>>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE.
THIS IS THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RENTERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE .
TODAY IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18th,
2022 AND THE TIME IS 9:31 A.M.
I AM THE CHAIR, KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNTY JUAREZ?
THREE PRESENT.
>> WELCOME TO THE MEMBERS THAT
ARE PRESENT TODAY FOR THIS
COMMITTEE.
FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ SAID SHE WOULD BE UNABLE
TO ATTEND TODAY'S COMMITTEE
MEETING AND IS EXCUSED.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
IT IS A COMMUNITY PANEL
DISCUSSION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE PANDEMIC MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS IN SEATTLE AND WE
KNOW THIS MORATORIUM HAS BEEN
PLACED TO DEAL WITH THE COVID
EMERGENCY.
LAST FRIDAY, MAYOR HARRELL
ANNOUNCED HE ANNOUNCED WILL END
THIS MONTH HIS DECISION TO LET
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRE
IS A PLAN TO ALLOW THE EVICTION
OF THOUSANDS OF WORKING-CLASS
RENTERS IN SEATTLE STARTING ON
MARCH 1st.
THIS IS INHUMANE AND
UNACCEPTABLE.
AS OF DECEMBER, AN ESTIMATED
96,000 SEATTLE AREA RENTERS
WERE BEHIND ON RENT AS
INDICATED BY CENSUS SURVEYS.
THOSE FACING EVICTION ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK,
WORKING-CLASS RENTERS AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE ALSO
KNOW FROM THE RESEARCH THAT HAS
BEEN DONE BY THE HOUSING
PROJECT NEARLY RESULTED
HOMELESSNESS.
AFTER SEEING THE MAYOR'S
ANNOUNCEMENT, MY OFFICE
REQUESTED CENTRAL STAFF TO
PREPARE COUNCIL LEGISLATION TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
THROUGH THE END OF THE COVID
EMERGENCY.
IT IS LEGISLATION WE HAVE
RESEARCHED IN T█HE PAST WHEN
FORMER MAYOR DURKAN CONSIDERED
ENDING THE MORATORIUM, BUT
ULTIMATELY AT THAT TIME IT WAS
NOT NECESSARY TO BRING IT
FORWARD BECAUSE UNDER THE
PRESSURE OF THE RENTERS' RIGHTS
MOVEMENT, DURKIN HAD TO
ULTIMATELY AGREE TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM BY THREE MONTHS.
THE LEGISLATION IS A LEGISLATION
THAT MODIFIES THE EMERGENCY
ORDER ISSUED BY FORMER MAYOR
DURKAN CREATING THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
NORMALLY CITY RESOLUTIONS DO
NOT HAVE LEGAL WEIGHT IN THE
SENSE THAT AN ORDINANCE MIGHT
HAVE, BUT RESOLUTONS MODIFYING
EMERGENCY ORDERS ARE A SPECIAL
CASE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
THERE IS A CHANGE TO THE END
DATE THROUGH THE END OF THE
COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT EVERY
TYPE OF LEGISLATION HAS ITS
DRAWBACKS.
MAYOR HARRELL AS MAYOR DOES
HAVE THE POWER TO END AN
EMERGENCY ORDER OR END THE
STATE OF EMERGENCY AS A WHOLE.
IF THIS LEGISLATION PASSES,
WHICH I HOPE IT DOES BECAUSE IT
IS THE ONLY RIGHT AND MORAL AND
JUST THING TO DO, BUT IF THIS
RESOLUTION PASSES AND THE MAYOR
DOES THAT, WHICH IS END THE
EMERGENCY ORDER, WHICH AS I
SAID HE HAS THE LEGAL POWER TO
DO SO, WE WILL NEED TO RESPOND.
AGAIN, IT WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY
IMMORAL RESPONSE FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IF THAT WERE TO
HAPPEN.
THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN SENT
FOR INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
I HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE
PRODUCED NEXT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY
22nd. WE HAVE LEARNED THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WILL PLACE
THE LEGISLATION ON THIS
TUESDAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR. IT IS
FORMALLY INTRODUCED BUT WILL
NOT SCHEDULE IT FOR A VOTE
UNTIL THE COUNCIL MEETING ON
THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY, MARCH
1st.
WE CANNOT BE FOOLED BY
EXAGGERATED CLAIMS ABOUT
DECLINING COVID CASES.
THE FATALITY RATE FROM COVID IS
FRIGHTENINGLY HIGH BOTH IN THE
UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY.
IN FACT, THE DAILY FATALITY RATE
IS NEARLY AS HIGH AS DURING THE
PEAKS OF EARLIER WAVES IN THE
PANDEMIC.
ENDING THE MORATORIUM NOW WOULD
END IN A DEADLY WAVE OF
INFECTIONS AND INCREASED
HOMELESSNESS. WE KNOW EVEN
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, CONDITIONS
FOR RENTERS IN SEATTLE HAVE
ALREADY BECOME INTOLERABLE.
SKYROCKETING RENTS FORCED MANY
WORKING-CLASS RENTERS OUT OF
THEIR HOMES AND SOMETIMES OUT
OF THE CITY ENDED THE
HOMELESSNESS.
THE PANDEMIC HAS MASSIVELY
EXACERBATED THAT CRISIS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS STILL IN
THE STATE OF A SIMILAR
EMERGENCY, BUT IT APPEARS THE
EMERGENCY MEASURES THAT
NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PROFITS
OF BIG BUSINESS ARE THE FIRST
TO END, WHILE EMERGENCY
MEASURES PROTECTING THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND THE
PROFITS OF REAL ESTATE
CORPORATIONS REMAIN IN PLACE.
COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD
REMOTELY, BUT PEOPLE CAN JOIN
FROM THEIR HOMES. IN OTHER
WORDS, IF THIS MORATORIUM IS
ALLOWED TO END, ORDINARY
PEOPLE, WORKING PEOPLE, THE
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE CAN BE
EVICTED BUT ARE UNABLE TO COME
IN PERSON TO CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS TO OBJECT TO THOSE
MEASURES.
MAYOR HARRELL HAS ATTEMPTED TO
JUSTIFY ENDING THE MORATORIUM
BY REFERENCING PAST VICTORIES
THAT WERE WON BY HER RENTING
MOVEMENTS, SUCH AS RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUNDS INTO CERTAIN
SITUATIONS.
THOSE VICTORIES ARE IMPORTANT
AND MY OFFICE HAS SPONSORED AND
COSPONSORED MANY AND FOUGHT FOR
ALL OF THEM, BUT THEY ARE NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR EXTENDING THE
LIFELINE OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
THE MORATORIUM MEANS RENTERS
CANNOT BE SENT TO EVICTION COURT
. IT IS A STRONGER PROTECTION
THAN A A DEFENSE JURISDICTION,
WHICH MEANS RENTERS CAN AWARD
EVICTION BUT THERE IS A
MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE TWO.
STATISTICALLY AS THE HOUSING
PROJECT HAS INFORMED US, HALF OF
RENTERS SERVED PAPERWORK DO NOT
CHALLENGE THE EVICTION IN COURT
AND ARE CONSEQUENTLY EVICTED.
IN OTHER WORDS, NEARLY HALF OF
EVICTIONS OUR FAULT EVICTIONS.
IF THAT HAPPENS, OPPORTUNITY
WOULD NOT SAVE YOUR HOME
BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAD YOUR DAY
IN COURT.
MY OFFICE HAS DISCUSSED THE
PROBLEM ON EVICTIONS AT SEVERAL
MEETINGS LAST YEAR.
RENTER ADVOCATES WILL KNOW
THAT.
WE HAVE HAD VERY HELPFUL INPUT
FROM THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT IN THIS COMMITTEE.
LAST YEAR MY OFFICE WORKED ON
OTHER RENTERS RIGHTS, WHICH WE
WERE ABLE TO WIN THANKS TO
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, INCLUDING
THE PANEL WE WILL HAVE THIS
MORNING.
I REPEATEDLY SAID MY OFFICE
INTENDS ON ENDING EVICTIONS AND
I WANT TO REITERATE THAT
COMMITMENT ONCE AGAIN.
RIGHT NOW THE URGENT PRIORITY
IS TO PROTECT OUR MOST
VULNERABLE RENTERS.
IN TODAY'S DISCUSSION, WE WILL
HAVE A PANEL OF COMMUNITY
LEADERS IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR
THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON MARCH
1st.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE AGENDA
ITEM, WE, OF COURSE, HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE HAVE ABOUT 22 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL READ EACH PERSON'S NAME.
I WILL APPEAL TO EVERYONE TO
KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO ONE
MINUTE.
ORDINARILY WE WOULD HAVE TWO
MINUTES, BUT SINCE WE HAVE
SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN HEAR FROM EVERYONE.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ABOUT A
MINUTE.
IT'S OKAY IF YOU GO OVER A
LITTLE BIT, BUT TRY TO WRAP UP
SO WE CAN HEAR FROM EVERYBODY
WHO HAS SIGNED UP.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU WILL
BE PROMPTED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PLEASE HIT STAR SIX ON YOUR
PHONE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF AND
BEGIN.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ANGIE
GERALD. GO AHEAD, ANGIE.
'S BEEN A GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ANGIE AND I AM A
SMALL LANDLORD IN BALLARD.
FOCUS ON RENT RELIEF AND OTHER
OFF RIMS THAT PREVENT FINANCIAL
EVICTIONS.
TENANTS WHO VIOLATE THEIR
LEASE, WHETHER IT IS PROPERTY
DAMAGE, HARASSMENT, REFUSAL TO
VACATE, OR OTHER UNSUSTAINABLE
ACTIONS SHOULD NOT BE PROTECTED
BY A NEVER ENDING MORATORIUM.
HOUSING PROVIDERS NEED TO BE
ABLE TO RELY ON CONTRAST LAW,
MEDIATION, AND THE JUDICIAL
SYSTEM TO PROTECT OURSELVES,
OUR PROPERTY, OTHER TENANTS AND
NEIGHBORS.
IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO
CONTINUALLY EXTEND A BROAD
SOCIAL POLICY THAT ANYONE HAS
THE RIGHT TO SIMPLY NOT PAY
RENT OR VACATE THE PREMISES ON
THE BACKS OF THE SMALLEST
LANDLORDS.
THE CITY'S RENTAL REGISTRY
SHWS ONGOING HEMORRHAGING OF
SMALL-SCALE RENTAL UNITS, WHICH
MEANS FEWER OPTIONS FOR RENTERS
AND GREATER INEQUITIES IN
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER FIVE
YEARS SINCE THE CITY COUNCIL
INCLUDED ANY SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS IN ANY DISCUSSIONS OR
ANALYSIS. STOP GOVERNING IN AN
ECO-CHAMBER.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE ADA KATO NEXT. GO
AHEAD, ADA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS IDA COTTER.
I HAVE ONE SMALL FAMILY HOME IN
SEATTLE AND I ASK YOU TO NOT
SUPPORT THE EXTENSION OF THE
COVID EVICTION MORATORIUM.
I HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM
úMOVING INTO MY OWN HOME BY
HOSTILE SQUATTERS WHO WERE
DAMAGING MY HOME AND OWES
$50,000 IN RENT.
I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SLEEP ON
FRIENDS' COUCHES FOR THE PAST
YEAR.
MY TENANT HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED
BY COVID AND IS NOT SEEKING
RENT RELIEF.
AT THIS POINT, TWO YEARS IN, WE
NEED TO FOCUS ON RENT RELIEF,
NOT EVICTION MORATORIUM. AT
THIS POINT, I WILL HAVE TO SELL
MY HOME.
WE ARE LOSING ANOTHER RENTAL
FROM THE SEATTLE MARKET. PLEASE
CONSIDER A PARTNER IN THE
HOUSING NETWORK AND DO NOT
DEMONIZE US AS A GROUP THAT IS
CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR THE CITY.
>> COREY BREWER, THEN KATE
MARTIN.
GO AHEAD, COREY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
COREY BREWER REPRESENTING SMALL
MOM AND POP PROVIDERS ACROSS
THE CITY.
IT IS IRONIC THAT THIS IS NAMED
THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
CONSIDERING THE POLICY BROUGHT
FORTH BY THIS COMMITTEE HAS
RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF 14.7%
OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTAL
HOUSES. IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
THAT IS NEARLY 5000 HOMES NO
LONGER AVAILABLE FOR RENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS BEEN
WARNING US ALL ABOUT THIS
TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS ONCE THE
MORATORIUM FINALLY ENDS, BUT IT
IS NOT OFFERED HAPPENING IN
OTHER CITIES OR STATES WHERE
MORATORIUMS HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED
. I'D ALSO LIKE TO GO ON RECORD
TO STATE THAT I HAVE BEEN
ASKING HER FOR A MEETING FOR
NEARLY THREE YEARS, AND THOUGH
SHE HAS TALKED ABOUT ME
PUBLICLY ON A NUMBER OF
OCCASIONS, SHE STILL WON'T TALK
DIRECTLY TO ME. THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM WITH THE MORATORIUM AS
A PROTECTS BAD BEHAVIOR. YOU
WILL HEAR PLENTY OF STORIES
ABOUT THAT TODAY.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO START
EVICTING PEOPLE.
WE ARE HERE TO GET A HANDLE ON
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND
PROTECTION ASSIST IN MANY FORMS
BEYOND THE MORATORIUM.
THAT IS WHERE EVERYONE NEEDS TO
FOCUS THEIR ENERGY. THIS
MORATORIUM ENABLING BAD
BEHAVIOR SHOULD HAVE ENDED LONG
AGO.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS BRETT, FOLLOWED BY
KATE, AND THEN MARILYN.
GO AHEAD, BRETT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
FOR THE RECORD, BRETT LOONEY
FROM THE DISTRICT TO AND THE
DISTRICT 3. I AM CALLING AND
RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD TAKE THE
LEAD AND ENSURE QUICK
DISTRIBUTION OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. FOR TWO YEARS, THE
BURDEN HAS BEEN ON THE BACKS OF
HOUSING PROVIDES.
DURING THE PRESENTATION TODAY,
WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
TENANT ADVOCATES SHARING A
POTENTIAL WAVE OF EVICTIONS.
THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
ONCE AGAIN, SMALL MOM AND POP
LANDLORDS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF
THE DIALOGUE FOR THE CHAIR'S
DECISION.
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ABOUT THE NEED
TO END THE MORATORIUM.
OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT RENTERS
WHO HAVE BEEN PAYING AND TAKE
OWNERSHIP FROM THE BAD ACTORS
WHO CAN, BUT CHOOSE NOT TO PAY
AS WELL AS THE VIOLENT PEOPLE
WHO HARM OUR COMMUNITY.
LOOK AT THE DATA.
10% OF RENTAL HOUSING
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN LOST IN
THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS ALONG.
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM WILL
ONLY FURTHER DECREASE RENTAL
STOPS AND HURT THOSE IN HOUSING
THE MOST.
END THE MORATORIUM AND
DISTRIBUTE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE KATE MARTIN NEXT
FOLLOWED BY MADELEINE AND AIDAN
. GO AHEAD, KATE.
>> MY NAME IS KATE MARTIN AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. I AM AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER.
MY HOUSEMATES AND I ARE
TERRORIZED BY THE BEHAVIOR OF
THE FOLKS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
PLEASE DO NOT EXTEND IT.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD THE KIND OF
TROUBLE WITH HOUSEMATES WE HAD
EXPERIENCED THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THEIR LEGISLATION HAS ENABLED
THE TROUBLEMAKERS, NOT JUST
THOSE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK.
ONE PULLED A DAGGER AND GONE ON
US.
THE OTHER MADE THE HOUSE ON
SLEEP TROUBLE WITH DISRUPTIONS.
WE HAD TO LEAVE RENTAL SPACES
EMPTY TO ASSURE OURSELVES
ANOTHER SQUATTER WILL NOT WIND
UP IN OUR HOME AGAIN.
PLEASE THINK OF OTHER WAYS TO
HELP PEOPLE RATHER THAN KEEP
THEM ON A SMALL LANDLORDS'
SHARED HOUSING, LIKE MYSELF.
THE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT
PART OF THE PROBLEM.
STOP PUNISHING US.
PLEASE END THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM NOW.
>> MADELEINE, FOLLOWED BY AIDAN
AND JESSICA.
GO AHEAD, MADELEINE.
>> HI, THIS IS MARILYN, A SMALL
HOUSING PROVIDER IN DISTRICT 6.
THE COMMUNITY PANEL DISCUSSION
IS MISSING KEY IMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS.
THE VERY SAME MOM-AND-POP
PROVIDERS ARE THOSE BEARING THE
FRONT OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM.
LAST WEEK, ECONOMISTS DISCUSSED
IN DETAIL HOW THE FOREVER
MORATORIUM IS PUSHING RENT UP
AND CAUSING A LONG-TERM
DOWNSIDE TO RENTAL HOUSING.
THERE ARE DOCUMENTED DROPS IN
RENTAL REGISTRATIONS IN EIGHT
MONTHS.
93% ARE MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING
OFFERED BY SMALL MOM AND POPS.
WE OFFER AMPLE PROTECTION. IN
ADDITION TO BEING DEPRIVED OF
ECONOMIC VALUE AND RELIEF.
THAT HAILS IN COMPARISON TO
STAY OR MOVE OUT OF YOUR OWN
HOME OR NOT ABLE TO MOVE IN AT
ALL BECAUSE A VIOLENT ASSAILANT
HAS MORE RIGHT TO STAY IN A
HOME THEN YOU DO THANKS TO THE
MORATORIUM.
THIS IS UNJUST.
I AM GRATEFUL THE MAYOR IS
DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT I'M
CALLING ON THIS COMMITTEE TO
END THE MORATORIUM.
WE NEED ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO
ACTUALLY NEED IT.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE AIDAN FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA AND THEN BARBARA.
GO AHEAD, AIDAN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS AIDAN ARE DOWN AND I
LIVE IN DISTRICT 6. IT IS TIME
TO END THE EVICTION BAN
MORATORIUM. PRIVATE LANDLORDS
CAN NO LONGER ABSORB THE COSTS
AS A RESULT OF NOT PAYING OR
DANGER RISK OR DESTRUCTION
TENANTS. PUBLIC HOUSING
PROVIDERS CAN COME BACK TO THE
CITY AND GET MONEY TO MAKE THEM
WHOLE.
PRIVATE LANDLORDS DON'T HAVE
THAT LUXURY.
HOW MANY MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS
OWNED BY SMALL-SCALE PRIVATE
LANDLORDS DO YOU PLAN ON TAKING
OFF THE RENTAL MARKET?
ARE YOU TRYING TO DOUBLE THE
CLOSE TO 3000 UNITS THAT HAVE
ALREADY FALLEN OFF? END THE VAN
AND THEN DEBORAH.
GO AHEAD, JESSICA.
>> IS A JESSICA THERE?
>> YES.
YES, HI, MY NAME IS JESSICA AND
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7. I HAVE A
SMALL APARTMENT BUILDING WITH
SIX UNITS AND I AM ASKING FOR
THE END OF THE MORATORIUM.
I THINK IT IS TIME TO BRING
SMALL LANDLORDS INTO THE
CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF IT FOR
TOO LONG.
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS ONE
THING, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY
OTHER AVENUES FOR RENTERS TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TO BE ABLE TO
GET HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT.
JUST HAVING THIS BLANKET OVER
AND OVER RECEIVING EVICTION
MORATORIUMS IS PUTTING BURDEN
ON SMALLTIME LANDLORDS AND
TAKING MORE AND MORE RENTAL
UNITS OUT OF THE POOL. WE HAVE
NOT BEEN LISTENED TO.
WE ARE NOT PART OF THE
CONVERSATION.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
WE ARE NOT ANTI-RENTER.
WE WANT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE.
PLEASE BRING US INTO THE
CONVERSATION SO WE CAN BE PART
OF THE SOLUTION AND STOP
ALIENATING THE TWO SIDES FROM
EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU.
>> BARBARA, FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH
AND THEN BRUCE.
GO AHEAD, BARBARA.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SAWANT.
MY NAME IS BARBARA AND I AM A
RETIRED RN HOMEOWNER IN
DISTRICT 5. FROM EXPERIENCE, I
KNOW THAT ONE EVICTION ON A
BLOCK IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST
ONE, IS A DESTABILIZING EVENT
THAT REVERBERATES THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT
EVICTIONS, NOT LIFTING THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM. AS OF
DECEMBER 21st, AN ESTIMATED
96,000 SEATTLE METRO AREA
RENTERS WERE BEHIND ON RENT.
JUST DAYS AGO, KING COUNTY
ANNOUNCED IT HAS RUN OUT OF
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS FOR
RENTERS AND IS NOT TAKING ANY
MORE APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE
. THOSE FACING EVICTION ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK,
WORKING-CLASS RENTERS AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE CHAIR HAS
POINTED OUT 9 OUT OF 10
EVICTIONS RESULT IN
HOMELESSNESS.
DO NOT END THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> DEBORAH, FOLLOWED BY BRUCE
AND REVEREND ROBERT JEFFREY.
GO AHEAD, DEBORAH.
>> HI.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 AND I AM
CALLING AS A NEIGHBOR.
THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET
BELONGS TO A RETIRED COUPLE FOR
20 YEARS.
WHEN SHE DIED IN THE HOUSE, HER
DAUGHTER MOVED INTO THE HOUSE
WITHOUT PERMISSION AND HAS
SINCE THEN LIVED WITHOUT PAYING
ANY RENT WHATSOEVER.
SHE HAS PEOPLE, I THINK,
RENTING FROM HER IN THAT HOUSE,
FROM WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED FROM
ACROSS THE STREET.
SHE IS LIVING THERE WITH HER
BOYFRIEND AND PEOPLE SHE RUNS
ROOMS TO AND HAS NOT PAID THE
RETIRED COUPLE WHO RAISED THEIR
CHILDREN IN THAT HOUSE ADD HAVE
INTENTIONS OF MOVING BACK INTO
THE HOUSE AND ARE NOT ABLE TO.
THE RENTERS ARE ABUSIVE.
THEY KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD UP
AT NIGHT WITH FIGHTS IN THE
YARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY HAVE ALSO ACCUMULATED
GARBAGE IN THE BACKYARD, THAT I
HELPED CLEAN OUT BECAUSE THE
CITY STARTED FINING THEM FOR
THIS BEHAVIOR.
THE NEEDLES AND OTHER GARBAGE
WE CLEANED UP WAS BEYOND BELIEF.
YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED IN SEATTLE
FOR A LONG TIME AND WHAT I'VE
SEEN HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF
THESE MORATORIUMS AND SOME OF
THE RENT RESTRICTIONS IS THAT
IT IS PUSHING WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE, LIKE MYSELF, OUT OF THE
CITY.
I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN A
HOME HERE, BUT IN THE PAST, I
WAS A RENTER FOR MANY YEARS.
THROUGH THE GRACIOUSNESS OF
MANY SMALL LANDLORDS, I WAS
ABLE TO RAISE MY SON AS A
SINGLE MOTHER IN SEATTLE WHEN I
DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
I'M SAD TO SEE THIS AND I'M
SPEAKING TODAY TO HELP THE
OTHER SMALL LANDLORDS, LIKE
THOSE WHO DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO
BE LANDLORDS.
YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THESE
PEOPLE.
THEY PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT IS
INVALUABLE. I'M SAD TO SEE
WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE YOU
CAN WORK WITH THE SMALL
LANDLORDS IF YOU CAN'T MAKE RENT
ONE MONTH.
YOU CAN'T WITH CORPORATIONS
THAT WILL END UP RUNNING ALL OF
THESE PROPERTIES.
PLEASE, END THE MORATORIUM.
>> BRUCE, FOLLOWED BY REVEREND
ROBERT JEFFREY AND THEN -- I'M
SORRY, I'M NOT ABLE TO SAY THE
NAME.
BUT GO AHEAD, BRUCE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS BRUCE BECKER AND I
AND A SMALL LANDLORD. THE
PROPERTY I RENT IS IN DISTRICT
FOR. I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO
ALLOW THE BLANKET MORATORIUM TO
END.
THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS IT DOES
NOT ADDRESS ANY FINANCIAL
DIFFICULTY. IT ALLOWS TENANTS
WHO ARE CREATING PROBLEMS FOR
LANDLORDS NOT PAYING RENT, EVEN
THOUGH THEY CAN PAY RENT.
IT IS NOT NEEDS BASED.
THEY ARE ALSO NOT FOLLOWING THE
LEASE IN OTHER WAYS. THEY ARE
DAMAGING PROPERTY AND THE SALON.
FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT,
THE STATE AND THE CITY HAVE
PROVIDED MEANS. AS I UNDERSTAND
FROM THE NEWSPAPER, THERE ARE
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE ONCE
AN EVICTION IS STARTED.
IT CANNOT BE USED UNTIL AN
EVICTION IS STARTED.
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALLOW THE
MORATORIUM TO END.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS REVEREND ROBERT
JEFFREY, FOLLOWED BY A MAL.
>> I AM CALLING TO EXPRESS MY
OPPOSITION TO THE LIFTING OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE
COVID-19 EFFECT. WHILE THERE
MAY BE ISOLATED CASES, THERE
ARE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON THIS
MORATORIUM TO BE ABLE TO
SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES AND TO
GET THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE
SITUATION THAT THE COUNTRY IS
IN.
I BELIEVE THAT AN EXTENSION IS,
AT THIS POINT, NECESSARY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THE
CITY SAYING WE HAVE RUN OUT OF
ASSISTANCE MONEY.
SUPPORT RENTERS. WE HAVE TO BE
HUMANE.
I KNOW THAT I AM A SMALL RENTER
MYSELF, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL
PICTURE.
FAMILIES WILL BE SLEEPING IN
THEIR CARS AND CHILDREN WILL BE
HOMELESS.
THAT, TO ME, OUTWEIGHS ALL OF
THE OTHER SITUATIONS OF PEOPLE
WHO MAY BE GOING THROUGH IT.
>> AHMAL NEXT.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI, I AM A RENTER IN
DISTRICT 3 AND I AM CALLING ON
THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
EXTENSION ON MORATORIUMS UNTIL
THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, WHICH IS
VERY MUCH IS NOT.
HELPING PEOPLE ACCESS RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, I KNOW HOW
DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO ACCESS
SERVICES THAT THESE SMALL
LANDLORDS KEEP REFERENCING.
EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS IN
SEATTLE DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECT BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I ENCOURAGE ANY COUNCILMEMBERS
TO SUPPORT BLACK PEOPLE,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND THAT
WORKERS IMPACTED BY THE
SKYROCKETING RENT AND WAGES
THAT HAVE GONE UP WITH
INFLATION.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE
EXTENSION OF THIS MORATORIUM
UNTIL THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.
>> MARGO STEWART IS NEXT.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MARGO AND I
AM A RENTER.
I WAS HOMELESS LAST YEAR.
I WORKED FULL-TIME WHILE
NAVIGATING THE HOUSING MARKET.
UNLIKE OTHER SPEAKERS TODAY, I
NEVER HAD TO SERVICE MY DEBT.
AS FAR AS REPRESENTATION, I GET
THE SAME ONE MINUTE TO TALK AS
THE REST OF YOU.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT SMALL LANDLORDS, BUT THIS
IS THE FIGHT THAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF EVICTIONS ARE
CARRIED OUT BY CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS.
THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ON
RENT ASSISTANCE.
NONE OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN
A VACUUM. THE REAL REALITY IS
AS OF DECEMBER, 96,000 SEATTLE
AREA RENTERS WERE BEHIND ON
RENT.
I HEAR A LOT OF TALK FROM CITY
COUNCIL DEMOCRATS ABOUT
ADDRESSING REAL ISSUES, LIKE
HOMELESSNESS AND CRIME, BUT 90%
OF THOSE EVICTED WILL END UP
HOMELESS, LIKE I WAS.
LAST I CHECKED, ONE OF THE
FIRST STEPS IN ADDRESSING OUR
HOUSING CRISIS IS PREVENTING
PEOPLE FROM COMING HOME.
I AGREE WE SHOULDN'T JUST
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WE WOULD NEED TO FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL AND MOST CRITICALLY
EXPANDING TAXES ON AMAZON AND
THE BIGGEST DEVELOPERS AND
CORPORATIONS TO SUPPORT RENTERS
AND A SMALL LANDLORDS FROM
SMALL BUSINESSES.
THERE IS NO WAY FOR EITHER GROUP
TO GET THIS WITHOUT CHALLENGING
THE BIG BOSSES AND WE NEED A
MOVEMENT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> MEYER, FOLLOWED BY RD, AND
EMILY.
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM -- WE ARE SMALL
LANDLORDS.
ME AND MY HUSBAND ARE
IMMIGRANTS FROM FIJI. WE CAME
TO AMERICA IN THE '80s AND
WORKED HARD TO FIND OUR FIRST
HOME.
NOW WE BOTH HAVE KIDS GROWN UP.
BOTH OF US RETIRED. WE DECIDED
TO PUT OUR HOME UP FOR RENT FOR
EXTRA INCOME.
UNFORTUNATELY IN SEPTEMBER OF
2020, THE TENANT'S DAUGHTER
INFORMED US BY LEAVING A NOTE.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH A DAUGHTER,
THERE WAS THE IMPRESSION SHE
WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE
BUSINESS.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS, WE GO THERE
AND THAT THE DAUGHTER HAS MOVED
IN WITH HER BOYFRIEND AND THAT
THEIR KIDS.
WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY
HELP IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS. WE
ARE RETIRED NOW. IT IS GETTING
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PAY THE
MORTGAGE AND THE PROPERTY TAX.
$15,000 IN UTILITY BILLS. WE
NEED TO FIND SOMETHING TO HELP
PAY FOR THAT.
WE FEEL VICTIMIZED.
WE ARE BEGINNING TO LOSE HOPE
THAT WE WILL GET HELP. I MEAN,
WE WILL LOSE OUR HOME. WE
WANTED TO COME BACK AFTER
RETIREMENT. WE ARE OUT OF ANY
LUCK.
I MEAN, WE WOULD LIKE TO LIVE
OUR LIFE IN PEACE BUT IT LOOKS
LIKE THIS MORATORIUM EXTENSION
THERE WILL BE NOWHERE WE CAN
HAVE ANYTHING.
THERE IS NO OTHER INCOME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE DON'T EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM.
WE WANT OUR HOUSE BACK.
THANK YOU.
>> RT, FOLLOWED BY EMILY AND
HOLLY SCARLETT IS AFTER, BUT
SHOWING NOT PRESENT.
AFTER THAT, SHIRLEY ANDERSON.
GO AHEAD, ARTY .
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY MOM JUST SPOKE AND I AM
EXPERIENCING AND SPEAKING FOR
HER ON HER BEHALF ABOUT NOT
EXTENDING THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM. AS SHE SAT
FIRSTHAND, SHE IS AN IMMIGRANT
WHO CAME HERE IN THE '80s.
MY DAD AND HER PURCHASED THIS
HOME FOR ME, MY SISTER, AND MY
LITTLE BROTHER.
WE GREW UP IN THIS HOUSE. SHE
IS NOW FACING A SQUATTER LIVING
IN THERE WHO HAS NOT PAID.
SHE IS RETIRED AND ON A FIXED
INCOME AND HAS TO PAY THE
MORTGAGE, HAS TO PAY THE
PROPERTY TAX SO THESE PEOPLE
CAN CONTINUE LIVING THERE AND
NOT PAYING HER.
I AM ALL FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I AM ALL FOR HOUSING
ASSISTANCE, BUT IT'S GETTING TO
THE POINT WHERE WE ARE
CONTINUING TO PAY FOR THIS
FAMILY TO LIVE IN OUR HOME,
WHERE THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS
BEING IN.
I AM HOPING YOU ALL LISTEN TO
HER STORY, TO OTHER PEOPLE'S
STORIES AND NOT CONTINUE TO
EXTEND THIS MORATORIUM. THANK
YOU.
THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
>> EMILY MacARTHUR IS NEXT,
FOLLOWED BY HOLLY, WHO IS NOT
PRESIDENT AND THEN SHIRLEY
ANDERSON.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EMILY AND I
AM CALLING TO SAY THAT WE NEED
TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON THE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LEGISLATION.
3 MILLION WOMEN HAVE BEEN
FORCED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE DUE
TO THE PANDEMIC.
THERE IS A HUGE QUESTION MARK
ON WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
RETURN.
EVICTIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACT WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING
BECAUSE WE ARE STILL IN A
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
RENT RELIEF IS NOT A REALISTIC
SOLUTION. WE SAW THAT THE FUNDS
DISPENSED WERE INCREDIBLY SLOW
TO ACTUALLY GET TO RENTERS.
ONCE THEY DID, THEY WERE
WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THE
ACTION WE NEED.
IT IS NO SURPRISE BRUCE HARRELL
IS ENDING THIS CRUCIAL
PROTECTION.
THIS TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THE
MORATORIUM HAS BEEN ROLLED BACK
ARE NOT EASY TO TRACK BECAUSE
OF THE HUGE IMPACT HAVING AN
EVICTION ON THEIR RECORD MEANS
NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND SOMEONE
TO RENT TO THEM IN THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE A STAGGERING
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM IN THE
CITY AND ENDING THE MORATORIUM
WILL IT FURTHER.
WE NEED CONTROL TO KEEP THESE
SKYROCKETING RENTS DOWN. WE
NEED AN AMAZON TAX AS WELL AS
OTHER CORPORATIONS TO PROVIDE
--
>> HOLLY SCARLETT, FOLLOWED BY
SHIRLEY HENDERSON AND THEN
KAYLA NICHOLSON.
AHEAD, HOLLY.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI, I AM HOLLY SCARLETT AND
I AM HOPING YOU CAN BE OPEN TO
COMPROMISE. I AM HOPING YOU CAN
ALLOW FOR EVICTIONS FOR SPECIAL
CASES.
I LET SOMEONE MOVE INTO MY
HOUSE IN HIGHLAND PARK SO WE
COULD SAVE MONEY.
HE IS A WHITE MALE I.T.
PROFESSIONAL.
HE JUST MOVED TO SEATTLE.
WE CREATED A THREE MONTH LEASE
FOR $200 A MONTH, INCLUDING
UTILITIES.
HE REFUSED TO LEAVE.
IT HAS NOW BEEN THREE YEARS.
THE MORATORIUM IS HELPING HIM.
I MOVED OUT WHEN COVID STARTED
AND I DON'T THINK I CAN PAY MY
MORTGAGE AND RENT FOR THAT MUCH
LONGER.
I CANNOT SELL MY HOUSE UNDER
THE MORATORIUM. I CANNOT MAKE
RENT.
I AM LOSING MY FINANCIAL
FREEDOM.
THANK YOU.
>> SHIRLEY HENDERSON, FOLLOWED
BY KAYLA NICHOLSON. THE LAST
SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES, BUT
NOT SHOWING AS PRESENT AS OF
THIS MOMENT.
GO AHEAD, SHIRLEY.
>> YES, I AM SHIRLEY HENDERSON,
A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND
RENTER IN SEATTLE.
I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S PROPOSAL
TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM UNTIL
THE PANDEMIC IS ACTUALLY OVER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, BIG BUSINESS
ALWAYS TRIES TO USE SMALL
BUSINESS AS A PAWN IN THE SAME
WAY THE BIG DEVELOPERS
REGULARLY USE SMALLER LANDLORDS
AS THEIR COVER.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND SMALL
LANDLORDS' INTEREST IS TIED TO
OUR CUSTOMERS.
LET'S BE CLEAR, BREWER IS NOT A
TOP MOM-AND-POP LANDLORD.
HE REPRESENTS TOP REAL ESTATE.
NO LANDLORD, BIG OR SMALL, HAS
THE RIGHT TO MAKE PEOPLE
HOMELESS.
WE NEED TO START THERE.
WE NEED TO BE HUMANE.
PEOPLE NOT PAYING THEIR RENT
ARE DOING THAT BECAUSE OF THE
SHEER INABILITY TO PAY BECAUSE
OF THIS MASSIVE CRISIS.
THREE PEOPLE ON THE LEFT COME
IN ON ONE CASE OF ILLEGAL
OCCUPANCY.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO EXTEND
THE AMAZON TAX TO FUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> KAYLYNN NICHOLSON? I THINK
SHE WILL BE THE LAST SPEAKER.
DAVID IS STILL NOT PRESENT.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI THERE.
I AM A RENTER AND WORKING MOM
IN DISTRICT 5 AND I AM CALLING
IN AND SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S LEGISLATION TO EXTEND
THE MORATORIUM. I WANT TO ECHO
THE COMMENTS OF ANOTHER CALLER.
I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE
SMALL LANDLORDS VERSUS TENANTS.
I ACTUALLY REALLY LIKE MY SMALL
LANDLORD.
HE IS A VERY, VERY KIND PERSON
AND CARES ABOUT MY FAMILY BUT
THE REALITY IS HIM AND BEING
ABLE TO PAY HIS PROPERTY TAXES,
WHICH ARE GOING UP, AND HIM AND
BEING ABLE TO PAY HIS MEDICAL
COSTS WHICH ARE GOING UP
DEPENDS ON MY ABILITY TO PAY
THE RENT THAT HE NEEDS ME TO PAY
, RIGHT?
THAT IS THE REALITY FOR MY
HUSBAND AND I AND THE MOST
OTHER WORKING PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE.
WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH
INFLATION.
THEY ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH
THE HOUSING CRISIS AND OUR
LANDLORDS' PROPERTY TAXES ARE
GOING UP.
IT IS NOT THAT HE IS A MEAN
LANDLORD.
HE IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN
TO HELP US, BUT THE REALITY IS
WE CAN'T PAY THE COST HE HAS TO
PAY BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE
GOING UP SO MUCH BECAUSE OF
SPECULATION AND, YOU KNOW, THE
RATE OF DEVELOPMENT.
THEY ARE RAKING IN PROFITS FROM
THE HOUSING MARKET.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE KEEP
OUR EYES ON WHERE IS THE MONEY
TO ACTUALLY RESOLVE THIS
HOUSING CRISIS AND ACTUALLY
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE.
IT IS NOT AMONG THE TENANTS
STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH
RENT.
IT IS NOT THE SMALL LANDLORDS.
IT IS THE BIG LANDLORDS IN THE
BIG PROPERTY DEVELOPERS.
THAT IS WHO IS BEARING THE COST
OF THIS PRICES, NOT RENTERS.
>> DAVID HAYNES IS STILL NOT
PRESENT, SO I THINK WE SHOULD
CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO
SIGNED UP AND SPOKE.
I WILL NOW GO FOR OUR AGENDA
ITEM. I WANTED TO WELCOME
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WHO
JOINED US DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY PANEL TO
TALK ABOUT THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM. I WANTED TO INFORM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC THAT THE
COMMUNITY PETITION THAT MY
OFFICE COHOSTS IS COHOSTING
WITH MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING REAL CHANGE,
NICKELSVILLE, UAW 4121,
TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON.
WE HAVEN'T 334 SIGNATURES OF OUR
ON THE PETITION.
THE PETITION SAYS THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM SHOULD BE EXTENDED
THROUGH THE END OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY.
I BELIEVE NEARLY 150 EMAILS
HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
URGING THAT THEY DID THE SAME.
BOTH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR, I BELIEVE.
AFTER OUR PANELISTS SPEAK, WE
WILL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE
LEGISLATION TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM. OF COURSE,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WELCOME
TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE
COMMENTS.
FIRST WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR
PANELISTS.
WE HAVE VIOLET LAVATAI, CARL
NAKAJIMA, JESSE L PEREZ,
ISABELA LORENZO. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND ALSO,
YOU KNOW, MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
LET'S BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
I GUESS I WILL CALL ON VIOLET
FIRST.
VIOLET, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
MY NAME IS VIOLET LAVATAI AND
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON
FOR TENANT ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
I AM ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ON
EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM. YOU
KNOW, EVICTIONS CAUSE A CASCADE
OF EVENTS.
IT CAN LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS.
CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITIES DISPLACE
CHILDREN FROM THEIR SCHOOLS AND
TRUSTED CAREGIVERS. IT
SEPARATES ADULTS FROM JOBS. I
AM ALSO GOING TO TELL YOU WE
OPERATE A HOTLINE.
92% OF OUR CALLS THAT ARE
COMING IN OUR COMPLAINTS
AGAINST SMALL LANDLORDS.
ILLEGAL NOTICES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT ARE GOING AROUND, NOT
FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES AS
LANDLORDS.
WE HAVE THIS GUY, COREY BREWER.
WE HAD AN INCIDENT WITH HIM.
HE WORKS FOR A BIG CORPORATION.
IT IS NOT A SMALL LANDLORD.
I ACTUALLY GET FIRED UP WHEN WE
HEAR LANDLORDS SAYING, WELL,
YOU KNOW, IT IS RETIREMENT AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
HERE IS THE THING, IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BE A LANDLORD, YOU
NEED TO APPLY LANDLORD TO
DUTIES TOO.
THAT IS WHAT THE STATE LAW
CONSISTS OF.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS IT
AFFECTS A LOT OF OUR BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT IS A
ROOT OF HOMELESSNESS?
IT IS RACIST AND DISCRIMINATORY
BEHAVIORS THAT ARE BROUGHT ON.
FOR CENTURIES, RACISM IN THE
U.S. HOUSING SYSTEMS HAD
CONTRIBUTED TO PERSISTENT
RACIAL DISPARITIES AND
FINANCIAL WELL-BEING,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE BLACK
AND WHITE HOUSEHOLDS. WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE
BEING EVICTED. THE MAJORITY OF
THEM ARE IN BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
I AM HERE TO SAY EXTENDING THE
MORATORIUM WOULD HELP A LOT OF
PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT AT THE END
OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE ARE NOT.
WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF
IT.
WE HAVE A HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM
ALREADY IN OUR STATE.
WE HAVE A HOUSING DISPARITY
CRISIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC CAME
ON.
IT HAS TRIPLED.
IT HAS TRIPLED EVER SINCE COVID
HAS BEEN PART OF OUR LIVES.
SO, EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM
WILL HELP LOTS OF FAMILIES.
THE THING IS -- AND AGAIN, I
WILL REPEAT IT.
92% OF OUR COMPLAINTS ON THE
HOTLINE ARE ABOUT MOM AND POP
-- SMALL MOM-AND-POP LANDLORDS
WHO DON'T ABIDE BY TENANT
LANDLORD LAWS. AND THE THING
IS, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SAY OH,
POOR ME. IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD,
IT IS JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
ALWAYS HEAR THE LANDLORDS SAY
TO THE TENANT, WELL, YOU NEED
ME.
ACTUALLY, IT IS YOUR BUSINESS.
THE LANDLORD NEEDS THE TENANT.
THE TENANT NEEDS THE LANDLORD.
I GET FIRED UP WHEN THESE BIG
ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATE
ORGANIZATIONS COME AND TESTIFY
AT THESE CITY HEARINGS WHEN
THEY ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
RACIST AND DISCRIMINATORY
BEHAVIORS ARE IN FULL FORCE.
FULL FORCE!
AND SO TODAY, IT IS A FAR-
REACHING ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF
COVID HAVE PUSHED RESIDENTS IN
WASHINGTON TO THE BRINK OF
EVICTIONS.
AND IF SO ONCE THIS LEGISLATION
, I AM 110% FOR IT.
WE NEED EVERY PROTECTION OF
RENTERS. THESE LAWS AND
LEGISLATION, I STUDIED IT FOR
YEARS. IT IS LIKE THE LANDLORD
WROTE THESE LAWS AND
LEGISLATION.
HEY, I AM HERE TO TESTIFY.
I WANT TO VOTE FOR IT. I WANT
TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT WE, AS
SEATTLE, BE THE FOREFRONT TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
EXTENDED.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE
PLEADING WITH BRUCE HARRELL.
MAYBE HE IS A LANDLORD.
ACTUALLY, HE IS A LANDLORD.
WE ARE ASKING FROM THE COMMUNITY
, PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME,
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES,
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VIOLET.
VIOLET, YOU ARE ABLE TO STAY,
RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
I HOPE ALL OF THE PANELISTS ARE
ABLE TO STAY WITH US.
NEXT, KATE, DID YOU WANT TO GO
AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD?
>> SURE.
I AM A KATE RUBIN, THE
ORGANIZING DIRECTOR OF A
BE:SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
JOIN YOU TODAY.
I AM SHOCKED BY SOME OF THE
TESTIMONIES I HEARD THIS
MORNING IN PUBLIC COMMENT .
THREE PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT ONE
CASE OF ILLEGAL OCCUPYING.
CLEARLY MANY OF THESE LANDLORDS
ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH HOW THE
MORATORIUM ACTUALLY WORKS.
WHILE NO LANDLORD, SMALL OR
BIG, SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO
MAKE ANYONE HOMELESS, MANY OF
THE ANECDOTAL STORIES TOLD
TODAY ARE ABOUT THINGS THAT
AREN'T EVEN COVERED BY THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
FURTHERMORE, WE RESENT THE
NARRATIVE THAT PEOPLE ARE
CHOOSING NOT TO PAY. THEY ARE
NOT PAYING BECAUSE OF SHEER
INABILITY TO PAY BECAUSE OF THE
MASSIVE CRISIS, NOT BECAUSE
THEY DON'T WANT TO OR BECAUSE
OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. RENTERS
HAVE BEEN WORKING OURSELVES TO
THE BONE TRYING TO GET CAUGHT
UP.
A MEMBER OF THE BE:SEATTLE TEAM
PARTICIPATED IN MAYOR HAROLD'S
MEETING.
WE FOLLOWED UP TO TALK ABOUT
THE TENANT.
SHE WILL TELL HIM HOW COVID
ALMOST MADE HER HOMELESS TWICE.
SHE HAD A TENT PACKED.
SHE MANAGED TO STAY HOUSED DUE
TO THE MORATORIUM.
WE WERE A LITTLE STUNNED WHEN
HE POSTPONED THE FOLLOW-UP
MEETING AND TWO DAYS LATER
EXTENDED THE MORATORIUM TO THE
END OF THE MONTH AND SAID
THIS'LL BE THE FINAL EXTENSION.
WAS IT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE
MORATORIUM TO ALLOW RENTERS TO
STAY HOME AND TO STAY HEALTHY,
TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR
COMMUNITIES?
DO WE JUST GIVE UP ON THAT?
THE PANDEMIC IS FAR FROM OVER.
KING COUNTY IS LISTING A
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION AS HIGH.
THERE WERE 1047 CASES PER DAY
LAST WEEK.
I AM VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.
I WORK FROM HOME A MAJORITY OF
THE TIME.
I AM PRIVILEGED.
I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY LIMITING MY
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. I STILL
MANAGED TO CATCH COVID LAST
MONTH.
IT WAS BRUTAL.
I WAS SUDDENLY SO DRAINED OF
ENERGY, I COULD BARELY GET
MYSELF OUT OF BED TO GO TO THE
BATHROOM.
IT'S BEEN SIX WEEKS AND I'M
DOING A LOT BETTER, BUT I
HAVEN'T FULLY RECOVERED.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, 46%
OF TENANTS SPENT MORE THAN A
38% OF OUR PRETAX INCOME ON
MISSING JUST A FEW DAYS OF WORK
WHEN YOU LIVE PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK CAN BE DEVASTATING.
EVERY DAY I HEAR STORIES SIMILAR
FROM OTHER RENTERS.
MANY HAD TO STILL GO TO WORK
WHILE SICK AND CONTAGIOUS, OR
STAYED HOME AND FELL BEHIND ON
RENT AND BILLS.
WE ARE PRAISING THEM AS HEROES
WHOSE DETAINED THE CITY AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT
NOW WE ARE JUST GOING TO LET
THEM GET DISPLACED?
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT DUE TO THE
SEATTLE HOUSING HISTORY,
EVICTIONS ON DISPROPORTIONALLY
AFFECT BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES.
AS A HOUSING JUSTICE
ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON RENTERS
AND PEOPLE EXPANDING
HOMELESSNESS, WE RECOGNIZE A
DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN
HOUSING JUSTICE AND RACIAL
JUSTICE.
SEATTLE IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING
A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC AND WE HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO ULTIMATELY PROVIDE
RESOURCES TO THOSE ALREADY
IMPACTED.
WHILE WE HAVE MORE TENANT
PROTECTIONS THAN WE DID GOING
INTO THE PANDEMIC, THEY ARE NOT
ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MASSIVE
WAVE OF EVICTIONS ANTICIPATED
AT THE END OF THE MORATORIUM.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH TIME TO
RECOVER AND CATCH BACK UP.
IT TAKES TIME TO DISTRIBUTE
RENTAL FUNDS.
THE END OF THE MORATORIUM MEANS
WE ARE LOSING.
KING COUNTY IS PAUSING
APPLICATIONS THAT FIBBER 28,
THE SAME DAY AS THE END OF THE
MORATORIUM.
THEY HAVE STATED THAT BASED ON
THE STATE FUNDING REMAINING,
THEY HAVE MORE APPLICATIONS
THAN LIKELY HAVE FUNDS TO
ASSIST.
AN ADDITIONAL 10,943
APPLICATIONS HAVE PREREGISTERED
AND HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO A
PROVIDER.
WE KNOW THAT MAYOR HARRELL
ORDERED HOUSING TO DISTRIBUTE
MONEY TO HELP LANDLORDS.
IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN OVER
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?
IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS.
TENANTS WILL BE GETTING EVICTED
BEFORE THE MONEY GETS OUT THE
DOOR.
MANY TENANTS WILL SELF EVICT TO
AVOID THE HASSLE AND
HUMILIATION OF GOING TO COURT.
ACCORDING TO THE ANALYSIS ON
THE FIRST MORATORIUM, 53.6% OF
TENANTS DEFAULTED, MEANING THEY
DIDN'T RESPOND TO THE
PAPERWORK, GO TO THE HEARING,
OR VIOLATED A PREVIOUS
STIPULATION.
THE COURTS SIGNED OFF ON THE
EVICTION. RIGHT TO COUNCIL WAS
A HUGE WIN IN A COUNCIL
POTECTIONS, BUT MANY ARE
UNCLEAR ON HOW IT WORKS AND A
STRUGGLE WITH ACCESSING VIRTUAL
EVICTION COURT TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEMSELVES.
THE ATTORNEYS CONTRACTED TO
PROVIDE COUNCIL ARE NEARLY AT
CAPACITY . EVICTIONS ARE STILL
HAPPENING. OUR NEIGHBORS,
ARTISTS, ENTERTAINERS,
STUDENTS, GROCERY STORE CLERKS,
SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS
, AND OTHER LOW-WAGE EARNERS
WHO KEEP THE CITY ALIVE WOULD
BE DISPLACED.
SEATTLE IS PROVING THERE IS
NOWHERE TO GO.
RENTERS NEED HELP. WE NEED TO
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM RIGHT
AWAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KATE.
I AM SORRY, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE
AFFECTED. I HOPE YOU'RE DOING
BETTER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE FOR THE COMMITTEE.
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
AND WE HAVE 11 KIM NEXT.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD.
>> HI, MY NAME IS LEVIN AND I
USE THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.
I AM A RENTER IN THE DISTRICT 6
. WE ORGANIZE SUPPORT FOR
MEMBERS AND BUILD A COMMUNITY
AND ADVOCACY WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
OUR MEMBERS WITH WHOM OUR
TENANTS.
SIMILARLY TO VIOLET AND KATE,
IF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS
ALLOWED TO END, IT WILL HAVE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON OUR
MEMBERS AND IT WILL HAVE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT PARTICULARLY
ON OUR MEMBERS WHO DO NOT HAVE
RESOURCES TO NAVIGATE THE
CURRENT COVID PANDEMIC AS WELL.
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS IN
ADDITION TO EVERYTHING THAT
VIOLET AND KATE HAVE SAID, WE
HAVE SEEN INCREASING HARASSMENT
FROM LANDLORDS TRYING TO CHASE
OUT TENANTS AND TO REPLACE THEM
WITH OTHER TENANTS WHO ARE ABLE
TO PAY HIGHER RENT DRIVEN BY
INFLATION. IN THE PAST FEW
MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN LANDLORDS
WITH FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND
SERVING EVICTION NOTICES IN AN
ATTEMPT TO START THE EVICTION
PROCESS.
THESE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES AS
WELL.
WE SEE THAT THIS IS NOT ACCURATE
OR EQUITABLY APPLIED.
WE SEE LANDLORDS ARE OFTEN
GOING AFTER TENANTS THAT ARE
MEMBERS IN OUR UNION THAT ARE
WANTING TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR
BASIC RIGHTS AND AGAIN, TRYING
TO CHASE THEM OUT.
IF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS
ALLOWED TO END, THESE NOTICES
AND THE BULLYING BEHAVIORS FROM
LANDLORDS WILL HAVE AN
INCREASED EFFECT AND AN ADVERSE
EFFECT.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
OUR MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING.
AGAIN, THESE NOTICES
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IN OUR CASE, WE WANT TO POINT
OUT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS, MORE
THAN 40% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT
CITIZENS.
THAT MEANS THERE IS LESS ACCESS
TO PUBLIC RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO CITIZEN COUNTERPARTS AS WELL
AS RESTRICTIONS ON THE KIND OF
FUNDING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE NOT
ABLE TO WORK OUTSIDE THE
EMPLOYER, THE PICKING UP A
SECOND JOB OR DOING ANYTHING TO
SUPPLEMENT OUR INCOME ISN'T
POSSIBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE ARE LIMITED TO CERTAIN KINDS
OF FUNDING AS WELL.
FURTHERMORE WE WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT WE FACE A SIGNIFICANT
LOSS OF INCOME DURING THE
PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF CLOSURES AND
IT HAD SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL
IMPACT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO
NAVIGATE DURING THE PANDEMIC AS
WELL.
ALL THE WHILE, IT IS REALLY
IRONIC THAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS
DOING RESEARCH AND PUBLIC
HEALTH ARE DOING RESEARCH
RELATED TO VACCINES AND
MISINFORMATION RELATED TO THE
PANDEMIC ARE BEING TOUTED AS
THE HEROES WORKING TO CREATE
KNOWLEDGE AND MITIGATE THE
PANDEMIC.
WHEN THEY ARE USEFUL, THEIR
HEROES, BUT WHEN THEY SPEAK UP
FOR THEIR NEEDS OR TRYING TO
PROTECT THEIR BASIC RIGHTS, THEY
ARE LOOKED DOWN ON AND SHUT UP
AND SHUT OUT FROM BEING ABLE TO
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND
HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING.
FURTHERMORE, AS WITH MANY
EMPLOYERS, THEY DO NOT GIVE US
A LIVABLE WAGE WHICH HAS BEEN
EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.
THIS MEANS THAT MANY OF US WHO
HAVE RELIED ON PARTNERS OR
OTHER INCOME, THAT MEANS WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO PAY RENT AND NOT
ABLE TO HAVE AN EXACERBATED
AND, AND HAVE SAFE HOUSING.
FUNDAMENTALLY EVERYONE
REGARDLESS OF THEIR APPLICATION
OR WAGES DESERVE SAFE AND
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
WITHIN THE PANDEMIC, WHERE
EVERYONE IS TRYING TO PANDEMIC
NAVIGATE A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY DOES
HAVE ACCESS TO THIS KIND OF
SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING SO
WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT AT
THE END OF THE TUNNEL WHEN IT
COMES TO THE PANDEMIC AND TO BE
ABLE TO MITIGATE EVEN FURTHER
PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FROM
THE PANDEMIC.
I AM URGING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
SO MEMBERS THAT ARE DOING THIS
KIND OF WORK AS WELL AS
EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS
ABLE TO ACCESS SAFE AND
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LEVIN.
THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT INSIGHT
AS TO HOW THE STUDENTS
COMMUNITY IS FACING THIS CRISIS.
NEXT, WE HAVE CARL NAKAJIMA.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
THEN SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. MY
NAME IS JACOB SHEAR AND I AM AN
ORGANIZER FROM REAL CHANGE.
I AM HERE WITH CARL NAKAJIMA
AND I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY TO
ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING OR
WATCHING THIS AND IS CONCERNED
BY HOMELESSNESS AND OUR
NEIGHBORS LIVING IN TENTS AND
PARKS AND VEHICLES, WHEREVER
THEY CAN FIND SHELTER AND
SAFETY.
WE KNOW THIS HAS BECOME A PART
OF SEATTLE'S LANDSCAPE AND I
REALLY WANT TO STRESS THAT
DIRECT CONNECTION THAT OTHER
PANELISTS HAVE SPOKEN OUT
BETWEEN EVICTION AND
HOMELESSNESS AND WHAT EXACTLY
THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OF MAYOR
HARRELL CHOOSING TO END THE
MORATORIUM IN LESS THAN TWO
WEEKS.
A REPORT BY THE HOUSING
INJUSTICE PROJECT FOUND CLOSE
TO 90% OF EVICTIONS END AND
HOMELESSNESS AND DESPITE WHAT
WE HAVE HEARD TODAY FROM
LANDLORDS ON THIS CALL, WE KNOW
THAT THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF
EVICTION IS ECONOMIC.
THE BETRAYAL OF TENANTS AS
LAWLESS CRIMINALS IS JUST
TOTALLY REPREHENSIBLE. THESE
ARE EXACTLY THE SAME VOICES
THAT WILL TRY TO DEMONIZE
PEOPLE LIVING OUTDOORS IN
EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. I JUST
WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT AS
STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE KNOW THAT THAT IS SIMPLY NOT
TRUE, THAT PORTRAYAL OF TENANTS
. WITH THOUSANDS OF SEATTLE
RENTERS BEHIND ON RENT DUE TO
THE EFFECTS OF THE ONGOING
COVID-19 CRISIS AND THE NEARLY
3 YEAR LONG PANDEMIC, MAYOR
HARRELL'S DECISION TO END THE
MORATORIUM IS AN INTENTIONAL
DECISION TO PUT OUR NEIGHBORS
AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR THAT
MAYOR HARRELL KNOWS THESE
NUMBERS AND HE KNOWS THE IMPACT
THIS DECISION WILL HAVE.
HE KNOWS KING COUNTY WILL STOP
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR
PANDEMIC RELATED ASSISTANCE ON
FEBRUARY 28th, THE VERY SAME
DAY HE HAS CHOSEN TO ALLOW THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM TO EXPIRE.
HE IS MAKING A CONSCIOUS
DECISION TO EXACERBATE THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AND TO
FORCE MORE TENANT OUT TO THE
STREET OR INTO AN OVERLOADED
SHELTER SYSTEM PUSHED BEYOND
CAPACITY AND IS STILL OPERATING
UNDER COVID-19 PROTOCOLS.
I WANT TO STRESS THAT I AM
MAKING THIS CALL IN A N95 MASK.
THIS EMERGENCY IS NOT OVER.
COVID-19 IS STILL AN EMERGENCY
AND EVERY DAY IN THIS COUNTRY,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIE FROM
IT.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT A BACK TO
BUSINESS APPROACH AND THE
PANDEMIC.
PUT SEATTLEITES OUT ON THE
STREETS. MAYOR HARRELL KNOWS
WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS
DECISION AND TO END THE
MORATORIUM WILL BE.
IMMEDIATE SUFFERING,
DISPLACEMENT, AND IMMEDIATE
INCREASES IN HOMELESSNESS
LIKELY TO THE SCALE WE HAVE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE A CLEAR
CHOICE.
WILL YOU BE COMPLICIT OR STAND
WITH TENANTS AND THOSE ON THE
BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS AND
EXTENDED COUNTY SAWANT'S
MORATORIUM THROUGH THE END OF
HE COVID-19 EMERGENCY?
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
CARL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CARL AND I AM
ALSO A RENTER.
I AM CALLING ON YOU TO EXTEND
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM UNTIL
THE END OF THE COVID EMERGENCY.
PEOPLE COULDN'T PAY THEIR RENT
DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS IN THE
PANDEMIC AND THE SNOWBALLING
EFFECT.
THEY ARE A VICTIM OF DISASTER.
THEY DIDN'T PUT THEMSELVES IN
THEIR CURRENT POSITION. I KNOW
WITH MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT
WHEN PEOPLE LOSE EVERYTHING,
IT'S NOT EASY TO RETURN TO
NORMAL.
IF A TENANT CANNOT PAY RENT
TODAY, WILL THE LANDLORD BE
HOMELESS?
I DON'T THINK SO.
BUT THE TENANT WILL BECOME
HOMELESS.
I KNOW THE LANDLORD WANTS THEIR
MONEY, BUT THAT'S NOTHING
COMPARED TO WHAT THE TENANT IS
FACING.
IT'S JUST NOT HEALTHY. AND NOW
EVERYONE IS COMPLAINING AND
WORRIED ABOUT THE HOMELESS
PROBLEM IN THE CITY.
WHY IS THE MAYOR TRYING TO
PURPOSELY INCREASE THE NUMBER
OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN OUR CITY?
NO ONE WANTS THAT, ONLY THE
LANDLORDS.
WE ARE STILL IN THIS PANDEMIC.
SEATTLE HASN'T RETURNED TO
NORMAL YET.
RIGHT NOW, I AM NOT ASKING FOR
A CANCELLATION OF RENT.
I AM ASKING JUST TO WAIT A
LITTLE LONGER.
IT TAKES TIME TO RETURN TO
NORMAL LIVING CONDITIONS. I
DON'T KNOW.
THEY MIGHT CATCH UP WITH THEIR
MONEY.
WHO KNOWS?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARL AND
JACOB. I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT
ON THIS.
AND IT NOW WE HAVE A JASSIEL
PEREZ AND A ISABELA LORENZO AS
OUR LAST BUT NOT LEAST
PANELISTS.
THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
PANELISTS, PLEASE STAY FOR THAT
SESSION.
JASSIEL PEREZ AND ISABELA
LORENZO, GO AHEAD.
>> WE ARE HERE TO ASK THE
COUNCIL IF THEY WILL CONSIDER
VOTING YES FOR THE SAWANT
RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM DURING THE
HARSH TIMES OF COVID. BEFORE I
LEARNED ABOUT NICKELSVILLE, I
WAS HOMELESS AND LIVING WITH MY
GIRLFRIEND IN HER PICKUP TRUCK.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR
THE TRUCK, SO WE ENDED UP
SELLING IT.
WE SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF IN
THE SNOW AND IN THE PANDEMIC.
BEING HOMELESS AND ON TOP OF
THAT, I HAD TO TRY TO WORK.
IT IS REALLY TRYING TO GET
EVERYTHING SETTLED AND IT'S
REALLY HARD WHILE LIVING ON THE
STREETS. IT'S NOT EASY.
YOU KNOW, IT IS TRYING TO KEEP
A CLEAR HEAD.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE DON'T DO
DRUGS.
WE DON'T DRINK.
>> THANKS TO NICKELSVILLE, WE
ARE DOING A LOT BETTER NOW.
WE HAVE MORE CLARITY IN OUR
LIVES.
I REALLY WOULD ASK FOR THE
COUNCIL TO GO AHEAD AND, YOU
KNOW, VOTE YES TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM.
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DID YOU WANT TO SAY
ANYTHING?
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT HE SAID.
WE WERE HOMELESS AND IT WAS
REALLY DIFFICULT.
I AGREE WITH WHAT HE WAS
SAYING.
I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS.
I'M SORRY.
BUT I AGREE WITH HIM AND
EVERYTHING. I HOPE OUR SPEECH
WAS GOOD.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE EVER
DID THIS.
>> WE VOLUNTEER TODAY.
>> WELL, I AM SO GLAD YOU
VOLUNTEERED AND YOUR SPEECH WAS
EXCELLENT.
I'M SORRY, ISABELA . I DIDN'T
MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAD A CHANCE.
THANKS SO MUCH TO YOU BOTH.
PLEASE STAY SO COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU
ALL.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO COVER THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF BEFORE WE
GET INTO THAT PART OF THE ITEM.
DO YOU CARE TO PRESENT THE
LEGISLATION QUICKLY SO THEY
KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?
>> I AM SHARING MY SCREEN NOW
TO SHOW EXHIBIT C ON THE
RESOLUTION, WHICH WILL BE ON
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR ON TUESDAY.
IT IS NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA
BECAUSE THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED
VERY QUICKLY.
MAYOR HARRELL MADE THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT LAST FRIDAY.
I DID WANT TO MAKE THIS
AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
THE KEY PART OF THE LEGISLATION
ISN'T CHANGING. YOU SEE SOME
PARTS OF SECTION 1 PART A
CROSSED OUT AND THAT IS REALLY
ALL THE LEGISLATION DOES.
ALL IT DOES IS IT CROSSES OUT
60 DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE
OF THIS EMERGENCY ORDER.
THE TERMINATION DATE DECLARED
IN THE PROCLAMATION JUST
BECOMES THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
JUST BECOMES AND ENDS WHENEVER
THE CIVIL EMERGENCY ENDS AS A
WHOLE. WHEN THE EMERGENCY IS
ACTUALLY OVER, THAT IS WHEN THE
MORATORIUM WOULD END RATHER
THAN THE MORATORIUM ENDING
BEFORE THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.
IT WOULD ALSO PROBABLY BE
HELPFUL FOR ME TO POINT TO THIS
BECAUSE QUESTIONS CAME UP IN
PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE
CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THERE
IS AN EXCEPTION IN THIS
EMERGENCY ORDER, THE INITIAL
EMERGENCY ORDER, THAT HAS NOT
CHANGED.
ACTION ON TERMINATING NOTICE IS
DUE TO ACTIONS BY THE TENANT
RESULTING IN AN IMMINENT THREAT
TO HEALTH OR SAFETY, THE
LANDLORD OR THE LANDLORD'S
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.
SO THERE IS ALREADY BUILT INTO
THIS EXCEPTIONS AROUND SAFETY.
SAFETY IS THE CONCERN THAT
PEOPLE HAVE.
A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS CAME
UP TODAY THAT I CAN ANSWER.
ONE IS ABOUT THE LOSS OF RENTAL
HOUSING IN SEATTLE. THOSE
QUESTIONS CAME UP.
I DO THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS TAKEN
ACTIONS IN THE PAST TO PROMOTE
HOMEOWNERSHIP. IT IS A GOOD
THING TO OWN YOUR OWN HOME AND
TO BUY A HOME. IF HOUSES BECOME
OWNER-OCCUPIED RATHER THAN
RENTED, THE CASE HASN'T BEEN
MADE THAT IS A BAD THING.
IT ALSO HAS TO BE RECOGNIZED
THAT PERHAPS THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ON IT IN THE FUTURE THE
PROPERTY VALUES AS A WHOLE HAVE
GONE UP A LOT.
THAT MEANS PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE
SELLING THOSE SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES THAT THEY WEREN'T SELLING
BEFORE.
IT IS SOMEWHAT IRONIC THAT
RISING RENT -- PROPERTY VALUES
GO UP AND THAT IS DRIVEN BY
REAL ESTATE SPECULATION. RENT
GOES UP AND BECAUSE RENT GOES UP
IT WINDS UP BEING FUEL FOR THE
MARKETS.
THEN PROPERTY VALUES GO UP MORE
AND MORE AND MORE.
THESE ARE FAR MORE RELEVANT.
IN FACT, IF THERE IS DISCUSSION
ON WHY PROPERTIES ARE BEING
SOLD, IT IS THIS REAL ESTATE
MARKET THAT EXPLAINS IT.
>> THANK YOU, TED. THANKS FOR
REASSURING THE ACTUAL CHANGES
IF THIS RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I THINK
YOU WANTED TO SPEAK?
>> NOT YET.
I WAS JUST TURNING ON MY
CAMERA.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
RAISED TO THE PANELISTS?
I WANTED TO OPEN IT UP FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> IS TED FINISHED?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, SO IF IT'S OKAY, I
WILL MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
SORRY, I GOT A LITTLE BIT
CONFUSED THERE.
SO I FIRST OF ALL WANT TO THANK
THE PANEL FOR THE PRESENTATION
TODAY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO AMPLIFY SOME VOICES WE DON'T
GET TO HEAR FROM TYPICALLY.
I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK
WITH I THINK ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS DURING MY FIRST
TWO YEARS HERE ON COUNCIL . I
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE
DOING IN COMMUNITY.
I AM NOT GOING TO SAY A LOT
EXCEPT TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID
IN COUNCIL BRIEFING THIS WEEK,
WHICH IS THAT WE KNOW THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS DURING THE
PANDEMIC HAS REALLY TAKEN AN
EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL TOLL ON
EVERYONE.
OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, RENTER
FAMILIES ARE THOSE THAT HAVE
BEEN HARDEST HIT BY THE
ECONOMIC INSECURITY THAT WE
HAVE.
FAMILIES REALLY DON'T HAVE THE
STABILITY OR EQUITY THROUGH
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP THAT MANY
FOLKS HAVE. THAT HASN'T CHANGED
SINCE, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE
PANDEMIC STARTED.
IT IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO
CHANGE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT OF ENDING
THE MORATORIUM WOULD HAVE ON
OUR NEIGHBORS AND SMALL
LANDLORDS AS WELL. WE DO HAVE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.
THERE IS ANOTHER $25 MILLION
AVAILABLE TO LANDLORDS AND THE
CITY WILL NEED TIME TO GET
MONEY OUT THE DOOR.
I THINK IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE AT
RISK OF GETTING PUSHED OUT OF
THEIR HOMES ARE ABLE TO STAY
UNTIL THAT ASSISTANCE GETS OUT
AND WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND THEY
ARE NOT PUT OUT ON THE STREET
AND SMALL LANDLORDS GET THE
RENT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET
THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
I KNOW WE ARE REALLY JUST
GETTING A CHANCE TO SEE
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
LEGISLATION.
I WANT TO THANK OUR CENTRAL
STAFF FOR HELPING PUSH THIS
FORWARD.
I DO WANT TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, CAN YOU OR A MEMBER OF
THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONFIRM THAT
THIS IS READY FOR NEXT TUESDAY?
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID?
>> IT IS READY FOR GOING ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR NEXT TUESDAY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ HAS
DECIDED HE WILL COME FOR A VOTE
ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY, MARCH
1st.
>> MOUNTS FIRST.
OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS
A COUNCIL, WE REALLY WORK
TOGETHER TO PROTECT TENANTS
FROM DISPLACEMENT, FROM
HOMELESSNESS UNTIL FOLKS ARE
REALLY BACK ON THEIR FEET.
I AM SOMEWHAT HOPEFUL THAT WE
ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT WE MAKE SURE
FOLKS HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO STAY
UNTIL THEN.
THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. I DID WANT TO FOLLOW
UP ON SOME OF THE POINTS THAT
CAME OUT OF THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
I FIRST WANTED TO ASK THE
PANELISTS IF YOU WANTED TO
RESPOND TO THIS AND THEN TED,
IF YOU COULD RESPOND FROM A
POLICY ANGLE.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
WE KNOW MAYOR HARRELL ANNOUNCED
IN THE PRESS RELEASE THAT THERE
ARE $25 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO
HEARD FROM HEIDI GRUBER, AND
I'M SURE THE PANELISTS SAW THIS
ARTICLE, BUT THE COUNTY IS
DROPPING APPLICATIONS BECAUSE
THE FUNDS ARE DRYING UP.
I WONDER IF ANY OF THE
PANELISTS WANT TO WEIGH IN AT
THIS POINT AND THEN TED, I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
YOU CAN JUST COME ON THE
CAMERA.
VIOLET, KATE, ESPECIALLY YOU
GUYS AT REAL CHANGE.
>> THANKS. WITH ALL OF THE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, $25 MILLION,
BECAUSE KING COUNTY'S FUNDING
HAS DWINDLED DOWN, THEY ARE
ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET MORE
FUNDING.
THE PROBLEM IS -- HERE IS WHAT
THE PROBLEM IS. THE ACTUAL
LANDLORD WANTS TO GET RID OF
THE MORATORIUM SO THEY CAN
ACTUALLY MOVE THE CURRENT
TENANT OUT TO INCREASE RENT ON
ANOTHER NEW TENANT. THAT IS THE
PROBLEMRIGHT NOW.
WITH COVID AND SEATTLE HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL ALREADY. IT
EXACERBATES IT MORE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS
HAVING THE LANDLORD. ABSOLUTELY
THE LANDLORD SHOULD BE GETTING
PAID.
THEY SHOULD BE MADE WHOLE. THAT
IS NOT THE CASE.
SOME OF THEM ARE NOT ACCEPTING
úTHE RENT BECAUSE THEY WANT
ANOTHER TENANT IN THERE TO
INCREASE THE RENT AND TO MOVE
INTO SOMEBODY AND INCREASE THE
RENT.
THOSE OF THE CALLS WE ARE
GETTING.
UNFORTUNATELY THE MOM AND POP
LANDLORDS ARE THE ONES THAT 92%
OF THE CALLS ARE ABOUT THEM.
FOR ME AS A WOMAN OF COLOR, I
SYMPATHIZE TO COME HERE WITH
THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
THE THING IS, EVERY CASE IS NOT
THAT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BIG
PICTURE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT
WILL CAUSE HOMELESSNESS.
WE WILL ADD TO THE NUMBERS.
THE REASON WHY WE ALWAYS WANT
PROTECTIONS IN EXTENDING THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM, THERE ARE
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T
UNDERSTAND THIS.
WHEN YOU ARE NOT AFFECTED AND
YOU ARE A RENTER, I TOO HAVE
WORKED AS A RENTER.
MOST ARE IN THE BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITY.
YOU WILL NEVER KNOW EXACTLY HOW
TO NAVIGATE DUE TO THESE
BARRIERS. EVEN FOR MYSELF.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU.
DID ANY OF THE OTHER PANELISTS
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
QUESTION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS GOING TO BE POSED AS THE
ALTERNATIVE TO HAVING THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
EXPLAIN WHY RENTERS NEED THE
MORATORIUM AND THAT THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE.
I THINK IT MATTERS WHAT THE
NUMBERS ARE.
I DON'T SEE PANELISTS
INDICATING THEY WANT TO SPEAK.
CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHERE
THESE $25 MILLION ARE COMING
FROM?
MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS NOT NEW
DOLLARS, BUT DOLLARS THAT WERE
AVAILABLE. AND ALSO CAN YOU
EXPLAIN WITH THE COUNTY'S
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT
TAKING NEW APPLICATIONS?
WILL THIS AFFECT THE CITY AS
WELL? THE CITY'S FUNDS ARE
GOING TO THE COUNTY FULL OF
FUNDS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?
>> YEAH.
THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT A NEW
$25 MILLION. IT IS
DISAPPOINTING, BUT IT HAPPENS
ALL THE TIME WHEN THERE ARE
FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT
REGULAR PEOPLE OR TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY VULNERABLE
. THERE BE, MANY, MANY PRESS
RELEASES ABOUT THE SAME DOLLAR
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING
HERE.
THERE WAS MONEY PUT INTO THIS
POT OF MONEY THAT THE COUNTY
OPERATES TO PROVIDE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUNDS.
TENANTS WHO ARE BEHIND ON THEIR
RENT CAN APPLY FOR IT.
LANDLORDS WHO HAVE TENANTS
BEHIND ON THEIR RENT CAN APPLY
FOR THAT MONEY. FROM WHAT WE
HAVE HEARD IN PAST DISCUSSIONS,
THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS A LOT.
LANDLORDS ARE ALSO DIRECTLY
APPLYING FOR THIS MONEY.
KING COUNTY HAS GONE THROUGH A
PERIOD IN THE PAST WHERE THEY
HAVE OPENED APPLICATIONS AND
CLOSED IT AND OPENED IT AND
CLOSED IT.
I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS WHERE
THEY ARE IN THAT CYCLE.
THE CITY IN THE PAST PUT $59
MILLION INTO THIS POT. THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THAT
WAS FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE
SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.
OF THAT $59 MILLION, $25 MILLION
IS LEFT.
WHEN THE MAYOR PUT OUT A PRESS
RELEASE SAYING -- I THINK THE
WORD WAS HE "IDENTIFIED" $25
MILLION. THAT MONEY IS DRYING
UP FAST AND THERE IS NO --
WITHOUT BIG TAXES ON COMPANIES
LIKE AMAZON AND ON THE BIG
DEVELOPERS FROM THE SPECULATIVE
MARKET TO INCREASE THIS POT OF
MONEY, THE FEDERAL FUNDS HAVE
STOPPED COMING SO FAR AND MAYBE
THINGS WILL CHANGE, BUT AS OF
NOW, THERE ARE NO NEW FEDERAL
FUNDS.
IT IS THAT REMAINING $25
MILLION THAT SHOULD NOT BE SEEN
AS A BIG NEW POT OF MONEY, BUT
INSTEAD AS THE MONEY RUNNING
OUT.
>> THANKS, TED. THAT IS HELPFUL.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TED, YOU ARE RAISING AN
IMPORTANT POINT HERE ABOUT HOW
MUCH IS LEFT. I AM JUST
WONDERING WHENEVER THE
MORATORIUM ENDS, THERE WILL BE
PEOPLE THAT NOW PERHAPS MIGHT
FACE EVICTION.
I AM JUST THINKING FORWARD.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ALREADY OF
MUNICIPALITIES ENDING THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM ON THE
NUMBER OR READ OF EVICTIONS
THAT HAVE COME UP?
I MEAN, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THE
AVAILABLE E AMOUNT OF RESOURCES
RIGHT NOW BASED ON WHAT COULD
BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE?
HOW BIG OF A HELP MIGHT THAT BE
FOR WHENEVER THE MORATORIUM
DOES END?
I MEAN, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT
GOING FORWARD BASED ON OTHER
PLACES THAT HAVE ENDED
MORATORIUMS?
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT NOW, I'M
JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT MOVING
FORWARD.
>> I DO NOT HAVE THAT DATA.
>> WE SHOULD DEFINITELY LOOK
INTO THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION.
I DO REMEMBER DOING A QUICK
SEARCH TO FIND IF WE COULD
FIGURE OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN
OTHER CITIES.
WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO LOOK AT
IT.
OUR ANALYSIS AND THE ANALYSIS
OF THE PANELISTS -- AND
PANELISTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
RESPOND TO THIS QUESTION, BUT
IT'S BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW HAS
HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THE
INABILITY TO PAY RENT.
THAT IS WHAT THE DATA IS BASED
ON.
PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL LIVES HAVE
BEEN UPENDED BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC AND WE ARE UNABLE TO
PAY RENT.
THAT IS WHAT THE DATA THAT WE
HAVE IS BASED ON.
I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE
TRUE IN OTHER CITIES AS WELL.
YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT THAT AT
SOME POINT WHEN THE MORATORIUM
IS ENDED, IT'S NOT LIKE -- I
BELIEVE STRONGLY THE MORATORIUM
SHOULD BE KEPT IN PLACE AT LEAST
THROUGH THE END OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY, BUT IT'S ALSO
TRUE THAT IT'S NOT LIKE THE
CRISIS WILL END ON THAT DATE.
NO, THE PEOPLE WILL BE DEALING
WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THE
CRISIS AND THEY WILL BE
CARRYING DEBT OR RENTAL DEBT.
THAT IS A HUGE CRISIS.
IT IS $20 MILLION.
I MEAN, IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.
THIS CRISIS IS ON THE SHOULDERS
OF RENTERS.
I THINK WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT
THE EXTENDING OF THE MORATORIUM
IS THE BEAR AND A MOM BARE
MINIMUM, NOT THE BE ALL END ALL.
RENTERS WILL NEED A LOT OF
EXTRA HELP, INCLUDING EXPANSION
OF SOCIAL HOUSING AND ALL OF
THAT.
I WAS MOTIVATED TO FIND OUT
MORE.
I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.
DID ANY OF THE PANELISTS WANT
TO SPEAK ON THAT, OR ANY OTHER
POINT YOU WANT TO BRING IN FROM
THE DISCUSSION SO FAR?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE A CHANCE.
>> I DO.
AS A HOUSING ADVOCATE IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IT'S NOT
ONLY FROM SEATTLE, BUT I AM
FROM SEATTLE.
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS KIND
OF LIKE A BLANKET NOT FOR
CRIMINALS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE BLACK AND BROWN IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STOPPING
AND HAVING THIS MEASURE IN
PLACE FOR NOW, BUT WITH THE
CRISIS, WE ARE NOT AT THE END.
WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE PANDEMIC.
WE STILL NEED TO HELP AS MANY
PEOPLE AS WE CAN GOING FORWARD.
THIS LEGISLATION -- AND FORGIVE
ME.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A GREAT THING
FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL HELP SOME
OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR PLACE
AND BEHIND ON RENT.
WE ARE GETTING CALLS OF
LANDLORDS NOT ACCEPTING RENT.
IT'S ALMOST DISCRIMINATORY TO
DO THAT.
IT'S NOT ACCEPTING THE TENANT'S
RENT THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO.
IT'S BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER
úMOVE IN SOMEBODY -- THIS IS
THEIR STANCE.
I WOULD RATHER MOVE IN SOMEBODY
SO I CAN PIVOT THE RENT.
IF YOU SEE THE INCREASES NOW
EVERY 60 DAYS, WHICH IS NOT
ILLEGAL. IT IS PHENOMENAL.
26 TO 30%!
IT'S A FACT.
WE ARE OUT IN THE FIELD AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I WANT TO
SAY THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE
CALLING ABOUT.
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WRITE TO US
ABOUT.
THE TENANT UNION IS IN THE
THICK OF IT.
WE NEED TO HELP TENANTS
NAVIGATE THROUGH NOT GETTING
EVICTED.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO STAY IN
THEIR HOME.
PEOPLE WILL NOT THRIVE ON THE
STREET IF THEY ARE EVICTED.
OR LOSE THEIR HOUSE. THAT IS
ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VIOLET.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS.
OH, JACOB, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE
POINT.
MY POINT IS JUST ABOUT SORT OF
THE DANGER, LIKE THE RENTAL
ASSISTACE FUNDS.
SOMETHING LIKE THE SEATTLE
RELIEF FUND PROVIDED $60 MILLION
IN ONE-TIME PAYMENTS TO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING IMPACTS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE MEMBERS HERE WHO ARE
KIND OF THE VERY BOTTOM OF
EARNERS. THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED
FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.
I JUST THINK IT IS VERY EASY TO
SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS
HAPPENING AGAIN TO PEOPLE WHO
REALLY NEED THOSE FUNDS THE
MOST.
THEY ARE INELIGIBLE BECAUSE
THERE IS SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT OF
NEED RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT
POINT ACROSS.
>> PEOPLE DO GET EVICTED.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE AN
EVICTION ON THE RECORD, IT IS
VERY HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO
STAY.
IT'S HARD TO GET EVICTED AND
HAVE IT NOT PUT ON THE RECORD.
>> YEAH, THAT IMPACT OF BEING
EVICTED WILL HAVE RESIDUAL
IMPACTS DOWN THE LINE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JACOB AND CARL.
CARL, YOU BRING UP AN IMPORTANT
POINT, WHICH I DON'T HAVE A
RESPONSE FOR BUT IT IS
DEFINITELY SOMETHING WORTH
THINKING ABOUT.
WE KNOW THE DEVASTATING IMPACT
IT HAS ON RENTERS ONCE AN
EVICTION IS ON YOUR RECORD. IT
FOLLOWS YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO.
JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, I WANT TO
NOTE THAT THAT IS ANOTHER DATA
POINT TO EXPLAIN THE
OVERWHELMING STATISTICAL
EVIDENCE WE HAD, AS KATE MADE
AN ELOQUENT CASE FOR.
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
CASES OF EVICTIONS ARE BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PAY, NOT
BECAUSE THEY ARE IRRESPONSIBLE
OR BECAUSE OF THAT BEHAVIOR,
LIKE SOME SELF-DESCRIBED SMALL
LANDLORDS WERE SAYING IN PUBLIC
COMMENT. IF YOU HAVE AN
EVICTION ON YOUR RECORD, IT IS
A VERY HARD THING TO DEAL WITH
FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS AN
INTERESTING QUESTION TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE
MORATORIUM IS LIFTED.
I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THE
QUESTION.
I WILL MAKE SURE MY OFFICE
LOOKS INTO THIS. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK
INTO.
MOST URGENTLY OF COURSE WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM IS MAINTAINED. THAT
WILL BE OUR FOCUS.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK KATE AND
VIOLET AND REAL CHANGE.
YOU ALL ARE ON THE FRONT LINES
OF MEETING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
TERRIBLE CRISIS.
IT IS JUST REALLY DIFFICULT AND
DEMORALIZING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THEMSELVES, WHO ARE IN
SUCH DESPERATE CRISIS, AND FOR
THOSE OF YOU TRYING TO HELP
THEM NAVIGATE THIS SYSTEM.
FROM EVERYONE IN MY OFFICE, I
WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
SERVICE YOU PROVIDE AND CONVEY
OUR GOOD WISHES TO OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS THAT YOU RUN INTO
EVERY DAY.
WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO HAVE
THEIR BACKS.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.
IF WE WERE TO WIN THIS EVICTION
MORATORIUM, WE WOULD NEED
EVERYONE TO SPEAK UP WHO REALLY
CARES ABOUT THIS AND WHOSE OWN
LIVES WILL BE AFFECTED IN A
NEGATIVE WAY IF THE MORATORIUM
IS LIFTED, AS LONG AS THE
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
REMAINS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER POINTS.
WE WILL KEEP WORKING ON THIS
AND WE WILL KEEP COMMITTEE
MEMBERS UPDATED BETWEEN NOW AND
MARCH 1st. I REALLY URGE
EVERYONE WATCHING THIS, IF YOU
WANT TO SPEAK UP IN FAVOR OF
THE MORATORIUM, PLEASE SIGN UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT AVENUE WHERE YOUR
VOICES ARE HEARD.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN UP.
EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LITTLE
COMPLICATED TO SIGN UP ONLINE,
PLEASE DO SO. MY OFFICE
CONTINUES TO BE COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING SUPPORT. WE WILL
DEFINITELY BE SETTING UP A
COVID SAFE PUBLIC COMMENT BOOTH
. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THAT IN
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS -- AND I WILL WAIT FOR
A FEW SECONDS. I WILL THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND
ADJOURN THE MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.