>> WE ARE READY WHEN YOU ARE.
>> READY.
ú>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RENTERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MAY 12,
2021 AND THE TIME IS 2:00 P.M.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT
AND WILL THE CLERK CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS.
IN TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING BILLS TO
CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE
FROM THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
NOTICE FROM THE CITY AND A BILL
TO BAN SCHOOL EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS.
AS WITH OUR LAST MEETING ON
APRIL 27th, TODAY IS A
úDISCUSSION ONLY WITH THE SET O
GREAT COMMUNALLY ANALYST A
GIVEN TIME AND MANY OF THEM
DURING THE WORK DAY TO SPEAK TO
US AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE ON MAY 25th
AND HOPING WE CAN TAKE UP
AMENDMENTS AND VOTE ON THE
BILLS . WE HAVE TWO JUST CAUSE
BUILD BEFORE THE COMMITTEE HAS
MEMBERS KNOW AND ONE THAT MY
OFFICE INTRODUCED ANOTHER
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WHICH WE ARE
COSPONSORING AND THE TWO JUST
CAUSE BILLS AIM TO CLOSE THE
CURRENT LOOPHOLE THAT LANDLORDS
HAVE EXPLOITED ALTHOUGH THEY
TAKE A DIFFERENT LEGAL APPROACH
AND AS WE GO THROUGH DISCUSSION
TODAY AND BEYOND AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS IN THIS
COMMITTEE AND ON CITY COUNCIL
TO PASS THE BILL, THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE BILL THAT CLOSES THE
LOOPHOLE WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
THIS IS WHAT RENTERS URGENTLY
NEED AND THAT IS OUR GOAL.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO WITNESS
WE NEED RENTERS TO GET
ORGANIZED.
AFTER WE HEAR FROM OUR
COMMUNITY PANEL WHICH IS OUR
FIRST AGENDA ITEM, I SHALL HAVE
STAFF PRESENTING ON TWO JUST
CAUSE BILLS AND GIVEN
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES PUT
FORWARD ONE OF THE BILLS I
INVITE HER TO GIVE HER OPENING
REMARKS BEFORE THE PRESENTATION
IN AGENDA ITEM 2. WE MEET TODAY
JUST 50 DAYS, LESS THAN TWO
MONTHS FROM THE END OF THE
CURRENT CITY AND STATE
MORATORIUMS ON EVICTIONS.
AS YOU ALTHOUGH THE MAYORS
MORATORIUM DECLARATION ENDS ON
JUNE 30th AND LAST MONTH
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN
THE STATE LEGISLATOR DIRECTED
THAT THE STATE MORATORIUM AND
ON JUNE 30th AS WELL.
THERE IS NO QUESTION WE HOPE
OUR MOVEMENT CAN PRESSURE MAYOR
DURKAN TO EXTEND THE CURRENT
MORATORIUM BE ON JUNE 30th, BUT
THAT TASK HAS BECOME MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT WITH THE STATE
LEGISLATURE ACTION. IT IS
EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE BUT THIS
IS WHAT THE STATE AND POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT HAS DONE.
UNLESS MAYOR DURKAN AND
GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE ACT TO
EXTEND THESE MORATORIUMS THEN
ON JULY 1st, THOUSAND OF
SEATTLE RENTERS AND 150,000
RENTERS THROUGHOU WASHINGTON
STATE WHO ARE BEHIND ON RENT
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU WILL BE IN GREATER
JEOPARDY THAN THEY ARE ALREADY
OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING.
THIS IS WHY IT IS URGENT THAT
WE ACT TO PASS NOT ONLY THE
CLOSING OF THE LOOPHOLE IN THE
JUST CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE
AND ALSO THE OTHERS RENTERS
RIGHTS LEGISLATION THAT MY
OFFICE HAS ANNOUNCED. WE KNOW
THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE
GEARING UP TO FILE HUGE NUMBERS
OF EVICTIONS AGAINST STRUGGLING
TENANTS AS SOON AS THE
MORATORIUMS AND AND THIS IS THE
APPALLING NEWS THAT OUR COUNCIL
OFFICE HAS BEEN HEARING FROM
RENTERS WHO HAVE BEEN REACHING
OUT TO US IN GREATER NUMBERS IN
RECENT WEEKS.
THEY SAY THAT CORPORATE
LANDLORDS ARE CLAIMING THAT AS
SOON AS THE MORATORIUM IS
LIFTED THEY WILL GO TO COURT TO
FILE OBJECTIONS EVEN THOUGH
RENTERS ARE STILL STRUGGLING
FROM THE UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS
OF THIS PAST YEAR.
THEY WROTE TO US,, QUOTE,, I AM
AN 85-YEAR-OLD SENIOR WHOSE
RENT HAS GONE UP NEARLY --
YEARLY SO HIGH IT TAKES UP 90%
OF MY SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME
AND WITH $125 A MONTH IS DUE
WHEN THE MORATORIUM ENDS I
DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL PAY IT.,
END QUOTE.
LESLIE TOLD US,, QUOTE,, AS A
PROPERTY MANAGER IN THE AREA OF
THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND RELENTLESS RENT
INCREASES DONE JUST BECAUSE THE
OWNER CAN.
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS I RAN A
BUSINESS AND I KNOW THE PROFIT
LOSS AND BREAKDOWN ANNUALLY AND
WITH THE RENTAL INCOME OF
ROUGHLY $80,000 A MONTH LEFT
SALARIES, MAINTENANCE,
INSURANCE, PROPERTY TECH IT'S,
THE PROFITS ARE STILL ENORMOUS.
I WAS SUBJECTED DAILY TO THE
OWNERS BY BEING TOLD SHE DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR WHATEVER
IS NEEDED TO BE DONE AND QUITE
FRANKLY I WAS GLAD I WAS LAID
OFF IN DECEMBER BECAUSE THE
FIRST THING SHE WILL DO WHEN
THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED IS A
VICTIM A FEW THAT ARE BEHIND IN
RENT.
I LET MY FULL SUPPORT TO THESE
MEASURES AND THAT COUNCILWOMAN
SAWANT HAS PUT FORWARD.
THESE AND OTHER MEMBERS WE HEAR
FROM OUR FRIGHTENED BUT AS IS
OBVIOUS THEY ARE ALSO
ORGANIZING AND JOINING UP WITH
OUR OFFICE AND WITH RENTAL
ADVOCATES AND WITH SOCIALIST
THAN FIGHTING BACK.
MORE THAN 560 COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE SIGNED OUR COMMUNITY
PETITION CALLING FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL TO CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE
LOOPHOLE INCLUDING 100 PEOPLE
WHO SIGNED JUST THIS MORNING
WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THIS
AFTERNOON'S COMMITTEE MEETING
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEING
ENGAGED.
LET'S BE CLEAR THE PROBLEM LIES
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH
CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
IT'S NOT RHETORIC.
ITS NATIONWIDE DATA THAT
INDICATES THIS.
AND THIS IS A MATTER OF BOTH
ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE AS
BLACK AND BROWN TENANTS ARE
SUBJECTED TO EVICTION THREATS
AT MUCH HIGHER RATES THAN OTHER
TENANTS.
YOU MIGHT THINK WITH LOCAL
STATE AND NATIONAL EVICTION
MORATORIUMS IN PLACE THAT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WOULD PUT
OFF CONVICTION FILINGS BUT YOU
WOULD BE WRONG IN THINKING
THAT.
AS THE CORPORATE WATCHDOG GROUP
RECENTLY REPORTED, EVEN STATED
NATIONAL EVICTION MORATORIUMS
AND AFFECT PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
AND OTHER CORPORATE LANDLORDS
ARE STILL INSISTING ON EVICTING
FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC
PARTICULARLY FAMILIES OF COLOR.
AND WE HAVE MORE DATA THAT I
WILL GO OVER LATER, BUT WE KNOW
THAT EVEN IN SEATTLE THE
SITUATION IS NO DIFFERENT
ACCORDING TO THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT.
LANDLORDS HAVE FILED 400
EVICTION NOTICES SINCE COVID
BEGAN LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE
ABSOLUTELY EVERY POLITICAL
OBLIGATION AND MORAL HABITATION
TO STOP THE CORPORATE LANDLORD
EVICTION TSUNAMI.
I AM GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY
PANEL OF RENTERS WHO WILL BE
HERE TODAY TO DESCRIBE HOW IT
IS AFFECTING THEM, WHY THE
LOOPHOLE SHOULD BE CLOSED, AND
ALSO ADD AS I DID AT THE LAST
COMMITTEE THAT MY STAFF AND I
HAVE DIRECTLY SPOKEN WITH
DOZENS OF TENANTS WHO WORK WITH
US TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE
INCLUDING NEWLY ACTIVATED
TENANTS.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
LEWIS BOTH HAVING PUBLICLY
STATED SUPPORT FOR CLOSING THE
JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE AND WE WILL
BE DISCUSSING BOTH LEGISLATION
TODAY.
AND THIS IS WHAT TENANTS HAVE
BEEN CALLING FOR.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT WE ABSOLUTELY
WILL LEAD A RENTER LED MOVEMENT
TO MAKE SURE WE CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLE AND WE HAVE SEEN
REPEATEDLY HOW INSIDER
NEGOTIATIONS CAN RESULT IN A
WATERED-DOWN BILL BUT DOES NOT
PROTECT ALL TENANTS AND WE JUST
SAW THIS WITH THE STATE HOUSE
BILL 1236 WHICH WAS JUST CAUSE
STATEWIDE WHICH IS IMPORTANT
THEN LEAVES GAPING LOOPHOLES
FOR CORPORATE LANDLORDS TO
EXPLOIT.
ALSO THIS AFTERNOON WE GET A
REPORT ON THE BILL THAT MY
OFFICE INTRODUCED BANNING
SCHOOLYARD EVICTIONS FOR SCHOOL
CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND
EDUCATORS.
AND I WILL DESCRIBE THAT BILL
IN MORE DETAIL WHEN WE COME TO
THAT AGENDA ITEM BUT I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE GET TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHICH IS SOMETHING WE WILL GO
OVER BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR AGENDA
ITEMS.
I WILL READ THE NAMES OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNED UP IN
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ORDER OF
THEIR SIGNING UP AND BECAUSE OF
THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO
SIGNED UP WE WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH
AND AT THIS MOMENT I HOPE WE
GET THROUGH ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE 32 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
ALTHOUGH NOT EVERYONE IS
PRESENT AT THE MOMENT BUT I'LL
MAKE SURE TO CALL EVERYONE WHO
IS PRESENT.
SO I HOPE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SIGN OF PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THAT
YOU ALL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DANIEL
CAVANAUGH.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS DAN.
I AM A RENTER AND A MEMBER OF
THE ALTERNATIVE AND WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
FIGHTING FOR UNITED APPROACH TO
WIN AND CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES AND
JUST CAUSE EVICTION SECTIONS.
PROPOSING HER OWN BILL, AND
ALSO COSPONSORING WITH THIS
BILL AND WE NEED AN APPROACH
THAT CAN WIN THE STRONGEST
PROTECTIONS AGAINST EVICTION
AND THE MOVEMENT IS WEAK WHEN
IT'S DIVIDED AND STRONG WHEN
IT'S UNITED SO I REALLY APPLAUD
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND I WANT
TO URGE THEY PASS THE STRONGEST
PROTECTIONS ON BOTH BILLS
BEFORE YOU TODAY IN CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE FULLY AND I WANT TO
URGE COUNCILMEMBER TO SUPPORT
THE BILL BANNING EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
WHICH HAS BEEN SUPPORTED
UNANIMOUSLY BY THE SEATTLE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ANGIE NEXT FOLLOWED BY
MARGO STEWART.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ANGIE AND I AM A
HOUSING PROVIDER IN THE BALLARD
AREA AND IN NOVEMBER
>>> LANDLORD.
IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS YOU
CREATED A TSUNAMI OF NEW
REGULATIONS WITHOUT A FRAMEWORK
FOR INCLUDING SMALL LANDLORDS.
THE PRESENTATIONS COME OUT
REACH OR ANALYSIS TO FIGHT THE
RESIN MENDACIOUS IN THE CITY
2018 RENTAL HOUSING STUDY.
YOUR POLICY IS BACKFIRING WITH
MANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS WERE
RENTERS.
IN APRIL, COUNCIL PRESIDENT WAS
QUOTED ON SEATTLE CHANNEL SAYING
SHE IS NOT AWARE OF ANY STUDIES
OR STATISTICS THAT SUPPORT THE
THEORY THAT INCREASE TENANT
REGULATIONS DEPLETE INVENTORY
IN THE CITY.
ASK SDCI AND LOCAL REAL ESTATE
AGENTS HOW MANY SMALL COMMUNITY-
BASED RENTALS ARE DISAPPEARING
FROM THE MARKET.
WHILE YOU RAIL AGAINST GREEDY
CORPORATIONS OR POLICIES ONLY
CREATE ADVANTAGES FOR THEM
SOAKING GREATER INEQUITY A FEW
OPTIONS FOR LOCAL RENTERS.
IT'S PEJORATIVE AND MISLEADING
FOR THESE LOOPHOLES.
COUNCIL SHOULD NOT MOVE AHEAD
WITH THE BILLS UNDER
CONSIDERATION TODAY.
TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR
RENTERS YOU NEED TO COLLABORATE
WITH LOCAL HOUSING PROVIDERS.
WERE ALL IN THE DATABASE AND
EASY TO REACH.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE MARGO STEWART NEXT
FOLLOWED BY [NAME
INDISCERNIBLE]
IT.
>> MY NAME IS MARGO AND I'M A
RENTER IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND CALLING TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE LOOP
ARE IN THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
LAW AND I PLEASE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES PUT FORTH THE BILL AND
IT WAS COSPONSORED AND THAT'S
THE KIND OF UNIFIED APPROACH WE
NEED TO WIN VICTORIES FOR
RENTERS AND ALSO MEANS
ORGANIZING DIRECTLY AMONG
RENTERS AND TENANTS LOOKING TO
BRING THE MOVEMENT INTO CITY
HALL AS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
HAS DONE.
BUT CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE WHICH
IS WHAT IT IS WILL BE CRUCIAL
TO KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED IN THE
MIDST OF THE ONGOING CRISIS,
ESPECIALLY THE SUMMER IS
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WHO ARE THE
PRIMARY EFFECTORS AND RAISING
RENT AT DOUBLE THE NATIONAL
RATE LOCALLY ARE LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO JACK UP RENTS BETWEEN
NOW THAT THE MORATORIUM IS
ENDING.
AND A LONG-STANDING HOUSING
CRISIS AND WE NEED OTHER
MEASURES TO FIGHT AT LIKE SIX
MONTHS NOTICE FOR RENT HIKES,
BARRING LEGALIZED DISCRIMINATION
AND CANCELING DEAD AND FIGHTING
FOR UNIVERSAL RENT CONTROL FOR
TENANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
I'M EXCITED THOSE MEASURES ARE
BEING FOUGHT FOR BY THE OFFICE
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO FIGHT
WITH OTHER RENTERS AT THE RENT
CONTROL RALLY ON MAY 27th.
THANK YOU.
>> [NAME INDISCERNIBLE]
IS NEXT FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS BLEISE AND
I'M A RENTER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT AND I URGE THEM TO
CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE IN THE
SEATTLE JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS.
IT'S URGENT WE CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLE NOW BEFORE THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRES ON
JUNE 30th.
MANY TENANTS ARE STILL
STUGGLING UNDER THE CRISIS OF
COVID-19 AND THE ECONOMIC
CONCESSIONS AND WITHOUT JUST
CAUSE PROTECTION WHEN HE COULD
FIND THEMSELVES A BIT AND JUST
úBECAUSE CORPORATE LANDLORDS
WANT TO INCREASE PROFITS BY 10
TO FIND THE CITY.
THERE ARE TWO BILLS UNDER
CONSIDERATION THAT TAKE
DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO CLOSE
THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE AND I
URGE THE COMMITTEE TO LISTEN TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO TAKE A
UNIFIED APPROACH COMBINING THE
BEST ELEMENTS OF BOTH PIECES OF
LEGISLATION SO ALL TENANTS ARE
PROTECTED.
E MUST ALSO RECOGNI
TAKE A FIGHTING MOVEMENT TO WIN
A JUST CAUSE LEGISLATION AND
ALREADY MORE THAN 460 RENTERS
HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
AND WE NEED TO BUILD A MOVEMENT
AND TAKE A UNIFIED APPROACH IF
WE WANT TO WIN THIS AND STAND
UP TO CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL IS NEXT FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA.
GO AHEAD, MICHAEL.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL AND I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3 FOLLOWING
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
INITIATIVE TO CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLE.
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM HAS NOT
BEEN EXTENDED PAST JUNE AND
STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
PANDEMIC AMONGST THE HOUSING
CRISIS ALREADY AND WE NEED THE
STRONGEST THINGS FOR RENTERS
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE JESSICA FOLLOWED BY
LAURA.
GO AHEAD, JESSICA.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK.
I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I
DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE BILL TO
CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLES.
IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE THAT
A LANDLORD HAS TO PROVIDE ONE
OF THE 16 JUST CAUSE REASONS TO
EVICT SOMEONE IF SOMEONE IS ON
A MONTH TO MONTH BUT NOT IF
THEY ARE ON A TERM LEASE.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN EASY FIX JUST
TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY AS WE KNOW
THAT NINE OUT OF 10 PEOPLE
EVICTED BECOME HOMELESS. AND I
THINK EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT
WE HAVE A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN EASY THING TO
DO, TO AT LEAST KEEP PEOPLE IN
HOMES IN THEIR HOMES.
I WORK IN A SHELTER AND I SEE
FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATING
EFFECT OF EVICTIONS AND I AM
ALSO A PEER COUNSELOR AND ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS WE LEARN
ABOUT RECOVERY IS THAT THE
HOUSE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THERE ARE FOUR SPECIFIC THINGS
YOU NEED FOR RECOVERY, HOUSE,
COMMUNITY, PURPOSE AND HOW DO
WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR
HOMES AND SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE LAURA FOLLOWED BY
KATIE.
GO AHEAD LAURA.
>> I AM CALLING TODAY IN BEHALF
OF SHARE THE CITY ACTION PLAN
AND VOLUNTEER EVERY CARRY
ORGANIZATION ACROSS PUGET SOUND
AND LAND-BASED AND PUBLIC
ABANDONED WE HAVE ABOUT 1000
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, 7000
FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER AND OVER
100 FOLKS IN OUR SLACK GROUP
AND PART OF THE STATE HOUSE
STAY HEALTHY CAMPAIGN AND
CANCEL RENT AND MORTGAGES
WASHINGTON EFFORT.
WE SUPPORT THIS AND IT'S A
GREAT POLICY AND WE NEED TO
EXTEND JUST CAUSE PROTECTION.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS
AND SAWANT FOR COSPONSORING.
WE ASKED COUNCILMEMBERS
PEDERSON AND JUAREZ TO
COSPONSOR WE ASKED THE
COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF CB 120-0572 THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL.
WE ALSO WANT TENANT RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE FUNDS EXPANDED SO
MORE TENANTS HAVE HELP AND WE
NEED A ROBUST PUBLIC
INFORMATION CAMPAIGN SO RENTERS
CAN KEEP US UP WITH ALL THEIR
RIGHTS AS THEY GET MORE MORE
RIGHTS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
BOARD MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN
EDUCATING FOR RENTER RIGHTS.
FINALLY, GOVERNOR INSLEE AS THE
CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU
GOVERNOR AND ASK HIM TO EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE KATIE WILSON
FOLLOWED BY KATIE.
>> HELLO, THIS IS KATIE WILSON
WITH THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION.
THANKS FOR HEARING MY
TESTIMONY.
THE TRANSIT RIDERS UNION
STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE BILL AND
CLOSING THE FIXED TERM LOOPHOLE
IN THE SEATTLE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE.
MANY MEMBERS ARE IMPACTED BY
THE PANDEMIC WITH RENTAL DATA
MULTIPLE EVICTIONS AND AS WE
EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC AND SO
MANY RENTERS ARE IN THE
SITUATION, THERE'S A DANGER
THAT LANDLORDS WILL USE THE
LOOPHOLE TO KICK RENTERS OUT
WHEN LEASES AND.
THAT WAY THEY'LL HAVE TO SAY
IT'S ABOUT COVID RENTAL DEBTS.
WITH THE RENTAL ASSISTANT
PROGRAM STILL BEING SET UP IT'S
IMPORTANT RENTERS ARE PROTECTED
SO LANDLORDS MAKE THE EFFORT TO
ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
MAINTAIN TENANCY RATHER THAN
RESORTING TO EVICTIONS LEADING
TO HOMELESSNESS AND NOT JUST
ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.
ALL RENTERS SHOULD BE PROTECTED
FROM DISCRIMINATORY AND
ARBITRARY EVICTION.
HQ2 COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
FOR LEWIS AND SAWANT FOR
SUPPORTING AND WE SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT SUPPORTED BY SDCI
AND HOPE THE WHOLE COMMITTEE
INCLUDING PEDERSON AND JUAREZ
RECOMMEND PASSAGE BEFORE
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE KATE FOLLOWED BY
JORDAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN.
ION THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF D
SEATTLE AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE STAY HEALTHY COALITION AND
A RENTER DISTRICT TWO.
I'M CALLING IT SUPPORT OF CB
120057 CLOSING THE FIXED TERM
HELP PEOPLE STAY HOUSED UPON
THE END OF THEIR LEASE. AS IT
CURRENTLY STANDS, SEATTLE HAD
THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF NO-
COST EVICTIONS IN KING COUNTY
AND SINCE LANDLORDS DON'T NEED
TO PROVIDE A REASON FOR NOT
RENEWING ITALY'S RENTERS
VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT DUE
TO RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY OR
RIGHTS BY REQUESTING REPAIRS OR
ORGANIZING WITH THEIR
NEIGHBORS.
CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE IS COMMON
SENSE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE JORDAN FOLLOWED BY
MATTHEW SMITH.
GO AHEAD, JORDAN.
>> HIGH, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
I AM JORDAN AND I'M A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 2. WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
INTRODUCING THE BILL TO CLOSE
THE JUST CAUSE PROTECTION
LOOPHOLE FOR ENDORSING
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND HER
BILL AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
THE MOVEMENTS NEED TO BE
UNIFIED TO FIGHT FOR STRONGER
PROTECTION IN THE FACE OF
CORPORATE LANDLORD OPPOSITION
TO EXPANDNG RENTERS RIGHTS.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.THE
EVICTION CRISIS IS GROWING AND
POTENTIAL SEVERITY AS RENTS
KEEP INCREASING.
JUSTICE FIRST QUARTER, RENTS
WENT UP 9% ON AVERAGE WHICH
SHOWS ALL THE MORE WHITE SO
IMPORTANT THAT WE FIGHT FOR
RENT CONTROL.
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE
THIS LAST WEEK ACTUALLY.
AND SOME GOOD SMALL LANDLORDS
HAVE CANCELED RENT OR INCREASED
IT FOR THE BURDEN DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND CORPORATE
LANDLORDS CONTINUE TO PROFITEER
AND WE CAN STOP THE RACE TO THE
BOTTOM BY THE JUST CAUSE
LOOPHOLE PROTECTION.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE MATTHEW SMITH
FOLLOWED BY SARAH.
>> GO AHEAD.
MATTHEW.
>> MY NAME IS MATT AND I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 2. I AGREE
WITH A LOT OF WHAT HAS BEEN
SAID.
THERE'S BEEN A MASSIVE ABUSE OF
POWER BY BIG LANDLORDS FOR MANY
YEARS IN SEATTLE.
WE HAVE SEEN A FUNDAMENTAL
POWER IMBALANCE BETWEEN RENTERS
AND CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS BEING THE
BIGGEST DRIVER OF EVICTIONS IN
THE CITY.
WE HAVE A HOUSING PIKE CRISIS
IN THE CITY.
SEATTLE LANDLORDS ARE EVICTING
THREE HOUSEHOLDS A DAY ON
AVERAGE A MANY OF THOSE, THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
HOUSEHOLDS ARE ON THE BREACH OF
HOMELESSNESS AND THE JUST CAUSE
LEGISLATION THAT IS BEING
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, IT IS A CRITICAL
LIFELINE TO RENTERS AND TO
CHANGING THAT POWER IMBALANCE.
I WANT TO THANK THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS FOR LETTING US KNOW
ABOUT THE RALLY ON MAY 27th AT
6:00 AT PLATTE PARK AND I WILL
ABSOLUTELY BE THERE AND
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US.
>> SARAH FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW
WILDER.
GO AHEAD, SARAH.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH.
I LIVE IN SEATTLE MY WHOLE LIFE
AND I LIVED TWO YEARS SO I
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS
THIS LEGISLATION CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE, THE JUST CAUSE
LOOPHOLE.
AND I HAVE A PERSONAL STORY
ABOUT THIS.
I USED TO LIVE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND I HAD A BUNCH
OF ROOMMATES AND WE FOUND MOLD
AND INSTEAD OF INCURRING THE
COST ASSOCIATED WITH DEALING
WITH THAT, THE LANDLORD JUST
DECIDED HE WOULD HAVE US ALL
LEAVE BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY
TWO MONTHS LEFT ON THE LEASE.
SO WE WERE ALL BASICALLY
EVICTED BECAUSE WE FOUND AN
ISSUE IN THE HOUSE.
SO THIS WAS AFTER A VERBAL
AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD RENEW
THE LEASE.
AND IN 2017 WHEN IT WAS REALLY
COMPETITIVE TO FIND A GOOD
RENTAL AT A FAIR PRICE.
SO A MAJOR DISRUPTION TO ALL OF
US.
AND THE LANDLORD HAD US LIVE
THERE FOR TWO MORE MONTHS WITH
THE HEALTH HAZARD AND DIDN'T
REFUND ANY RENT TO MOVE EARLY
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND THEN
TOOK A MONTH TO FIX THE PLACE
UP AND RENDERED IT OUT AGAIN
AND NOTABLY AT A HIGHER PRICE.
BASICALLY EVERY TIME I HAVE
MOVED IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF
THE WILL OF THE LANDLORD.
>> I'M SORRY.
WE HAD TO KEEP MOVING.
BUT SARAH, CENTERFOLD, TO MY
OFFICE AND WE WILL DEFINITELY
WANT TO READ IT.
NEXT WE HAVE MATTHEW WILDER
FOLLOWED BY LESLIE MATHIS.
GO AHEAD, MATTHEW.
>> MY NAME IS MATT AND I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF CLOSING
THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO KEEP
HOLDING THE MOVEMENT FOR
RENTERS AND BEYOND THAT TO
REQUIRE THE LANDLORD'S PROVIDER
180 DAYS NOTICE BEFORE
INCREASING RENTS OF ATTENDANCE
AND BAND EVICTIONS OF FAMILIES
OF SCHOOLCHILDREN.
ALSO RENT CONTROL FOR
STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD THE MOVEMENT AS WELL AND
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JOIN US ALL
AT THE RIGHTS RALLY WE ARE
HOLDING A MAY 27th AT 6:00 AT
PLATTE PARK.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE LESLIE MATHIS
FOLLOWED BY MADELEINE.
GO AHEAD, LESLIE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS LESLIE MATHIS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. I AM
CALLING TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
SEATTLE RENT CONTROL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILWOMAN SAWANT FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN CREATING THE
MOVEMENT WHICH INVESTED IN
CONCRETE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
I HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY MANAGER
IN DISTRICT 3 FOR THE LAST 20
YEARS WORKING FOR A PRIVATE
LANDLORD AND NOT A CORPORATE
LANDLORD.
AS I GAINED MORE RESPONSIBILITY
OVER THOSE YEARS I GOT AN HANDS-
ON UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROFIT
GENERATED BY RENTAL INCOME LESS
EXPENSES, LIKE SALARIES,
MAINTENANCE, PROPERTY TAXES,
INSURANCE, AND SINCE I WAS ALSO
IN CHARGE OF MARKETING, I WAS
CONSTANTLY ASSAILED BY THE
OWNER THAT'S QUOTING ONE
PROFESSIONAL PERIODICAL AVENUE
THAT SHE RAISED RENTS JUST
BECAUSE SHE COULD.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE AS YOU DID BY SUPPORTING
THE AMAZON TAX, THE 15 HOUR
MINIMUM WAGE AND THE EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> MADELEINE OLSON FOLLOWED BY
[NAME INDISCERNIBLE].
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES.
>> I AM MADELEINE AND I AM HAVE
SUPPORT FOR JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE
AS WELL AS THE BAN ON EVICTIONS
OF SCHOOLCHILDREN, FAMILIES AND
TEACHERS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
AND CONCERN ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION BEING DISCUSSED,
LANDLORD BUT LOOPHOLE
REQUIRED'S SAME STANDARD IS
MONTH TO MONTH RENTALS AND
LEGALLY JUSTIFY THE CAUSE FOR
EVICTION AND IT'S A COMMON
THING AS OTHERS HAVE SAID.
HOLDING ALL LANDLORDS TO THE
SAME STANDARD IS ROOM FOR LARGE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS TO EXPORT
LOOPHOLES AND NOT THE OTHER WAY
AROUND.
IS VITAL WE COOPERATE SO THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
PUTTING FORTH THE BAN ON SCHOOL
AND COSPONSORING THE BILL WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
WE ALL WIN BY FIGHTING TOGETHER
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
SHOWING UP TODAY.
WE ALL NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN
CONTINUING THE MOVEMENT TO
INVITE PROTECTION TO MINIMIZE
WHAT WE KNOW A BM MASSIVE
EVICTION TSUNAMI.
IT'S ONLY THE FIRST STEP AND WE
NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR
PROTECTION OF ANY RENT CONTROL
FOR RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL
RENTALS AT SIX MONTHS NOTICE OF
RENT INCREASE AND COVID RELIEF
IN THE FORM OF CANCELING
MORTGAGES UTILITY PAYMENTS FOR
FOLKS WHO LOST INCOME.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS SOLOMON AND I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3 CALLING IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF CLOSING THE
JUST CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE
LOOPHOLE.
AM AN ATTORNEY WORKING FOR
TENANTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT I'VE
SEEN A SIGNIFICANT HARM THAT
EVICTIONS HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES DURING THE COVID-
19 PANDEMIC.
I'M SURE AS YOU ALL KNOW
EVICTIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN.
AS THE LEADER IN THE FIELD OF
EVICTIONS STUDY SAID IF
INCARCERATION CAME TO DEFINE
THE LIVES OF MEN THAN EVICTIONS
WAS SHAPING THE LIVES OF WOMEN.
POOR BLACK WOMEN WERE -- POOR
BLACK MEN WERE LOCKED UP WHILE
POOR BLACK WOMEN WERE -- THIS
IS TRUE AROUND THE UNITED
STATES AND IN SEATTLE.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT THE BLACK
WOMEN MADE UP APPROXIMATELY
6.1% OF THE SEATTLE POPULATION
THEY REPRESENTED 33% OF
EVICTIONS IN SEATTLE.
NOW IS THE TIME IF THERE WAS
ONE TO CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCES.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS LARSON AND ON THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
WITH THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCIL BO 120057 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
LEWIS AND SAWANT.
WITH MORATORIUM COMING TO AN
END WE HEARD ACROSS THE CITY
ABOUT HOW THEY WILL BE REMOVED
FROM THE LEASE USING THE
LOOPHOLE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A RENTER
AND HE WILL BE EVICTED ON JULY
1st AND HE WILL BECOME HOMELESS
AND DIE ON THE STREET.
I KNOW IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.
SEATTLE STARTED LONG BEFORE
COVID-19 A WILL REMAIN LONG
AFTER AND THE TEMPORARY A
MORATORIUM PROTECTION 4000
RENTERS LOSING THEIR HOME IN
THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
BUT NOW WE NEED A PERMANENT
LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
WE ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO
SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDED PASSAGE
OF THE COUNCIL BILL TO THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU.
>> SONJA FOLLOWED BY SEBASTIAN.
>> THIS IS SONJA.
AS A WORKING MOM OF TWO
TEENAGERS AND A LANDLORD MYSELF
I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S JUST CAUSE LEGISLATION
TO BAN EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND EDUCATORS
THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR AND I
URGE YOU TO PASS IT WITHOUT
DELAY AND LOOPHOLES. I THINK
IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE
TO EVICT SOMEONE WITH NO
JUSTIFICATION ESPECIALLY KIDS
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND A
STUNNING INDICTMENT OF SOCIETY
WE HAVE TO FIGHT SO HARD TO BAN
IT.
ALSO GLAD TO SEE THE PRESS
CONFERENCE ON RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL RENT CONTROL.
WE REALLY DO NEED TO FILL THE
DEMAND TO CANCEL COVID THAT
BECAUSE CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE
WEALTHY PEOPLE WON'T PAY FOR
THIS AND WE WILL WE KNOW THEY
ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
I WAS GLAD TO SEE THESE TWO
BILLS AS MENTIONED BY OTHERS.
WE REALLY NEED THAT KIND OF
UNIFIED APPROACH TO WIN VICTORY
FOR RENTERS AND WE ALSO NEED TO
ORGANIZE DIRECTLY FOR THE
MOVEMENT IN CITY HALL AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS DONE.
>> SEBASTIAN FOLLOWED BY JIM
HENDERSON.
GO AHEAD, SEBASTIAN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN I WORK FOR
THE KING COUNTY ASSOCIATION
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND AM
ALSO A RENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR.
WE SUPPORT COUNCIL BUILD
120057 COUNCIL BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND SAWANT
AND THE LEGISLATION DEVELOP
WITH COMMUNITY SPORT.
WE ARE PART OF THE STAY HARD
AND HEALTHY COALITION UP AND
WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HIS OFFICE HIM WE
SUPPORT AND RECOMMEND THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL WHICH IS
DEVELOPED BY COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT TO THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL.
LAWMAKERS HAVE MOVED FORWARD TO
PASS ALONG TO HELP COMMUNITIES
WITHOUT GIVING INPUT FROM THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
CB 12 0057 HAS THE RENTAL
COMMUNITY INPUT AND SUPPORT OF
PROTECTION IS LONG OVERDUE.
WITH A MORATORIUM COMING TO AN
AND WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY TO
PROTECT RENTERS FROM LANDLORDS
WITH ADDITIONAL ADDICTION
FILINGS.
THEY SHOULD NOT FACE
HOMELESSNESS AS A RESULT OF
LOOPHOLES ESPECIALLY NOT WHEN
THE MORATORIUM COMES TO AN END.
>> JIM HENDERSON FOLLOWED BY
MOLLY.
SORRY IF I AM PRONOUNCING YOUR
NAME WRONG.
GO AHEAD, JIM.
>> DO WE HAVE JIM HENDERSON
HERE?
ARE YOU DOING STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY.
JIM HENDERSON ON BEHALF OF
RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION AND
THE 5000 SMALL LANDLORDS.
THIS AFTERNOON OPPOSING THIS
ORDINANCE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE MOST
IMPORTANT MISSED OPPORTUNITY IS
FOR STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
IT'S NECESSARY TO HEAR THE
VOICE OF ALL THOSE IMPACTED BY
THIS BILL.
SECONDLY, THERE WOULD BE A
PRACTICAL END OF USING FIXED
TERM LEASES RESULTING IN
HOUSING AND SECURITY.
IT WILL DISRUPT SEASONAL
HOUSING REDUCING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR TENANTS WHO SEEK TO RENT
OUT UNITS FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
AND ALLOWING THAT TO CONTINUE
FOR MORE THAN 10 MONTHS WOULD
PUT TENANTS SEVERELY BEHIND AND
UNABLE TO PAY RENT DURING TWO
MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> MOLLY FOLLOWED BY PETER.
GO AHEAD, MOLLY.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MOLLY DAWSON AND I'M
A RENTER IN DISTRICT 4. I'M
CALLING IN TODAY TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES BILL OF
RIGHTS REGISTRATION TO CLOSE
THE FIXED TERM LOOPHOLE IN THE
JUST CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE.
ACCORDING TO THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT REPORT ON UPTON
COUNTY ADDICTION FILINGS IN
2019 SEATTLE HAD THE SECOND
HIGHEST NUMBER OF NO-COST
FILINGS.
IN SEATTLE RENTERS FACE
EVICTIONS AT THE SAME RATE AS
WHITE WOMEN EVEN THOUGH THEY
ACCOUNT FOR ONLY 32% OF SEATTLE
RENTERS WHILE WHITE RENTERS
ACCOUNT FOR 60%.
FAILURE TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE
ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO SIDESTEP
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE AND SUPPORT TENANTS
FROM THEIR HOMES WITHOUT CAUSE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND THE
LEGISLATION CLOSES THE LOOPHOLE
ENSURES THE MOST VULNERABLE
CANNOT BE FORCED FROM THEIR
HOMES WITHOUT CAUSE.
I URGE COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE
YES AND SUPPORT CLOSING THIS
LOOPHOLE.
>> PETER FOLLOWED BY JESSICA.
GO AHEAD, PETER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS PETER.
I AM CALLING TO SUPPORT THE
COUNCIL BILL 12 0057.
I LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR OVER 30
YEARS AND LATELY I HAVE LIVED
IN DISTRICT 4 BOTH BEFORE AND
DURING THE PANDEMIC, I
CURRENTLY LIVE IN WALLINGFORD
NEXT TO 45th WHICH IS A BUSY
STREET AND THE HEART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE SEEN SMALL BUSINESSES IN
MY AREA CLOSE, BUT LATELY I
HAVE SEEN INCREASED BUSINESS IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE
REASONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN
IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S BILL,
BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD -- I THINK
ANOTHER IMPORTANT REASON TO
SUPPORT THE BILLS IS TO SUPPORT
SMALL BUSINESSES.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT
THESE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE KEPT
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD RUNNING
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HAVE
KEPT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS
RUNNING NEED STABILITY TO GET
BACK TO WORK AND TO GET RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND THAT IS ON THE
WAY BUT NOT YET HERE.
SO THEY CAN KEEP THE
NEIGHBORHOODS GOING AND HELP
EVERYONE GET BACK TO NORMAL.
THANK YOU AND PLEASE SUPPORT
THESE BILLS.
>> JESSICA FOLLOWED BY GLENN.
GO AHEAD, JESSICA.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
MY NAME IS JESSICA AND I'M A
LIFELONG RENTER WHO'S BEEN
RUNNING FOR 9 YEARS AND A
FORMER MEMBER OF THE RENTERS
COMMISSION AND FORMER PROPERTY
MANAGER AND I'M CALLING TO
BRING MY VOICE IN SUPPORT OF
CLOSING THE LEASE TERM
LOOPHOLE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES FOR BRINGING US THE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO
THE TABLE AND THANKS FOR THE
COSPONSORS.
I WILL BE BLUNT BECAUSE WHEN WE
DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS LIKE
HOUSING SO IT'S A CRISIS AND
PEOPLE LIVING IN CURRENT IN
DANGER SO HERE'S MY POINT, NOT
SUPPORTING CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE
AND JUST CAUSE EVICTION
PROTECTION IS IT CAN TO WHAT
HAPPENS WITH JUST CAUSE
EVICTION PROTECTION AND IN
ADDITION NOT ESTABLISHING
PROTECTION SAID YOU'RE WILLING
TO IGNORE LANDLORDS USED FOR
RETALIATION AND WE HAVE TO BUT
THE LOOPHOLE MAKES IT USELESS.
LISTENING TO LANDLORDS ARE
READY THREATENING AND WON'T
OFFER FIXED TERM LEASES IF YOU
DO THIS AND IT'S AN ABUSE OF
POWER AND WE TRY TO FIX THE
LOOPHOLE AND THEY THREATEN US.
PLEASE STAND UP TO THEM AND END
THE LOOPHOLE NOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>: FOLLOWED BY JOHN.
>> GLENN, YOU NEED TO HIT STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ALL
THE RENTERS OUT THERE TO START
A CAMPAIGN TO REGISTER ALL THE
RENTERS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
IS REGISTERED TO VOTE.
THAT'S ONE THING.
THE SECOND THING IS I ENCOURAGE
IS TO NOT LET HAVE A TAX BREAK
WHEN THEY START THEIR TAX
BREAK.
SO THEY CAN START TO A TAX RATE
LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO AND STILL
BE PAYING TAXES OF FIVE YEARS
AGO TODAY.
SO I ENCOURAGE THAT TO HAPPEN
AND DEAL WITH THE DEVELOPERS.
THANK YOU.
>> JOHN FOLLOWED BY RUBEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR SAWANT
TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I'M JOHN AND THE CHIEF STRATEGY
OFFICER FOR THE LOW-INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE AND WE ARE
REGIONAL LANDLORD THAT OWNS OR
OPERATES OVER 2000 UNITS OF
RENTAL HOUSING WAS 70
PROPERTIES ACROSS SIX COUNTIES
IN THE GREATER PUGET SOUND AREA
WITH MANY IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND HER
PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO REFORM
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE TO COVER TERM LEASES
AND THINK COMMITTEE CHAIR
SAWANT HAS THE SAME CONCERNS AS
THE COMMITTEE AND AS A PROPERTY
OWNER WE BELIEVE REQUIRING JUST
CAUSE IS BEST PRACTICE IN A
POLICY THAT HELPS PROPERTY
OWNERS LIMIT THEIR LIABILITY
BECAUSE THE POLICY ASSISTS
OWNERS COMPLY WITH EXISTING
FAIR HOUSING LAWS.
THIS PROPOSED POLICY HAS NO
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE
BUILDINGS WE OWN AND AFFECT WE
BELIEVE WOULD IMPROVE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LANDLORDS
AND TENANTS BY BRINGING MORE
CONSISTENCY IN HOW EVICTION
LAWS ARE ENFORCED.
WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE TO
PASS THIS LAW.
THANK YOU.
>> RUBEN FOLLOWED BY RENCE.
GO AHEAD, RUBEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM MOVING HERE AND A TRIBAL
MEMBER WORKING WITH NATIONS AND
A HOUSING CASE MANAGER AND I
APPRECIATE THE BILL TO CLOSE
THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE.
IT SPEAKS TO THE NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE AND IT'S IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE AND
PLEASE CONSIDER VOICES HEARD
TODAY SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T LOSE
THEIR HOUSES WITHOUT THE BILL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> RENCE FOLLOWED BY LEE.
GO AHEAD, RENCE.
>> MY NAME IS RENCE AND I AM AN
EVICTION DEFENSE ATTORNEY WITH
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT.
AS WELL AS A RENTER IN DISTRICT
6 AND CALLING TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL BILL 1257.
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE AS IT IS CURRENTLY
WRITTEN ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO
DECLINE EXTENDING AN OFFER FOR
A NEW LEASE OF THE ORIGINAL
LEASE DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY
CONVERT TO MONTH TWO MONTHS.
ALL ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS
LANDLORDS TO DISRUPT HOUSING
FOR ANY REASON AS LONG AS THEY
DON'T INCLUDE THE MONTH TO
MONTH CONVERSION LANGUAGE IN
THE ORIGINAL LEASE. THE
LOOPHOLES COMPLETELY
ANTITHETICAL TO THE POLICY
BEHIND JUST CAUSE EVICTION AND
SHOULD BE REMEDIED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
I HEAR A LOT OF LANDLORDS CLAIM
GENERALLY THAT THE INCREASE IN
TENANT PROTECTIONS ARE HURTING
THEIR ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS.
HOWEVER THE RENTAL HOUSING
MARKET IS THE LEAST REGULATED
MARKETS DESPITE THAT PEOPLE
CONSIDER SHELTER A BASIC HUMAN
RIGHT.
I SAID AT THE LAST PUBLIC
COMMENT AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN
THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THE
LANDLORD SHOULD NOT USURP HUMAN
RIGHTS OF THE TENANT.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER'S NAME WHO
IS NOW SHOWING NOT PRESENT SO I
WILL GO TO THE LAST SPEAKER WHO
IS SHOWING UP AS PRESENT WHICH
IS MAX.
GO AHEAD, MAX.
>> HI.
THANKS CHAIR SAWANT TO MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WASHINGTON PHYSICIANS FOR
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN AN
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION REP IS IN
A HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ACROSS
THE STATE AND ON BEHALF OF OUR
MEMBERS WE URGE YOU TO PROTECT
PUBLIC HEALTH BY KEEPING THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOUSED AND
CLOSING THE FIXED TERM LEASE
LOOPHOLE.
OUR MEMBERS SEE THE DOWNSTREAM
HEALTH IMPACT OF ECONOMIC
INSECURITY, HOUSING INSTABILITY
AND HOMELESS EVERY DAY IN
CLINICS AND HOSPITALS ACROSS
THE STATE AND MANY MEMBERS WORK
ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC AND ARE DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES.
THEY WILL FOLLOW THE END OF THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM IF
COMPREHENSIVE TENANT
PROTECTIONS ARE NOT ENACTED
RIGHT NOW.
>> SO THAT COVERS ALL --
>> ACTUALLY I THINK WE MISSED
ME.
COLTON?
>> I DID NOT SEE YOUR NAME,
COLTON, BUT GO AHEAD.
>> COLTON, YOU ARE ON THE PANEL
FOR AGENDA HIM ITEM NUMBER 1 SO
WE WILL COME TO YOU SHORTLY.
>> AND THAT'S WHY I WAS
CONFUSED.
I'M SO SORRY.
>> NO PROBLEM.
WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
>> SO SOME SPEAKERS DID SHOW UP
AS NOT PRESENT SO PLEASE SEND
YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING IF YOU
WISH TO DO THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
WHO CAME TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND
LET THEIR VOICE TO THE QUESTION
OF RENTERS RIGHTS.
AND TO THE QUESTIONS
SPECIFICALLY OF CLOSING THE
LOOPHOLE IN THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE.
WE WILL QUICKLY BEGIN THE FIRST
AGENDA ITEM AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE DO THIS IN A WAY THAT
THE SPEAKERS, SOME OF THE
RENTERS WE HAVE TESTIFYING
TODAY IN THE COMMITTEE ARE HERE
DOING THEIR WORK DAY AND I KNOW
THEY LEAVE TO NEED TO LEAVE
VERY SOON SO FIRST WE THANK
EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TO SPEAK
AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RENTER
RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND TO AVOID I
WILL CALL YOU IN ORDER BY NAME
AND AS I SAID, TO YOUR
INDULGENCE SO I CAN CALL YOU IN
ORDER SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GO
BACK TO WORK ARE ABLE TO GO
BACK TO WORK IN TIME SO I NOW
INVITE KAITLIN HEINEN FROM THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND
SORRY IF I AM HAVING TROUBLE
WITH YOUR NAME BUT INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND
THEN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK AND I
WILL CALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS AS
SOON AS I CAN AND THEN WE CAN
HAVE A DISCUSSION.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
MY NAME IS KAITLIN HEINEN AND
I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE
KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT.
WE ARE LEGALLY CLINIC
PROVIDING EVICTION DEFENSE TO
LOW-INCOME TENANTS FACING
EVICTION IN KING COUNTY.
HAVING REPRESENTATIVES
THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, I HAVE SEEN OF
REFUSING TO BRING TENANCY AND
TERMINATING TENANCY ARE
FUNCTIONALLY THE SAME FOR MY
CLIENTS.
BOTH ACTIONS PLACE THEM AT RISK
OF FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PARTICIPATE ON THE PANEL IN
SUPPORT OF CLOSING THIS
LOOPHOLE IN THE SEATTLE JUST
CAUSE ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU, CAITLIN, AND I
HOPE YOU CAN STAY WITH US FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
NEXT I WILL CALL ON JORDAN VAN
VOAST WHO I UNDERSTAND HAS TO
LEAVE AND GO BACK TO WORK BY
3:00 P.M.
PLEASE WELCOME JORDAN AND STATE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND GO
AHEAD WITH YOUR TESTIMONY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JORDAN VAN VOAST
AND I AM A SETTLER, HOMEOWNER
ON AMISH LANTERN I SPEAK IN
SOLIDARITY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND THE MOVEMENT FOR
RENTERS RICIN VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR THE LEGISLATION TO CLOSE
THE LOOPHOLE IN JUST CAUSE
LEASE EVICTION LAWS.
THE LOOPHOLE ALLOWS LANDLORDS
TO EVICT TENANTS ON TERM LEASES
WHEN THEY EXPIRE WITHOUT HAVING
TO STATE THE 16 LEGALLY ALLOWED
REASONS WHICH EXIST A MONTH TWO
MONTHS RENT CONTACT.
A MONTH AGO MY OLDER BROTHER
WAS CONTACTED BY HIS LANDLORD
WHO SAID HE WANTED TO EVICT HIM
AT THE END OF HIS 12 MONTH
LEASE WHICH EXPIRES AT THE END
OF JUNE.
THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNSETTLING
NEWS FOR MY BROTHER WHO IS LIVE
WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA FOR OVER 40
YEARS AND DURING THE SOCIAL
STIGMA THAT GOES WITH THAT
ORIGINALLY FACING REJECTION AND
EVICTION FROM THE WORLD IN A
GENERAL SENSE.
NONETHELESS, DESPITE HIS SEVERE
AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS
HE IS MANAGED TO LIVE
INDEPENDENTLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO
SOCIETY THROUGH HIS ARTWORK
WHICH HE IS DONATED TO SEVERAL
SEATTLE AREA HOSPITALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE
PUBLIC.
SCHIZOPHRENIA LIKE MANY
DISABILITIES PLACES INDIVIDUALS
IN A VULNERABLE SITUATION IN A
WORLD WHERE THE PROFITS OF
CAPITALISM ARE ULTIMATELY
PRIORITIZED OVER HUMAN AND
SOCIETAL WELL-BEING.
DUE TO MY WHITE PRIVILEGE AND,
I'M IN A POSITION TO HELP MY
BROTHER ENABLE TO DIALOGUE WITH
THE LANDLORD AND HELP HIM
UNDERSTAND HOW DEVASTATING A
POTENTIALLY DESTABILIZING A
FORCED EVICTION COULD HAVE ON
MY BROTHER.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE THOUSANDS
WHO ARE EVICTED EVERY YEAR IN
OUR CITY?
HOW MANY OF THEM LACK AND
ADVOCATE?
HOW MANY OF THEM ARE GUILTY OF
NO CRIME OTHER THAN LIVING IN A
SOCIETY WHICH DESPITE PAYING
LIP SERVICE TO SOCIAL JUSTICE
AND HUMAN RIGHTS SAID IT'S OKAY
TO PUT SOMEONE ON THE STREET
BECAUSE WE CAN'T INFRINGE ON
THE RIGHTS OF THE OWNING CLASS?
HOW CONVENIENTLY WE FORGET
HISTORY WHEN WE ARRIVE AT THESE
CONCLUSIONS.
THE MATERIAL WEALTH OF THE CITY
AND COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED UPON
SLAVERY AND MANIFEST DESTINY.
EVICTION OF THE NATIVE
AMERICANS FROM THEIR LAND.
IT'S BUILT ON THEFT FROM OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
THE SO-CALLED FREE MARKET OF
CAPITALISM SANCTIONS THE
PILLAGE AND THEFT OF EARTH
RESOURCES FROM MOTHER EARTH
DESTROYING THE HABITAT OF OTHER
CREATURES AND STEALING THEIR
HOMES.
OUR LAWS GIVE US THE LEGAL
RIGHTS TO DO THESE THINGS, BUT
IF WE LISTEN TO OUR HEARTS WE
KNOW THEY DON'T GIVE US THE
MORAL RIGHT.
HOW SADLY IRONIC IT IS THAT
LANDLORDS WHO HAVE INHERITED
PRIVILEGE AND WEALTH BASED ON
STOLEN LAND AND LABOR ARE
ALLOWED TO EVICT PEOPLE WITHOUT
JUST CAUSE.
WHAT MORAL JUSTIFICATION IS
THERE TO DENY PEOPLE THE RIGHT
TO HOUSING?
THERE IS NONE.
CAPITALISM, COLONIALISM,
PATRIARCHY AND WHITE SUPREMACY
WORK TOGETHER AND IT'S OUR JOB
TO UNDO THEIR LEGACY.
A DAKOTA ELDER TOLD ME WE ARE
LIVING IN THE TIME OF PROPHECY,
DEVASTATING CLIMATE DISASTERS
AND PANDEMICS ARE TWO SIGNS AT
THE WORLD IS OUT OF BALANCE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE NOW
WHICH ROAD WE ARE GOING TO
FOLLOW.
SOME WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT
WE SHOULD STICK WITH BUSINESS
AS USUAL AND ALLOW CORPORATIONS
AND THEIR POLITICAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE THE KEY
DECISIONS IN OUR LIVES.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BUILD A
SOCIETY BASED ON COMPASSION
THAT TRULY LEAVES NO ONE
BEHIND.
WE NEED RENT CONTROL BECAUSE SO
MANY PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO LEAVE
THEIR HOMES INTERCITY BECAUSE
RENTS ARE UNAFFORDABLE.
WE NEED A GREEN NEW DEAL AND
REAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS OF
BUILDING THOUSANDS OF
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE
PART OF THAT BUT WE CAN'T WAIT
FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
WE MUST BE WILLING TO STEP OUT
OF THE COMFORT ZONE AND SHOW UP
IN MOVEMENTS FOR CHANGE
UTILIZING NONVIOLENT ACTION AND
SPEECH TO PRESSURE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS TO STAND WITH
RENTERS LIKE MY BROTHER AND
PASS JUST CAUSE PROTECTION,
RENT CONTROL ANOTHER RENTER
PROTECTIONS PUT FORWARD BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND THE
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JORDAN AND IT'S
TOTALLY FINE IF YOU HAVE TO
LEAVE IN ORDER TO GO BACK TO
WORK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING
YEAR AND ALSO YOUR SECOND
COMMITTEE TESTIMONY AND
BRINGING THE MESSAGE FROM YOUR
BROTHER WHO IS YOU SAID LIKE
MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR
DISABLED COMMUNITIES REMAIN
INVISIBLE AND ONE OF THE MOST
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF THESE BASIC RIGHTS FOR
RENTERS.
I AM REALLY HAPPY TO INVITE
VIOLET LAVATAI NEXT FROM THE
TENANT UNION OF WASHINGTON.
WELCOME, VIOLET .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
AM ACTUALLY HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT CLOSING THE LOOP HOLES IN
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
THE COUNCIL BILL THAT WAS
CREATED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAD COMMUNITY VOICES
ALL AROUND THE TABLE AND THIS
IS THE REASON WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT TO CLOSE THESE
LOOPHOLES.
WE HAVE MANY CALLS FROM TENANTS
FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON ABOUT GETTING SERVED
THESE 20 DATE NOTICES, SO WE
ARE HAPPY THAT THROUGH THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, THEY HAVE
NOW PASSED STATEWIDE JUST
CAUSE.
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT
ARE COMING OUT OF HAVING JUST
CAUSE, BUT THE THING IS SOME OF
THESE LOOPHOLES WE NEED TO
CLOSE THEM NOW.
BECAUSE IT PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
JUST CAUSE?
BECAUSE WE KNOW IF YOU ARE
STAYING IN A PLACE AND YOU ARE
NOT ON THE LEASE, IN 20 DAYS, A
LANDLORD CAN ASK YOU TO LEAVE
FOR NO REASON.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
EXPERIENCING THE HIGHEST RATE
OF EITHER INTIMIDATION OR
BULLYING THROUGH THESE NO CAUSE
NOTICES, AND IT ADDS TO OUR
HOMELESS POPULATION.
CLOSING THESE LOOPHOLES, I READ
THE COUNCIL BILL 120057 WHICH
WAS INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, AND I THINK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO ENGAGE
AND UPLIFT THESE LEGISLATIONS
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES
THAT FEEL THE CRUNCH THAT ARE
BEING ASKED TO LEAD THROUGH
THESE LOOPHOLES ARE COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR.
AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE THE
HIGHEST RATE OF EVICTIONS IN
OUR STATE, AND I WOULD NOT BE
SURPRISED IF IT'S IN OUR
NATION.
WE ARE ASKING COUNCILMEMBERS TO
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION OF
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ANOTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
IT IS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I GIVE A LOT OF CALLS FROM
LANDLORDS WHO ARE ANGRY AT THAT
TENANT UNION, BUT I DO NOT LOSE
SLEEP OVER THAT.
BUT HERE'S THE THING, ARE THERE
ARE BAD LANDLORDS IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON?
THERE ARE ACTUALLY I CAN TELL
YOU THERE ARE GOOD LANDLORDS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF
THEM.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE FIGHT EVERY DAY AND WHY
THE TENANT UNION EXISTS IS
TENANT PROTECTION TO BE
PROTECTIVE OVER PEOPLE WHO ARE
FEELING THE CRUNCH ON THIS
HOUSING DISPARITY, EVEN BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAD MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOSING THEIR HOUSING AND WERE
ACTUALLY -- SOME OF THESE 20
DATE NOTICES IF WE DON'T CLOSE
THE LOOPHOLES, SOME OF THEM END
UP ON THE STREETS OR END UP IN
THEIR CARS.
HOUSING ADVOCATES WILL TELL YOU
FIRSTHAND THAT HOUSING SHOULD
BE A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND I THINK CLOSING THE LOOP
HOLES IS HAVING THE COMMUNITY
SURROUND TO BRING THE VOICES OF
EVERYONE.
LANDLORDS ARE ON A LOT OF
COALITIONS THAT WE ARE ON.
TO SAY THAT THEIR VOICES ARE
NOT HEARD, IF YOU LOOK AT
LEGISLATION AND GO BACK AND
LOOK AT ALL OF THESE
LEGISLATIONS, AND WAS ACTUALLY
WRITTEN BY THE OPPOSING
LANDLORDS AND EVERYBODY.
SO HERE WE ARE.
YEARS LATER, 2021, FIGHTING FOR
MORE RIGHTS TO BE PROTECTED AND
NOT TO GET OVER ON THE
LANDLORDS BUT TO HAVE AN EVEN
PLAYING FIELD.
TODAY I GOT A CALL FROM AN ARMY
VETERAN WHO WAS ASKED TO LEAVE
AND I REMINDED HIM THAT UNDER
THE MORATORIUM THAT HE HAS
PROTECTED OUR THE MORATORIUM
AND WE REACHED OUT TO THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO
SHARE HIS STORY AND TO STOP
THIS LANDLORD AND HIS BAD
BEHAVIOR, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER
REASON WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT
TO HAVE THESE TENANT
PROTECTIONS.
IT IS TO MAKE AN EVEN PLAYING
FIELD.
LANDLORDS SAY THAT TENANTS NEED
THEM SO MUCH BUT ACTUALLY THE
TENANT AND THE LANDLORD NEED
EACH OTHER.
AND IF IT IS A BUSINESS, MY
HOPE IS THAT EVERY LANDLORD WHO
HEARS THIS IS THAT THEY WOULD
PICK PEOPLE OVER PROFIT.
COME JUNE 30th, THE MORATORIUM
ENDS AND LAST WEEK WE WENT TO
THE CAPITAL TO URGE THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON TO PASS AND TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
IF HE DOES NOT EXTENDED, THERE
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
AS WE SPEAK, LANDLORDS ARE
READY TO TAKE THEM TO COURT AND
TO EVICT THEM.
WE ARE ASKING AND I ALSO PUT IN
ASK OUT TO THE MAYOR, MAYOR
DURKAN, TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM ALSO IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
TWO EXTENDED PAST JUNE 30th.
IF YOU DON'T EXTEND THIS
MORATORIUM, YOU WILL BE
CONTRIBUTING TO MANY, MANY
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
WILL PROBABLY BE ON THE STREETS
AND WE DON'T WANT THAT UNDER
YOUR LEADERSHIP OR UNDER YOUR
HAT SO THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
BRALESS FOR COUNCIL BILL
120057 AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION THAT WE WANT TO
SEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A
GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU AND PLEASE STAY IF
YOU ARE ABLE TO IF
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THE
PANEL.
>> YES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JAKE LAUNDRY
WHO HAS TO LEAVE BY 3:20 AS MY
UNDERSTANDING SO WELCOME UP AND
START BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF
AND GO AHEAD .
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
MY NAME IS JAKE LAUNDRY AND I'M
IN A SEATTLE-BASED MUSICIAN
AND A RENTER IN DISTRICT SIX
AND RANK-AND-FILE LABOR AND
UNION ACTIVIST IN THE DRIVERS
UNION WITH THE TEAMSTERS AND
THE STAGEHANDS UNION.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S
RELEVANT TO MENTION I ALSO HAVE
A TINY SIDE HUSTLE PROPERTY
MANAGING THE SEATTLE HOME I
GREW UP IN FROM MY MOM AS SHE
RENTS IT OUT WHILE SHE LIVES
WITH HER MOM DOWN IN
CALIFORNIA.
SO BASICALLY I AM A GIG WORKER
IN THE FULLEST SENSE OF THE
WORD AND SPEAKING TODAY IN A
PERSONAL CAPACITY TO SHARE MY
STORY OF WHY I SUPPORT CLOSING
THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE. I CAN
SAY WITH CONFIDENCE AFTER I
SPOKE TO HER YESTERDAY THAT
EVEN AS A PRIVATE LANDLORD WHO
IS HAD MULTIPLE TENANTS OVER
THE YEAR MY MOM ADDS HER VOICE
IN SUPPORT OF CLOSING THIS JUST
CAUSE LOOPHOLE.
I HOPE BY SHARING MORE ABOUT
MYSELF WE CAN HELP BUILD ON THE
MOMENTUM OF OUR GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENTS COLLECTIVE ACTION WHO
SHARED A LOT OF POWERFUL
TESTIMONY TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
WINNING THESE RENTERS RIGHTS.
I HAVE LIVED HERE IN SEATTLE
FOR 11 YEARS SINCE I WAS 17,
BUT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE IT
IS BEEN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING
TO FIND A PLACE IN SEATTLE THAT
IS AFFORDABLE, ESPECIALLY
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I HAVE MOVED 11 TIMES IN THE
LAST 11 YEARS AND OFTEN DUE TO
BEING PRICED OUT OF THE LIVING
SITUATION I WAS IN.
AFTER CHALLENGING YEAR OF BEING
ON AND OFF UNEMPLOYMENT, I WILL
BE LOOKING FOR NEW WORK COME
JUNE 30th WHEN THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM ENDS AND MY TERM
LEASE IS UP AROUND THAT TIME TOO
, AND BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE
CURIOUS, WE HAVE ALREADY ASKED
AND MY MOM RANDALL PRICE IS
TOTALLY OUT OF REACH FOR ME AND
MY PARTNER AT THE MOMENT.
úBUT MY PARTNER AND I HAVE BEEN
SAVING UP FOR YEARS TO GET OUR
PUPPY, MO, WHO IS BEEN A RAY OF
SUNSHINE DURING THIS TOUGH YEAR
BUT OUR DOG NOW ADDS A NEW
CHALLENGE TO FINDING HOUSING
ACCOMMODATIONS AND WE ARE
RENTING OUT AND LUCKY TO RUN
OUT OF PLACE NOW WITH THE YARD
FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WHILE I
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IN MY
CURRENT LANDLORD THAN MOST I
HAVE HAD IN THE PAST THAT THEY
WON'T EXPLOIT THIS JUST CAUSE
LOOPHOLE AND NOT RENEW MY TERM
LEASE, THE URGENT PRESSURE FOR
ME OF FINDING WORK THIS SUMMER
AND KEEPING OUR FRIEND ABOUT
EXCITING RENTING OUT THEIR
BASEMENT AND NICE YARD TO US
AND OUR PUPPY AT AN AFFORDABLE
RATE LOOM LARGE FOR ME AND MY
PARTNER AND WE ARE ANXIOUS AND
SUBCONSCIOUS.
SO CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE WOULD
MEAN WE'D HAVE THE EXTRA LAYER
OF HOUSING STABILITY WE NEED
RIGHT NOW. I AM EXTREMELY
PRIVILEGED I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
KEEP UP ON RENT PAYMENTS AS
THEY HOUSE THE THROUGH MY
MOVING AROUND BUT SOME OF MY
FRIENDS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
PAY RENT AND HAVE BEEN FORCED
INTO HOMELESSNESS THROUGH
EVICTION.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN THE
REALITY AND DEVASTATION OF
HOMELESSNESS ON THE LARGER
SCALE IN MY ORGANIZING WITH
HOUSING KENT CITY COLLECTIVE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT OUR
LEGISLATORS HAVE A MORAL DUTY
TO PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF
OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST HONORABLE
AND I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND MORALES HAVE
PROPOSED DIFFERENT BILLS TO
CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE
AND I APPLAUD COUNCILMEMBERS
LEWIS AND SAWANT FOR
COSPONSORING THE MORALE A SPELL
I WANT TO JOIN THE CHORUS OF
THE OTHER RENTERS WHO SUPPORT
THE UNIFIED LEGISLATIVE
APPROACH AND HOPE ALL THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE
WILL MERGE THE TWO BILLS SO WE
GET THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS.
WE KNOW THAT RENTERS RIGHTS,
HISTORY WILL TELL US IT TAKES A
MASS COMMUNITY MOVEMENT TO
CREATE THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE
RENTERS PROTECTIONS WHICH IS
WHY SUPPORT IN PARTICULAR THE
LEGISLATION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HAS INTRODUCED ON BEHALF
OF OUR RENTERS RIGHTS MOVEMENT
REQUIRING LANDLORDS PROVIDE 180
DAYS OF NOTICE BEFORE IMPOSING
ANY RENT INCREASES WHICH IS
AFFECTING ME IN THE PAST AND
HAVING THAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO
FIGURE OUT HOW I WILL GET A GIG
TO MAKE THE RENT INCREASE COULD
HAVE HELPED ME IN THE PAST AND
ALSO EXTENDING RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
ECONOMICALLY EVICTED BY RENTED
I MENTIONED AS I HAD BEEN IN
THE PAST.
BANNING THE LATEST FORM OF
LEGALIZED DISCRIMINATION BY
BARRING LANDLORDS FROM USING
CREDIT CHECKS AND RENTAL
APPLICATIONS WHICH WE KNOW IS
HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC IN A RACIST
APPROACH.
FOR HAMMERING ONEROUS,
UNDEMOCRATIC ABUSIVE LEASE
TERMS, ALLOWING RENTAL HISTORY
SCREENINGS TO BE TRANSFERABLE
FROM ONE APPLICATION TO THE
NEXT.
PROTECTING RENTERS FROM DEFAULT
EVICTIONS, CANCELING RENTS,
MORTGAGES AND UTILITY PAYMENTS
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST INCOME
DUE TO COVID, AND BUILDING OUR
MOVEMENT TO FIGHT AND WIN FOR
RESIDENTIAL RENT CONTROL AND
ALSO FIGHTING FOR STRUGGLING
SMALL BUSINESSES BY WINNING
COMMERCIAL RENT CONTROL. I KNOW
IT WON'T BE EASY FOR US TO WIN
ALL OF THESE, BUT AS A RENTER,
UNION MEMBER AND ACTIVIST AND
COMMITTED TO UNITING WITH
OTHERS TO FIGHT FOR THESE
RIGHTS WHICH WE NEED AND
DESERVE.
THANKS FOR CARRY MY COMMENTS
TODAY.
>> THINK YOU, JAKE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO LEAVE FOR
WORK BUT STAY AS LONG AS YOU
ARE ABLE TO.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SHARING OUR
STORY.
IT'S NOT SURPRISING AT ALL, AND
I DON'T THINK YOU ARE IN ANY
WAY THE ONLY ONE IN THE
SITUATION BUT STILL STUNNING TO
SEE A WORKING PEOPLE LIKE
YOURSELF AND YOUR STORY ABOUT
HAVING HAD TO MOVE 11 TIMES IN
11 YEARS BECAUSE OF RENT
INCREASES, IT IS REALLY JUST
SHOWS HOW BADLY WE NEED RENT
CONTROL IN OUR CITY AND ALL THE
OTHER RENTERS RIGHTS YOU
MENTIONED IT.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME A
PERSON COMING UP I STARBUCKS
SHIFT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO
YOU, STAR, FOR JOINING US AND
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD AND GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS STARR AND I'M HERE
AS A BARISTA IN SEATTLE CALLING
ON COUNCILMEMBERS TO STAND WITH
RENTERS, STAND WITH THE WORKING
CLASS, LGBTQ AND TRANS
COMMUNITY AND ELIMINATE THE
JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE.
PAST RENT CONTROL NOW WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES THAT PUT FORWARD BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IN THE
MOVEMENT.
IS A BARISTA IN THE CITY I
STRUGGLED FOR MONTHS TO FIND AN
AFFORDABLE APARTMENT AND NOW
THE APARTMENT I MOVED INTO IS
LESS AFFORDABLE EACH TIME I
RENEW MY LEASE BECAUSE THEY
RAISE THE RENT EVERY YEAR.
I AM AFRAID EACH TIME MY LEASE
IS UP THEY WILL REFUSE TO RENEW
MY LEASE ESSENTIALLY PUTTING ME
ON THE STREET. I WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO AFFORD MOVING COSTS IF
THIS WERE TO HAPPEN.
I CANNOT AFFORD TO MOVE BECAUSE
OF RENT INCREASE DRAMATICALLY
SINCE I MOVED HERE SEVEN YEARS
AGO.
I HAVE NO CREDIT SO I CAN'T GET
APPROVED FOR AN APARTMENT AND
NEED A COSIGNER EVEN THOUGH
UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE A GOOD
RENTING HISTORY.
I KNOW IF AN EMERGENCY WERE TO
HAPPEN OR IF I WAS EVICTED DUE
TO THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE I
COULD EASILY END UP HOMELESS.
AS A TRANS PERSON THAT COULD
MEAN DEATH.
EVEN IN SEATTLE AND OTHER
PROGRESSIVE URBAN AREAS, LGBTQ
PEOPLE ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
AND THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE IS
ONE EASY WAY THAT LANDLORDS CAN
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST TRANS
PEOPLE LEGALLY MAKING IT SO
MUCH HARDER TO FIND HOUSING.
TRANS PEOPLE FACE
DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE
AND A MORE THAN THREE TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY
AND FACE EXTRA LIFE-THREATENING
CHALLENGES WHEN THEY ARE
HOMELESS.
I KNOW THAT CORPORATE LANDLORDS
AND MANAGE MY APARTMENT
BUILDING WANT TO INCREASE THE
RENT EXPONENTIALLY.
ALL AROUND SEATTLE I SEE VERY
EXPENSIVE LOOKING APARTMENTS
BEING BUILT THAT I KNOW MANY
PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE
IN.
MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE MOVED
OUT OF SEATTLE BECAUSE OF THE
UNAFFORDABLE NISSEN I'M AFRAID
I WILL AS WELL.
AFTER SAVING UP FOR YEARS TO
MOVE AND HAVING NO EXTRA MONEY
IT WAS VERY HARD TO PAY ALL THE
FEES AND TAKE JUST TO LOOK AT
AN APARTMENT AND APPLY.
I COULD NO LONGER AFFORD TO
LOOK AT APARTMENT SO I WAS
FORCED TO CHOOSE.
NOW THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS AT
MY APARTMENT ARE SLOW TO FIX
REPAIRS IF THEY DO AT ALL.
THEY ARE TRYING TO PUSH UP MY
NEIGHBORS WHO MOVED HERE FOR
OVER A DECADE BY OVER
MONITORING THEM BECAUSE THEY
CAN INCREASE THE RENT ANYMORE.
MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS CAN
AFFORD TO LIVE ON HER OWN AND
THAT IS PUT MANY PEOPLE IN
UNHEALTHY AND UNSAFE SITUATIONS
. PROTECTING RENTERS IS AN
IMPERATIVE PART OF DECREASING
HOMELESSNESS AND BEFORE THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES WERE STRUGGLING WITH
RISING RENTS IN THE
PROTECTIONS.
MANY PLACES I LIKE TO GO HAVE
BEEN FORCED OUT OF BUSINESS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
PERSON SERVE YOU COFFEE,
WORKERS NEED HOMES AND PLACES
TO WORK.
STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
RENTERS AND THEY KNEW
PROTECTIONS TOO.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR LOCAL
BUSINESSES, SHOW THEM BY
SUPPORTING RENTERS RIGHTS
STRUGGLES INCLUDING SUPPORTING
COMMERCIAL RENT CONTROL.
AS COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS
CALLED FOR.
WE CAN'T RELY ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT TO PROTECT OUR
RIGHTS AND UP TO US WORKERS TO
SHOW THEM THAT WE WILL NOT BE
PHASED OUT.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO
PROTECT OURSELVES AND
NEIGHBORS.
LAST WEEK I WAS PROUD TO BE
AMONG 40 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT CALLING
FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
RENT CONTROL WITH NO LOOPHOLES.
180 DID VANCE NOTICE FOR RENT
INCREASES AND RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE WHEN LANDLORDS FORCE
US OUT DUE TO RENT INCREASES.
WE NEED A FIGHTING MOVEMENT TO
WIN THE MEASURES JUST AS WE
NEED A FIGHTING MOVEMENT TO
CLOSE THE JUST CAUSE LOOPHOLE
SO LANDLORDS CAN KICK US OFF
FOR NO REASONS AT ALL.
RENTERS ARE DESPERATE BUT
GETTING ORGANIZED AND FIGHTING
BACK AND DEMANDING THE CITY
COUNCIL TAKE ACTION NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STAR, AND
ESPECIALLY FOR NOT ONLY
SPEAKING AS ONE OF THE MANY
BARISTAS AND SERVICE SECTOR
WORKERS WHO ARE GETTING
PRESSURE FROM THE CITY BUT ALSO
AS A TRANS COMMUNITY MEMBER AND
HIGHLIGHTED THE
DISPROPORTIONATE NEEDS OF THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND WE
APPRECIATE THAT HER NEPHEW CAN
STAY, I KNOW YOU HAD A VERY
LONG DAY ALREADY, BUT NEXT I'D
LIKE TO WELCOME COLIN DONOVAN
FROM LGBTQ ALLYSHIP RENTAL
COMMITTEE.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD AND GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AND ALL OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS COLIN DONOVAN AND
I'M A CURRENT RESIDENT OF WEST
SEATTLE DISTRICT 1 . I HAVE
BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE
AREA SINCE 1995 AND I AM HERE
TODAY IS A MEMBER OF LGBTQ
ALLYSHIP RENTERS RIGHTS
COMMITTEE.
AS WELL AS A COVID IMPACTED
RENTER.
I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF CLOSING THE JUST CAUSE TO
LEASE LOOPHOLE.
AND I'M HERE IN GENERAL SUPPORT
OF STRONG -- ALL-INCLUSIVE
INCLUDING -- I'M HERE TODAY TO
SHARE MY PERSONAL STORY OF
COVID RELATED EVICTION
DISCRIMINATION.
I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE
CRITIQUES OF THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS SITUATION, BUT I'M
HERE ALSO TO DISPEL THE NOTION
THAT MOM AND POP LANDLORDS HAVE
BEEN A WHOLLY BENEVOLENT FORCE
DURING THAT AND TO HIGHLIGHT
THE NEEDS TO PREVENT VULNERABLE
AND DISABLED, QUERY, TRENDS AND
WE NEED STABLE HOUSING GOING
INTO THE FUTURE AS WE DEAL
GLOBALLY WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS IN THE EMERGING AND
CONTINUING THREATS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
TO BEGIN WITH, SOME BACKGROUND.
I AM AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
WITH A BACKGROUND IN COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING, DISABILITY LAW AND
ACCOMMODATION AND HIGHER
EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS AND
POLITICAL ECONOMY.
I HOLD A BACHELORS OF ARTS FROM
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
WHERE I GRADUATED IN 2007.
FOR MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE I HAVE
BEEN SURVIVING ON A MONTH TO
MONTH BASIS LIKE THE MAJORITY
OF WORKING AND POOR PEOPLE DO.
PRIOR TO COVID I HAD NEVER BEEN
LATE ON RENT BEFORE.
AND AT THE TIME COVID BEGAN I
WAS LIVING IN A TWO-BEDROOM
APARTMENT WHICH IS 1850 A MONTH
AND SPLITTING THE RENT WITH A
LONG-TERM ROOMMATE.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC STRUCK IN
LOCKDOWN WAS ENFORCED IN MARCH
2020, MY FORMER ROOMMATE FOR
THREE YEARS WAS FORCED TO MOVE
OUT OF STATE AFTER THEY LOST
THEIR FOOD SERVICE JOB DUE TO
THE INITIAL COVID RESTRICTIONS.
THIS MADE ME UNABLE TO COVER
THE RENT ON MY TWO BEDROOM UNIT
AND SIMULTANEOUSLY THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE WHEN OUT WHICH
DEPRESSED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
MOVING IN THE AREA AND TRAVEL
WAS RESTRICTED WHICH IMPACTED
THE AIRBNB UNION IN THE
DOWNSTAIRS UNIT AND I LIVE IN A
FOURPLEX, AND ALSO A LONG-TERM
ELDERLY DISABLED TENANT ALSO
DOWNSTAIRS DIED SUDDENLY.
THAT CONFLUENCE OF FACTORS
IMPACTED MY ABILITY TO FIND A
ROOMMATE WHICH I ATTEMPTED TO
DO AS SOON AS I FOUND OUT MY
ROOMMATE WOULD BE LEAVING DUE
TO THE COVID IMPACT.
I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BY LAST
AUGUST AND MY CURRENT LANDLORD
THEN HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
IN MY OPINION AFTER SHE WAS
IMPACTED NEGATIVELY.
SHE IS A FIRST-TIME LANDLORD
AND THIS IS ARE SINGLE PROPERTY
AND SHE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET
WITH HER HUSBAND AND IS AN
EMPLOYEE OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS WORKING IN SPECIAL
EDUCATION.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC SHE AND I
HAD WHAT I BELIEVED WAS A VERY
GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND HAD
TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT OUR
RESPECTIVE IDENTITIES AND
CAREERS AS PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WORKING IN
EDUCATION AND THE WAY SOCIAL
JUSTICE IMPACTS DISABLED LIFE
CHOICES.
WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO PAY THE
RENT FOR AUGUST 2020 IN ITS
ENTIRETY, I WAS IN
COMMUNICATION WITH HER VERBALLY
AND OVER TEXT MESSAGE ABOUT MY
HEIGHTENED RISK OF COVID AS A
DISABLED PERSON AND THANKED HER
FOR UNDERSTANDING MY SITUATION
AS AN ACTIVIST AND EXPRESS MY
WISH TO WORK WITH HER TO ENSURE
SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HER MONEY.
I SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTACTED
SEVERAL AREA ORGANIZATIONS,
MUTUAL AID GROUPS AND TRY TO
FUNDRAISE AND ATTEMPTING TO
FIND A NEW ROOMMATE AND
REPEATEDLY ASKED MY LANDLORD
WORK WITH ME DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND THIS WAS WHILE THE
MORATORIUM WAS STILL IN PLACE.
AT MIDNIGHT ON AUGUST 16th I
EXITED MY APARTMENT TO DISPOSE
OF TRASH BY THE REAR ENTRANCE
úWHICH I WASN'T REGULARLY USING
AT THE TIME.
UPON OPENING THE DOOR, A SINGLE
SHEET OF PAPER FELL TO THE
GROUND AND THERE HAD BEEN NO
EMAIL, CALL OR TEXT FROM MY
LANDLORD AS HAD BEEN OUR
REGULAR PATTERN UP TO THAT
POINT WITH NO PROBLEMS.
THE NOTE DATED AUGUST 15th AND
LEFT PROPPED UNFASTEN TO MY
BACK DOOR WHICH IS AN ILLEGAL
EVICTION THREAT TELLING ME IF I
DIDN'T PAY IN FULL BY AUGUST
31st I WOULD BE FORCIBLY
REMOVED FROM THE APARTMENT.
I WAS STUNNED AND TERRIFIED
SINCE I HAD SPOKEN WITH MY
LANDLORD ONLY A FEW DAYS PRIOR
AND SHE SEEMED OPEN TO WORKING
WITH ME ON A PAYMENT PLAN. SHE
HAD GIVEN NO INDICATION THAT
THIS THREAT WAS IMMINENT.
AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS
PROFESSIONALLY FOR THE CITY AS
A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS I
EXPECTED HER TO BE AWARE OF
YOUR OBLIGATIONS REGARDING
HOUSING AND THE PANDEMIC AS
WELL AS THE CONTENT OF MY LEASE
WHICH WAS MISREPRESENTED IN THE
THREAT.
LET ME BE CLEAR TO THE COUNCIL
THAT I AM A TRANSGENDER,
BOPBOPQUEER DISABLED
PROFESSIONAL AND I KNOW MY
RIGHTS LEGALLY.
MY LANDLORD AND HER HUSBAND
SHOWED UP PATTERN OF HOSTILITY
OVER SEVERAL MONTHS WHICH
INCLUDED VERBAL INTIMIDATION
FROM MY LANDLORD'S HUSBAND,
HARASSMENT OF THE OTHER
BUILDING TENANTS AND REFUSAL TO
FOLLOW THE LAW.
MY LANDLORD DID THIS AS A
RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVASTATION OF COVID AND AND A
CONFLUENCE OF FACTORS BEYOND
EACH OF US AS INDIVIDUALS.
IN THE COURSE OF MY OWN
NAVIGATION OF THESE HOUSING
IMPACTS I HAVE MET SEVERAL
OTHER TENANTS, TRENDS AND
DISABLED FOLKS WHO WERE
ENDURING SIMILAR HARDSHIPS,
SYSTEMIC PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THOSE WITH
THE LEAST ACCESS TO SAFETY.
I ENDED UP BEING ABLE TO FILE A
REPORT WITH THE WASHINGTON
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AFTER
RECEIVING HELP FROM THE
WASHINGTON STATE TENANTS UNION.
BECAUSE THE LAWS EXISTED AND
WERE ENFORCED, I WAS RELIANT ON
THOSE SYSTEMIC EVICTION
PROTECTIONS AND SINCE THAT WAS
IN PLACE IT EFFECTIVELY DE-
ESCALATED THE HARASSMENT.
I WAS ABLE TO SECURE PAYMENT
FOR AUGUST 2020 THROUGH
DECEMBER 2020 IN FULL THROUGH
THE KING COUNTY EVICTION
PROTECTION AND RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH NEEDS
TO BE ROBUSTLY FUNDED.
HOWEVER, MY ECONOMIC
DEVASTATION HAS NOT ENDED.
I NOW OWE BACK RENT FROM
JANUARY THROUGH THE PRESENT FOR
MY ENTIRE UNIT AS I HAVE NOT
FELT COMFORTABLE RECORDING A
NEW ROOMMATE INTO THIS ONGOING
HARASSMENT HISTORY AND UNSTABLE
SITUATION.
MY LANDLORD HAS SINCE FILL THE
VACANCIES IN THE BUILDING AND I
HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH
MY NEW NEIGHBORS.
WE'VE HAD AIRBNB TRAFFIC ON MY
LANDLORD HAS RECOVERED
SIGNIFICANTLY FINANCIALLY WHILE
MY SITUATION REMAINS ONE OF
STRESS, DEBT, OVERWHELM, JOB
SEARCHING, AND LEGAL
NAVIGATION.
I CURRENTLY OWE A TOTAL OF 9250
AND PLAN TO APPLY FOR ALL
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO ALLEVIATE
THE DEBT AND ENCOURAGE MY
LANDLORD REPEATEDLY TO
INVESTIGATE RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO HER AS A LANDLORD.
IN ADDITION I'M ACTIVELY
SEARCHING FOR STABLE EMPLOYMENT
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AS I HAVE
BEEN FOR MONTHS.
I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AREA
HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING
THE LGBTQ ALLY SHIP RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE I REPRESENT
TODAY AS WELL AS THE TENANCY OF
WASHINGTON STATE TO NAVIGATE MY
SITUATION.
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS
LIKE THEM NEED TO BE LISTENED TO
AND FACING THIS AMOUNT OF
INSECURITY IN THE MIDST OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS NOT A JOKE.
MY LIFE IS LITERALLY ON THE
LINE AND SO ARE THOSE OF OTHERS
AND WE MUST PROTECT THE MOST
HONORABLE IN THIS ONGOING
HEALTH CRISIS WITH THE
CUMULATIVE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF
DECADES OF TRICKLE-DOWN SOCIAL
POVERTY HAVE HIT THE HARDEST.
WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO
ACT TO PROTECT VULNERABLE
TENANTS IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY
NOW.
I AM UNABLE TO SECURE NEW
HOUSING TO GET OUT OF THE
SITUATION WITHOUT CONTINUED
STABILITY AND TO THAT END IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT WE CLOSE THESE
FIXED LOOPHOLES AND EXTEND JUST
CAUSE PROTECTIONS FULLY ACROSS
THE STATE WITH NO LOOPHOLES
CONTROL IS NEEDED.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT CHILDREN
REMAIN HOUSED DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
MY LANDLORD IS AN EDUCATOR AND
PERHAPS IF SHE HAD MORTGAGE
RELIEF AS AN EDUCATOR THIS
WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO US.
WE NEED COVID FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP AS AN EVICTION DEFENSE
. ALTHOUGH I'M ON MONTH TO
MONTH LEASE I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT DUE TO MY LANDLORD'S PAST
INSTABILITY THEY WOULD USE ANY
LOOPHOLE THEY CAN FIND TO BE
ABLE TO EVICT ME OUT OF THE
SITUATION AND GET A FRESH START
WITH A DIFFERENT CLASS OF TENANT
. IS A DISABLED BOPBOPQUEER
TRANS INDIVIDUAL, I HAVE
EXPERIENCED EXTENSIVE HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION FROM SO-CALLED
MOM-AND-POP LANDLORDS WHO ARE
UNAWARE OF THE LAW OR
RECALCITRANT WHEN ENGAGED WITH
THAT LEGAL REALITY.
I'M HERE TODAY AS AN ACTIVIST
AND ENGAGED IN CITIZEN AND
SOMEONE WHO IS DISABLED, TRENDS
AND BOPBOPQUEER LIVED IN THE
AREA SINCE 1995.
I'M HERE FOR SO MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING
TERRIBLY.
POVERTY IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL
MORAL FAILING.
IT IS IN FACT ARE REQUIRED AND
FORCED FEATURE OF THE
CAPITALIST SYSTEM AND WEALTH
INEQUALITY TODAY.
THE TIME FOR CHANGES NOW AND I
STRONGLY URGE THE SUPPORT OF
THE COUNCIL, NOT ONLY ON THESE
TWO BILLS BEFORE US TODAY BUT
ON FULL AND ROBUST TENANT
PROTECTIONS THAT PROTECT THE
MOST HONORABLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLIN.
IT WAS REALLY APPRECIATED.
THE COMMENTS YOU MADE, BOTH
YOUR PERSONAL STORY AND HOW
THAT APPLIES TO SO MANY RENTERS
WHO ARE FACING THE KIND OF
CRISIS THAT YOU ARE FACING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TALKING
ABOUT HOW RENTERS AND LANDLORDS
ARE DIFFERENT SIZES AND ALL
TENANTS NEED FULL PROTECTION
AND A FULL TENANTS BILL OF
RIGHTS REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE
OF THE LANDLORD. IT IS A REALLY
BIG PROBLEM THAT LANDLORDS ARE
HOLDING RENTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE RENT OF THE ROOMMATES WHEN
THE ROOMMATE MOVES OUT.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE
LEGISLATION THAT STOPS
LANDLORDS FROM PUTTING THAT
BURDENS ON RENTERS I APPRECIATE
YOU AND HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO
STAY AND I'M SURE
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL HAVE
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
NEXT WE HAVE COLTON IKENYON.
WELCOME AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
HAS DONE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD AND GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI, MY NAME IS COLTON
IKENYON AND I AM A TAXPAYING
CITIZEN AND LIVE IN SOUTH LAKE
UNION.
I RECENTLY HAVE STILL NOT BEEN
ABLE TO GET ANY FINANCIAL HELP
SINCE JANUARY FOR MY RENT AND
IT IS $1500 A MONTH INCLUDING
UTILITIES.
AND RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY
DURING ALL OF THIS I AM LIVING
IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
SO I WANT TO PUT A LITTLE BIT
OF THE ATTENTION ON
UNDERSTANDING HOW MY SITUATION,
ESPECIALLY WITH WORK DUE TO THE
PHASES, I'M NO LONGER ALLOWED
BACK IN MY BAR YET AND
COMPLETELY OUT OF WORK AND
THERE IS RENT EVERY SINGLE
MONTH THAT IS PILING UP ON MY
BACK RENT.
IN MY LANDLORD HAS SAID THEY
WILL NOT BRING ME MY LEASE AND
WITH THIS LOOPHOLE, THEY COULD
REALLY COMMENT ME AND GET ME
OUT OF HERE, AND I JUST HAVE
BEEN GOING THROUGH SO MUCH
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL STRAIN
FROM THIS.
BUT JUST MENTALLY NOT KNOWING
IF I'M GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO
LIVE.
WE NEED TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM BECAUSE NOT ONLY FOR
THE SIMPLE FACT I'M NOT EVEN
BACK AT WORK, BUT MOST SEATTLE
CITIZENS THAT ARE IN MY
INDUSTRY, THEY ARE NOT BACK AND
ABLE TO COME TO WORK.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON,
I FEEL LIKE AS A KID WHO GREW
UP IN A HOUSEHOLD AND WORKED A
LOT WITH THE STATE, I COULDN'T
EVEN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF I HAD TO GO THROUGH COVID AS
A KID AND HAD TO BE STUCK AT
THE HOUSE, LET ALONE HAVING MY
PARENTS WORRY THAT WE WOULD NOT
HAVE A ROOF FOR ME TO LIVE
BECAUSE AS A KID YOU NEVER EVEN
THINK ABOUT BILLS.
YOU JUST THINK ABOUT YOUR NEXT
CHEERIOS AND IT'S WAY DIFFERENT.
ON TOP OF THAT, I FEEL LIKE WE
NEED TO GET MORE HOUSING
PROGRAMS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING THE PAST
THREE MONTHS NOW TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT
SITUATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT
I AM SAVING OVER $100 A WEEK --
I'M SORRY, NOT A WEEK BUT A
MONTH TO TRY TO INITIATE
SOMETHING SO I CAN MOVE AND
FIND A NEW DEPOSIT AS WELL AS
DOWN PAYMENT FOR A PLACE.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT USED TO
BE CAPITAL HOUSING AS WELL AS
BELLWETHER HOUSING AND THEY
HAVE NO PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW
AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF JUST A
COUPLE OF STUDIOS AND THE FIGHT
FOR THOSE, NO ONE HAS EVEN
CALLED ME BACK BECAUSE EVERYONE
DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS TRIED
TO GET A HOLD OF THE HOUSING
PROGRAMS THAT WE DO HAVE SO
THAT WAY THEY DON'T LOSE A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD.
SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED
TO NOT ONLY TAKE CARE OF SOME
OF THE FINANCIAL ROLES BUT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
GOING TO STILL HAVE A PROGRAM
OUT THERE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO
ACCEPT US SO WE CAN HAVE A ROOF
OVER OUR HEADS.
I THINK WE NEED TO ADD MORE
PROGRAMS AND WE DEFINITELY NEED
TO ADD MORE PROPERTIES TO THE
LIST BECAUSE WE ARE NOW AT
UNEMPLOYMENT ALL TIME HIGH IN
SEATTLE AND CAPITOL HILL.
I'M PART OF THE GAY COMMUNITY
AS WELL AND AS FAR AS IT HAS
GONE FOR A LOT OF MY FRIENDS
BUSINESSES, THEY ARE HAVING TO
CLOSE THEIR PROPERTIES AND WILL
NEVER EVER OPEN UP EVER AGAIN
SO WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF
HISTORY IN THAT SENSE.
I REALLY JUST NEED TO GET A
PLAN TO BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE
THIS LOOPHOLE AND BE ABLE TO
HELP PUT THESE ON TENANTS HEADS
AND I KNOW THE LANDLORDS THAT
ARE NOT CORPORATE AND HOW IT
AFFECTS THEIR LIVES AS WELL,
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE TENANTS FEEL, AND I FEEL
LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH
THAT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ALSO HAS SOME FUNDS
COMING IN DELEGATED TO HELP
PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF GET BACK
WITH OUR BACKGROUND.
I DON'T WANT TO CLAIM
BANKRUPTCY AT THE AGE OF 26 AND
IT IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE
BLEAK AS I TRY TO GAIN HOPE FOR
A CHANGE.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO NOT
ONLY LISTEN TO ALL OF THE
PEOPLE THAT SPOKE TODAY BUT
ALSO NEED TO PROTECT EVERYONE
OF THEM AND MYSELF.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLTON.
FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE ABOUT
EVERY SINGLE TENANT THAT
DESERVES AND NEEDS PROTECTION.
OUR NEXT TWO SPEAKERS AND
COUNCILMEMBERS AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS
WILL SPEAK AND THEN WE WILL
OPEN IT FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SEAN
BUTTERFIELD.
GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COULD NOT FIND THE A MUTE
BUTTON.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I'M SORRY.
THERE WE GO.
MY NAME IS SEAN BUTTERFIELD AND
I AM A RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER OF
SEIU 775 SPEAKING IN MY
CAPACITY AND A CAREGIVER FOR MY
DISABLED PARTNER, TERRY, AND WE
LIVE TOGETHER IN A RENTED
APARTMENT ON CAPITOL HILL.
I PREVIOUSLY GAVE A SIMILAR
TESTIMONY IN LATE APRIL. AT THE
PREVIOUS HEARING ON JUST CAUSE
EVICTION LEGISLATION I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THE FRONT SOMETHING I
DIDN'T ADEQUATELY ADDRESS AT
THAT TIME.
MAKING SUBSTANTIAL AND
EFFECTIVE CHANGE USUALLY IS NOT
ABOUT MAKING A COMPELLING
ARGUMENT FOR HAVING THE BEST
TECHNICAL SOLUTION TO THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE.
THAT'S HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO
WORK.
IT IS HOW WE ARE EDUCATED AND
CONSTANTLY REASSURED THAT IT
WORKS, BUT IT IS PLAIN TO SEE
THAT'S NOT HOW IT ACTUALLY
WORKS.
AND WE ARE TOLD TO THE COUNTRY
AND ARE MEANT TO DISTRACT AND
PLACATE US.
MOST PEOPLE CONVINCED BY THE
ILLUSORY STORY AND I WAS FOR
MOST OF MY LIFE TOO.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TO HELP
TAKE ME FROM THIS DELUSION EVEN
IF IT'S MEANT TO BE MORE
UNCOMFORTABLE DISCOURAGING
RHEOLOGY BUT WORTH PUTTING OUT
FOR THOSE LISTENING THAT THE
REASON WHY THE TECHNOCRATIC
APPROACH TO LEGISLATION DOESN'T
WORK THE WAY WE ARE TOLD IT
WAS.
A PROBLEM SIMPLY AREN'T
PROBLEMS FOR THE POWERFUL
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY.
VERY OFTEN THOSE PEOPLE ARE
POWERFUL AND WEALTHY BECAUSE
THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO
EXTRACT WEALTH FROM AND AFFLICT
THE CLARITY UPON THE PEOPLE FOR
WHOM THAT IS A PROBLEM.
SO WE WANT TO TELL THE
COUNSELOR PROBLEMS AND THE
SOLUTIONS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
AND USUALLY THEY IGNORE IT
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY
POWERS AS INDIVIDUALS.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO BANKROLL
CANDIDATES LIKE RYAN AND ALEX
PEDERSON.
UNLIKE THE HIGHLY LAUDED AND
POWERFUL BUSINESS INTERESTS WHO
FREQUENTLY AND DISINGENUOUSLY
COMPLAIN THAT THEIR INPUT IS
NOT HEARD BY THIS COUNCIL.
SO THE ONLY WAY WE HAVE AS
WORKERS, CAREGIVERS LIKE
MYSELF, TO SOLVE OUR POLITICAL
PROBLEMS IS BY BUILDING A
COHESIVE MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITION
TO THE POWERFUL PEOPLE WHO
EXPLOIT US AND THAT'S WHY AM
HERE TALKING TO YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS THE
ONLY ONE WHO IS ACTUALLY
EFFECTIVE AS EVIDENCE BY
VICTORIES AND A FIGHT BY THE
$15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE,
INCOME TAX AND MENTOR
PROTECTIONS, IT HAS BEEN MET
WITH WIDESPREAD DISDAIN AMONG
THOSE WHO STILL CLAIM THE
COMFORTABLE LIE OF COMPETENT
TECHNOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AS WELL
AS THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM IT.
I WANT TO MAKE IT EXCEPTIONALLY
CLEAR UP FRONT TO EVERYONE
LISTENINGTHAT BUILDING THAT
MOVEMENT IS THE ONLY WAY WE'RE
GOING TO WIN THE CHANGES THAT
WILL ACTUALLY AMELIORATE THE
PROBLEMS WE HAVE MATERIALLY IN
OUR LIVES, WHEN THOSE SOLUTIONS
MIGHT THREATEN THE POLITICAL
AND ECONOMIC OF CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND OTHER BUSINESS
INTERESTS.
ALL THAT SET UP FRONT I WILL
JUST CARRY ON WITH MY COMMENTS
ONE LAST TIME BECAUSE I HOPE
THEY CONTINUE TO ADD SOMETHING
TO THIS HEARING.
WHAT TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES ABOUT THE LOOPHOLE
UNDER DISCUSSION TODAY ALLOWING
LANDLORDS TO IN YOUR TENDENCY
FOR ANY REASON AT THE
CONCLUSION OF YOUR LEASE.
EVEN IF THEY JUST TURN AROUND
AND RUN IT TO SOMEONE ELSE
AFTER YOU MOVE OUT.
MY SITUATION, MY PARTNER TERRY
HAS A PROGRESSIVE DISABILITY
AND CAN'T STAND OR TRANSFER
FROM HER BETTER WHEELCHAIR
WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
IT USED TO MEAN A BALANCE IN
HEALTH BUT FOR THE PAST FEW
YEARS AT MENA CAREGIVER LIFTING
HER BODY WEIGHT AND MOVING HER
AND AFTER YEARS OF EFFORT ON MY
PART WITH DHS INSTALLED THE
LIFT IN OUR APARTMENT AND
FINALLY GRANTED FOUR YEARS AGO.
THIS MEANT WE CAN HIRE ANY
CAREGIVER NOT LIMITING US TO
THOSE WITH THE STRENGTH TO LIFT
HER.
LIKE MOST OF US, SHE CAN'T GET
LIGHTER AS SHE GETS OLDER AND
CRUCIALLY IT IS MEANT WE CAN
MOVE HER SAFELY WITHOUT THE
ADDED RISK OF INJURY OF
INJURING HER OR HER OURSELVES.
AS THESE YEARS HAVE GONE BY WE
HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE
RELIANT ON THE LIFT AS HER
DISABILITY HAS PROGRESSED AND
WE HAVE REALIZED JUST HOW
RELIANT WE ARE ON OUR CONTINUED
TENANCY IN THIS APARTMENT.
BECAUSE IT IS BUILT INTO THE
CEILING OF THIS APARTMENT.
AND HOW VULNERABLE WE ARE TO
EVICTION, EACH OF THE PAST 10
YEARS OUR LEASE HAS BEEN RENEWED
, BUT EACH YEAR BRINGS UP
TOLERABLE FEAR WE WILL BE
FORCED TO MOVE AND GO WITHOUT
THIS VITAL PIECE OF ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY.
POTENTIALLY FOR YEARS UNTIL THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH
SERVICES REINSTALLS IT IN A NEW
APARTMENT FROM WHICH WE COULD
JUST AS EASILY BE A BIT AT THE
CONCLUSION OF A SIX OR 12 MONTH
LEASE.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR IT'S NOT
JUST US.
ANYONE WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR OR
REQUIRE SPECIFIC AMENITIES DUE
TO DISABILITY HAS AN INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TIME FINDING AND
KEEPING HOUSING.
úBE ON THE DEFICIT OF A.D.A.
COMPLIANT APARTMENTS IN SEATTLE
LANDLORDS TO THEIR LEVEL BEST
TO REMOVE TENANTS FOR A BEVY OF
REASONS AND OFTEN BECAUSE OF
THE ACCOMMODATIONS BASED ON
HAVING TO REQUIRE OR BECAUSE
WHEELCHAIRS CAN SCUFF PAINTS IN
UNIT'S.
CHARITIES PREVIOUS LANDLORD
REFUSED TO RENEW HER LEASE
BECAUSE OF THIS MINOR WEAR AND
TEAR BUT OF COURSE THEY NEVER
NEEDED TO DEFEND THAT FLIMSY
PRETAX IN COURT AT THE TIME AND
WOULD INSTILL TODAY BECAUSE ONE
LANDLORDS TO DECIDE TO EVICT
DISABLED TENANTS THEY DO SO
USING LOOPHOLES LIKE THE TERM
LEASE EVICTION LOOPHOLE THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS EVICTION IS DISRUPTIVE TO
ALL RENTERS AND THOSE WITH
DISABILITIES WHO WON'T FIND NEW
HOUSING IN A CITY WITH FEW
ACCESSIBLE UNITS.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RELY
ON
IT TAKES MONTHS OR YEARS TO
BUILD THE KIND OF RAPPORT WITH
NEIGHBORS TO ASK NEIGHBORS TO
HELP THEM PULL UP THEIR PANTS,
RETRIEVE OBJECTS OR GET BACK IN
THE WHEELCHAIR AFTER AN
EMERGENCY.
THESE TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS
ARE THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY.
EVERY EVICTION TEARS A GAPING
HOLE IN THE FABRIC.
RENTERS LIKE US DESPERATELY
NEED THE PROTECTIONS FROM THIS
ABUSE OF THE BALANCE OF POWER
BETWEEN TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE ADVANCED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WOULD GIVE
US A SEMBLANCE OF SECURITY.
BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE
MORATORIUM, AND THE AVALANCHE
THAT WOULD SURE TO FALL OVER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SEAN.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING, ONCE
AGAIN, THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU
AND CHARITY HAS HAD AS A
DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBER AND A
CAREGIVER. TO THE SPEAKER, OUR
LAST SPEAKER IS RENEE GORDON.
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD.
ALSO, I WOULD JUST SAY IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY IS
SHARING THEIR STORY, BUT LET'S
REFRAIN FROM MAKING ANY REMARKS
ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS OR ANYONE
ELSE.
WE DO, AS WE ALL HAVE SAID,
WANT TO BUILD A UNIFIED
COMMUNITY.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE BEEN LISTENING.
I HAVE, AND MY HEART IS REALLY
BREAKING.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLE FOR THE JUST CAUSE
ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW.
THE WRITTEN MORATORIUM EXPIRES
ON JUNE 30th.
THERE ARE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE
FOR RESIDENTS ON A MONTH-TO-
MONTH LEASE.
THE LANDLORD MUST SHOW A REASON
AND GO TO COURT TO CONVICT ON A
MONTH-TO-MONTH LEASE.
THERE ARE 16 REASONS THAT ARE
ALLOWED THAT HAVE STOPPED MANY
EVICTIONS OVER THE YEARS.
TERM LEASES ON THE OTHER HAND,
HAVE NO PROTECTIONS.
SO IF YOU ARE ON A 6 TO 12
MONTH LEASE, WHEN YOUR LEASE IS
UP, YOUR LANDLORD CAN'T EVICT
YOU WITH NO CAUSE AT ALL.
THIS PRACTICE MUST BE
TERMINATED.
RENTERS ON TERM LEASES DESERVE
FULL RIGHTS.
THEY DESERVE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS, TOO.
WE ARE ALSO FIGHTING TO STOP
EVICTIONS DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
IT IS A NO-BRAINER.
CHILDREN NEED A HOME TO DO
THEIR HOMEWORK.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE
ORGANIZING.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO
IT, NOW.
THE MORATORIUM WILL BE LIFTED
AGAIN ON JUNE 30th.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THERE WILL
BE A FLOOD OF EVICTIONS.
THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE
PEOPLE TO BECOME HOMELESS AND
ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THE ALREADY
HUGE HOMELESS CRISIS THAT IS
CURRENTLY GOING ON IN SEATTLE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TO GET
ORGANIZED AND BUILD A BIG
MOVEMENT TO WIN.
I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO IT.
BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS
ASLEEP.
I HEARD A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
I PUT MY EAR TO THE WINDOW TO
SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
JONATHAN AND SASHA CAME TO OUR
BUILDING TO TELL US WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
IT TURNED OUT THE REAL ESTATE
THAT PURCHASED OUR BUILDING,
WHEN MY AUNT HAS LIVED THERE
FOR 30 YEARS, IT IS HER HOME,
THEY HAD PLANNED ON KICKING HER
OUT.
SHE IS 90 YEARS OLD.
THEY WANTED TO KICK HER OUT AND
OUR COMMUNITY OF SENIORS,
IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, AND
TEAR IT DOWN AND BUILD
EXPENSIVE APARTMENTS.
SO WE GOT ORGANIZED.
WE HELD PRESS CONFERENCES.
WE OBTAINED COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
WE GOT UNIONS, FAITH
COMMUNITIES, A PETITION SIGNED
BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND NOW
WE HAVE SEVERAL EXTRA YEARS TO
STAY AT OUR PLACE.
WE HAVE $5000 FOR ANY RESIDENT
WHO MOVES OUT FOR RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
NOW, WE NEED TO DO THIS, BUT WE
NEED TO DO IT AGAIN ON A BIGGER
SCALE.
WE HAVE TO WIN THE JUST CAUSE
PROTECTIONS AND RENT CONTROL.
AND WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, TOO, AS WE WILL HEAR,
TODAY.
THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE
GOING TO FIGHT US EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY.
BUT WE WILL GET ORGANIZED.
WE WILL BUILD AND MOVE IT TO
WIN.
I BELIEVE WE CAN WIN.
WE MUST WIN.
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
OUR GREAT LEADER MARTIN LUTHER
KING SAID, THE TIME IS ALWAYS
RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
SO LET'S DO IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RENE, AND FOR
REMINDING US HOW YOU AND YOUR
FELLOW TENANTS HAD A CONCRETE
VICTORY AGAINST A CORPORATE
DEVELOPER LANDLORD WHO WAS
TRYING TO BASICALLY FIND A WAY
TO EVICT SO MANY OF OUR ELDERLY
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR NEIGHBORS
FROM THE HEART OF THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
WHO CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY AND
THE RENTERS RIGHTS TO SPEAK.
OH'S OF YOU WHO CAN STAY,
PLEASE STAY.
I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
COMMENTS.
I WANTED TO OPEN IT UP TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THESE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I WILL BE WATCHING ON THE
RESUME FOR ANY HANDS, DR.
MIRELES, GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE
PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AND TO
HEAR HOW PEOPLE ARE DIRECTLY
IMPACTED BY THE CHALLENGES THAT
EXIST IN THE CURRENT LAW.
I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
FOLKS WE INVITED WHO HELPED US
CRAFT THE COUNCIL BILL WE ARE
ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT.
VIOLET, COLTON, COLIN , WHO
ELSE DID WE HAVE ON STAFF?
I FORGOT.
KATE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
SHARING, AGAIN, WHY THIS WORK
IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU AS
INDIVIDUALS AND THE PEOPLE YOU
SERVE IN YOUR WORK CAPACITIES.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN
MIRELES.
DO OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE
PANEL?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY.
I WILL WAIT FOR A FEW SECONDS
MORE JUST IN CASE ANYONE IS
GETTING READY TO SAY SOMETHING
OR RAISE THEIR HAND.
I WILL JUST SAY ONE THING.
MAYBE OTHER MEMBERS WILL RAISE
THEIR HAND IN THE MEANTIME.
YEAH, I DEFINITELY WHAT --
WOULD RECOMMEND WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES SAID.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO
HAVE ACTUAL RENTERS WHO ARE
AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF RENTERS
RIGHTS AND THE COMPLETE
IMBALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN
TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
I THINK SOME SPECIFIC POINTS,
JUST TO REITERATE FROM COLIN
DONOVAN, I DO APPRECIATE YOU
POINTING OUT THAT IT IS A HUGE
PROBLEM THAT LANDLORDS HOLD
RENTERS AND TENANTS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE RENT OF OTHER TENANTS,
ROOMMATE TENANTS WHEN THE
ROOMMATES MOVED OUT, AND MY
STAFF AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE
WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL TO
FIND OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO
STOP THIS WITHOUT UNDERMINING
THE EXISTING RENTERS RIGHTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT LANDLORDS DON'T
PUT THAT BURDEN ON THEIR
TENANTS.
WE WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO BE
IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS
COMMITTEE, IF YOU HAD THIS
HAPPEN TO YOU WHERE YOU WERE
LEGALLY LIABLE FOR THE RENT OF
YOUR ROOMMATES, PLEASE MAKE
SURE TO CONTACT MY OFFICE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FIND A
WAY OUT OF THIS, AND CALLING,
AM I RIGHT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
CONTINUING TO PAY YOUR PORTION
OF THE RENT, BUT THAT YOU HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE
RENT OF YOUR FORMER ROOMMATE,
OBVIOUSLY?
CAN YOU CLARIFY?
>> I AM CURRENTLY BEHIND ON MY
RENT TOTAL FOR MYSELF AND MY
ROOMMATES PORTION.
I DID PAY THROUGH THE EVICTION
AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I DID PAY THE ENTIRETY OF MY
HALF THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2020.
BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING FOR
THIS YEAR SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM
UNEMPLOYED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC,
AND I NEED TO FIND A WAY OUT OF
THIS SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, IDEALLY, I WOULD BE
ABLE TO MOVE ANOTHER TENANT IN.
WE COULD MOVE FORWARD FROM THE
TEAM AS WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN
PREVIOUSLY.
I UNDERSTAND MY LANDLORD HAS
HAD A MENTAL STRAIN WITH THIS
KIND OF THING, BUT YES, I'M
CURRENTLY IN DEBT, MYSELF, AND
FOR MY FORMER ROOMMATES PORTION
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
FIND A NEW ROOMMATE TO MOVE IN
TO THIS UNSTABLE SITUATION.
THAT IS THE UPDATE ON THAT.
AND I DO NEED ALL THE
ASSISTANCE I CAN GET.
I MEAN, I HAVE NEVER BEEN LATE
ON MY RENTS, EVER, UNTIL AUGUST
OF 2020.
SO, YEAH.
>> RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR
MENTIONING THAT.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF
RENTERS LIKE YOURSELF WHO HAVE
NEVER BEEN BEHIND ON THEIR
RENT, ONCE, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS
CRISIS, THEY ARE NOW BEHIND.
I THINK IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS HOW
WE NEED TO FIGHT TO CANCEL
COVID DEBT.
BECAUSE SHORT OF THAT, THERE IS
NO WAY THAT 100,000 MENTORS IN
OUR STATE ARE CURRENTLY
ACCUMULATING RENTER DENT --
DEBT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
PAY IT BACK.
I THINK WE ARE ALSO ECHOED IN
WHAT COLTON SAID ABOUT HOW
PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
COLTON, DID YOU SAY THAT YOUR
BARTENDER JOB HAS NOT RESTARTED
YET?
IF THAT'S THE CASE, I ALSO WANT
TO SAY, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
YOU WE NEED TO EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
YEAH, I WANTED TO SAY A FEW
THINGS ABOUT THAT.
CAN YOU CLARIFY?
ARE YOU NOT ABLE TO GET YOUR
JOB BACK BECAUSE IT HASN'T
STARTED YET?
>> YES, CORRECT.
THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT MY
BUSINESS IS HAVING FAULT WITH.
WE ARE ONLY AT 50% OCCUPANCY.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO
KARAOKE BECAUSE THAT IS
CONSIDERED AN EVENT WITH
BRINGING PEOPLE.
THEY CAN DO KARAOKE AT A TABLE.
BASICALLY, THE MANAGERS OF THE
ONLY PEOPLE WORKING BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT EVEN BREAKING EVEN
WITH THEIR BILLS, LET ALONE
BREAKING EVEN TO HIRE SOMEBODY
TO COME BACK TO WORK.
I'M TOLD I'M NOT GOING TO BE
BACK UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
SO ALL MY OTHER FRIENDS THAT
ARE BARTENDERS AS WELL, THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO COME BACK DUE
TO THAT SAME FACT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
JUST ON THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM, YOU MADE A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT THE NEED
TO EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM BECAUSE SO MANY
RENTERS NEED TIME TO GET BACK
ON THEIR FEET.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS KNOW ABOUT THE
RESOLUTION IN MY OFFICE TO URGE
THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE UPHELD THE BULK OF THAT
BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, ABOUT A
MONTH OR TWO AGO, IT WAS
BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE FROM
RENTERS ORGANIZING, SIGNING
PETITIONS AND SO ON, THAT THE
MAYOR WAS FORCED TO ANNOUNCE A
NEW EXTENSION, ALSO THE STATE
REGISTRATION GOVERNOR ALSO
ANNOUNCED THAT.
WE HAD HELD THE VOTE, BUT IT IS
DUE TO COME BACK ON JUNE 3rd.
WE WILL NEED TENANTS LIKE ALL
OF YOU TO HELP ADVOCATE TO PASS
BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE
LAWS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE
ALSO NEED TO EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THAT'S AN URGENCY RIGHT NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES, GO
AHEAD.
>> YEAH, WE HAVE 20 MINUTES
LEFT FOR THIS COMMITTEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT WE
MOVE TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE
BILL IN QUESTION, IF I COULD.
>> YES, WE WERE ABOUT TO GO
RIGHT NOW.
I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE ONE LAST
LOOK AT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER
QUESTIONS.
THERE AREN'T ANY, SO WE WILL
MOVE TO THE SECOND AND THIRD
AGENDA ITEMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE
BOTH PRESENTATION FROM CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF WALKING
US THROUGH A MEMO DESCRIBING
THE TWO COUNCIL BILLS, THE TWO
DRAFT BILLS FOR THE JUST
EVICTION -- JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
YOU KNOW, AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
KNOW, WE PREPARED ONE OTHER
DRAFT [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
REGARDLESS OF WHICH BILL IS
FINALLY PASSED, THE IMPORTANT
THING IS CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE.
COULD YOU COME ON AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE MEMO -- I
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO SAY A
FEW WORDS [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
1257.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
YES, WE HAVE A BILL TODAY THAT
PROPOSES A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL
FIX TO THE JUST CAUSE ORDINANCE
THAT WILL ENSURE TENANTS
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN
THEIR LEASE OR WHAT KIND OF
CONTRACT THEY HAVE WILL BE
PROTECTED FROM THE THREAT OF NO-
FAULT NO-COST REMOVAL FROM
THEIR HOMES.
THIS WILL ENSURE THAT TENANTS
ARE NOT UNJUSTLY PRESSURED INTO
MUTUAL LEASE TERMINATIONS AS
WELL.
WE KNOW THE SEATTLE RENTERS
HAVE BEEN GRANTED SOME FORM OF
JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTION
SINCE THE 80s.
EVEN THIS SET OF PROTECTIONS
HAS LEFT ONE AVENUE OPEN FOR
TENANTS TO BE FORCED FROM THEIR
HOMES FOR NO FAULT OF THEIR
OWN.
THAT GAP ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO
REFUSE A RENTAL RELATIONSHIP
WITHOUT HAVING TO PROVIDE A
REASON.
THIS REALLY DOESN'T ALIGN WITH
THE WORK WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS
A CITY TO PROTECT RENTERS.
THIS BILL WOULD CLOSE THE GAP
ONCE AND FOR ALL BY ALLOWING
LANDLORDS TO OFFER A LEASE
RENEWAL LIKE THEY DO NOW, AND
OFFERING TENANTS TO GO MONTH-TO-
MONTH AT THE END OF A FIXED
TERM LEASE BY DEFAULT. IF IT
ISN'T OFFERED, OR IF IT DOESN'T
MEET THE TENANTS STANDARDS.
SO THIS LEGISLATION ALSO
EXPLICITLY OPENS JUST CAUSE
EVICTION PROTECTION TO TENANTS
ON ANY LEASE TERM OR TYPE.
LASTLY, IT STRENGTHENS THE
BARGAINING POWER BY ALLOWING
THEM TO RESCIND A MUTUAL LEASE
TERMINATION IN THE CASE WHERE
THEY FELT PRESSURED INTO
SIGNING ONE OR AFTER WE INCLUDE
SOME AMENDMENTS, WE WILL
DISCUSS LATER, EVEN IF ONE
WASN'T SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE
OF AN ATTORNEY OR CASEWORKER OR
MEDIATOR.
SO AS RECOVERY NEARS, AS
PROTECTIONS ARE LIFTED, TENANTS
DESERVED STABILITY AS WE HAVE
HEARD VERY CLEARLY, TODAY, WE
KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE TO LIVE
THEIR LIVES WITHOUT THE THREAT
OF LOSING THEIR HOMES OVER
SITUATIONS THAT THEY CAN'T
CONTROL LIKE SOMETHING AS
COLOSSAL AS THE PANDEMIC OR
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A
LANDLORD NOT LIKING THEM.
SO MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS,
ADVOCATES, AND EVERY DAY
RENTERS IN DEVELOPING A TENANT
OF RIGHTS, STARTING NOW, I
CLOSING A LEASE TERMINATION
GAP.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE
NEXT PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR
THIS COMMITTEE, THE SOUND AT
HOME EVICTION DEFENSE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT
ANY RENTER WHO FACES HARDSHIP
DURING THE PANDEMIC FROM FACING
EVICTION, SO CALL IN,
HOPEFULLY, THIS CAN HELP
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
YOU ARE HAVING.
ALLOWING PASSAGE OF THE TWO
BILLS, WE WILL CONTINUE THE
WORK FOR THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION ORDINANCE, WHICH I
KNOW COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT WILL
DO AS WELL.
WE WILL DO MORE TO PROTECT
RENTERS FROM UNJUST AND HASTY
EVICTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
HAS BEEN HERE TODAY TO SHARE
THEIR STORIES AND THE STAY
HOUSED STAY HEALTHY COALITION
FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE ON
THESE POLICIES.
NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT YOUR WORK.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS
LEWIS AND SAWANT.
I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE
DONE.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH LAW,
CENTRAL STAFF, AND AS DCI TO
BRING THE STRONGEST BILL
POSSIBLE.
I HOPE THAT AFTER DISCUSSION,
MY COLLEAGUES WILL AGREE THAT
THIS IS THE BILL FOR US TO
PASS.
AND I AM HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT
THE SDC I AMENDMENTS ONCE WE
GET TO THAT PART OF THE
CONVERSATION.
>> ASHA, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
INTRODUCTION.
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WITH
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
I WILL LAY OUT SOME GENERAL
ITEMS ABOUT THE CURRENT
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE AND THE
TENANCIES WE ARE DISCUSSING,
THEN DIVE INTO DETAILS.
FROM A BIG PICTURE PERSPECTIVE,
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF
TENANCIES THAT IMPLICATE JUST
CAUSE PROTECTIONS. THE FIRST IS
A MONTH-TO-MONTH TENNESSEE, SO
ANY TENANCY IN WHICH THE TENANT
IS PAYING ON A MONTHLY BASIS,
THEIR RENT, AND ALWAYS
ACCEPTING IT, THEN THERE ARE
FIXED TERM RENTAL AGREEMENTS
WHICH IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS
LEASES.
AT THE END OF THE LEASE, THE
PROVISION WITHIN THE LEASE CAN
EITHER STAY SILENT OR SAY THAT
THE LEASE, ITSELF, ENDS ON THE
DATE -- THE END OF THE FIXED
TERM, OR IN THE FIXED TERM
LEASE, IT CAN SPECIFY THAT THE
LEASE, ITSELF, WILL CONVERT TO
A MONTH-TO-MONTH LEASE.
THE SECTIONS THAT SEATTLE
CURRENTLY HAS AS WELL AS THE
LEGISLATION THAT WAS JUST
PASSED, STATE HOUSE BILL 1236,
REQUIRES JUST CAUSE FOR MONTH-
TO-MONTH TENANCIES.
BOTH OF THOSE COVER THE MONTH-
TO-MONTH TENANCY LEASE TYPE.
EXCUSE ME, IN TERMS OF FIXED
TERM LEASES THAT CONVERT
AUTOMATICALLY TO MONTH-TO-MONTH
TENANCIES, EVICTION PROTECTIONS
ALSO REQUIRED JUST CAUSE TO END
THOSE TENDENCIES.
HOUSE BILL 1236 DOES REQUIRE
EVICTION BASED ON JUST CAUSE
UNLESS CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
APPLY.
EITHER THE ADDITIONAL RENTAL
TERM WAS BETWEEN SIX AND 12
MONTHS AND THE LANDLORD HAS TO
GIVE 60 DAYS NOTICE.
THE ISSUE THAT COMES BEFORE AND
IS COMMONLY REFERENCED AS THE
LOOPHOLE IS THIS CLASS OF
RENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT DO NOT
CONVERT INTO MONTH-TO-MONTH
AGREEMENTS.
CURRENTLY, UNDER THE SEATTLE
JUST CAUSE EVICTION
PROTECTIONS, JUST CAUSE IS NOT
REQUIRED TO END THAT TYPE OF
TENANCY.
THE STATE BILL DOES REQUIRE
JUST CAUSE EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE
INITIAL AGREEMENT IS FOR 12
MONTHS OR MORE OR YOU HAVE HAD
MULTIPLE SIX MONTHS AGREEMENTS
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
TENANCY.
THE LANDLORD GIVES A 60 DAY
NOTICE, OR THE TENANCY HAS
NEVER BEEN MONTH-TO-MONTH
EXCEPT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE IN
WHICH THE TENANT HAS ENTERED A
RENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THEN,
AND THE END OF THE MORATORIUM.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND AS DCI TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE
THAT 1236 NOW CREATES FOR
SEATTLE, MORE BROADLY IN TERMS
OF JUST CAUSE PROTECTIONS, AND
MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THE
CONTEXT OF THESE BILLS, BUT I
WANTED TO LAY OUT WHAT THAT
WOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE WE ARE
IN SORT OF A NEW REGULATORY
LANDSCAPE WHEN IT COMES TO JUST
CAUSE GIVEN THE STATE
PROTECTIONS.
SO, WHAT THE BILLS WE ARE
DISCUSSING TODAY, 120057 AND 56
REPORT TO DO OUR ADDRESSING THE
CIRCUMSTANCE FOR THE CLASSIC
RENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT DO NOT
AUTOMATICALLY CONVERT INTO A
MONTH-TO-MONTH RENTAL
AGREEMENT.
THEY END UP THE TIME AT WHICH
THE FIXED TERM IS OVER.
THESE BILLS WOULD REQUIRE JUST
CAUSE.
AT THE END OF THAT, THE JUST
CAUSE WOULD NOT APPLY
NECESSARILY TO THE LEASE,
ITSELF.
IF WE ARE REFUSING TO RENEW OR
CONTINUE A RENTAL AGREEMENT,
COUNCIL BILL 120057 AMENDS THE
RENTAL AGREEMENT REGULATION
PORTION OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE REQUIRING THAT
LANDLORDS HAVE JUST CAUSE TO
REFUSE TO RENEW OR TO CONTINUE
A RENTAL AGREEMENT.
BASICALLY, ANY TENANCY WILL BE
CONVERTED TO A MONTH-TO-MONTH
TENANCY UNLESS THE LANDLORD
OFFERS SUCH A RENTAL AGREEMENT
FOR A FIXED TERM, OR THE
LANDLORD HAS JUST CAUSE NOT TO
DO SO.
IT ALSO INCLUDES -- THE BILL
ALSO INCLUDES THE LAST SECTION
IN SUBSECTION 10 OF THE JUST
CAUSE EVICTION SECTION THAT
ALLOWS THE TENANT TO RESEND --
RESEND A MUTUAL TERMINATION
AGREEMENT AS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES NOTED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF
SIGNING THE TERMINATION
AGREEMENT IF THE TENANT GIVES
THE LANDLORD NOTICE WITHIN
THOSE 10 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE,
OR IF THE TENANT WANTS TO
RESCIND THE AGREEMENT AFTER THE
10 DAY PERIOD HAS PASSED BY
PROVING THEY ENTERED INTO THAT
AGREEMENT, WHICH CAN BE SHOWN
LIKE THE LACK OF EQUAL
BARGAINING POWERS, TENANT
VULNERABILITY, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
SO THE BILL IS SIMILAR IN THAT
SENSE TO 120056 IN THAT IT ALSO
REQUIRES THAT THE LANDLORD HAVE
JUST CAUSE NOT TO RENEW OR
REFUSE TO CONTINUE A TENANCY AT
THE END OF THE FIXED TERM
TENANCY.
120056 ALSO INCLUDES REVISIONS
ABOUT WHEN THE OFFER HAS TO BE
MADE.
IT IS 60 OR 90 DAYS BEFORE THE
END OF THE LEASE TERM.
IT GIVES THE TENANT 30 DAYS TO
ACCEPT OR DECLINE THE PROPOSED
AGREEMENT.
IT REQUIRES THE LANDLORD COMPLY
WITH NOTICE PROVISIONS AND
MAKES THE FAILURE TO COMPLY [
INDISCERNIBLE ]. I THOUGHT IT
MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO TALK ABOUT
HOW THE BILLS ARE PRACTICALLY
DIFFERENT.
SO, ASSUMING THAT A LANDLORD
HAS TO HAVE JUST CAUSE, AS I
MENTIONED, FOR THESE BILLS,
THAT WOULD BE IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE A LANDLORD
DOES NOT OFFER A NEW RENTAL
AGREEMENT AT THE END OF THE
FIXED TERM.
IF A LANDLORD DOES HAVE JUST
CAUSE UNDER EITHER OF THESE
BILLS, THEN IT IS NO PROBLEM.
THE LEASE ENDS.
THE TENANT HAS A NEW FIXED TERM
LEASE TO START THE NEXT
TENANCY.
BUT IF THE LANDLORD DOES NOT
HAVE JUST CAUSE, AGAIN, BOTH
BILLS REQUIRE THAT THE LANDLORD
OFFER A NEW RENTAL AGREEMENT.
HOWEVER, IF THE TENANT DECLINES
UNDER COUNCIL BILL 120056,
THEN THE TENANCY -- EXCUSE ME
-- SORRY, IF THE TENANT
DECLINES, THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCE
-- TENANCY ENDS BY ITS TERM.
THE FIXED TERM WOULD TERMINATE.
FOR COUNCIL BILL 120057 , IF
THE TENANT IS TO DECLINE THE
OFFER THE LANDLORD MAKES, THE
TENANCY WILL CONVERT TO A MONTH-
TO-MONTH TENANCY.
I JUST NOTE THAT STATE BILL
1236 DOES SOMETHING SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT.
SORRY, I'M NOT SURE, CAN YOU
HEAR ME WITH THE DOG WORKING?
I APOLOGIZE.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
DON'T WORRY.
>> SORRY, I JUST LOST MY
THOUGHT.
THE DIFFERENCE LIES ESSENTIALLY
IN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TENANT
DECLINES TENANCY, WHETHER IT
CONVERTS TO A MONTH TO MONTH
AGREEMENT, OR ENDS THE TENANCY
AT THE END OF THE ORIGINAL
FIXED TERM LEASE.
THE OTHER DIFFERENCES ARE
PRIMARILY IN APPROACH AND WHERE
THE CHANGES LIE IN THE CODE,
THEMSELVES, THE CODE, ITSELF.
120057 MAKES THIS CHANGE BOTH
WITH IN THE RENTAL AGREEMENT
REGULATIONS SECTION OF THE CODE
WHICH IS UP IN 7.24, THEN TALKS
ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE
JUST CAUSE TO REFUSE OR RENEW
IN THE JUST CAUSE SECTION OF
THE BILL.
SO IT COVERS BOTH OF THOSE
SECTIONS WHILE COUNCIL BILL
120056 PUTS ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS INTO 2206 WHICH IS
THE EVICTION SECTION OF THE
CODE.
SO THE APPROACHES ARE
DIFFERENT.
FOR THE MOST PART, THE IMPACT
IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS IF A
TENANT IS OFFERED A NEW LEASE
AND ACCEPTS IS SIMILAR.
I WILL STOP HERE IF THERE ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO
OTHER IMPACTS ON NCCI OR TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, IF
ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE OPERATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YEAH, WE WILL OF COURSE GO OVER
THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
SUGGESTED FOR THE BILL.
I HAVE SOME COMMENTS, BUT I
WANT TO WAIT TO SEE IF OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS SO FAR ON THE
PRESENTATION.
I WOULD REALLY URGE -- AS I
SAID IN THE BRIEFING ON MONDAY,
I WOULD REALLY URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO ASK
QUESTIONS, AS RECOMMENDED,
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON -- MY
PLAN IS TO HAVE THE VOTE AT THE
NEXT COMMITTEE, SO PLEASE, YOU
KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU ASK YOUR
QUESTIONS OR RELAY ANY OF YOUR
CONCERNS AND CLARIFICATIONS.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY REQUESTS,
SO GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
SUBSEQUENT COMMENTS.
>> THE NEXT PART OF THE MEMO
AND WHAT I WILL TALK ABOUT NOW
ARE THE IMPACTS THAT THE BILL
HAVE -- ON TENANT RELOCATION
SYSTEMS.
THE STATE LEGISLATION AS WELL
AS BOTH OF THESE COUNCIL BILLS,
NONE OF THEM DIRECTLY AMEND TO
ANYTHING THAT MAKES A SUBSTANCE
OF CHANGE TO THE TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
JUST A BACKUP, TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE TO THE
GLEE APPLIES WHEN AN OWNER OF A
RENTAL UNIT DECIDES THEY WANT
TO MAKE A CHANGE, EITHER
SUBSTANTIALLY REHABILITATE A
UNIT, REMOVE YOUTH
RESTRICTIONS, CHANGES OF USE,
OR DEMOLISH THE UNIT.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY ARE
GENERALLY REQUIRED TO GO
THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTIONS AND INSPECTIONS
TO OBTAIN A RELOCATION LICENSE.
IN DOING SO, THE SEC I
BASICALLY HELPS TO FIGURE OUT
IF THERE ARE LOW INCOME TENANTS
IN THE BUILDING THAT ARE
ENTITLED TO RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS, HALF OF
WHICH, THE LANDLORD PAYS, HALF
OF WHICH, THE CITY PAYS, AND
MAKES THE DETERMINATION, HELPS
THE LANDLORD TO FIGURE OUT THE
PROCESS ON THAT.
AS I MENTIONED, NONE OF THESE
BILLS DIRECTLY AMEND THOSE
PARTS OF EITHER THE STATE LEVEL
RELOCATION PROTECTIONS OR THE
CITY LEVEL RELOCATION
BUT THEY INDIRECTLY IMPACT
THOSE SECTIONS IT HAS BEFORE
THE STATE LEGISLATION WAS
PASSED, IF A TENANT WAS
REQUIRED TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF A
USE IMPLICATED, IN THIS CASE,
DURING A FIXED TERM TENANCY
ORDERING A MONTH-TO-MONTH
TENANCY, THE REASON FOR LEAVING
WOULD BE BECAUSE THOSE CHANGES
HAD DISPLACED THE TENANT.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON SOME
OF THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE
LANDLORD TO GO THROUGH ALL THE
PROCEDURES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH TENANT RELOCATION LICENSE.
THE THIRD PART FOR THE LANDLORD
WHEN IT COMES TO FIXED TERM
LEASES THAT DO NOT CONVERT TO
MONTH-TO-MONTH TENANCY IS
SIMPLY TO LET THE LEASE EXPIRE.
IN THE SAME WAY THAT A LANDLORD
DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED JUST
CAUSE TO END A TENANCY, THE
LANDLORD WILL BE ABLE TO WAIT
UNTIL THE END OF THE FIXED TERM
TENANCY THEN DECIDE TO DO ALL
THE DEMOLISHING AND ALL THE
THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH
TENANT RELOCATION AND MAKE ALL
THOSE CHANGES.
BECAUSE IT ISN'T THE CHANGES
THAT ARE DISPLACING THE TENANT,
BUT RATHER THE END OF THE LEASE
TERM, ITSELF, THAT IS
DISPLACING THE TENANT, THE
LANDLORD WOULD NOT NECESSARILY
HAVE TO GO THROUGH TREJO.
WITH PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 26
AS WELL AS POTENTIAL PASSAGE OF
EITHER 120057 OR 120056, THERE
ARE A REDUCED NUMBER OF
INSTANCES IN WHICH A FIXED TERM
LEASE IS GOING TO END ON ITS
TERMS EITHER BECAUSE THE JUST
CAUSE REQUIREMENT KICKS IN, OR
BECAUSE THE TENANCY WILL
CONVERT TO A MONTH-TO-MONTH
TENANCY.
THAT MEANS THAT THE REASON FOR
DISPLACEMENT OF THE TENANT ALSO
CHANGES.
IT IS NOT ANYMORE GOING TO BE
BECAUSE THE LEASE ENDED, BUT
BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE
INSTANCES OF THE TENANT BEING
DISPLACED BECAUSE THE CHANGE,
ITSELF.
THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE MORE
INSTANCES OF LANDLORDS THAT ARE
REQUIRING TENANT RELOCATION
SERVICES, WHICH THEN COULD MEAN
THEY NEED TO MAKE MORE
PAYMENTS, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST
MEANS THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS.
AS I MENTIONED, THEY MIGHT HAVE
TO MAKE MORE PAYMENTS OUT TO
LOW INCOME TENANTS THAT ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR TREJO.
THAT LEADS TO SOME OF THE
IMPACTS ON STC I ITSELF.
THERE IS THE GENERAL INCREASE,
I THINK, IN THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION WORKLOAD, THAT SDC I
IS GOING TO HAVE TO HANDLE.
AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE ON,
LANDLORDS ARE USING RENTAL
AGREEMENTS RATHER THAN ORAL
AGREEMENTS ON MONTH-TO-MONTH.
MANY OF THEM ARE FIXED TERM
LEASES.
UP UNTIL NOW, UP UNTIL THE
PASSAGE OF THE HOUSE BILL AND
PASSAGE OF THESE BILLS, BECAUSE
THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO HAVE JUST
CAUSE TO END THE EXPIRING LEASE
AGREEMENT, IT IS A WHOLE SET OF
TENANCIES THAT THEY DID NOT
HAVE TO TOUCH.
NOW WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE
BILLS, THERE IS LIKELY TO BE
NOT ONLY AN INCREASE IN CALL
VOLUMES IN TERMS OF LANDLORDS
AND TENANTS CALLING TO FIND OUT
WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE AND HOW
TO ENFORCE THEM, IT WILL ALSO
MEAN THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL
HAVE TO UPDATE THEIR NOTICE AND
OUTREACH MATERIALS.
IT WILL MEAN MORE POTENTIAL
INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMNT
OF VIOLATIONS.
SDCI HAS JURISDICTION OVER THE
NOTICES THAT GO OUT IN TERMS OF
EVICTION ARE PROPER, SO WHEN
SOMEBODY COMES TO THEM AND SAYS
THAT SOMETHING IS MISSING ON A
NOTICE, THEY ARE THE ENTITY
THAT ENFORCES THAT PIECE.
KNOWING NOW THAT THEY ARE ARE
GOING TO BE MORE OF THOSE
NOTICES GOING OUT BECAUSE JUST
CAUSE WILL APPLY MORE OFTEN, IT
MEANS THAT THAT CASELOAD IS
LIKELY TO INCREASE.
THE RESULTING CHANGES IN TRAIL
WILL ALSO IMPROVE THE CASELOAD
AS THEY ARE THE ONES WHO DO
REVIEWS OF WHAT WILL BE WHAT --
EXCUSE ME -- WHETHER A TENANT
IS ELIGIBLE FOR RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE, OR IF THE LANDLORD
NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS, THE INCREASED NUMBER
OF LANDLORDS THAT WILL NEED TO
GO THROUGH THE RELOCATION
LICENSE PROCESS, ALL THAT
IMPLICATES MORE WORKLOAD FOR
SDCI.
ALTHOUGH, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY
CLEAR WITH THE LEVEL OF THE
INCREASE WILL BE.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TELL
UNTIL THE LEGISLATION FULLY
GOES INTO EFFECT AND THERE ARE
MORE APPLICATIONS FOR
RELOCATION LICENSES THAT COME
IN AND MORE CALLS THAT COME IN
ASKING ABOUT LANDLORD RIGHTS,
COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT WANT TO
CONSIDER WHETHER THERE WILL BE
A NEED TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT
TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE REACHED
OUT TO US TO HOPEFULLY BE AT
THE VIRTUAL TABLE ON THE 25th
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THE
WORKLOAD SITUATION.
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR
BACK ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
I AM HOPING THAT WILL GIVE
COUNCILMEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT INTO
WHAT THE IMPACT -- BOTH THE
STATE LEGISLATION AND WHAT
THESE BILLS WILL BE.
I WILL PAUSE AGAIN IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I DIVE
INTO POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
RAISED YOUR HAND.
GO AHEAD.
>> YEAH, THIS MIGHT BE
SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL
MAY 25th.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE -- HAVE
YOU HEARD FROM THEM ANY IDEA OF
BASELINE IF THIS IS THE EXTRA
FTE OR THREE FTEs -- WHAT WE
MIGHT BE LOOKING AT IN ORDER TO
MAKE THIS WORK?
>> I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF FTEs.
WHAT THEY INDICATED WAS THEY
ANTICIPATE A 20 TO 30% JUMP IN
CASELOAD OR CALL VOLUME.
I WILL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK ON
THAT NUMBER WHETHER THEY WERE
REFERENCING CALL VOLUME OR
CASELOAD, BUT THAT IS THE FIRST
SORT OF ESTIMATE I HAVE HEARD.
SO, HOPEFULLY, WE WILL HAVE
MORE INFORMATION AS I CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH SDCI OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE THE LAST OF
THESE BILLS.
>> THANK YOU, ALSO.
I SEE COLTON HAS RAISED HIS
HAND.
GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUICK
QUESTION.
DO WE HAPPEN TO KNOW WHEN THERE
IS GOING TO BE MORE MONEY GOING
TO HGP AND OTHERS WHO CAN HELP
RENTERS LIKE MYSELF GET OUT OF
DEBT?
>> I BELIEVE THAT SDCI HAS
ALLOCATED MUCH OF THE FUNDING
THAT WAS APPROPRIATED TO THEM
FOR DISTRIBUTION OVER THE PAST
COUPLE MONTHS.
THERE MAY STILL BE SOME FUNDING
LEFT.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S DIRECT
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, I'M HAPPY TO
DOUBLE CHECK, TED, I'M NOT SURE
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.
>> I DID A LITTLE BIT OF
RESEARCH INTO THIS.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF
RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS.
THE KING COUNTY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUNDS, THEY ARE
CURRENTLY IN A TIME WHERE
LANDLORDS -- CAN APPLY FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY, AND ON
MAY 17th THEY WILL OPEN UP
APPLICATIONS FOR RENTERS TO
APPLY, AND -- I CAN FOLLOWED --
AND THERE IS MORE MONEY COMING
FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT MONEY
THAT HAS NOT GONE OUT YET.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING
OUT.
I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU.
>> OKAY, YEAH, PERFECT, THANK
YOU.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE SENT AN
EMAIL OR SOMETHING.
>> CERTAINLY.
>> THANK YOU, KOLTON, FOR THE
QUESTION.
THANK YOU TO NAUSEA AND TED FOR
THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
YES, THE OFFICE WILL CONTINUE
TO FOLLOW UP.
KOLTON AND OTHER RENTERS,
PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH WITH TED
AND JONATHAN AND MY OFFICE FOR
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
WE WILL ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH
CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF MEMBERS
WHO ARE ALWAYS EXTREMELY
HELPFUL.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE OVERVIEW
THAT ALSO GAVE WHICH I REALLY
APPRECIATE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE OTHER RENTERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
WATCHING THIS, JUST TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE CLEAR ABOUT
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ALSO
MENTIONED.
ONE OF THE ACRONYMS THAT ALSO
USED -- I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
EVERYONE KNOWS IS TENANT
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE
WHICH IS THE LAW THAT REQUIRES
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE DISPLACED BECAUSE THE
LANDLORD INTENDS TO DEMOLISH OR
REDEVELOP THE BUILDING, AND
THIS IS LAW IN SEATTLE.
AS A SIDE NOTE, I WOULD SAY
SOME PEOPLE IN PUBLIC COMMENTS
SAY RENTERS NEED RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY ARE
DISPLACED BY RENT INCREASES, IN
OTHER WORDS, WHEN THEY
EXPERIENCE WHAT WE WOULD CALL
AN ECONOMIC EVICTION, NOTABLY
WHEN THEY ARE DISPLACED EVERY
DEVELOPMENT OR DEMOLITION OF
THE BUILDING BECAUSE THE
RENTERS RELOCATION COSTS ARE
THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE
LANDLORDS REASON MIGHT BE FOR
THEIR DISPLACEMENT, RELOCATION
COSTS MONEY.
SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT
TO COME BACK TO, IN FACT, THAT
IS LEGISLATION THAT IS BEING
DRAFTED ALREADY BY MY OFFICE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WE ARE MAKING
SURE IT'S UPDATED AND READY FOR
DISCUSSION AND THOSE ARE SOON
úIN THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE IS ECONOMIC EVICTION
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, YOU
KNOW, BACK TO THE JUST CAUSE
QUESTION, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
FEATURE LEGISLATION [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WITH NO-FAULT
AND FOR THESE EVICTIONS, AND
THAT -- I APPRECIATE YOU GOING
OVER THAT.
I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENT THAT I PROPOSED BY
SDCI, THEN HOPEFULLY, [
INDISCERNIBLE ] IF YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT -- I WANT TO PAUSE AND
SEE IF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHO HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET WILL
HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS, PLEASE, I WOULD
REALLY URGE YOU TO BRING THEM
FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAVE ALSO
HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, DID YOU
HAVE -- SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN IS INDICATING SILENTLY
--
>> NO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
I MADE COMMENTSOF THE PREVIOUS
MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WARRIORS?
YOU ARE ON MUTE, SORRY, WE
CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I'M ACTUALLY OKAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING
TO DISCUSS THE RECENT SIGNING
OF THE OTHER BILL IN
CONJUNCTION?
>> YEAH, SO I THINK WHAT YOU
ARE REFERENCING IS HOUSE BILL
1236 WHICH THE GOVERNOR SIGNED,
I BELIEVE, YESTERDAY.
SO THAT IS THE BILL THAT I HAD
TALKED ABOUT JUST A LITTLE BIT
EARLY IN THE PRESENTATION
REGARDING ESTATE WHITE JUST
CAUSE PROVISIONS.
LET ME JUST MAKE SURE HERE REAL
QUICK -- I'M MAKING SURE WITH
THE OFFICE TO SEE HOW THAT WILL
HAPPEN.
I WILL GET INTO THAT BEFORE THE
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING.
I WILL JUST NOTE THE HOUSE BILL
DOES IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO UNDER THE BILL AS PASSED, IT
REQUIRES JUST CAUSE FOR FIXED
TERM LEASES THAT DO NOT CONVERT
TO MONTH-TO-MONTH, BUT ONLY IN
SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
JUST CAUSE IS REQUIRED UNLESS
THE INITIAL AGREEMENT IS FOR A
YEAR OR MORE.
SO ANY SORT OF ONE-YEAR LEASE
IS GOING TO BE EXEMPT FROM JUST
CAUSE, OR IF THE INITIAL TERM
IS MULTIPLE SUCCESSIVE LEASES
OF AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, SO
SINCE YOU STARTED AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE TENANCY THE
FIRST TIME, YOU SIGN A RENTAL
AGREEMENT FOR 6 MONTHS.
AFTER THAT, YOU KEEP ENTERING
INTO SIX-MONTH LEASES.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE
JUST CAUSE IN THAT SCENARIO.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS SOME
ENUMERATED CLAUSES WHERE YOU
CAN MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THAT.
>> YEAH.
THERE ARE -- AND WE ARE WORKING
TO FIGURE OUT JUST CAUSES IN
SEATTLE AND JUST CAUSES THAT
WERE PASSED TO THE STATE LEVEL.
THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT IS WORK IN PROGRESS.
I WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT.
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON IT.
I WILL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT
PIECE.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU.
I SAW MIKE CHAD FROM SATURDAY
NIGHT LIVE.
OKAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
WE ARE AT 4:12 NOW.
DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
AMENDMENTS?
>> I WILL QUICKLY GO THROUGH
WHAT THE AMENDMENTS ARE.
SDCI, THEY HAD SEVERAL WITH
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO AMEND
THE BILL.
SO THE FIRST IS A NOTICE
REQUIREMENT.
SO IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT
TENANTS ARE GIVEN A MINIMUM 60
DAYS NOTICE IF THEY DON'T PLAN
TO RENEW THE LEASE, OR LONGER
IF THE SPECIFIC JUST CAUSE FOR
WHICH THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE
TO NOT RENEW THE LEASE REQUIRES
MORE ADVANCED NOTICE.
THE AMOUNT DIFFERS BASED ON
WHAT THE JUST CAUSE IS.
WE ARE WORKING ON LANGUAGE TO
BASICALLY REFLECT.
THE MINIMUM SHOULD BE 60 DAYS.
IF THE JUST CAUSE REQUIREMENT
REQUIRES SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
THAT SHOULD BE WHAT THE
REQUIREMENT SAYS IT SHOULD BE.
AND PART OF THE NOTICE SHOULD
BE THAT BOTH THE JUST CAUSE AND
THE REASONS FOR FAILING TO
RENEW OR OFFERED TO MAKE A NEW
RENTAL OFFER -- SECOND
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT IS AROUND
THE RESCISSION CLAUSE.
SO AS I MENTIONED, THE WAY THAT
THE BILL IS CURRENTLY DRAFTED,
IF A TENANT WANTS TO RESCIND
THE TERMINATION AGREEMENT, IT
JUST REQUIRES NOTICE.
IF THEY WANTED 10 DAYS AFTER,
THEY HAVE TO PROVE IT WAS
ENTERED IMPROVIDENTLY.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM SDCI WAS --
IN THEIR WORK DOING THE
LANDLORD, TENANT WORK, THEY
CAME ACROSS -- THERE ARE MUTUAL
TERMINATION AGREEMENTS THAT ARE
ENTERED INTO WHEN THE
BARGAINING POWER IS EQUAL, WHEN
THE TENANT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED
BY AN ATTORNEY, THEY DECIDE
WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR
RIGHTS AND WHAT THE IMPACT OF
THE MUTUAL TERMINATION
AGREEMENT IS THAT THEY WANT TO
TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT.
THERE IS ALSO REQUIREMENTS IN
FEDERAL LAW AROUND SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING.
SECTION 8 VOUCHERS FOR EXAMPLE,
YOU NEED A MUTUAL TERMINATION
AGREEMENT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
YOUR CURRENT SECTION A VOUCHER
AND MOVE IT TO THE NEXT
TENANCY.
SO WE TALK THROUGH WAYS NOT TO
DISCUSS THIS PROCESS.
IN THIS CURRENT LEGISLATION, SO
WORKING ON LANGUAGE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES
ARE REFLECTED IN THE RESCISSION
LANGUAGE.
THE LAST POTENTIAL AMENDMENT IS
RELATED -- IT WILL AMEND THE
CURRENT SECTION AS PROPOSED.
THERE IS A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM
IN THE CODE THAT THE POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT WOULD SOLVE.
SO AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, WHEN
THE OWNER A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
AND THEY WANT TO SELL THEIR
HOME IT REQUIRES JUST CAUSE TO
END THE TENANCY IF THEY WANT TO
SELL IT WITHOUT THE TENANCY IN
PLACE -- EXCUSE ME -- THE ISSUE
IS THAT THAT PARTICULAR
SUBSECTION OF THE CODE
REFERENCES A SINGLE-FAMILY
DWELLING UNIT, AND THERE IS A
WHOLE SUBSET OF DEFINITIONS
THAT INTERACT IN THIS
COMPLICATED WAY THAT BASICALLY
MEANS TOWNHOME OWNERS -- SINGLE
UNIT PROPERTY OWNERS DO NOT FIT
INTO THE DEFINITION OF THE
UNIT.
IT LEAVES TOWNHOUSE AND CONDO
OWNERS, FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER
DIFFERENT PROTECTIONS.
WHEN THEY WANT TO SELL THEIR
PROPERTIES WITHOUT A TENANCY
INTACT, THEY HAVE NO ABILITY TO
USE JUST CAUSE TO EVICT THE
TENANT.
THAT RESULTS IN EITHER HAVING
TO WAIT UNTIL THE FIXED TERM
TENANCY IS OVER IN ORDER TO
SELL THE PLACE OR FIGURE OUT
WITH THE TENANT A WAY TO HAVE
THE TENANT MOVE VOLUNTARILY OR
OFFER INCENTIVES TO THE TENANT
TO DO SO OR TRY TO SELL THE
PROPERTY WITH THE TENANCY AND
ATTACHED -- THE MEMO DOESN'T
WEIGH IN ON WHETHER ANY OF
THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD OR BAD
POLICY DECISIONS, JUST THAT
THERE IS INCONSISTENCY IN THE
WAY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS
ARE ABLE TO USE THIS JUST CAUSE
AND TOWN AND CONDO UNITS ARE
NOT ABLE TO USE JUST CAUSE
BECAUSE IT IS A STATE-LEVEL
REGISTRATION THAT AS WELL AS
THE POTENTIAL PASSAGE OF THESE
BILLS THAT WILL REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF INSTANCES IN WHICH A
FIXED TERM LEASE JUST ENDS ON
ITS TERMS -- THERE WILL BE --
IT WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT
FOR A TOWNHOME OR CONDO UNIT
OWNER TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF
THE LEASE TERM AND SELL THEIR
PROPERTY WITHOUT A TENANCY
INTACT.
THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY MEAN
THAT THERE ARE DECREASED
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT IN THE
SCENARIO WHERE A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME OWNER COULD USE THE JUST
CAUSE.
SO WHAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD DO,
IT WOULD ADD THE TERM SINGLE
UNIT PROPERTY TO THE JUST CAUSE
SECTIONS OF BOTH SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS CONDO AND
TOWNHOME OWNERS COULD USE THE
JUST CAUSE -- THE JUST CAUSE
REASON IN THE SAME WAY WHETHER
THE EXISTENCE OF THIS AS A JUST
CAUSE IS A -- IS A GOOD OR BAD
POLICY -- IS NOT WHAT THIS
WEIGHS IN ON -- IT IS SIMPLY
THE INCONSISTENCY THAT EXISTS
BETWEEN WHO CAN USE THE JUST
CAUSE AND THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE
AMENDED THROUGH THIS POTENTIAL
-- THROUGH THIS POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS?
>> REAL QUICK, I WANTED TO
CIRCLE BACK, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAD ASKED ABOUT THE
FTEs SO I WENT BACK AND PULLED
UP MY NOTES REALLY QUICKLY --
INDICATED THAT ABOUT A 20%
INCREASE IN CASELOAD WILL
REQUIRE ONE FTE.
WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE
INCREASE IN CASELOAD IS.
THEY DID REFERENCE ABOUT 20% OF
THEIR CALLS OVER THE PAST THREE
YEARS HAVE BEEN ABOUT JUST
CAUSE EVICTION, SO THAT IS ONLY
ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE GIVEN
THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING IN,
SO I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK
AND LET YOU KNOW.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE
THAT, AJA.
>> THANK YOU, AJA.
I HAVE COMMENTS ON THESE
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY [
INDISCERNIBLE ], ONCE AGAIN,
WANTED TO GIVE OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENTS
FIRST.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY COMMITTEE
MEMBER WANTING TO ASK QUESTIONS
OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDMENTS.
NAUSEA, THANK YOU FOR GOING
OVER THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY
THE DEPARTMENT [ INDISCERNIBLE
] -- I WILL JUST MAKE SOME
COMMENTS ON THE NUMBER ONE IN
YOUR MEMO AND NUMBER THREE IN
YOUR MEMO.
I DON'T HAVE COMMENTS ON NUMBER
TWO JUST YET.
BUT ON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, I
THINK THIS, THE WAY [
INDISCERNIBLE ] REPORTS THIS IS
COMBINING THE APPROACH -- THE
TECHNICAL APPROACH IN TERMS OF
THE OUTCOME OF WHAT THE BILLS
ARE, IN TERMS OF THE TECHNICAL
APPROACH TAKEN BY THE DRAFT
FROM MY OFFICE AND THEN IT
COMBINES WITH THIS DRAFT -- SO
THIS IS THE VERSION OF THE BILL
THAT I DEFINITELY WANT TO
INCLUDE THIS AMENDMENT, IN
FACT, SIMILARLY, SDCI INCLUDED
A STATEMENT THAT AT THE END OF
A RENTAL TIME, THE LEASE
TRANSITIONS TO A MONTH TO
MONTH, WHICH WOULD BE A WAY TO
AMEND [ INDISCERNIBLE ] TO
COMBINE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] --
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, [
INDISCERNIBLE ] IT IS BASICALLY
COMBINING THOSE APPROACHES AND
IN FACT IT'S ALONG THE LINES [
INDISCERNIBLE ] TO DO SO, AS I
SAID, [ INDISCERNIBLE ] THE
SAME THING.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE MOVE THIS
FORWARD WHILE THE COUNCIL
NUMBERS DRAFT DOES NOT GIVE A
TIMELINE FOR WHEN THEY NEED TO
OFFER A NEW LEASE, THE TIMELINE
IS USUALLY ENFORCED BY OTHER
PARTS OF THE LAW LIKE THE 60
DAY NOTICE REQUIRED FOR RENTAL
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] BY REQUIRING
A NEW LEASE IN ADVANCE AS THE
DRAFT FROM MY OFFICE DOES, IT
EFFECTIVELY WIPES THE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FROM RISING AND
THAT IS [ INDISCERNIBLE ] BY
THE INITIATIVE THAT WAS PASSED
BY RENTERS IN THAT CITY AND ANY
REALITY RENDERS GENUINELY WANT
PEACE OF MIND IN RELATION TO
THEIR LEASE SO I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS AMENDMENT MAKES A BIG
SHIFT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT I
WILL DEFINITELY SUPPORT
INCLUDING THIS IF THIS BILL IS
BOOTED ON.
THEN, AMENDMENT 3 FROM THE [
INDISCERNIBLE ], ALSO
REGARDING THE DRAFT FROM MY
OFFICE, I WANT TO BE VERY
CLEAR, I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT FROM WE CAN
UNDERSTAND -- I MEAN, I WELCOME
SDCI TO EXPLAIN THIS
DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU HAVE A
DIFFERENT EXPERT NATION -- AS
FAR AS MY OFFICE UNDERSTANDS
IT, THIS WOULD CREATE NEW
LOOPHOLES, NEW WAYS THAT
LANDLORDS COULD EVICT RENTERS
-- OF COURSE, IF THAT'S THE
CASE, I WON'T SUPPORT THIS --
NO PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD EVICT
RENTERS TO SELL THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S NO REASON THEY CAN'T
SELL THE PROPERTY WITH A RENTER
IN THE PROPERTY AND THAT
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME THAT
AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW MORE
PROPERTY OWNERS TO EVICT FOR
THIS REASON THAN IS CURRENTLY
THE CASE SO IN OTHER WORDS AS
ALSO YOU CURRENTLY SAID THE
MEMO THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED
DOES NOT COMMENT ON WHETHER OR
NOT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ADD
THIS AMENDMENT, IT IS MERELY
POINTING A QUESTION OF
CONSISTENCY, BUT I DON'T THINK
CONSISTENCY IS THE END IN
ITSELF.
RENTERS RIGHTS ARE THE END WE
ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, AND WE
DON'T WANT TO IN THE NAME OF
CONSISTENCY PUT FORWARD
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD END UP
POTENTIALLY HURTING MORE
RENTERS THAN CURRENTLY AND AS
FAR AS WE UNDERSTAND THE
AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW MORE
PROPERTY OWNERS TO EVICT FOR
THIS REASON THAT IS CURRENTLY
THE CASE BECAUSE IT ADDS
TOWNHOUSES AND CONDO OWNERS TO
THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO CAN
EVICT THEIR RENTERS WHEN THEY
WANT TO SELL THE UNIT BUT
REALLY WE SHOULD BE GOING IN
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION [
INDISCERNIBLE ] IF WE WANT TO
BUILD A REAL TENANTS BILL OF
RIGHTS IN THIS CITY SO I WILL
STOP THERE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS --
AND ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING [
INDISCERNIBLE ].
>> I JUST ADD THESE ARE ISSUES
THE SDCI RAISED GENERALLY ABOUT
THESE BILLS WOULD BE THE
AMENDMENTS THEMSELVES ARE NOT
PROPOSED BY SDCI.
THEY ARE PROPOSED BY THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
JUST TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW THE
EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN INVOLVED.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING
THAT.
I WAS NOT CLEAR ON THAT.
I DID NOT KNOW THE AMENDMENT
WAS FROM COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
I ASSUMED IT WAS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> SURE.
SO I WILL JUST ADDRESS A COUPLE
THINGS.
WITH REGARD TO THE FIRST ONE AS
WE SAID, SDCI HAS SAID THIS
WOULD BRING THE LAW IN LINE
WITH THEIR SYSTEM OF
ENFORCEMENTS REGARDING THE
NOTICE LANDLORDS GIVE SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS
INCLUDED.
THEN WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT
THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THE SINGLE-FAMILY AND
SINGLE-FAMILY UNIT IS THAT IT
HAS BEEN KIND OF A LONG-
STANDING ISSUE WITH THE CODE.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX
IT.
IT BRINGS THOSE SITUATIONS
UNDER COST PROTECTION.
AND I THINK YOU KNOW, I DO WANT
TO MAKE THE POINT THAT CONDO
AND TOWNHOME OWNERS OWNED A
LARGE BULK OF THE RENTAL STOCK
IN SEATTLE, SO PART OF THE
APPROACH HERE IS TO ENSURE THEY
DON'T RETALIATE BY TAKING THEIR
UNITS OFF THE MARKET.
AND THEN I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
PRECISION, SO I WILL LEAVE THAT
BE.
HER -- DO -- ANY OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS HAVE ANY POINTS TO ADD?
I -- I WILL WAIT FOR A SECOND
-- I DON'T WANT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T
HAVE TIME TO SPEAK, SO PLEASE
LET ME KNOW.
DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND?
>> NO!
-- I WANTED TO COMMENT -- I
KNOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
LEGALITY, ALL THE INS AND OUTS
OF THE BILL, BUT I THINK MAKING
A STRONGER VOICE IS UNITING THE
BILLS, MAKING SURE IF IT
PASSES, WHICH I BELIEVE IT
WILL, BECAUSE WE HAVE AWESOME
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE
TODAY WITH US, AND I KNOW THAT
EVERYBODY WORKS HARD ON THE
BILL.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE
GOAL IS ALWAYS TO UNITE, TO
HAVE A BIG UNITED FRONT AND
MAKING SURE WE ARE ALL WORKING
TOGETHER CLOSELY ON A BILL THAT
WILL JUST BE GREAT FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, PEDERSON, AND THE
OTHER COUNCILMEMBER, ANDREW
LEWIS, FOR REALLY HEARING THE
COMMUNITY VOICES.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY I DO THE
WORK THAT I DO, IS WORKING
CLOSELY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS
TO PASS THESE IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION.
EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING,
HOUSE BILL 1236, WE ARE GLAD WE
HAVE STATEWIDE JUST CAUSE, BUT
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS WE
WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE STILL
HAVE TO WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, AS
A UNITED FRONT FOR ALL OF US
WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, VIOLET, I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR EMPHASIS ON
HAVING UNITY IN ORDER TO MAKE
SURE WE DON'T END UP PUTTING
THINGS LIKE THE STATE
LEGISLATION DID WHERE THEY
ADDRESS SOME PROBLEMS BUT
CREATED NEW PROBLEMS, WE
DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO DO
THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE ANY NEW
PROBLEMS.
IN FACT, I WANTED TO SEE IF ANY
OTHER OF THE COMMUNITY
PANELISTS WHO ARE HERE WANTED
TO SPEAK AS WELL.
I MEAN, I APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY'S INPUT.
I DID HAVE A COMMENT ON THE
AMENDMENT 3. I MEAN, I THINK IT
IS -- AT THIS MOMENT, I'M STILL
NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW -- WHAT
WE ARE TO CLARIFY IS A LIST OF
JUST CAUSES IS NOT A PROTECTION
FOR RENTERS.
IT IS A LIST OF EXCEPTIONS WHEN
LANDLORDS ARE ALLOWED TO EVICT
PEOPLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, ADDING ANOTHER
JUST CAUSE DOES NOT ACTUALLY
ADD PROTECTIONS.
IT ADDS MORE EXCEPTIONS.
IN FACT, AS I SAID BEFORE, NO
LANDLORD SHOULD BE ABLE TO
EVICT RENTERS IN THE NAME OF
SELLING PROPERTY.
THERE ARE SO MANY RENTERS,
COUNTLESS TENANTS HAVE FACED
DISPLACEMENT AND FACED BEING
FORCED TO RELOCATE BECAUSE
LANDLORDS WERE DOING THAT.
IN FACT, THAT IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT FUELS THE REAL
ESTATE MARKET THAT IS
UNDERWRITTEN, YOU KNOW, BY WALL
STREET BANKS, ESSENTIALLY, THIS
IS THE BOTTOM OF ALL OF THIS --
BECAUSE REPEATED REAL ESTATE
DEALS ARE WHAT GENERATE MASSIVE
PROFITS TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN THE FINANCIAL
SECTOR AND SO SELLING THE
PROPERTIES -- IT IS A HIGH
INCENTIVE IN TERMS OF [
INDISCERNIBLE ] -- IT'S TRUE
THAT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS -- I JUST
WANT TO BE CLEAR I AM HAPPY TO
COME BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING
CLARIFIED IN PREPARATION FOR
THE NEXT COMMITTEE AND I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS ALL
IT'S -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT'S
A LIST OF EXCEPTIONS WHEN
LANDLORDS ARE ALLOWED TO EVICT
PEOPLE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY WE WOULD WANT TO EXPAND
THAT LIST OF EVICTIONS THAT'S
-- THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I
UNDERSTAND FOR NOW -- ONCE
AGAIN I WOULD INVITE ANY
COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE WE CLOSE
THIS ITEM OR ANY ADDITIONL
COMMENTS TO BE MADE ON THIS --
AS I SAID, WE WILL BE COMING
BACK TO THE MEETING ON THE
25th.
SEAN, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
>> YEAH, I GUESS I WANTED TO
ECHO YOUR QUESTION FOR
COUNCILMAN MIRELES.
IT DOESN'T REALLY SEEM TO HELP
RENTERS OR SMALL LANDLORDS TO
BE ABLE TO EVICT THEIR TENANTS
PRIOR TO SELLING THE UNIT TO
ANOTHER LANDLORD, WHO ARE
INCREASINGLY THE TYPE OF BUYER,
IT SEEMS, IN THE CITY, WHY
CAN'T WE REQUIRE THE TENDENCY
TO CONTINUE BEYOND THIS SALE
UNLESS IT MEETS THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION?
WAS THERE A RATIONALE FOR THIS
AMENDMENT THAT INCORPORATES
THAT OR ADDRESSES THE ISSUE?
>> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL -- MY
UNDERSTANDING AND MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, MY UNDERSTANDING
WAS THAT OFTEN, TOWNHOMES AND
CONDOS CAN BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO
RENT THAN ENTIRE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, IF THE
CONDO OWNER FEELS -- FOR
WHATEVER REASON, THEY DON'T
WANT TO SELL WITH THE TENDENCY
IN PLACE, THEY HAVE A TENANT,
UNLESS THEY OWN THE TOWNHOME
AND CONDO AND HAVE IT FOR A
LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME THEY
WANT TO SELL AFTER A SHORTER
PERIOD OF TIME, THE INCENTIVE
FOR THEM TO RENT WOULD BE IF
THEY WERE ABLE TO USE JUST
CAUSE TO GIVE THE TENANT NOTICE
AND THEN HAVE THE TENANT BE
ABLE TO USE THAT IN MOVING OUT
RATHER THAN TRYING TO
POTENTIALLY USE SOME OTHER JUST
CAUSE TO MAKE THEIR CASE OR DO
IT THROUGH A HUGE RENT INCREASE
AND SO GIVEN THE WAY THAT
THINGS ARE NOW, THE TOWNHOUSE
AND CONDO OWNERS CANNOT PUT
THEIR UNITS ON THE RENTAL
MARKETS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME IF THEY THINK THEY CAN'T
SELL WITH THE TENANT BEING IN
PLACE.
AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T A PRO OR
CON.
IT IS JUST THE REASONING AROUND
WHY IT COULD POTENTIALLY
DECREASE THE LANDLORDS -- OR
THE POTENTIAL LANDLORDS OR
UNITS FROM OFFERING EITHER WHAT
COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOWER RENT
PROPERTIES TO TENANTS OR
SHORTER TERM LEASES TO TENANTS
IF THEY ARE HOLDING ONTO THAT
PROPERTY FOR SALE SO I HOPE
THAT'S HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU, OBJECT, FOR
ADDING THAT.
I JUST -- I MEAN -- I KNOW YOU
ARE NOT MAKING A POLITICAL
ARGUMENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT
I THINK THIS AMENDMENT IS
PROBLEMATIC AS WHAT I SAID FROM
WHAT WE UNDERSTAND WE WILL
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION BUT MY
OFFICE WILL NOT SUPPORT
ANYTHING THAT EXPANDS LANDLORD
EVICTION AND I'M ALSO NOT CLEAR
-- I DON'T KNOW IF RENTERS WERE
CONSULTED ON AMENDMENT THREE.
I'M SURE LANDLORDS WANT IT OF
COURSE -- I THINK -- YOU KNOW,
EXPANDING THE EXCEPTIONS TO
LANDLORDS AVAILABLE TO
LANDLORDS TO LEGALLY AFFECT
ONLY MAKES EVICTIONS OF RENTERS
EASIER AND ALSO BUT ALSO THIS
ARGUMENT FURTHERMORE THAT
ALLOWING RENTERS TO BE EVICTED
EASIER WILL ALLOW MORE
AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE MARKET
I DON'T -- TO ME THAT SOUNDS
LIKE A NEW LEVEL ARGUMENT WE
HEAR THESE NEW LEVEL ITEMS ALL
THE TIME INCLUDING FROM [
INDISCERNIBLE ] MINIMUM WAGE
ANY NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT [
INDISCERNIBLE ] JOBS AND THERE
IS NO DATA SO IT WOULD BE
USEFUL IF WE CAN WORK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF IN LOOKING AT
WHAT EVIDENCE THERE IS FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS
CONCESSION FOR TOWNHOUSE AND
CONDO OWNERS YOU KNOW AND IF WE
DON'T THAT THEY WILL OR THEY
WILL IN THE FUTURE OR HAVE IN
THE PAST [ INDISCERNIBLE ] I
MEAN I DON'T KNOW ANY SUCH
EVIDENCE BUT MAYBE THERE IS.
WE WILL TAKE A VERY RIGOROUS
VIEWPOINT OF THIS BUT I WILL
SAY THAT A LOT OF THE ARGUMENTS
THAT LANDLORDS MAKE THAT THEY
WILL TAKE THE RENTAL OFF THE
MARKET IF THIS HAPPENS THEY
WILL TAKE THE RENTAL OFF THE
MARKET IF THAT HAPPENS THAT IS
SOCIABLE AND ENTIRELY AND IT
TOTAL.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW.
THE FACT IS THEY MAKE THAT
ARGUMENT EVERY TIME WE PASSED
RENTERS SAY [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
FILL IN THE BLANK YOU KNOW
WHATEVER IT IS THEY ARE TALKING
ABOUT THEY WILL SAY WELL IF YOU
DO THIS THEN IT WILL DO THAT
FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS BOTH
BUT THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S NOT
TRUE.
WE KNOW IT'S NOT SUPPORTED BY
DATA SO WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
-- TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION
OFF-LINE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT.
-- IT'S 4:35.
IF COUNCILMEMBERS DON'T HAVE
FURTHER COMMENT [ INDISCERNIBLE
] ON THE 25th ESPECIALLY
MAKING SURE WE CLARIFY ALL THE
AMENDMENTS THERE'S ANOTHER
RENTAL RIGHTS BILL THAT IS ALSO
COMING ON THE 25th AND I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT -- I KNOW WE
HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME BECAUSE
WE HAVE THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS
BEING VERY PATIENT IN THESE
COMMITTEE MINIS BECAUSE WE ARE
DISCUSSING SO MANY BILLS TO
MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM RENTERS
SO WE WANT TO -- IF EVERYONE'S
OKAY WITH IT -- I WANT TO
QUICKLY MOVE TO THE LAST AGENDA
ITEM AND JUST QUICKLY GO
THROUGH A SHORT PRESENTATION
THAT MY STAFF HAVE PREPARED AND
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THE COMMITTEE
WILL QUICKLY GO OVER THE
PRESENTATION AND MAKE SURE WE
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW
OF THE BILL WHICH IS TO BAN
SCHOOL YEAR OF EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS AND ALSO
OTHER PUBLIC -- SORRY -- PUBLIC
SCHOOL STAFF [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
SORRY ON THE PREVIOUS LINE
LET'S ALSO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE
TO THIS IDEA THAT CONDOS ARE
CHEAPER TO RENT NOW AND YOU
KNOW AND HOW THAT IMPACTS WHAT
WE ARE DOING [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
SO LET'S COME BACK TO THAT AS
WELL SO I JUST WANTED TO
MENTION THAT ABOUT THAT THANK
YOU ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE IT
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
ENGAGING IN THIS TED IS IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME CAN YOU
QUICKLY GO OVER THIS
PRESENTATION AND OBVIOUSLY THIS
IS A VERY VERY IMPORTANT BILL
BECAUSE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
DEVASTATING ACTS ON EDUCATION
AND THIS PRESENTATION HAS SOME
REALLY IMPORTANT [
INDISCERNIBLE ] AND ALSO SOME
SERVICE OF PROGRESS WE MADE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THANK YOU [
INDISCERNIBLE ].
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY
BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE OVER
TIME!
SO THE COUNCIL BILL 12 0046
PROHIBITS THE EVICTION OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS DURING THE COURSE
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THE ONE CRUCIAL FACT IS THE
HOMELESSNESS AMONGST
SCHOOLCHILDREN IN SEATTLE IS
JUST SHOCKING AND DEVASTATING
PORTION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS --
THE MOST RECENT DATA SHOWS ONE
OUT OF 14 PUBLIC-SCHOOL
STUDENTS IS HOMELESS DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
RIGHT NOW, SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING
WITH HOMELESSNESS IN DIFFERENT
WAYS.
IN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL, THIS
DATA COMES FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
IT IS OVER 4000 STUDENTS, AND
THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO ARE
COUCH SURFING, PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN SHELTERS -- A LOT OF
DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE STUDENTS
ARE -- BUFFER OVER 4000
STUDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE
STABL HOUSING -- AND --
STOPPING THE EVICTIONS OF
SCHOOL-AGE FAMILIES IS A RACIAL
JUSTICE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER
ISSUE AS WELL BECAUSE THE
PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESS STUDENTS
WHO ARE BLACK IS 40% WHICH IS A
MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN
WHAT WOULD BE PROPORTIONATE --
WE WILL GET TO IT LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION -- THE DATA ALSO
SHOWS THAT WHEN PEOPLE -- WHEN
CHILDREN ARE EVICTED AND HAVE
HOUSING INSTABILITY, THAT THEN
HAS A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON
THEIR EDUCATION, SO THAT MEANS
NOT ONLY IS HOMELESSNESS AND
EVICTIONS A DISPROPORTIONATE
HARM IN ITSELF, BUT IT ALSO
THEN CARRIES OVER TO
DISPROPORTIONATE HARM IN
CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHILDREN
WHO WERE EVICTED IN SEATTLE HAD
TO CHANGE SCHOOLS AS A RESULT
WHICH IS A HUGE -- A HUGE
BURDEN ON THEIR EDUCATION.
THIS IS FROM A REPORT
COMMISSIONED BY THE WOMEN'S
COMMISSION [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
87.5% OF FAMILIES INTERVIEWED
SAID THAT -- SAID THAT THEIR
CHILDREN'S SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
SUFFERED VERY MUCH FOLLOWING
THE EVICTION.
-- 87.5% -- THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH ALL THE NATIONAL DATA ON
THE INFORMATION ON HOMELESS
STUDENTS WHO HAVE A LOWER
GRADUATION RATE.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT THIS WOULD
BE THE CASE.
IMAGINE TRYING TO DO YOUR
HOMEWORK AND STUDY AND JUST
PRIORITIZE YOUR SCHOOLWORK WHEN
YOU DON'T HAVE STABLE HOUSING.
IT IS -- SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE
TO ANYBODY.
THAT NATIONWIDE -- THE ACADEMIC
RESEARCH AGREES THAT EVICTIONS
HARM STUDENTS IN LEARNING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
HERE ARE QUOTES FROM VARIOUS
STUDIES WHICH I WON'T READ NOW
BECAUSE WE ARE OVERTIME -- BUT
WE WILL SEND OUT THIS
PRESENTATION TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AFTER THE FACT -- AND
THERE IS ALSO RESEARCH THAT
THIS BILL ALSO PREVENTS THE
EVICTION OF EDUCATORS, AND
THERE'S ALSO PLENTY OF ACADEMIC
RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT
TURNOVER OF SCHOOL STAFF ALSO
HAS A DAMAGING IMPACT ON
STUDENT LEARNING.
SO, COUNCIL BILL 1246 RELATING
TO RESIDENTIAL TENDENCIES FOR
EVICTIONS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES, EDUCATORS AND THE
SCHOOL YEAR, WHO DOES IT
PROTECT?
IT PROTECTS ALL CHILDREN AND
STUDENTS UP THROUGH 12th GRADE.
IF SOMEBODY IS A 12th GRADE
STUDENT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE 18
OR 19, THEY WOULD STILL BE
PROTECTED.
SO ALL STUDENTS UP THROUGH 12th
GRADE AN ALL CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU
CAN'T -- YOU KNOW -- NOT EVICT
A FIRST GRADER BUT EVICTED
THEIR GUARDIANS -- IT DOESN'T
WORK -- AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
INCLUDING PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH
SCHOOL.
WHEN ARE THE EVICTIONS BANNED?
OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD LOVE TO BAN
EVICTIONS OF SCHOOLCHILDREN.
PERIOD.
THIS BILL BANS THE EVICTION OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN DURING THE
ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THOSE -- IF
THIS WAS IN PLACE, IT RUNS FROM
SEPTEMBER 4th TO JUNE 18th
2021.
IT GOES BASED ON THE SCHOOL
YEAR OF SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO
THIS BILL.
THE TIMES WHEN THE EVICTIONS
ARE NOT BANNED IS WHEN OTHER
LAWS REQUIRE THE EVICTIONS, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THE BUILDING IS
CONDEMNED AND THE LANDLORD IS
REQUIRED BY LAW TO EVICT THE
TENANTS THEN THIS PROTECTION IS
NOT IN PLACE OR THE LANDLORD IS
REQUIRED BY LAW TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS IN THE
BUILDING OR THESE STATEWIDE
LAWS REGARDING SERIOUS ILLEGAL
OR DANGEROUS ACTIVITY IN THE
UNIT -- THAT -- THOSE ARE ALSO
EXCEPTIONS.
THERE ARE SOME PRECEDENTS TO
THIS BILL.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO PRESENT MORE
ON THIS GOING FORWARD, BUT ONE
PLACE THAT WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE
WERE PREPARING THIS LEGISLATION
IS THE BAN ON WINTER EVICTIONS
THAT SAWANT THAT WAS PASSED ON
FEBRUARY 2020.
THAT BILL -- THAT BILL HAS A
LEGISLATIVE SENSE, THE SAME
STRUCTURE AS THIS BILL.
IT HAS A TIME OF YEAR WHEN
EVICTIONS -- WHEN RENTERS HAVE
A DEFENSE AGAINST EVICTION.
THE LANDLORD DOES NOT SUCCEED
IN EVICTING RENTERS DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THIS BILL USES THE SAME
LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE AS THAT.
THE BILL BANNING WINTER
EVICTIONS GOES FROM DECEMBER
1st TO MARCH 1st.
IT IS NOT SCHOOLCHILDREN, IT IS
RENTERS IN GENERAL.
THIS BILL IS TIED TO
SCHOOLCHILDREN, FAMILIES AND
EDUCATORS, IT IS FOR THE ENTIRE
COURSE OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR --
ANOTHER PRECEDENT TO LOOK AT IS
SAN FRANCISCO RENT ORDINANCE
SECTION 37.9 J THAT WAS AMENDED
IN 2016 TO SIMILARLY PROTECT
SCHOOLCHILDREN, STUDENTS,
EDUCATORS FROM EVICTION DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT BILL AS WE DISCUSSED IS
FAR MORE LIMITED THAN THIS BILL
BECAUSE IT IS LIMITED TO ONLY
CERTAIN TYPES OF NO-FAULT
EVICTIONS LIKE IF THE LANDLORD
WANTS TO REDEVELOP THE PROPERTY.
THAT IS -- BUT THE SAN
FRANCISCO LEGISLATION DOES NOT
INCLUDE THINGS LIKE NONPAYMENT
OF RENT AND THOSE ISSUES.
THERE IS COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT
BEHIND THE IDEA BEHIND THE
EVICTION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN.
THIS WAS RAISED BY ZACHARY
DEWOLFE THE SEATTLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING
EDUCATORS IN SEATTLE FOR [
INDISCERNIBLE ] PASSED
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
PASSING THIS BILL AND WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S OFFICE
WILL BE SHARING A COMMUNITY
PETITION SO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC LISTENING TODAY SHOULD
CHECK YOUR EMAIL BOXES FOR THAT
PETITION COMING OUT SOON -- SO
SOME NEXT STEPS, ON MAY 25th
THE NEXT MEETING [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THAT IS WHEN
THE COMMITTEE INTENDS TO HOLD A
VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION SO
PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS NOW, JEFF SIMS FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF IS
BACKING THE BILL AND IS
PREPARING A MEMO TO TALK ABOUT
HIS TIMELINE TODAY FOR THAT
MEMO HE WILL HAVE IT GRAPHED
OUT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS THIS
WEEK BUT IN TERMS OF HAVING
MEMO PREPARED FOR MAY 25th THAT
INCLUDES ANY POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS THAT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS MAY HAVE IF YOU SEND
THAT INFORMATION TO JEFF BY
THIS FRIDAY MAY 14th, ANY
INTENDED AMENDMENTS -- THAT
WOULD GIVE HIM NEXT WEEK IN
ORDER TO WORK WITH YOU IN ORDER
ON DRAFTING THAT LANGUAGE --
GET IT REVIEWED BY THE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BY NEXT
FRIDAY, A WEEK FROM FRIDAY --
IT WILL PUBLISH THE MEMO THAT
INCLUDES THE AMENDMENTS SO THAT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN REVIEW IT
IN [ INDISCERNIBLE ] THE
INTENDED VOTES ON MAY 25th --
SO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS,
NOW IS THE TIME.
>> CAN I ASK -- THANK YOU FOR
THE PRESENTATION -- IT WAS
EXTREMELY HELPFUL -- ONE THING
I HAD TO ADD ABOUT HOW IS THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION THAT THEY PUT
FORWARD DIFFERENT THAN THE BILL
THAT WAS PASSED -- THAT WAS
PASSED IN SAN FRANCISCO YOU
KNOW -- WHAT THEY ARE DOING
DIFFERENTLY, HERE.
>> WE LOOKED TO THE BILL IN SAN
FRANCISCO FOR A LOT OF GUIDANCE
ABOUT WHO WOULD BE -- WHO WOULD
BE COVERED THROUGHOUT SAN
FRANCISCO -- IT COVERS
SCHOOLCHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES
AND EDUCATORS AND COVERS ALL
EDUCATORS.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF
GOOD INFORMATION ON HOW TO
DEFINE THOSE TERMS FOR SAN
FRANCISCO ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY
THESE DEFINITIONS ARE UPDATED
TO MATCH OTHER PARTS OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
HOWEVER, THE BILL IN SAN
FRANCISCO IN TERMS OF WHAT
SORTS OF EVICTIONS IT COVERS IS
FAR MORE LIMITED.
IT COVERS CERTAIN NO-FAULT
EVICTIONS FROM THE LANDLORD WHO
WANTS TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING
OR DO SUBSTANTIAL RESERVATIONS
IN THE BUILDING AND WANTS TO
EVICT THE TENANTS FOR THOSE
REASONS IN SAN FRANCISCO, THOSE
ARE THE TYPES OF EVICTIONS THAT
ARE NOT COVERED.
THOSE TYPES OF EVICTIONS ARE
NOT COVERED BY THE BILL BY
COUNCIL BILL 1246 -- COUNCIL
BILL 1246 ALSO INCLUDES THE
TYPES OF EVICTIONS LIKE BEING
BEHIND ON YOUR RENT OR NOT
FOLLOWING CERTAIN TERMS OF THE
RENT AND THOSE ARE THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE
EVICTIONS THAT HAPPEN IN
SEATTLE -- LOSING HOME REPORT
COMMISSIONED BY THE SEATTLE
LIMITS COMMISSION WENT AND
BROKE DOWN WHERE THE REASONS
WHY PEOPLE WERE BEING INFECTED
-- THE FORMAL REASON THAT WAS
BROUGHT TO COURT -- IT IS WELL
OVER 90% OF THE REASONS ARE
THINGS THAT WOULD -- WELL OVER
90% OF THE ACTUAL EVICTIONS
THAT WERE SEEN IN KING COUNTY
-- IN KING COUNTY COURT -- WELL
OVER 90% OF THEM [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THAT ARE
COVERED BY THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY CLARIFYING.
IT'S IMPORTANT AS HE SAID TO
KEEP IN MIND THE OVERWHELMING
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE -- RENTERS
WHO ARE EVICTED JUST BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP
WITH RENT FOR VARIOUS REASONS
NOW OF COURSE THAT'S THE
PARAMOUNT REASON AND THAT'S
ALSO THE REASON YOU ACCUMULATED
THAT WAS BECAUSE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] JOBS AND INCOME
DURING THE RECESSION AND AS
COLTON POINTED OUT MANY HAVE
STILL NOT RECOVERED.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED I AM INCLINED TO ADJOURN
THE COMMITTEE VERY SOON.
I JUST WANT TO REGISTER QUICKLY
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] MAY 25th
WE WILL VOTE THE JUST CAUSE --
VOTING THE JUST CAUSE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE BAN ON THE
EVICTIONS OF SCHOOL KIDS AND
THEIR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS
AND SCHOOL STAFF -- [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FORWARD FOR
POTENTIAL VOTE SO I WOULD JUST
REITERATE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
QUESTIONS CONCERNS COMMENTS
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE
ARE ANY AMENDMENTS [
INDISCERNIBLE ] THE TIMELINE
AND ALSO JUST WANT TO SHARE
BECAUSE THIS WAS ON OUR PUBLIC
MEETINGS HAPPENING OVER ZOOM
THERE WAS A QUESTION FROM A
RENTER SEAN BUTTERFIELD IN THE
CHAT THAT I WANT TO READ OUT TO
MAKE SURE WE RECORD IT THEN
COME BACK TO IT -- THE QUESTION
IS HAVING A TENANT IN THE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] SALE I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD IF THE
NEW OWNER WANTS TO REDEVELOP
THE PROPERTY OR MOVE INTO THE
PROPERTY THEY HAVE THOSE
OPTIONS UNDER THE JUST CAUSE
EVICTION CRITERIA THANK YOU
SEAN FOR THE QUESTION AND JUST
TO MAKE CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC THE QUESTION GOES BACK
TO THE EARLIER DISCUSSION ABOUT
THE AMENDMENT THAT PROPOSED [
INDISCERNIBLE ] MARIAH ELLIS
PROPOSED TO EXPAND THE
EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO ENLARGE TO ALSO INCLUDE
TOWNHOUSE AND CONDO OWNERS AS
WELL WHICH AS I SAID IN MY
REVIEW THAT IS ACTUALLY A STEP
BACKWARD FOR RENTERS [
INDISCERNIBLE ] WE WANT TO
MAKE PROGRESS [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
WE WILL COME BACK TO ALL OF
THESE DISCUSSIONS AND IF THERE
ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS I WILL
ONCE AGAIN THANK ALL THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND [
INDISCERNIBLE ] PUBLIC COMMENT
WHO JOINED IN THE COMMITTEE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] FOR YOUR INPUT
AND ALSO THANKS TO ALL THE
RENTERS AND WORKING ORDINARY
PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING
ORGANIZED -- THE VARIOUS PEOPLE
HAVE DEMONSTRATED -- THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] AND I WILL ON
THAT NOTE ADJOURN.