
for the Seattle Office for
Civil Rights.
We support for commissions, the
Seattle women's commission,
the Seattle LGBT commission the
disability commission.
They, along with the immigrant
and refugee commission have
joined together, and I want to
commend all of them for this
effort.
It was put together rather
rapidly, but in concern for
coming and to the eviction
moratorium and knowing that
many of our local residents are
facing eviction at the end of
the moratorium.
They have put together this
event to bring together
information and resources to
all of those who can attend
either here in person at City
Hall or online to provide
information that can support
renters facing eviction and
share this information more
widely.
It has been a tremendous
collaborative effort.
I also want to thank our staff
and Marter, commission liaison
who supports to commissions.
She has done an amazing job in
supporting this event coming
together.
And we have great information
for you.
A number of representatives
from the commissions will each
come up and speak.
You will get to know them and a
little about their commissions.
Without further ado, I am going
to bring up Anquida Adams and
Rebecca M Bryant who will start
our program.
[ Applause ]
>> hello, my name is Anquida
Adams and I am cochair or one
of the cochairs of the Seattle
disabilities commission.
>> I am Rebecca M Bryant,
cochair of the women's
commission.
Thank you for joining us this
evening.
>> We wanted to make sure that
we a lot anyone who needed an
understanding of what and how
to protect themselves after the
moratorium.
We want to make sure that we
get certain people that are in
the room to make sure that you
can effectively navigate
through the situation of being
evicted.
I guess we will start the
program right now.
We are going to bring up
councilmember Kshama Sawant
will come up now.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
I hope that you are able to see
or at least hear my words.
I really appreciate you all
attending this program.
I really appreciate all the
work done by all the members in
the commission and all the city
staff that are supporting this
work.
It is important to note that
yesterday was a big day for
renters rights victory.
We close the loophole that has
four 40 years tonight eviction
protection to renters on fixed
term leases.
If you are a six or 12 month
lease and you are denied what
are called protections under
the just cause law of Seattle
and this was a law that my
office cosponsored because it
is important this law is
passed.
Also sponsored another
extremely important will which
is the ban on school year
eviction and all public school
workers.
It was a huge victory because
it was not watered down.
At this moment, when this goes
into effect, Seattle will have
the nation strongest evictions
protections for children and
public school workers.
We are really hoping that
renter movements and other
cities are able to put in place
similar laws in their own
cities to protect children and
educators and all staff at
public schools.
And yesterday we were able to
get a unanimous vote on a
resolution from our office
urging the mayor and the
governor to extend the eviction
moratorium.As Mariko Lockhart
said, this is a huge issue
because when the eviction
moratoriums expire, we know
nationwide economists have
predcted there will be a
tsunami of eviction.
That will not be one or two
people's opinions.
There telling us that this will
happen likely unless the
moratoriums are extended, that
is why the passage was
important but it is not enough.
It is not just a resolution.
It needs to be done as we
continue to urge Mayor Jenny A.
Durkan to extend the
moratorium.
That is why I urge you to join
us during the public rally.
Please share the word.
We need to let everyone know
about the rally and renters in
joining us to make sure that we
extend the eviction moratorium
and continue the fight for rent-
controlled and to the upcoming
legislation, the June 22
committee of the renters rights
committee of the city Council
will be discussing to further
pieces of legislation from our
office, one that is requiring
landlords to give six month
notice for rent increases and
to require landlords to give
assistance economic eviction
assistance to renters if they
are pushed out of their homes
because the rent went up
dramatically.
And I will say in closing it is
so important for us to fight
for the eviction moratorium
extension because we know that
this disproportionately affects
communities of color and we
know that 9/10 cases and up and
homelessness.
We need to help the communities
of color and the women in the
most vulnerable community
members.
Thank you so much.
>>> Thank you councilmember
Kshama Sawant.
Those remarks are powerful and
remind us of the situation our
communities will be facing.
With that, we are going to
bring up representatives from I
believe Devon is going to
speak?
All right.
>> hey, everybody.My name is
Devin Silvernail, district
councilmember for councilmember
morale us.
I am happy to be here tonight
to be able to speak on behalf
of our office.
I wanted to speak to you
tonight about several pieces of
legislation we have passed
throughout this past year that
will benefit renters post
pandemic.
The first being a piece of
legislation we passed last year
that would basically forgive
any kind of eviction that
happens during the pandemic.
For example, if you were to be
evicted for nonpayment of rent,
typically that eviction would
follow you around for the rest
of your life essentially.
Bypassing this piece of
legislation last year ensured
that will not follow you
around.
If you do face eviction during
the COVID crisis, it is more
than likely going to be caused
by the crisis and we wanted to
make sure that does not haunt
you for the rest of your life.
That is one thing that our
office passed last year with
much like what was said
earlier, through tenant
organizing and with the help of
renters.
The second piece of legislation
I wanted to talk about, that
was touched on, but the first
one is the home eviction
defense.
That was passed yesterday at
the full council.
What that would do, if you are
a renter and you faced a
hardship during the pandemic
that led to you following
behind on rent your landlord
cannot evict you for that
happening.
And it is pretty simple.
Basically they would provide
you with a defense for eviction
if you ever want to court, also
by the sheer fact it exists it
is also a deterrent to eviction
and pushes landlords more
toward something like offering
rental assistance and may be
mediation to help figure out a
way to get things going in the
right direction.
We also passed the closing of
the lease loophole.
That is something we jointly
sponsored and as she said it
provides you a right of first
refusal at the end of your
lease but it also gives you
more bargaining power in the
case that you are going to be
doing a mutual termination with
your landlord and it actually
extends protections to folks
who are being displaced from
their home by extending tenant
relocation assistance to more
and more tenants of Seattle.
All of these things we won
because of the involvement of
tenants.
I would say not just having
folks show up, but having folks
at the table from the very
beginning.
Crafting ideas, pushing things
through and organizing.
Always want to stress that,
that your power is in your
numbers.
When I think about tenant
organizing always quote
Frederick Douglass, power
concedes nothing without a
demand, it never did, it never
will.
That is absolutely true when it
comes to asserting your rights
as a tenant and getting more
rights as a tenant.
So I wanted to come and let you
know just about a couple of
those things we passed recently
because of the power of tenants
in Seattle and it is because of
you and neighbors like you that
thousands of people are going
to have those protections, so I
wanted to close with that.
I want to thank you again for
having us here tonight.
Please feel free to reach out
if you ever have any questions
or concerns as a renter, we are
here.
You are our constituents, we
are here to help.
I believe that the folks after
me will be able to give you
even more detailed information
on the implementation of these
new laws.
Have a good night.
>> We are now going to take a
few minutes for each commission
to speak about the work we are
doing so that you get to put a
face to the name with the
various commissions.
We will start with Hannah
Wilson with the disability
commission.
>> hello, everyone.
I am Hannah Wilson the cochair
of the disabilities commission.
I am happy to be here tonight
because one of our goals is to
restructure the commission to
reach out to grassroots
organizations and reach out to
them in a way that we are
building that relationship with
our community in order to see
what their needs are and talk
about how renters rights is
also all related with food,
housing, healthcare, disability
rights, all of that.
So, I'm really excited to be
here to forward that effort and
also, in my free time I am a
farm manager at yes farm so I
wanted to share some food
resources that I have.
I'm encouraging folks to come
and check out the black farmers
collective if you are a person
of color.
We are trying to address food
apartheid in the city with
folks of color not having
access to fresh produce.
We have resources for gardening
space and other ways to get
access to fresh food.
Feel free to reach out to me
for any of those needs.
thanks for having me.
>> thanks.
I am a radish gal myself I
might be coming after you for
some of those.
Next we have the Seattle LBGTQ+
commission.
>> hello, my name is Dante and
my pronounce our he him.
I'm cochair for the city.
I can say many things of what
the commission has done.
We have talked about
accountability for all of our
community members, not just
advocating for just our LBGTQ+
non-binary brothers and sisters
but when there is strife in the
community, when it hit our
brothers and sisters we stood
our ground and we are
continuing to do that today.
When we are talking about
renters rights, we have to
think about the 6% of the
population out here that are
LBGTQ+ facing homelessness .
When we talk about a health
crisis, when we talk about a
crisis in our community, we
have been talking.
Before you go to a flag raising
in our community, think about
the safety of the trans-woman
or non-binary person that has
been standing in the space
screaming for shelter or
safety.
We want to also highlight the
LBGTQ+ Allyship who have great
resources in the spaces of
housing and the Seattle urban
league as well but I do want
to make sure, I would not be
standing here if I -- I would
not be able to stand here if I
cannot affirm enough to
community members when it comes
to the commission's office,
four you get to flag raising,
learn how to protect, educate,
and build our LBGTQ+ brothers
and non-binary and two spirited
non-binary folks.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, we are clearly a
better city with your voice
around, thank you.
Next up we have the human
rights commission with Amanda
Rector speaking.
>> My pronounce our she/her.
I think that this is the heart
of the mission of renters
rights is human rights,
housing, the right to be safe,
the right to be healthy, the
right to thrive within our
communities.
The human rights commission
gets support from the community
members to try to hold the city
of Seattle accountable to
systemic oppression, human
rights issues, and that is all
I have to say.
[ Applause ]
>> thank you, Amanda.
Amanda is a part of the
commission for a couple weeks.
She was incredible and we are
lucky to have her.
as I mentioned before, my name
is Rebecca, I am one of the
cochairs of the Seattle women's
commission.
I have been a member of the
commission for about a year.
Most of it has been virtual,
but I think it has been a
interesting time to see our
city come together and to also
better understand what women in
our community need.
So, little bit about the
commission.
We are a committed group of
individuals.
We come together as volunteers
to research, analyze, and make
recommendations to the mayor,
city Council as well as the
departments on issues facing
women in Seattle.
We meet monthly as a full
commission and we meet more
frequently as committees to
address a broad range of issues
including economic opportunity
for women, women's health and
disparities in health outcomes
which have become even more
critical in the pandemic.
We also are concerned with
violence against women and
especially with tonight, we are
concerned about the unique
challenges of housing and
homelessness that women face in
our community.
that gives you a sense about
some of the city's commissions.
We are here as a resource and
we encourage you to reach out.
For the rest of this evening's
programming, I am going to
welcome to the stage dolce
O'Sullivan with the Department
of inspections and
construction.
>> hi, everyone, can you hear
me?
I am often accused of having a
low, soft voice.
I want to make sure that
everyone can hear me.
Good evening, my name is dolce
O'Sullivan, I lead a program
called renting in Seattle.
It is housed within the
Department of construction and
inspections, and essentially it
is a, the city's central hub of
resources for Seattle renters.
It came to be through
collaboration with all the
that touch on housing, BUT I
WOULD SAY OUR MAIN PARTNERS IN
THIS ARE THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS AND WE DO A LOT OF
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
TOGETHER.
AND WE ARE BOTH OF THE MAIN
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR RENTAL
PROTECTIONS AND FOR HOUSING
LAWS.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE?
O, THESE ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT MAKE UP THE
RESOURCES AND OUR INVESTMENT IN
THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A ROBUST ENFORCEMENT
TEAM OF SPECIALISTS AND THAT
MEANS THAT TENANTS WHO HAVE
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING CONDITIONS
OR HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH THEIR
LANDLORDS CAN CALL OUR HELPLINE
AND GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEBODY
WHO CAN HELP, EITHER WITH
INFORMATION OR WITH ENFORCEMENT
ACTION.
WE ALSO HAVE A DEDICATED
WEBSITE, IT IS
SEATTLE.GOV/RENTING IN SEATTLE.
IT WILL BE UP ON THE LAST
SLIDE.
THAT BASICALLY COVERS THE
RENTAL CYCLE FROM SEARCHING FOR
HOUSING ALL THE WAY THROUGH
LEAVING HOUSING.
WE ALSO PUBLISH THE RENTERS
HANDBOOK, THIS IS THE FIRST
YEAR WE PUBLISHED IT.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
IT IS A MUCH BETTER DOCUMENT
THAN WHAT WE HAD BEFORE.
AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY WILL
READ IT.
THAT IS MY PLUG FOR OUR RENTERS
HANDBOOK.
IT IS PUBLISHED IN 12
LANGUAGES, THE MOST SPOKEN
LANGUAGES IN SEATTLE, AND AS
OUR ALL OUR INFO GRAPHIC
MATERIALS.
WE ALSO DO EDUCATION AND
OUTREACH.
IN FACT IT WAS ELLIPSE
>> SORRY, ARE WE GOOD?
>> OKAY, SO WE ALSO DO
EDUCATION WITH TECHNICAL
SUPPORT AND IN FACT, IT WAS MY
GREAT HONOR TO WORK WITH DEBBIE
CARLSON WHO WILL BE THE
FEATURED SPEAKER TONIGHT WITH
HER ORGANIZATION LBGTQ+
ALLYSHIP.
EXCUSE ME, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF DRY MOUTH.
BUT, WE TRY TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND WE
ARE INVESTING OVER $1 MILLION
IN GRANTS TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP FOR
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.
WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT
FOR LANDLORDS SO THEY CAN DO
RIGHT BY THE TENANT
PROTECTIONS.
AND WE CAN ALSO DO INFORMATION
AND REFERRALS, FOR
INFORMATIONAL REFERRALS THEY
USUALLY HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES
GOING ON INCLUDING HOUSING,
DISCRIMINATION, IT COULD BE
SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE LEASE
AGREEMENT AND THEY CAN GET ALL
OF THAT INFORMATION IN ONE
SLIDE. , I WILL GO TO THE NEXT
SO, THIS IS OUR HELPLINE NUMBER
206-684-5700.
AND OUR WEBSITE ADDRESS IS
UNDERNEATH, IT IS
SEATTLE.GOV/RENTING IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE GOING TO SPICE IT UP
A LITTLE BIT.
IN PANDEMIC TIMES THERE IS
ALWAYS SOMETHING FUN.
WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES COMMISSION WHO I
BELIEVE IT IS ONLINE, PEGGY
WILL SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO SORRY, MY NAME
IS PEGGY, I AM WITH THE OFFICE
OF REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
I AM ON THE COMMISSION STAFF
WITH THE CITY AND FOR THE
COMMISSION.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION DISABILITY
COMMISSION AND THE LBGTQ+
COMMISSION.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR
HOSTING THIS EVENT.
THIS IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE AND
A HOUSING ISSUE.
IT IS REALLY CRITICAL AND
IMPORTANT IN THE IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITIES SO I JUST
WANT TO SAY SOMETHING AND THEN
SHOW THE SUPPORT AND ALSO
REPRESENTING THE IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, PEGGY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.I AM
TYRONE GRANDISON, ONE OF THE
COCHAIRS FOR THE SEATTLE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS EVENING I HAVE THE
PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING A
COMMUNITY RELATIONS LEAD, THE
ULTIMATE ALLY SO TO SPEAK WHO
ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LBGTQ+
ALLYSHIP, DEBBIE CARLSEN.
DEBBIE CARLSEN IS GOING TO
SHARE HER VAST RESERVOIR OF
KNOWLEDGE AND HOPEFULLY EMPOWER
US TONIGHT.
WITH THAT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS DEBBIE CARLSEN, I
USUALLY USE THE PRONOUNS AS A
NON-BINARY WORKING CLASS MAN
AND I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUTÃ
I'M HOPING THIS WILL BE MORE
CONVERSATIONAL BECAUSE I HAVE A
FEELING THAT THIS IS A ROOM
FULL OF A LOT OF EXTROVERT SO I
CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT ALLYSHIP DOES AND WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING.
ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC .
AND HOW THE LBGTQ+ RENTERS WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, SOME OF
THEIR STORIES .80 WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A --
WE DO TRAININGS AND SO I AM NOT
ACTUALLY THE PRESENTER OF A
RENTERS RIGHTS CHAIN, IT IS
HARD TO STAFF MEMBERS, TAYLOR
AND KATRINA AND THIS IS
REPRESENTATION OF A TRAINING
THAT WE DID.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU AND HOW I
ACTUALLY COMPLETE IT IS THAT WE
HAVE FORMED A LBGTQ+
ORGANIZING RENTERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE FOR LBGTQ+ FOLKS TO
REALLY HAVE A SPACE TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT
ALSO TO ORGANIZE.
PARTICULARLY FROM A UNIQUE
LBGTQ+ EQUITY LENS AND
CONNECTING WITH RACIAL JUSTICE
AND GENDER JUSTICE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE,
WE COME ACROSS A LOT IS THAT
TENANTS THAT WE WORK WITH OFTEN
HAVE A INTERSECTIONAL LENS.
IT IS OFTEN LBGTQ+ FOLKS LIVING
WITH DISABILITIES AND TRANS
FOLKS AND OFTEN LBGTQ+ FOLKS
WHO ARE BY POP AND IT IS THAT
INTERSECTION COMBINED WITH THE
LOADING COUPLE OR THE CASH POOR
THAT MAKES FOLKS THE MOST
VULNERABLE AS TENANTS IN OUR
EXPERIENCE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED, WE HAVE BEEN
HELPING RENTERS THAT, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHAT WE CALL SHADOW
EVICTIONS, WHICH ARE LIKE FOR
EXAMPLE, WE WERE HOPING THIS
ONE WHERE A TRANS HOUSEHOLD
EXPERIENCED, THEY WERE
EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION
FROM ACTUALLY, NOT THEIR
LANDLORD, BUT FROM OTHER
TENANTS AND THEY WERE BEING
HARASSED AS THEY WERE COMING
HOME AND THEY DID NOT FEEL,
LIKE THEY DID NOT FEEL
COMFORTABLE.
THEY TALK TO THE LANDLORD AND
THE LANDLORD AMOUNT TO
ANYTHING.
THEY DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THEIR
OWN HOME.
EVEN IN THE PANDEMIC, DURING
COVID, THEY DECIDED TO MOVE,
WHICH IS REALLY RISKY AND HARD
AND COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT
FOR THEIR SAFETY, THAT IS WHAT
WE DECIDED TO DO.
NOW, TECHNICALLY THAT WOULD BE
LIKE THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
ISSUE IF YOU WENT TO THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS, BUT THAT IS
NOT WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO.
THEY NEEDED HOUSING RIGHT AWAY.
AND THERE IS NOT AN ACTUAL I
DON'T THINK THAT RIGHT NOW OUR
LAWS ARE ACTUALLY HELPING OR
PROTECTING THOSE TYPES OF
SHADOW EVICTIONS AND WE WANT TO
WORK WITH COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW
CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE UNDER
THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR
EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE HAD TENANTS, WE HAVE
WORKED WITH TENANTS WHO ARE
TRANS WITH DISABILITIES.
WHO ARE BEING HARASSED BY THEIR
LANDLORD, WHO ARE BEHIND ON
THEIR RENT, AND THEY ARE, IT IS
COMPLICATED LIKE, THERE WAS ONE
PARTICULAR [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
THERE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
HARASSMENT, AND ALSO
DISCRIMINATION.
AND THEY STAYED IN THEIR PLACE,
BUT -- LANDLORDS TRYING TO GET
THEM OUT.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING IT
ALL ALONG.
THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF LAWS
THAT ARE OF PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I WANT TO ASK YOU
BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN ALL OF YOU
AND I AM WONDERING IF YOU
WITHIN YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES
HAVE YOUR OWN STORIES AROUND
HOW THOSE FOLKS RIGHT NOW ARE
STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING
PARTICULARLY DURING COVID.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SHARE OR
-- TALK ABOUT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> I WORK WITH THE HOMELESS I
KNOW PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH
HOUSING ON THE STREET.
I HOPE WE GET STRONGER
PROTECTIONS.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
SO, I AGREE WITH YOU, THE
PROTECTIONS NEED TO BE
SMOOTHER, BUT AS FAR AS HOUSING
INSECURE, I KNOW THOUSANDS AND
A LOT OF THEM ARE EVERY DAY
FACING DEATH SO -- I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU WANTED A PARTICULAR
STORY OR SITUATION.
>> NOW, JUST WHATEVER -- YEAH,
JUST KIND OF ASKING IN GENERAL
IF PEOPLE HAVE EITHER LIKE
EXPERIENCED, HAVE EXAMPLES OF
PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY
THAT ARE DEALING WITH IT, IT
COULD BE HARASSMENT FROM
LANDLORDS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT
WE HEAR A LOT, THAT LANDLORDS
ARE DEMANDING THAT THEY PAY,
EVEN THOUGH FOLKS ARE
UNEMPLOYED, OR THEY ARE
UNDEREMPLOYED AND IN FACT, THEY
CANNOT PAY.
WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC.
AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT YOU
CAN'T BE EVICTED, ALTHOUGH WE
STILL HAVE EXPERIENCE AND HAVE
BEEN SUPPORTING TENANTS WHO
HAVE BEEN EVICTED.
I AM SEEING SOME NODS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> EXACTLY THAT.
>> YOU DO NOT QUITE HEAR THAT
FIRST PART.
>> THERE WAS A MURDER, IT WAS
EITHER LATE LAST YEAR OR THIS
YEAR FOR THAT EXACT REASON, AND
ILLEGAL EVICTION AND INSTEAD OF
GOING THROUGH THE COURT, THE
MAN THAT WAS RENTING TO THEM
KILLED THEM BOTH.
ND WE ARE SEEING ILLEGAL
ELECTIONS, MAYBE NOT TO THAT
HEIGHT OF VIOLENCE, BUT THIS IS
A REAL THING THAT REALLY
HAPPENED IN THIS AREA.
AND IF IT GETS THAT BAD, WHEN
WE LOOK AT SITUATIONS LIKE
THAT, THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHERS
WE ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT THAT
MAYBE DID NOT GET TO SOMEBODY
BEEN CHOPPED UP, BUT STILL HAD
THEIR THINGS THROWN OUT AND THE
DOOR LOCKED BEHIND THEM.
>> RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> SO SITUATIONALÃ[
INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> I WANTED TO ASK, WE DO HAVE,
WE DO HAVE A POWER POINT.
I WAS WANTING TO ASK IF THERE
ARE SPECIFIC THINGS PEOPLE
WANTED TO KNOW, THAT THEY
WANTED TO TAKE FROM THIS TIME,
LIKE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
CURIOUS ABOUT.
ARE YOU WANTING TO KNOW
GENERALLY ABOUT TENANT RIGHTS?
OKAY.
[ LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT.
SO, HERE IS, THESE ARE SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT I WAS HOPING TO
COVER SO THAT FOLKS CAN HELP
YOUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WHAT
WE KNOW IS THE MORATORIUM, THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM WILL END ON
JUNE 30.
SO, WE KNOW THAT NOW .1 THING
THAT ALLYSHIP IS DOING IS
REALLY TRYING TO PREPARE FOR
WHAT THEY CAN DO OR WHAT THEY
KNOW WHAT RIGHTS, WHAT
RESOURCES THEY HAVE, SO WE WANT
TO TALK ABOUT RESOURCES AND WE
WANT TO TALK ABOUT RENTERS
RIGHTS AND PAYMENT PLAN
OPTIONS, AND THEN ALSO IF IT
GETS TO THAT POINT, A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT THE
UNDERSTANDING EVICTION COURT
AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT AND
WHAT YOU CAN DO.
SO, I AM ALSO REALLY OPEN TO
ANY QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER THAT
COME UP, SO WE CAN DO THIS FREE-
FLOWING CONVERSATION IF THAT
WORKS FOR FOLKS.
SO -- IF YOU WANT TO -- ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANTED
TO EMPHASIZE IS, WHEN IT COMES
TO DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY,
FOR FOLKS WHO DO HAVE
DISABILITIES, YOU, IF YOU DO
NOT ALREADY KNOW, YOU DO HAVE
THE RIGHT TO ASK YOUR LANDLORD
FOR ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WILL
HELP YOU STAY IN YOUR PLACE
SAFELY AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A
PROCESS FOR THAT AND IT IS
SOMETHING THAT TENANTS CAN
ENGAGE THEIR LANDLORDS WITH AND
DISCUSS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THERE IS NOT A CODE OF THIS,
THIS, AND THIS.
BUT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE FINDING THAT A LOT OF
FOLKS, TENANTS THAT WE ARE
WORKING WITH DON'T KNOW ABOUT
SO WE WANT TO INTRODUCE AND
SUPPORT THEM IN THAT PROCESS.
I KNOW DOLCE IS HERE, AND I'M
FEELING A LITTLE SELF-CONSCIOUS
BECAUSE YOU ARE KIND OF THE
EXPERT AT THIS.
SO, IF YOU, WILL YOU CHIME IN
IF THERE IS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION?
OKAY.
AND SO, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW THIS
BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE FINDING IN
THE COMMUNITIES AND THE TENANTS
WE ARE WORKING WITH, PEOPLE DO
NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE
THAT RIGHT.
SOMETHING IMPORTANT WE HAVE
COME ACROSS, REGARDLESS OF YOUR
IMMIGRATION STATUS, ALL OF
THESE LAWS STILL APPLY TO YOU.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE
UNDOCUMENTED OR DOCUMENTED, YOU
HAVE TENANT RIGHTS IN SEATTLE,
AND THAT ALL OF THESE RIGHTS
THAT WE ALL HAVE REGARDLESS OF
OUR IMMIGRATION STATUS, WE ALL
HAVE THEM.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ALSO
COMING UP FOR US IS WE ARE
HEARING FROM TENANTS THAT, LIKE
THEY NEED REPAIRS.
THEY NEED REPAIRS TO HAPPEN,
AND THEIR LANDLORDS ARE NOT
RESPONDING.
AND THE LANDLORDS ARE JUST
THINKING THAT BECAUSE IT IS
COVID THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR REPAIRS, AND THAT IS
ACTUALLY NOT TRUE.
SO, IT DOES MATTER, IT IS STILL
OKAY TO, THERE IS GREAT IN THE
AREA OF LIKE BEING SAFE AND
THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND EVEN SOME
TENANTS DO NOT WANT FOR EXAMPLE
SOMEONE TO COME INTO REPAIR,
BUT THE LAW STILL STANDS AND
YOU STILL HAVE RIGHTS AROUND
REPAIR AND THAT COULD BE ONE
THING TO NOTE IS THAT IF THERE
IS SOMETHING THAT IS URGENT,
LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT, YOU
DON'T HAVE WATER.
THE LANDLORD HAS THREE DAYS TO
REPAIR.
THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF
REPAIRS THAT THERE IS A 10 DAY
SPAN THAT THE LANDLORD NEEDS TO
RESPOND AND START THAT PROCESS.
WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND
WHAT WE TELL OUR TENANTS OR OUR
COMMUNITY IS PUT EVERYTHING IN
WRITING, SO EMAIL IT.
EMAIL YOUR REQUEST AND DATE IT
SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A TRAIL, A
PAPER TRAIL, IN CASE YOU COME
TO US AND SAY I DO NOT HAVE
WATER AND IT HAS BEEN 30 DAYS.
AND HERE IS THE PAPER TRAIL.
HERE IS THE EMAIL TRAIL SO THAT
WE CAN HELP YOU TO CONNECT WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
AND INSPECTION AND WE CAN MAKE
SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS.
THAT YOUR REPAIRS HAPPEN.
SO, THAT IS -- I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE
RECOGNIZING THAT AND KNOW THAT
AS FAR AS YOUR RIGHTS.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?
YEAH?
>> PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE
WATER, DON'T WAIT 30 DAYS, CALL
US EARLIER THAN THAT BECAUSE WE
CAN SEND AN INSPECTOR OUT AND
GET HELP.
>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH A TENANT
THAT DID NOT HAVE HEAT FOR LIKE
SIX MONTHS AND THEY HAD BEEN
TRYING AND YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE
BEEN CONNECTING AND TRYING IN
THE LANDLORD JUST WAS NOT
RESPONSIVE AND WE GUIDED THEM,
WE SENT THEM TO YOU ALL THAT
WE, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.
I MEAN, I THINK Y'ALL KNOW
THAT, BUT YEAH.
ARE YOU GETTING UP TO ASK --
OH, OKAY.
YEAH.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS YOU
MENTIONED IN TERMS OF
DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY AND
ACCOMMODATIONS?
>> SO, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT
ALL THE DETAILS IN THE PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO SAY DO YOU KNOW
THE DETAILS?
IF NOT, I CAN GET THAT TO YOU.
>> SO, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST
TOO, WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE
HONEST, I AM NOT A FAIR HOUSING
LAW EXPERT, THAT IS THE
JURISDICTION OF MY PARTNERS IN
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS,
BUT BECAUSE I DO SO MUCH
TRAINING WITH THEM, I CAN OFFER
THAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
REQUESTS ARE FOR CHANGES TO
BUSINESS PRACTICES OR WAYS YOU
HANDLE THINGS IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE SOMEBODY WITH A
DISABILITY.
SO, A CLEAR EXAMPLE WOULD BE I
HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY THAT
REQUIRES ME TO NOT WALK LONG
DISTANCES, I NEED A PARKING
SPOT CLOSER TO MY UNIT.
IT WOULD BE A REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATION REQUEST AND THE
LANDLORD IS REQUIRED TO ENGAGE
WITH YOU AND TO ATTEMPT TO
FACILITATE THAT.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING
THAT.
AS FAR AS A REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATION OR REQUEST, WHAT
I AM WORRYING ABOUT HIS AIR-
CONDITIONING AND SENIOR HOMES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IS THAT
REASONABLE AS TEMPERATURES GO
UP THIS SUMMER?
>> I JUST KNOW ELLIPSE
>> THAT IS A GOOD ONE.
>> SOME CITIES HAVE -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WE ARE SEEING
SPIKES IN THESE NUMBERS AND IT
PUTS DISABLED AND VULNERABLE AT
RISK THAT ARE RENTING WHEN THE
LANDLORDS THINK IT IS NOT
NEEDED.
IT PUTS LIVES AT RISK.
>> I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN THE COLD
WEATHER MONTHS, BECAUSE HEAT IS
LEGALLY REQUIRED.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT AIR-
CONDITIONING.
A DON'T THINK SO.
>> FIVE YEARS, NOT FIVE YEARS
AGO, BUT AS WE GO WITHIN THESE
NEXT FIVE, IT IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO CLIMB AND LIKE I
THINK THAT IS AT ALL
VULNERABLE, YOU SHOULD BE A
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
REQUEST THAT THEY CAN REQUEST.
>> ANYBODY WITH A DISABILITY
CAN --
>> RIGHT.
>> ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THAT
PARTICULAR --
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> RIGHT.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF
YOUR QUESTION WAS, REASONABLE
MODIFICATION REQUEST?
SO, THAT IS A PHYSICAL CHANGE
TO THE BUILDING OR TO THE
STRUCTURE AND LANDLORDS DO HAVE
TO ENTER INTO, ENGAGE TO SEE IF
THAT IS POSSIBLE. THE TENANT
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING
FOR THIS CHANGES THE LAND MAY
HAVE TO RESTORE THEM WHEN THEY
LEAVE UNLESS THEY RENT IN A
FEDERALLY FUNDED BUILDING, IN
WHICH CASE, I THINK THEY DO NOT
HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT
MODIFICATION.
SO ELLIPSE
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO SAY, I WANTED TO
ADD TO IT, LIKE IF YOU GUYS
COME TO OUR RENTERS COMMITTEE,
LIKE WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT --
SHE IS OF THEIR SO INTO
DISABILITY AND RENTERS RIGHTS,
SO IF YOU COME, LIKE THEY
PROBABLY HAVE INFORMATION,
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO INTO LIKE
THE LAWS AND HOW THEY
UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT PROCESSES
ARE IN PLACE, SO I WOULD PUT
THAT PLUG INTO COME TO THEIR
RENTERS COMMITTEE ON THE FIRST
MONDAY OF THE MONTH.
>> I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE
WORKED WITH A TENANT WITH THAT
EXACT ISSUE THAT THEY NEEDED
ACCOMMODATION TO HAVE A PARKING
SPACE CLOSER TO THEIR ENTRANCE
AND WE HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED
TENANTS WITH MODIFICATION, AND
THAT PROCESS AND HELP THEM TO
GAIN RESOURCES SO THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS AND HOW
TO DO THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU
KNOW, OUR STAFF CAN DO.
YOU CALL US UP AND OUR STAFF
CAN TAKE YOU THROUGH THAT
PROCESS, GIVE YOU INFORMATION
ABOUT IT AND SO FORTH.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS -- I CAN GIVE
YOU TAYLOR FARLEY, OUR PROGRAM
MANAGER, THERE ONE OF THE FOLKS
THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK
FOR A WHILE AND YOU CAN EMAIL
THEM AT ALLYSHIP OR GIVE US A
CALL AT 206-428-1986, AND ALL
OF THIS IS ON OUR WEBSITE, SO
PLEASE DO CALL US IF YOU WANT
JUST SOME SUPPORT AROUND ANY OF
THESE TENANT ISSUES, BUT WITH
THAT BEING SAID, I'M NOT GOING
TO GO OVER ALL OF THESE, BUT I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID
GO OVER JUST CAUSE EVICTION AND
BOTH DEVON AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
TALKED ABOUT THIS.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT WHERE AS FAR
AS A TENANT, IF IN SEATTLE
THERE ARE 18 REASONS THAT ARE
JUST CAUSE, FOR A LANDLORD TO
SAY THEY ARE GOING TO EVICT YOU
ESSENTIALLY.
THERE REASONS LIKE -- THERE
REASONS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO
SELLÃIF IT IS A HOUSE THEY'RE
GOING TO SELL THE HOUSE OR
REMODEL.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS,
AND THE LAW HAS TRADITIONALLY
BEEN JUST FOR FOLKS AND TENANTS
úWHO WORK MONTH TO MONTH
RENTERS, AND WHAT BOTH DEVON
AND COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT THEY
ACTUALLY ASKED BENDED THAT
PROTECTION TO KNOW PEOPLE WITH
LEASES SO ESSENTIALLY, ALL
TENANTS ARE NOW COVERED.
SO, REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE A
LEASE OR MONTH TO MONTH, YOU
ARE NOW PROTECT DID THAT YOU
CANNOT JUST BE RANDOMLY
AFFECTED.
AND THAT IS GREAT NEWS.
AND WE ARE REALLY, REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT WIN.
THE OTHER THING TO NOTE, PEOPLE
ARE NOT AWARE, THERE IS A
TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
ORDINANCE HERE IN SEATTLE.
IF, FOR SOME REASON, THE
GOVERNMENT, MEANING SEATTLE,
LIKE SHUTS DOWN YOUR BUILDING
OR IF IN FACT A INSPECTOR COMES
AND SAYS OH MY GOSH, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT SURE WHAT A TYPICAL
THING IS, BUT MAYBE LIKE THE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE
HORRIBLE, IT IS DANGEROUS.
WE NEED TO GET ALL THE TENANTS
OUT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, RIGHT?
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, YOU HAVE
TO APPLY, BUT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE OFFERS YOU AS A TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
YOU HAVE TO BE IN CONNECTION
WITH YOUR LANDLORD AROUND THIS.
UP TO $2000, OR YOU KNOW, I
THINK IT IS THREE TIMES YOUR
RENT, SO IT IS KIND OF A RANGE
OF THAT SO, FOR THOSE, IF FOLKS
THAT YOU KNOW WHO ARE TENANTS,
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW
THAT THEY HAVE THIS ACCESS
BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN
YOU MOVE, MOVE IN FEES, ALL THE
COSTS OF MOVING IS JUST LIKE --
IT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD AS FAR
AS EXPENSIVE, SO THIS IS
ACTUALLY A RIGHT THAT WE HAVE
AS FAR AS -- IN SEATTLE, AND
THAT IS EXCITING.
THE OTHER THING, I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNEW
ABOUT THE SOURCE OF INCOME
DISCRIMINATION AND WHAT THAT
ESSENTIALLY MEANS IS THAT, THAT
IS KIND OF THE RECENT WIN AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR NEXT SLIDE
IS, BUT WITHIN I THINK THE LAST
FIVE YEARS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS
THAT IF YOU HAVE HOUSING
VOUCHERS, SECTION 8, OH --
OKAY.
YEAH.
SO, THERE IS THE RELOCATION.
YES .3 TIMES THE RENT.
IF YOU WANTÃI THINK MAYBE TO
THE NEXT SLIDE, SOURCE OF
INCOME?
IT WAS IN 2018 THAT REGARDLESS
OF HOW YOU PAY YOUR RENT, MAYBE
YOU PAY YOUR RENT THROUGH
úALIMONY, MAYBE YOU PAY YOUR
RENT THROUGH YOU KNOW,
UNDOCUMENTED WAYS, IT DOES NOT
MATTER.
YOUR LANDLORD CANNOT
DISCRIMINATE BASED ON HOW YOU
GET YOUR RENT PAID AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE I CAN TELL
YOU WE HAD A TENANT UP IN
SNOHOMISH OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE
AND THE PERSONS ECONOMICS THAT
IS CHANGED AND THEY GOT ON --
THEY APPLIED FOR SECTION 8 AND
THEY RECEIVED IT AND THEY
LITERALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN
LIVING THERE FOR YEARS.
THERE LANDLORD SAID TO THEIR
FACE I AM NOT GOING TO RENT TO
YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE SECTION 8
HOUSING.
I DON'T WANT ANY SECTION 8
HOUSING FOLKS IN MY UNITS AND
THAT IS A LEGAL NOW.
IT WAS NOT AT THE TIME BUT NOW
THERE IS A STATEWIDE LAW.
IN SEATTLE THAT IS ILLEGAL.
NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
YOU CANNOT BE DISCRIMINATED
ACED ON THE TYPE OF WAY THAT
YOU PAY RENT.
SO, THAT IS ACTUALLY, FOLKS
STILL DON'T KNOW THAT.
I AM GOING TO -- ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT SOME OF THESE LAWS?
DID Y'ALL KNOW THIS?
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> I SAID I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE
ONE, BUT IT IS A HUGE WIN.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATION TIED
TO SOURCES OF INCOME THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY, I AM ON NATIONAL
CALLS ALL THE TIME WHERE PEOPLE
THINK THAT IS THE STATUS QUO
AND I'M LIKE HEY, WE SET
PRECEDENT, CHECK IT.
>> YEAH.
NOW TO STATEWIDE, SO YEAH.
THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON PEOPLE
ARE PROTECTED.
AND THIS HAPPENED LATE -- THIS
HAPPENED I THINK LAST YEAR.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH, OKAY.
I DO WANT TOÃI DON'T KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW THE TIME.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE?
>> I CAN GIVE YOU A TIME CHECK
OUT 6:20.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> OKAY, YES.
IS THERE A QUESTION?
>> SO, I HAVE ONE QUESTION THE
QUESTION IS THE INFORMATION SO
FAR HAS BEEN AMAZING.
IS THERE A RESOURCE SOMEWHERE
THAT I CAN LOOK AT AND GET THE
FULL LANDSCAPE OF WHY RIGHTS?
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS
COMPREHENSIVE, OR IS IT IN
DIFFERENT SPOTS?
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU
GO TO RENTED IN SEATTLE, WHICH
IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION, ON
THEIR WEBSITE, AT THE SEATTLE
WEBSITE.
THEY HAVE A PRETTY
COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT ALL OF
YOUR RIGHTS.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY JUST HAVE
A RECENT BOOKLET OUT SO I'M
EXCITED TO SEE THAT AS WELL.
>> PERFECT, THANK YOU.
>> THE ADDRESS FOR THAT WEBSITE
IS SEATTLE.GOV/RENTING IN
SEATTLE, ALL ONE WORD.
>> THEN, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP?
>> I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU
HAD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE
EVICTION RESOLUTION PILOT
PROGRAM.
>> YEAH, THAT IS PRETTY NEW AND
THAT IS A STATE-SPONSORED LAW
AND IT BASICALLY IS A TWO-YEAR
PROGRAM AND, SO THAT HAS JUST
COME OUT OF THE WASHINGTON
STATE LEGISLATION CHANGES TO
TENANT RIGHTS IN THE LAST FEW
MONTHS AND BASICALLY IT IS A
TWO-YEAR PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES
MANDATORY ARBITRATION OR
MEDIATION OF AN ISSUE IF IT IS
FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT BEFORE
YOU CAN PROCEED TO AN
ADDICTION.
THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
THIS IS ALL VERY NEW, AND OUR
HEADS ARE SPINNING AND WE ARE
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THAT IS
LIKE FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS,
BUT YEAH, THAT IS MY BEST
ANSWER TO THAT LIST.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS
ONLINE?
OH, OKAY.
WHAT I CAN SAY IN SEATTLE, IS
THAT LIKE AFTER JUNE 30, IF
THAT ACTUALLY IS NOT EXTENDED
TO THE REST OF THE YEAR, WHICH
IS IN FACT OUR , LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
SAID.
WE WANT TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM UNTIL THE END OF THE
YEAR WITH ALLYSHIP AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT, IN CASE THAT DOES NOT
HAPPEN, SEATTLE ACTUALLY
PSSED -- I'M NOT SURE IF IT
WAS AN ORDINANCE, BUT IT IS IN
EFFECT THAT TENANTS HAVE STILL
SIX MONTHS AFTER THE MORATORIUM
ENDS TO CREATE A PAYMENT PLAN
AND START PAIN BACK RENT IF
THEY ARE BEHIND IN RENT.
SO, FOR SEATTLE TENANTS THE
MORATORIUM DOES NOT MEAN AN
AUTOMATIC EVICTION.
YOU DO HAVE THE SIX-MONTH
PERIOD AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT
IT WAS A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION
STATEWIDE, SO THAT IS AWESOME.
I DO KNOW THAT ELLIPSE
>> THE PILOT PROGRAM -- OKAY.
>> SO, WHEN YOU SAY PILOT
PROGRAM, DOES THAT JUST MEAN
ELLIPSE
>> THERE ARE A FEW TENANTS YOU
GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT YOU MARK
>> I THINK THEY ARE TRYING IT
OUT.
THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE,
BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO, THEY DO NOT
WANT PEOPLE GETTING EVICTED FOR
BEING BEHIND ON ONE MONTHS
RENT, THAT FITS NOBODY.
SO, IF IT IS AN ISSUE OF
NONPAYMENT AND THE TENANT CAN
MAKE GOOD, YOU KNOW, IT COULD
BE AN INTERRUPTION IN INCOME OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT IS NOT
GOING TO BE PERMANENT, BECAUSE
LOTS OF US ARE LIVING PAYCHECK
TO PAYCHECK, IT CAN HAPPEN.
SO BASICALLY IT GIVES THOSE
TENANTS A CHANCE TO STAY HOUSED
AND NOT EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS
OR GET FURTHER INTO TROUBLE
FINANCIALLY.
>> THAT IS A HUGE WIN.
OKAY.
I KNOW THAT I ALSO --
STATEWIDE, WE NOW HAVE THE
RIGHT COUNCIL WHICH WILLÃ I
THINK THAT HAPPENED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, SO
THESE ARE LAWS THAT ARE COMING
UP AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT, MAYBE YOU ALREADY
KNOW, IS THAT YOU KNOW, A LAW
PASSES, RIGHT?
WHEN DOES IT GO INTO EFFECT?
SO, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT FROM THE MORATORIUM,
WHEN, IF SOMEONE DOES TRY TO
EVICT YOU, WITH THE RIGHT TO
COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL, BUT THEN
YOU CAN GO TO AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
AND YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO FREE
LEGAL COUNCIL TO PREVENT YOUR
EVICTION.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY GO, LIKE
-- [ LAUGHTER ]
>> SO ACTUALLY, THAT WAS PART
OF THE $1.7 MILLION THAT WE
INVESTED INTO THE TENANT
ADVOCACY COMMUNITY IS FUNDING
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL, AND MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FOLKS
WILL BE ASKED TO PROBABLY
CERTIFY THAT THEIR INCOME LEVEL
DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO RETAIN
AN ATTORNEY, BUT I'M NOT, I DO
NOT THINK IT IS THERE AND TO
SCREEN PEOPLE OUT I MEAN,
ATTORNEYS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE,
SO -- BUT, BASICALLY IT MEANS
THAT ANYONE WHO IS SUBJECT TO
AN EVICTION ACTION HAS THE
RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED, AND
YEAH.
THE CITY IS FUNDING THAT EFFORT
.
>> DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT GOES
INTO EFFECT?
>> THAT IS IN EFFECT NOW.
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
>> THE LAWS THAT CHANGED AT THE
STATE LEVEL, THEY WENT INTO
EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, YEAH.
SEE?
I MEAN, WE'VE AND ADVOCATED THE
RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNCIL AND
THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION,
SO THIS IS GREAT.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT ON A
STATEWIDE LEVEL, WE ALSO KNOW
THAT NOW, STATEWIDE, EVERYONE
HAS ACCESS TO JUST CAUSE.
THIS WAS A HUGE WIN IN THE 2021
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO SEATTLE HAS A GREAT, GREAT
PROTECTION, BUT NOW IT IS ALL
STATEWIDE AS WELL.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
NEXT SLIDE, WHOEVER IS DOING
THEM.
SO, WE WANTED -- ONE OF THE
THINGS WE ARE ALSO DOING IS
TRYING TO DEMYSTIFY EVICTION
COURT FOR FOLKS IN CASE THIS
HAPPENS.
AND I'M GOING TO, THIS IS NOT
MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT I'M
GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE ARE
NOTICING THAT PEOPLE ARE
GETTING DIFFERENT TYPES OF
EVICTION NOTICES AND THEY DO
NOT KNOW WHY.
SO, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE,
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, I THINK WHAT I WOULD REALLY
EMPHASIZE BECAUSE OF COVID, IS
THAT THE 14 DAY NOTICE WHICH IS
IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT,
AND THAT IS WHAT LATE RENT,
LATE UTILITIES AND SO FORTH, OR
EVEN LATE IN YOUR INSTALLMENT
PAYMENT PLAN, THAT THE LANDLORD
MIGHT, THAT IT WOULD BE A 14
DAY NOTICE AND YOU STILL HAVE
RIGHTS TO, NOW WE KNOW YOU
CANNOT BE EVICTED.
SOMETIMES EVEN LANDLORDS DON'T
KNOW THE LAW, SO THIS MIGHT
HAPPEN AND PARTICULARLY AROUND,
AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A 14 DAY
NOTICE AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
IF YOU DO GET THAT, CALL
ALLYSHIP AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
OR, CALL THE OFFICE OR SORRY,
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT TO
HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE LEGAL
SYSTEM, SO THAT YOU IMMEDIATELY
CONNECT WITH YOUR RIGHTS AROUND
IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO NOT BE EVICTED.
>> CAN I JUST ADD THAT IT'S --
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
RENTERS KNOW THAT WHEN THEY GET
THE FIRST NOTICE, THE 10 DAY OR
THE 14 DAY, OR THE THREE-DAY,
THAT RENTING IN SEATTLE
HELPLINE SHOULD BE THE FIRST
NUMBER THAT THEY CALL BECAUSE
WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY
OVER THOSE NOTICES, AND THERE
ARE ALL OF THESE TECHNICAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICES RIGHT
NOW.
THERE IS WIRED LANGUAGE THAT
NEEDS TO BE ON NOTICES AND IT
IS FAIRLY NEW REQUIREMENTS ARE
A LOT OF LANDLORDS DO NOT KNOW
ABOUT IT, SO IF YOU ARE, IF YOU
HAVE BEEN SERVED A NOTICE THAT
DOES NOT HAVE ALL OF THOSE
TECHNICAL CORRECTNESS TO IT,
THEN WE CAN REQUIRE IT TO BE
RESCINDED, AND SO USUALLY THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT IS THE
APPROPRIATE RESOURCE ONCE IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO BE
SERVED WITH AN EVICTION
SUMMONS, BUT WE WOULD BE THE
FIRST STOP FOR NOTICES.
>>> THE OTHER THING WORTH
NOTING IS THAT IF, YOU KNOW,
LIKE PAYMENT IS NOT AN ISSUE
BUT YOUR LANDLORD IS YOU KNOW,
SAYING SOMETHING LIKE WELL, IN
SEVEN DAYS AND BRING TO
RENOVATE MY PLACE SO SORRY, YOU
HAVE TO GO.
UNDER THE LAW YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE, THEY NEED TO TELL YOU AT
LEAST 20 DAYS.
IF THERE IS A JUST CAUSE FOR
THEM TO EVICT YOU.
SO, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE MORE
TIME.
NOT A LOT THERE.
I MEAN, THAT COULD BE EXTENDED,
BUT AT LEAST THAT IS THE
MINIMUM AND THAT IS NOW FOR ALL
TENANTS.
>> IF YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING --
>> THERE WAS, THERE WAS A
COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME
AND ONLINE.
I WANTED TO GET ON AND LET TY
KNOW, WHO IS ON WITH US
REMOTELY THAT THERE ARE A
COUPLE QUESTIONS.
I HAVE SENT THEM ON TO YOU.
>> YES, PERFECT.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS SECTION 8
VOUCHERS CAN BE USED AT
APARTMENTS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> PERFECT.
AND THE NEXT ONE IS, IN THE
RIGHT REPRESENTATION -- LEGAL
REPRESENTATION?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> IT IS THE STUFF ATTORNEYS AT
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT.
THEY WOULD REPRESENT FOR
HEARINGS AND THEN THEY ALSO
HAVE LEGAL CLERKS AND LEGAL
STAFF BUT HELP WITH OTHER
THINGS, BUT THEY WOULD DECIDE
WHAT WOULD BEST SERVE YOU IN
TERMS OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, AND THEN THE LAST
QUESTION RIGHT NOW, CAN I GET A
COPY OF THE PRESENTATION?
>> YEAH.
I WILL GIVE THIS -- I ACTUALLY
HAVE AN UPDATED VERSION WITH
RENTER RIGHTS VIDEOS THAT ARE
ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU AND
EVERYONE CAN HAVE THAT, SURE.
>> PERFECT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I THINK THERE WAS ONE
QUESTION THAT WAS SENT TO ME
THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT
LOOKS LIKE IT IS FROM A
LANDLORD.
IT SAYS I HAVE A RESIDENT WHO
IS NOT PAYING RENT BUT NEVER
LOST THEIR JOB.
HOW CAN I ESTABLISH A PAYMENT
PLAN WITH THEM?
>> THAT IS A GREAT SEGUE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT PAYMENT PLANS.
I THINK IF YOU KEEP GOING --
MAYBE THE NEXT SLIDE WHOEVER IS
DOING THAT.
YES.
SO, THIS IS ACTUALLY A GRAPHIC
THAT WE CREATED TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND LIKE WHAT
ARE SOME SIMPLE STEPS?
AND THIS IS BASED ON THE
SEATTLE LAW SO YOU CAN SEE
THESE ARE SOME, THIS IS THE
GUIDELINE ON HOW YOU CAN DO A
PAYMENT PLAN.
BUT HERE IS THE DEAL .4
LANDLORDS TOO, YOU CAN INITIATE
THE PAYMENT PLAN PROCESS EITHER
AS A LANDLORD OR AS A TENANT.
PLEASE DO IT IN AN EMAIL SO YOU
HAVE A RECORD, BUT I'M GOING TO
COME, IN THIS CASE, FROM A
TENANTS PERSPECTIVE.
YOU ARE NOT THE TENANT OR THE
LANDLORD I KEEP LOOKING AT YOU.
AND, THAT IS LIKE, LET'S SAY
THAT YOU ARE THREE MONTHS
BEHIND RENT BUT NOT UNEMPLOYED
AT ALL.
THERE IS NO INCOME COMING IN.
YOU AS A TENANT, WE ARE
RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE
INITIATE A DIALOGUE WITH THEIR
LANDLORD NOW THROUGH EMAIL.
YOU GET TO DECIDE WHAT IS RIGHT
FOR YOU.
SO, THAT MEANS IF YOU ARE
PAYING FIVE DOLLARS EVERY TWO
WEEKS, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE
INITIATING.
NOW, THE LANDLORD CAN COME BACK
AND SAY YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT 10?
LIKE, YOU CAN GO BACK AND
FORTH.
THAT IS NOT A VIOLATION, BUT IT
DOES NEED TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR
INCOME LEVEL AND WHAT THAT IS.
SO IF THAT IS FIVE DOLLARS A
MONTH BUT IT IS AN ATTEMPT AND
THEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW LONG IT
IS GOING TO GET TO TAKE CARE OF
YOUR BACKGROUND AND CURRENT
RENT AND THEN WE WILL HELP YOU
GET THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO YOU CAN GET HELP RIGHT AWAY
AND GET YOUR BACK RENT TAKEN
CARE OF.
BUT, WHAT WE ARE ASKING AND
WHAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS
TO DO IS TO INITIATE, AND THE
LANDLORD CAN DO IT TOO,
INITIALLY THAT PROCESS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE SAMPLES, EVEN
EMAIL SAMPLES BUT -- GO AHEAD.
>> IS IT OKAY IF I ANSWERED THE
QUESTION THAT THE LANDLORD ASK?
I DO NOT THINK WE ADDRESSED THE
LANDLORDS PARTICULAR QUESTION.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, I SHOULD SAY
THAT THE STATE JUST PAST
ELLIPSE
>> OH, IF YOU DON'T MIND
STANDING UP.
>> SO, FIRST OF ALL, THE STATE
JUST RECENTLY PASSED ITS OWN
PAYMENT PLAN LEGISLATION.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
THAN THE ONE THE SEATTLE PASSED
LAST YEAR AND SO WE WILL HAVE
TO DO SOME WORK ON HARMONIZING
THAT ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER
NEW LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED
AT THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT, ONE KEY THING ABOUT THE
STATE PAYMENT PLAN IS THAT IT
DOES SPECIFY THE PLAN HAS TO BE
REASONABLE BASED ON THE
TENANT'S SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES
IN THE CITY PAYMENT PLAN
LANGUAGE, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT
CURRENTLY, SO THIS ONE THING.
FOR THE LANDLORD, THE LAW
REQUIRES THE TENANTS TO PAY
RENT.
BUT HAS NOT CHANGED.
AND IF YOUR TENANT REFUSES TO
ENTER INTO A PAYMENT PLAN, YOU
MIGHT HAVE REASON TO FILE AN
EVICTION ACCORDING TO THE LAW
ONCE THE MORATORIUM IS OVER.
AND THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
CENTER WOULD BE A FIRST STEP
AND SEE IF YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH
YOUR TENANT AND TRY TO GET ON
THE SAME PAGE WITH REGARD TO
PAYING THE RENT.
>> FROM A TENANTS PERSPECTIVE,
WE ARE REALLY ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO INITIATE THAT
LANDLORD TO BE ABLE TO EVICT
YOU.
SO, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE
DOING A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH.
WE ARE GIVING PEOPLE RESOURCES
ON WHAT A PLAN LOOKS LIKE, AND
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING, THE
NEXT SLIDE.
BUT THEN ALSO GIVING PEOPLE
ACCESS TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO THIS IS A SAMPLE LETTER OR
EMAIL THAT YOU CAN CUT AND
PASTE TO GIVE TO YOUR LANDLORD.
AND TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO START
NEGOTIATING THAT.
AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO GIVE
THIS TO YOU SO YOU WILL HAVE
THIS.
IF YOU CAN DO THE NEXT SLIDE,
HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT
YOU CAN DO AS FAR AS INITIATING
AN EMAIL WITH YOUR LANDLORD
AROUND A PAYMENT PLAN.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY AS
FAR AS RENTAL ASSISTANCE, IS
THERE IS, AND WE CAN PROVIDE
THAT, THAT LINK, BUT IT IS ON
THE KING COUNTY WEBSITE ABOUT
HOW TO APPLY FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND WHAT YOU SHOULD
ALSO KNOW IS THAT YOUR LANDLORD
CAN APPLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE
AND THE HOPE IS THAT YOUR
LANDLORD WILL TELL YOU THAT
THEY HAVE APPLIED, SO YOU CAN
APPLY OR YOUR LANDLORD.
YOU WILL NOT GET DOUBLE RENT,
BUT ONE OF YOU WILL THEN
HOPEFULLY BE ACCEPTED SO THAT
úYOU ALL CAN BE CAUGHT UP IN
YOUR RENT AND SO THAT LINK AND
THAT MONEY IS OPEN AND
AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.
WE ARE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THE
LINK AND MAKE SURE YOUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE THAT LINK
RIGHT NOW.
ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR AROUND
THIS?
>> ONE ONLINE FROM A LANDLORD
ASKING CAN I EVICT RESIDENTS
FROM A GARAGE BECAUSE THE CITY
OF SEATTLE WANTS TO MOVE THE
GARAGE CANS IN FRONT OF THE
GARAGE?
>> I WOULD SUGGEST CALLING THE
WRENCHING IN SEATTLE HELPLINE
AND GETTING SOME ADVICE
DIRECTLY FROM THE DEPARTMENT
ABOUT YOUR RENTAL GARAGE.
BECAUSE, WE DO NOT ALLOW
RENTERS TO LIVE IN GARAGES.
SO, MAYBE IT IS A CONVERTED
GARAGE OR A DUAL ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNIT OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT BUT IT WOULD BE ALARMING
FOR US TO FIND OUT SOMEBODY IS
PAYING RENT TO LIVE IN A
GARAGE.
BUT I WOULD CALL THE HELPLINE
AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE
YOU TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
>> I DID SEE ANOTHER MESSAGE
FROM THAT SAME LANDLORD BUT
SAID IF THEY DO NOT LIVE IN THE
GARAGE, THEY RENTED FOR THEIR
CAR.
>> OH, OKAY.
WELL, THAT IS A RELIEF.
THAT IS DIFFERENT.
SO, I STILL, I AM NOT QUITE
SURE WHAT THE QUESTION IS.
IS IT THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE
WHERE THE PARK?
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE
QUESTION IS, BUT I WOULD
SUGGEST YOU CALL THE HELPLINE.
THEY ARE THERE TO HELP
LANDLORDS WITH TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS RENTERS.
>> IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE, WE WILL PAUSE.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ASKING
QUESTIONS, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT LIKE AFTER THE
MORATORIUM ENDS, WHAT YOU CAN
DO?
>> DO PEOPLE FEEL PRETTY
CONFIDENT LIKE I KNOW WHAT TO
DO I KNOW WHAT I CAN TELL MY --
AWESOME.
I'M GLAD YOU ARE SO CONFIDENT,
I LOVE THIS.
OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING
TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH
YOU DEFINITELY PERTINENT
RESOURCES FOR YOU ALL.
WE RECOMMEND ALLYSHIP BUT WE
ALSO RECOMMEND Q LAW
FOUNDATION.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING RENTER
RIGHTS TRAININGS AS WELL AND WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AND
PARTNERING.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS BUT ARE
IN PLACES LIKE THE EXECUTIVE
HOTEL AND STUFF BY SOME OF THE
MOVABLES?
>> WOULD YOU -- I CANNOT HOLD
BACK.
OKAY.
WHAT I RECOMMEND THEY GO TO
YOU?
OR, IS THERE SOMEWHERE ELSE
THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE
BEING BULLIED BECAUSE OF --
THEY ARE TOO SPIRITED, OR WHO
DOES IT FOR THE HOMELESS
SHELTER, YOU KNOW, THOSE
PROGRAMS WHEN PEOPLE ARE HARMED
BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER
IDENTITY.
>> YES, THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY
COME TO US, AND WE WILL GET
THEM RESOURCES.
WE KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WE
WILL TELL THEM ABOUT THE LAW
AND THEN ALSO COACH, ASSIST,
SUPPORT IN THE NEXT STEPS.
>> AND MAYBE MAKE A REFERRAL TO
THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
BECAUSE THEY CAN INVESTIGATE
SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE
BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
>> AND THAT IS, I THINKÃMAYBE
NOT.
USUALLY THAT IS ONE OF THE
RESOURCES, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY
MENTIONED THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT FOR WHICH AGAIN, IT HAS
GOTTEN FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE
RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNCIL FOR
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND THE
LAVENDER RIGHTS PROJECT IS FOR
THE SOUTH BUT I KNOW THEY ALSO,
THE LBGTQ+ ORGANIZATION IS ALSO
DOING TENANT LAW AND
PROTECTION AND INFORMATION AND
THEN THERE IS, WE WORK WITH
TENANTS AND OTHER SOLID GROUND.
SO, THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR YOU
ALL TO KNOW ABOUT.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO
TALK, BUT ELLIPSE
>> NO, I AM JUSTÃ
>> OKAY.
IF YOU COULD KEEP GOING?
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OR RESOURCES FOR YOU ALL.
ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO, THIS
IS SOMETHING WE FOUND OUT BY
ONE OF OUR RENTER RIGHTS
COMMITTEE PEOPLE, IS THAT THERE
IS AN EVICTION COMPLAINT FORM
LINK AND YOU CAN, IF YOU ARE
GETTING HARASSED BY A LANDLORD
WITH EVICTION AND IT IS
HAPPENING, THE SUM OF THE
RESOURCE THAT YOU CAN GO TO AND
LINK ON AND ACTUALLY FILE AS
WELL.
WE FOUND THAT OUT AND ARE
TELLING FOLKS AND THEN, A LOT
OF THESE RESOURCES WE HAVE
ALREADY MENTIONED, AND THEN YOU
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE,
AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE.
SO, THIS IS SOMETHING I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT AS WELL, NOT
KNOWING HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE,
BUT WHAT I APPRECIATE IS THAT,
FOR EXAMPLE, DEVIN SILVERNAIL
WAS TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN LAWS
THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING
BECAUSE OF TENANT ORGANIZING.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS A COALITION
CALLED THE STATE HOUSE, STAY
HEALTHY.
IT IS ALMOST 50 DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
COMING TOGETHER.
WE ARE ORGANIZING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE EXPANSION
OF THE JUST CAUSE, LIKE WE JUST
TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THE,
WHAT I AM CALLING THE DEFENSE
TO EVICTION.
AND DEVON TALKED ABOUT THAT AS
WELL.
ESSENTIALLY, THAT IS IN THE LAW
THAT JUST PAST.
WE WILL GET TO KNOW MORE OF THE
DETAILS, BUT WHAT IT MEANS IS
THAT IF YOU CANNOT PAY YOUR
RENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED BY COVID, THAT IN AND
OF ITSELF IS LEGAL DEFENSE FOR
YOU NOT TO BE EVICTED.
SO, THAT IS HUGE.
THAT IS A HUGE WIN THAT PEOPLE
HAVE AND NOW YOU HAVE A RIGHT
TO THAT.
>> DEVILS ADVOCATE, WHAT IF IT
IS A PERSON IN A TINY HOME
VILLAGE, ARE THEY NOT
CONSIDERED RENTERS?
IF THE ORGANIZATION SAYS YOU
NEED TO LEAVE FOR WHATEVER, DO
THEY GO THROUGH THE EVICTION
PROCESS, OR ARE THEY SUBJECT TO
A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION FOR
THEIR HOUSING?
>> DO THEY PAY RENT?
>> OKAY, SO THAT IS WHAT IT IS,
IS THIS, SO IF IT IS AN
ORGANIZATION WHERE A PERSON'S
PAIN TO THE OTHER ONE, NOT JUST
RESIDING.
>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> THE REASON I'M WONDERING IS
BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL RESIDING
AND THE PLACE.
THEY ARE STILL A TENANT OF THAT
BUILDING, SO WHAT I'M ASKING I
GUESS IS, ARE THEY UNDER THE
SAME PROTECTION THAT A RENTER
WOULD BE, AND IF SO, THEN ARE
THEY THEN NOT SUBJECT TO SHARE
OR DO THEY GO THROUGH THE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
>> SO, THE DEFINITION OF RENTER
HAS BEEN EXPANDED BY THE STATE
LEGISLATION RECENTLY.
THERE ARE INCREASED PROTECTIONS
FOR PEOPLE UNDER THESE NEW
DEFINITIONS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE
TRADITIONALLY BEEN CONSIDERED
TENANTS INCLUDING PEOPLE IN
CAMPING SITES AND MOBILE HOME
PARKS, AND THERE IS A NEW
PROTECTION FOR TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING FOR WHICH WOULD BE MORE
LIKE A PROGRAM.
IT IS NOT JUST HOUSING, IT IS
HOUSING PLUS SERVICES.
I THINK THAT IS A 30 DAY NOTICE
FOR WIRED NOW AND WHERE IS
PROTECTION FOR FOLKS WHO STAY
IN MOTELS OR HOTELS FOR 30
CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR LONGER.
IT DEPENDS, IT DEPENDS ON IF
THEY MEET THE DEFINITION OF
RENTER.
MY POINT WAS THAT HAS RECENTLY
BEEN EXPANDED.
AGAIN, IT IS SO NEW THAT
TIMEOUT AS FLUENT AS I WOULD
LIKE TO BE, BUT I JUST
MENTIONED THE ONES, THE MAIN
ONES THAT I COULD JUST REMEMBER
THEIR.
SO, SOMETIMES IF SOMEBODY IS
NOT SURE THEY ARE A RENTER,
THEY SHOULD CALL US AND WE CAN
TRY TO SEE IF THEY MEET THE
DEFINITION, AND IF THERE ARE
RENTER PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE
FOR THEM, YEAH.
BECAUSE, IT IS NOT ALWAYS I
MEAN, THIS IS SORT OF A
TANGENT.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS -- MONEY IS
NOT ALWAYS THE THING THAT
ESTABLISHES WHETHER THERE IS
THE RENTAL AGREEMENT.
IT CAN BE MORE COMPETENT TO
THEM THAT, BUT TYPICALLY IT IS
ABOUT TIME PAYING YOU IN ORDER
TO PUT THIS, TO HAVE THIS ROOF
OVER MY HEAD.
YEAH.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION ONLINE
FROM TRACY SMITH.
I'M GOING TO COMMUTE TRACY
RIGHT NOW.
>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I AM A RENTER AND I WAS A
PARENT EDUCATOR LAST YEAR.
MY SON WAS NOT CONNECTED TO
EDUCATION BY ENDED UP HAVING TO
SIGN SO I COULD TAKE CARE OF
HIS EDUCATION AT HOME.
I WENT THROUGH MY SAVINGS AND
IN DECEMBER, THAT IS WHEN WE
BECAME BEHIND IN RENT.
LAST MONTH WE WERE TOLD BY OUR
LANDLORD, WHICH IS, THEY ARE
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE WERE
TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE
FILING ON BEHALF OF THE -- I
HAVE BEEN SETTING ALERTS SO I
KNOW WHEN IT OPENS AND WHEN I
NOTICED IT WAS OPENING FOR
RENTERS I REACHED BACK OUT TO
MY LANDLORD AND THEY TOLD US
THEY WOULD NOT FILE ON BEHALF
OF THE RENTERS.
MY SON HAS AUTISM AND HE WAS,
HE DID NOT GRADUATE, SO HE HAD
TO DROP OUT AND TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT I SHOULD DO.
I'M JUST VERY NERVOUS THAT THIS
IS JUST AN ADDITIONAL í AND
NOBODY IS HOPING.
>> I ASSUME YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
>> YES.
>> SO, YOU -- THE MAIN PORTAL
IS ON THE SITE OF KING COUNTY
GOVERNMENT AND I CAN DEFINITELY
GET THAT TO YOU, BUT PORTAL,
AND YOU CAN APPLY FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE YOURSELF.
I ELLIPSE
>> I -- WE WERE ON THE IMPACT
LIST TO DISCOVER.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO
OTHER TIMES WHEN IT OPENED IN
MARCH BUT THEN IT CLOSED BACK
DOWN.
WE ARE ALREADY ON THE LIST
RIGHT NOW.
>> I HAVE NO CONFIRMATION.
>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE
MEANTIME TO CALL OUR HELP LINE
AT 206-684-5700, AND TALK TO
SOMEBODY ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS
UNDER THE MORATORIUM.
I SHOULD ASK, ARE YOU IN
SEATTLE?
ARE THEY GONE?
OKAY.
>> WE ARE IN REDMOND.
>> OKAY, YEAH.
WELL, I WOULD REACH OUT BECAUSE
THERE ARE INCREASED PROTECTIONS
UNDER THE STATE LAWS SO I WOULD
REACH OUT AND GET SOME ADVICE
AND RESOURCES IN THE REDMOND
AREA.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT IS WHAT -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
IN KING COUNTY AND SO YOU COULD
GO TO THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.
>> OR CALL THE TENANTS UNION.
>> YEAH.
SO, JUST GET INFORMED ABOUT
YOUR PROTECTIONS UNDER THE
MORATORIUM AND THEN -- THESE
NEW LAWS THAT ARE COMING THAT
THE STATE HAS PASSED, BUT GIVE
POST MORATORIUM PROTECTIONS,
JUST GET INFORMED.
>> WHAT I WOULD ALSO DO WHICH
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS
INITIATE A PAYMENT PLAN, EVEN
YOU KNOW, START INITIATING IT
NOW.
SO THAT YOU ARE PROTECTING YOUR
RIGHT AND NOT GIVING THE BACK
RENT OR LANDLORD ANY TYPE OF
PRECEDENTS TO START AND
EVICTION PROCESS AFTER THE
EVICTION PROCESS ENDS.
IF IT ENDS JUNE 30 AND YOU
STILL YEAH, BECAUSE THEN IN
REDMOND, YOU IN SOME WAYS, YOU
HAVE A LOT OF WAYS, YOU HAVE
LESS PROTECTION TO START THAT
PROCESS NOW.
AND IT IS OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE
AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE
FLEXIBILITY AND WHAT THAT
PAYMENT PLAN COULD LOOK LIKE
WITH SOME OF THE STANDARDS THAT
SEATTLE HAS.
HOPEFULLY BECAUSE THE STATEWIDE
PAYMENT PLAN STANDARD IS
ACTUALLY BETTER FOR RENTERS.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL SET THE
PRECEDENT.
>> I WAS GOING TO ADD TO THAT,
IS IT BETTER AND NUMBERS?
I KNOW YOU ARE SAYING YOU ARE
IN REDMOND BUT ARE THERE OTHER
PEOPLE BUT YOU KNOW IN THE SAME
SITUATION TO LIKE COMMIT TO A
COMMITTEE OR RENTER RIGHTS
SOMETHING.
IT COULD HELP YOU OUT AND THEN
GO INTO YOUR CITY OFFICIALS
LIKE THEY ARE THERE.
LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN,
LIKE ADVOCATE.
MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO
ADVOCATE FOR YOU.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE REALLY
HARSH, BUT THESE DAYS YOU HAVE
TO FIGURE OUT HOW AND WHO CAN
GET YOU IN A PLACE WHERE YOU
NEED TO BE IN TWO, BECAUSE
AGAIN, MOST PEOPLE, THEY ONLY
KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR
JURISDICTION AND AT THE SAME
TIME YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY
RALLY PEOPLE AROUND HERE,
BECAUSE IT IS BETTER AND
NUMBERS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
KNOW THAT AND IF YOU COME TO
ONE OF OUR MEETINGS, IT IS
ONLINE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
OR YEAH, AND WE COULD PROBABLY
GET YOU STARTED SOMEWHERE.
SO, YEAH.
I WANTED TO LIKE GIVE YOU THAT
INFORMATION.
>> YEAH, IT WAS MAKING ME THINK
ABOUT THE ORGANIZING RESPONSES.
>> SAY IT AGAIN?
>> I WAS JUST SAYING THAT WE
ARE GOING TO SHARE NANCY'S
EMAIL WITH THE GROUP SO THEY
CAN [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> I DO WANT TO MAKE A
DISTINCTION, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THE LAW, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS, BUT THEN
THERE IS ORGANIZING RESPONSE
AND THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND
VALID AND WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO
ENCOURAGE THAT TOO.
YEAH.
OKAY, BECAUSE THERE ARE GAPS IN
THE LAW, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL
FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT
ANQUIDA ADAMS SAID.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO
CLOSE, I DO WANT TO MENTION
TWO THINGS, ONE, KNOW THAT
THERE IS A LAW THAT SOME CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TRIED TO
MOVE FORWARD AND THAT IS
ELIMINATING SCREENINGS AS LIKE
A CREDIT SCORE SCREENING AS
PART OF THE SCREENING PROCESS
FOR TENANTS, THE REASON WHY WE
ARE SUPPORTING THAT IS BECAUSE
THERE ARE ECONOMIC AND JUSTICE
ISSUES PARTICULARLY FOR FOLKS
OF COLOR, FOR FOLKS THAT ARE
LIVING WITH DISABILITIES THAT
HAVE LOWER CREDIT SCORES AND
THEY ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BECAUSE OF THAT.
WE DO NOT THINK IS A GOOD
CRITERIA FOR A LANDLORD TO BE
ABLE TO USE TO POSSIBLY SCREEN
OUT AND THAT IS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION BUT HAS NOT PASSED,
BUT WE ARE SUPPORTING AND ALSO,
WE WOULD SUPPORT LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD INCREASE THE TIME
THAT TENANTS HAVE UP TO MAYBE
SIX MONTHS, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT SAID, THAT
LANDLORDS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A
SIX-MONTH NOTIFICATION BEFORE
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INCREASE
THAT TIMEFRAME.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT, WE HAVE
DEFINITELY WORKED WITH TENANTS
WHERE THEY HAVE LITERALLY HAD
THEIR, THEY HAD THEIR RENT
INCREASED BY 200.
AND THEY HAD TO LEAVE.
I MEAN, THAT IS PRETTY
ASTRONOMICAL, BUT IT DOES
HAPPEN, SO WE DO NEED THAT KIND
OF RENT OR HEIGHT REGULATION.
AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE
THAT THERE IS A TENANTS RIGHTS
PACKAGE THAT WE ARE HELPING TO
MOVE FORWARD IN KING COUNTY.
THAT IS IN ANY UNINCORPORATED
AREAS IN KING COUNTY.
IF YOU HAVE COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS WITH FOLKS, THEY
OFTEN DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF
RIGHTS IN UNINCORPORATED AND SO
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS
AND THEN GO TO YOU, GO AHEAD,
YEAH.
>> WAS GOING TO SAY, I JUST
HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE IN
RENTON AND DURING THIS TIME,
BUT A FRIEND WHERE HE'S AND
RENTON AND RENTON JUST GOT
RAISED COMING UP IN JULY,
SELECT, YOU KNOW, IT IS A
PANDEMIC.
AND WRIST LIKE $200, SO LIKE
WHAT HE WAS SAYING, LIKE WHAT
-- WHAT CANÃYOU KNOW, WHERE
IS THE HELP?
IN WHAT I MEAN?
LIKE, THAT IS LIKE A GREAT
DUSTIN, LIKE HE IS NOT IN
SEATTLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT
I KNOW DO NOT LIVE IN SEATTLE
ANYMORE.
AND PEOPLE, LIKE LANDLORDS ARE
JUST HAVING THEIR WAY.
YEAH.
>> SO, I KNOW ELLIPSE
>> NO HOPE FOR THEM PRETTY MUCH
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
HE DOES NOT LIVE IN SEATTLE,
WHO LIVES IN RENTON AND HIS
RENT HAS GONE UP.
AND COMING UP IN JULY, HE HAS
TO PAY LIKE AN EXTRA 200 ON TOP
OF WHAT HE IS PAYING RIGHT NOW
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE RAISING THE
RENT, SO IT IS LIKEÃI FEEL
LIKE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF HELP
FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE
IS ALL THAT I'M SAYING.
>> YEAH, YOU ARE RIGHT.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE
JURISDICTION OF RENTON, WHICH
WE DO WORK A LITTLE BIT WITH.
I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A
STATEWIDE LAW THAT PEOPLE HAVE
TRIED TO ADVOCATE FOR, THAT
THERE IS A LIMITATION OF HOW,
LIKE YOU CAN ONLY RAISE THE
RENT 10% FOR EXAMPLE.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
LAW HAS PASSED AND THEY DON'T
THINK IT IS, BUT I WILL GO TO
YOU, DO YOU KNOW IF THE LAW
PASSED JUST RECENTLY
ELIMINATING ARE KIND OF
LIMITING THE RENT HIKE ?
>> NO, THAT IS CONSIDERED RENT
CONTROL, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY
CONSTITUTIONALLY BAND AT THE
STATE LEVEL.
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT NOBODY IS
-- NOBODY'S RENT CAN BE RAISED
AFTER THE MORATORIUM BUT WHAT
IS HAPPENING WITH YOUR FRIEND
IS THAT BECAUSE THE STATE
MORATORIUM EXPIRES ON JUNE 30
AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL EXPIRE
ON THIS DATE WHEN WE ARE NOT
SURE WHAT DATE THE MORATORIUM
WILL BE AT ABOUT THE LANDLORD
PROBABLY GAVE HIM A NOTICE LAST
MONTH AND IS TIMING THE 60 DAYS
THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE
NOTICE WITH 1 JULY, WHICH IS
WHEN THE MORATORIUM --
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> IF YOU LIKE IT ELSE'S LIKE
YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW TO GET
HOLLIS HOPE FOR -- ARE YOU
GIVING PEOPLE HELP?
AND IT IS LIKE, DOES NOT FEEL
RIGHT I GUESS.
>> WELL, IT IS CHANGING THERE.
IT HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CHANGES
AT THE STATE LEVEL, ESPECIALLY
THE JUST CAUSE APPLIES
EVERYWHERE MEANING A LANDLORD
CANNOT JUST TELL YOU TO LEAVE,
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PROPER JUST
CAUSE REASON AND THAT REALLY IS
THE BIGGEST WIN OF ALL FOR
EVERYBODY.
>> I WANTED TO REITERATE, LIKE
ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO START MOBILIZING WITHIN
THE SPACES, BECAUSE IF YOU DO
NOT GET THE ANSWER THAT YOU
WANT, OR THAT YOU THINK THAT
YOU DESERVE, YOU CANNOT JUST
SAY OKAY, I GIVE UP AND YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO SAY WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN
NUMBERS AND --
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> OKAY.
SO, IF YOU CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE
TO CONNECT WITH SOME OF THE
ACTUAL LBGTQ+, THE RENTERS
RIGHTS AND THE GROUP THAT YOU
HAVE DOWN THERE, ERIC?
>> WE HAVE A SOUTH KING COUNTY
HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT IS
ACTIVE IN KENT AND RENTON,
FEDERAL WAY, AND A LITTLE BIT
AND AUBURN, SEATAC.
YEAH.
>> ANYWAY YOU CAN GIVE THAT
INFORMATION SO THAT THEY WILL
KNOW LIKE FOR THE ELLIPSE
>> YOU CAN GET IT FOR [
INDISCERNIBLE ].
>> YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND
DEBBIE@TRAN29.ORG.
OR THE INFO, YEAH.
YEAH.
SO, WE ARE WORKING WITH CITIES
TO INCREASE, LIKE CITY BY CITY
TO WITHIN KING COUNTY TO
INCREASE RENTER PROTECTION AND
ALSO BUT WHAT I WAS TALKING
ABOUT WITH KING COUNTY AND
UNINCORPORATED IS THAT THOSE
PLACES ARE OFTEN THE MOST
VULNERABLE LIKE WHITE CENTER
FOR EXAMPLE, BUT WHAT IS
EXCITING THAT IS HAPPENING,
THERE IS A TENANT PACKAGE.
ONE THING I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS
THAT PART OF THE TENANT PACKAGE
IS THAT YOU, THAT LANDLORDS
HAVE TO GIVE A FOUR-MONTH
NOTICE BEFORE THEY RAISE RENT,
SO IT DOES GIVE A TENANT SOME
TIME AND ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT --
LANDLORDS CANNOT CHECK SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBERS.
SO THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR
IMMIGRANTS AND UNDOCUMENTED
FOLKS AND THAT IS EXCITING
PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND THEN
ALSO ANOTHER THING FOR SENIORS
OR PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES,
THAT LIKE LET'S SAY YOU'RE ON A
FIXED INCOME BUT YOU DON'T GET
PAID UNTIL THE 10th OF EVERY
MONTH.
WELL, RENT IS DUE ON THE FIRST.
ACTUALLY, THIS LAW WOULD ENSURE
THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH YOUR
LANDLORD WHEN RENT IS DUE ON
THE 10th SO YOU ARE NEVER LATE
AND NOT STRESSED.
SO, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION FOR FOLKS ON
FIXED INCOMES.
SO, THERE ARE SEVERAL GREAT
TENANT LAWS THAT WE HOPE WILL
PASS AND BRING STRONGER
PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS AND
UNINCORPORATED KING COUNTY.
BUT THIS ALL COMES FROM
ORGANIZING.
JUST TO KIND OF STRESS ANQUIDA
ADAMS'S POINT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK
THAT I'M DONE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY MORE
SLIDES.
WANTED TO END ON AN ORGANIZING
NOTE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.
THIS WAS A TOTAL HONOR.
THANK YOU FOR CO-PRESENTING
REALLY.
THIS WAS A TOTAL HONOR TO BE
HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> DEBBIE, THAT WAS FANTASTIC
AND YOUR CO-LEAD, THANK YOU.
I DO WANT TO SAY WE WANT TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO JOINED
ONLINE.
THANK YOU, TODD, FOR BEING OUR
VOICE FROM ABOVE OR AROUND.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME
GREAT RESOURCES SHARED ON THE
BLOG THAT WAS ON THE WEBSITE
AHEAD OF TIME.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO FOR
FOLKS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON
ONLINE AND WHO MAY WATCH THE
FORMAT AT A LATER POINT.
WE PLAN TO UPDATE THAT WITH A
NEW BLOG POST, SO AGAIN, JUST
VISIT THE SEATTLE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS WEBSITE.
WE ALSO PLAN TO HAVE ALL THE
VARIOUS COMMISSIONS SURE THAT
OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS THE
GENTLEMAN WHO IS LOOKING FOR
RESOURCES IN SOUTH KING COUNTY
WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THOSE
AS WELL.
SO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR
JOINING US, AND I THINK THAT IS
A WRAP.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING, WE
HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND
FIGURE IT OUT IN OUR PODS OR IN
OUR CITIES, HOW DO WE,
LITERALLY GO OUT AND BE
ADVOCATES FOR OURSELVES?
AND, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE
IN, SO YES, WE JUST WANTED TO
AND ON THAT NOTE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]