>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE. THIS FRIDAY, JUNE
30th AND THE TIME IS 934 I'M
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE,
KSHAMA SAWANT. PLEASE CALL
ROLL. [ ROLL CALL ]
>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME MEMBER
OF THE COMMITTEE. TO MAYS
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE THE
FIRST COMMITTED DISCUSSION ON
THE RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION
FROM MY OFFICE. WE WILL FIRST
HEAR FROM A PANEL OF LABOR AND
RENTAL RATES ORGANIZERS ABOUT
THE CRISIS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
IN SEATTLE AND AROUND THE
COUNTRY. AND THE NEED FOR RENT
CONTROL WITHOUT CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES. IN THE CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF WILL PRESENT AN
ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATION AND
ITS POLICIES. SEATTLE'S HOUSIN
AFFORDABILITY AND COST-OF-LIVIN
CRISIS IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN
IN DECADES AND IT'S ONLY GETTIN
WORSE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS,
OVERALL COSTS IN THE SEATTLE
METROPOLITAN AREA CLIMBED OVER
20% . MORE THAN IN CITIES LIKE
NEW YORK , LOS ANGELES, AND SAN
FRANCISCO. WAGES IN SEATTLE
MEANWHILE, HAVE NOT KEPT UP.
GOING TO 16% AFTER PRECIPITOUS
DROP AT THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC. EVEN BEFORE THIS
RECORD INFLATION WAS UNLEASHED,
SEATTLE'S METRO AREA RENTS
INCREASED BY NEARLY 92% BETWEEN
2010 AND 2020. THIS MEANS
SEATTLE AREA RENTS IN THAT
DECADE INCREASED MORE THAN IN
COMPARABLE REGIONS SUCH AS THE
CALIFORNIA BAY AREA. IN FACT,
THIS WAS THE INCREASE THAT WAS
ASKED WINSTON THE SEATTLE METR
WAS THE LARGEST NATIONALLY.
NATIONALLY ALSO, 39% OF
AMERICANS AND 44% OF MILLENNIAL
SAID THEY ARE FORCED TO SKIP
MEALS TO AFFORD HOUSING
PAYMENTS. ALMOST ENTIRELY
THEIR RENTERS AND NOT IS. A
2020 STUDY FROM THE U.S.
GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY
OFFICE SHOWED THE $100 MEDIAN
INCREASE IN RENT IS ASSOCIATED
WITH A 9% INCREASE IN THE
ESTIMATED HOMELESSNESS RATE.
FROM 1990 TO 2020, SEATTLE'S
SOUGHT 5% INCREASE IN PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THAT
IS JUST A ONE YEAR PERIOD. THER
HAS BEEN MORE OF AN INCREASE IN
THE OVERALL TICKET AND A HALF.
THIS IS NOT AN INEVITABLE RESUL
OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND, AS WE
PERPETUALLY HEAR FROM SEATTLE
DEVELOPERS AND MANY CORPORATE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIRS. THER
IS NO AFFORDABLE PRICING HOUSIN
CRISIS NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY BECAUSE THE
SPECULATIVE REAL ESTATE MARKET
TREATS HOUSING AS AN INVESTMENT
FOR THE WEALTHY OTHER THAN
HOUSING FOR HUMAN BEINGS. NOT
SURPRISINGLY, A SURVEY OF
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS FROM LAST
YEAR SHOWS THAT THE LIKELIHOOD
THAT THE LANDLORD WILL RAISE
RENT GOES UP WITH THE NUMBER OF
PROPERTIES THAT THEY OWN. ONLY
52% OF THE LANDLORDS WHO OWN ON
PROPERTY SAID THEY WILL INCREAS
RENT. COMPARED WITH 92% OF THOS
WHO OWN MORE THAN 10 UNITS.
THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS THAT SO
MANY SO-CALLED MOM-AND-POP
SMALL LANDLORD PLAN TO RAISE
RENT LESS THAN WHAT THEY BELIEV
IN THE MARKET RENT. NO LANDLOR
LARGE OR SMALL SHOULD HAVE THE
RIGHT TO EXPLOIT TENANTS, BUT
STATISTIC IS RECEIVED FROM THE
SURVEY RESULTS, THE EXPLOITATIO
IS FAR MORE FREQUENT WITH
CORPORATE LANDLORDS. CORPORATE
LANDLORDS HAVE WRITTEN
ASTRONOMICAL PROFITS FROM RENT
INCREASES. REPORT BY
ACCOUNTABLE .US FOUND THAT THE
SIX LARGEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES IN THE U.S. MADE $4.
BILLION IN PROFITS IN 2022.
WHICH IS OVER $1.3 BILLION MORE
THAN IN 2021. THESE PEOPLE MAK
BILLION DOLLARS LIKE IT'S POCKE
CHANGE. WHAT DOES $1 BILLION
LOOK LIKE. THE REST OF US ARE
BARELY GETTING BY. AT LEAST
THREE OF THOSE SIX CORPORATIONS
ON MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN
SEATTLE. THE REPORT FOUND THE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS MAKE THESE
ENORMOUS PROFITS BY QUOTE
IMPOSING DOUBLE-DIGIT TREND
INCREASES, CHARGING EXCESSIVE
FEES, AND ENGAGING IN ABUSIVE
TACTICS FOR THE TENANTS AND
QUOTE. MOST OF THE BIG PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ARE OWNED
BY MAJOR COMPANIES, BANKS AND
OTHER LARGE CORPORATE ENTITIES.
AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO BREAK
IN THE PROFITS FROM ALL THESE
HOLDINGS ARE MULTIMILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES. THIS RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION IS ONLY THE
FIRST STEP. IN ORDER TO PROTECT
RENTERS FROM OUTRAGEOUS RENT
HIKES WE NEED TO PASS RENT
CONTROL IN SEATTLE AND WE NEED
TO OVERTURN THE OUTRAGEOUS STAT
LAW THAT PROHIBITS ANY CITY OR
TOWN IN WASHINGTON STATE FROM
PASSING ANY LAW REGULATING RENT
THAT STATE LAW HAS STAYED ON
THE BOOKS FOR THE LAST 42 YEARS
SINCE BOTH THE DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS IN OLYMPIA GIFTED I
THE LANDLORD LOBBY IN 1981. TO
ADDRESS THIS, THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION IS BASICALLY A
TRIGGER LAW. IT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE THE MOMENT THE STATE
LAW BANNING RENT CONTROL IS
OVERTURNED. THE RENT CONTROL
POLICY THAT WE ARE PROPOSING HA
NONE OF THE CORPORATE LOOPHOLES
THAT THE LANDLORD LOBBY HAS
OFTEN USED TO UNDERMINE AND
NULLIFY RENT CONTROL PROTECTION
IN CITIES AND STATES AROUND THE
WORLD. OUR BILL WOULD CAP RENT
INCREASES THAT NO MORE THAN THE
RATE OF INFLATION. LANDLORDS CA
CHOOSE TO RAISE THE RENT LESS
THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION OR
REDUCE THE RENT. WE DON'T EXPEC
THEY WILL DO THAT BUT THEY HAVE
THE LEGAL OPTION TO DO THAT. OR
KEEP IT THE SAME. THAT THEY MAY
NOT RAISE IT MORE THAN
INFLATION. ALL THE RENTAL
HOUSING IN SEATTLE WILL BE
PROTECTED. IN SOME CITIES, RENT
CONTROL ONLY APPLIES TO CERTAIN
UNITS ANY HAVE TO GET VERY LUCK
TO GET INTO A RENT CONTROL UNIT
AND OUR POLICIES, ALL RENTERS
WILL BE PROTECTED. THERE WILL B
NO VACANCY. SUBSIDIES HAVE
CREATED A LOOPHOLE WHERE THE
LANDLORDS CAN RAISE THE RENT BY
HOWEVER MUCH THEY WANT ANY TIME
A RENTER MOVES OUT OF THE
APARTMENT. THIS MEANS THAT THE
RENT CONTROL POLICY BECOMES FA
LESS EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING RENT
AFFORDABLE CITYWIDE. IT ALSO
CREATES THOSE OUTRAGEOUS
SITUATION WHERE AN UNSCRUPULOUS
LANDLORD WILL TRY TO BULLY A
TENANT OUT OF THEIR APARTMENT,
IN ORDER TO RAISE THE RENTS.
THERE IS ONE TO ONE REPLACEMENT
OF AFFORDABLE UNITS ANYTIME
THERE IS NEW CONSTRUCTION,
ACCORDING TO THIS LAW. IF THE
DEVELOPER DEMOLISHES A 10 UNIT
BUILDING TO ABOUT THE 100
APARTMENT BUILDING, THE NEW
LANDLORDS NEED TO MAINTAIN THE
RENTS OF THE 10 APARTMENTS THEY
DEMOLISHED USING SOME OF THE NE
UNITS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A
RENT CONTROL BOARD, ACCORDING T
THIS LAW, TO DEAL WITH
EXCEPTIONS. SO IF A SMALL
LANDLORD VERSUS UNFORESEEN COST
LIKE A TREE FALLING ON THE ROOF
FOR EXAMPLE. AND THEY REALLY
NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THERE
WILL BE A RENT CONTROL BOARD
THAT CAN GRANT EXCEPTIONS. BUT
THOSE ARE FOR ONLY WHEN AN
EXCEPTION IS REALLY NEEDED. THA
IS A SUMMARY OF THE RENT CONTRO
LAW THAT WE WILL BE REVIEWING.
AND ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
VOTE ON. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
THAT ONE. BUT BEFORE HEARING
FROM THE PANEL OF RENTERS THAT
WE HAVE FOR US AND ALSO THE
STAFF MEMO PRESENTATION, WE WIL
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 3
PEOPLE SIGNED UP IN PERSON FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. AND HOW MANY
ONLINE?
>> 37.
>> OKAY. SO WE WILL HAVE
EVERYONE SPEAK. SPEAKERS WILL
HAVE ONE MINUTE EACH SO WE CAN
GET TO THE PRESENTATIONS. IS
MAKE SURE YOU FINISH YOUR PUBLI
COMMENT WITHIN THE MINUTE. I
WILL READ OUT THE NAMES OF THE
SPEAKERS THAT ARE FIRST IN
PERSON AND THEN WILL GO TO THOS
WHO ARE ONLINE. FOR THE SPEAKER
WHO ARE ONLINE, WHO ARE SPEAKIN
REMOTELY, WHEN WE CALL YOUR
NAME, YOU WILL BE PROMPTED TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. WHEN YOU FEEL
THAT, PLEASE HIT STAR SIX ON
YOUR PHONE. THOSE OF YOU WHO AR
HERE IN PERSON, PLEASE MAKE
SURE TO HOLD IT CLOSE TO YOUR
FACE SO THAT YOU ARE HEARD. I
WILL CALL THREE NAMES EACH TIME
MAKE SURE IF YOUR NAME IS
FOLLOWING THE CURRENT SPEAKER
THAT YOU ARE READY TO SPEAK.
SPEND THERE SO WE DON'T SPEND
TIME WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO GET
OUT OF THEIR SEAT. DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I
DO NOT REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATIO
OR A UNION. I AM HERE'S A 25
YEAR RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. I'M
HERE TO URGE ALL DEMOCRATS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT REN
CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH NO
LOOPHOLES OR WATERING DOWN . I
HAVE 15 SECONDS TO SET HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 25 YEARS
AND HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL
AND. FULL-TIME AND IT HAS BECOM
INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR ME T
SURVIVE WITH THE RENTS. AND I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED ALL
THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET
BUT I BELIEVE THERE OUT THERE
BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RENTS.
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL,
WITH ALL RESPECT TO YOU, PLEASE
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> NOW FOLLOWED BY KEN AND THEN
ALICIA.
>> HELLO. I AM A PROPERTY
OWNER. I AM A PROPERTY OWNER
FOR RENT CONTROL NOW AND BEFORE
OWNING A CONDO I RENTED ACROSS
THE CITY FOR 10 YEARS. OF MY
HOUSES, WHICH WAS A SHARED HOUS
WITH FIVE PEOPLE. THE LANDLORD
INCREASE THE RENT BEFORE THE
NEW LEASE BY 30%. THE ROOM FROM
EACH HOUSE WENT FROM $550-$720.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE
LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IN
WITH MY PARTNER TO AVOID THE
INCREASE IN A BEDROOM AND
UNFORTUNATELY THIS HOUSE WAS NO
UP TO CODE SO WHEN PEOPLE PUT I
A SPACE HEATER IN THE WINTER TO
STAY WARM OR EVEN A HAIRDRYER,
THEN TIEBREAKER SYSTEM WOULD GO
OFF AND THEY WOULD LOSE
ELECTRICITY. WE WOULD HAVE TO
WAIT IN ORDER TO RESET THE
BREAKER. THEY WERE SCARED TO
REPORT IT TO CODE BECAUSE THEY
DID NOT WANT TO LOSE THEIR
HOUSING HOUSING THAT WAS
SOMEWHAT AFFORDABLE. THAT IS A
REALITY FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY
AND IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
I'M HERE ON MY DAY OFF AS A
PROPERTY OWNER BECAUSE I BELIEV
THE PRIVILEGE OF PROPERTY OWNIN
COMES RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND U
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL RENTIN
IN THE CITY. I WILL BE WATCHING
HOW YOU TALK AND REACT TO THIS
LEGISLATION. AND IF YOU VOTE
AGAINST IT, I'LL DO EVERYTHING
THAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU DO
NOT KEEP YOUR SEAT ON THIS
COUNSEL. AGAIN, I'M A PROPERTY
OWNER WHO SUPPORTS RENT CONTROL
WITH NO LOOPHOLES FOR ALL IN TH
CITY AND STATEWIDE. THANK YOU
FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
>> HELLO. I AM A RENTER IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. THE FOR
PROFIT HOUSING MARKET DOES NOT
EXIST TO FULFILL HOUSING NEEDS
BUT TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THEM.
IT CATERS TO THE GREED OF THE
WEALTHY SHAREHOLDERS IN REAL
ESTATE COMPANIES. CORPORATE LAN
HOLDERS CHECKUP RENT BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO.
NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BUT
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO. THIS IS
WHY THE WORKING-CLASS AND
RANK-AND-FILE FOUGHT BEYOND THE
AMAZON TAX TO FUND PUBLIC OWNE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT IS STILL
FAR FROM ENOUGH. I CAN TELL YO
THAT MY RENT HAS GONE UP AND MY
WAGES HAVE NOT MET IT. WITH
INFLATION, IT'S HARDER TO PAY
THAT RENT EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
THIS IS WHY I URGE ALL DEMOCRAT
IN THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAND
WITH THE WORKING PEOPLE. NOT TH
WEALTHY LANDLORDS. PLEASE
SUPPORT KSHAMA SAWANT'S CONTRO
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION NO
LOOPHOLES OR WATERING DOWN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT WE HAVE HARRIET.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
NICHOLASVILLE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
WE SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AN
WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT FOR PUTTING THIS
FORWARD. NATIONAL RESEARCH
SHOWS THAT FOR EVERY $100
INCREASE IN RENT, THERE IS AN
INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.
ACCORDING TO THE LOW,
COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE SPEND
MORE THAN 32% OF THEIR INCOME O
RENT , THEY CAN EXPECT A MORE
RAPID INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS.
I BECAME HOMELESS BECAUSE MY
RENT WENT FROM $900 OVER BY TH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. IS A
MICROMINI STUDIO 125 SQUARE
FEET. TO OVER $1500. I CANNOT
AFFORD THAT. I WAS WORKING
FULL-TIME AT THAT TIME AND I WA
MAKING $1500 A MONTH PAYMENT
HOW MANY SQUARE FOOT?
>> 125 SQUARE FEET. MICROMINI
STUDIOS OVER BY THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON. $900-$1500. I
CANNOT AFFORD THAT. THIS NEEDS
TO BE CHANGED.
>> WE SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION
AND WE APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT FOR PUTTING IT
FORWARD. ACCORDING TO THE
NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING
CORPORATION, PEOPLE NEED TO EAR
$40-$60 PER HOUR TO LIVE IN THE
SEATTLE METRO AREA. SATELLITES
WORKING MINIMUM WAGE NEED TO
WORK 88 HOURS PER WEEK BEFORE W
CAN MEET THAT MINIMUM INCOME
PRICE. THIS IS LEADING TO AN
AFFORDABILITY CRUNCH FOR PEOPLE
ON THE BOTTOM ECONOMIC RUG .
INCREASING THE RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS. THE HOUSE THAT I
WAS RENTING AND I WAS PINGED
$900 A MONTH AND THEY RAISED IT
TO $1500 A MONTH. WHICH I
CANNOT AFFORD SO I BECAME
HOMELESS AGAIN AFTER MANY YEARS
OF NOT BEING HOMELESS. THIS
REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. W
URGE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS T
VOTE YES ON THIS LEGISLATION AN
THANK YOU.
>> IT IS DOMINIC WOLFGANG
WALLACE.
>> HELLO AND I'M A SOCIAL WORKE
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN
AND YOUTH AND FAMILIES. I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. CORPORATE
GREED IS MAKING IT HARDER AND
HARDER TO LIVE IN THE CITY. THE
FOR PROFIT HOUSING MARKET DOES
NOT WORK FOR REGULAR PEOPLE AN
LANDLORDS ARE BENEFITING OFF TH
BACKS OF LOCAL PEOPLE. AS A
SOCIAL WORKER I SUPPORT PEOPLE
SEARCHING FOR AFFORDABLE AND
SAFE HOUSING FOR CHILDREN AND
THEIR FAMILIES ALMOST DAILY. NO
ONLY RENT CONTROL BUT THE
EXPANSION OF SOCIAL HOUSING
TAXED BY THE RICH. RATES OF
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE CONTINU
TO RISE AND STUDY AFTER STUDY
SHOW THAT RAISING RENT IS
WITHOUT A DOUBT A CONTRIBUTING
FACTOR. CITY COUNCIL IS
CONSTANTLY SCRAMBLING FOR
SOLUTIONS TO THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS IN THE CITY AND HERE'S A
SOLUTION BEING DROPPED AT YOUR
FEET. RENT CONTROL IS BANNED IN
WASHINGTON STATE BUT THERE'S
NOTHING STANDING IN THE WAY TO
CHANGE THIS. RENT CONTROL LEAD
THE WAY FORWARD. WE URGE
DEMOCRATS AND CITY COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S LEGISLATION TO FIGHT
FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE THAT YOU
REPRESENT .
>> HELLO. I'M DOMINIC WOLFGANG
WALLACE. I AM A SEATTLE RENTER
WITH THE FOR PROFIT HOUSING
MARKET THAT DOES NOT EXIST FOR
THE NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE.
INSTEAD IT IS FOR RENTAL
COMPANIES. THEY CHECKUP RENT
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE POWER TO
DO SO NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO.
THAT IS WHY UNION PEOPLE FOUGHT
ALONGSIDE TO WIN THE AMAZON TAX
TO WIN PUBLICLY OWNED AFFORDABL
HOUSING. BUT IT IS FAR FROM
ENOUGH. AFFORDABILITY HOUSING
CRISIS IS SO CUTE THAT WE NEED
DRAMATIC EXPANSION AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
WE NEED MUCH MORE HOUSING PAID
FOR BY THE RICH AND WE URGENTLY
NEED HOUSING CONTROL. I URGE
EVERYONE TO STAND WITH WORKING
PEOPLE AND NOT WITH THE
LANDLORDS. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES WITH NO LOOPHOLES OR
WATERING DOWN
>> I AM HERE TO URGE THE
DEMOCRATS TO STAY WITH WORKING
PEOPLE AND NOT WEALTHY LANDLORD
AND TO VOTE YES ON THIS
LEGISLATION WITHOUT WATERING IT
DOWN AND WITHOUT LOOPHOLES. TH
BANNERS PASSED IN 1981 AND HAS
BEEN A PALPABLE DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS SINCE THEN. TO SHO
MORE LOYALTY TO CORPORATIONS
THAN WORKING PEOPLE. THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS HELD THE
GOVERNOR'S MANSION, THE STATE,
THE SENATE, AND THE HOUSE IN TH
STATE FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES
DESPITE A MASSIVE HOUSING
CRISIS, THIS YEAR, THE
DEMOCRATS, WHO HAVE A MAJORITY,
REFUSED TO ALLOW THE BAND.
SIMILAR BAN WAS OVERTURNED IN
OREGON IN 2019. AND ACROSS THE
BOARD, RENT CONTROL WAS PASSED.
THIS RENT CONTROL WILL
ENORMOUSLY ENERGIZE THE MOVEMEN
THAT WE NEED TO FOR STATE
DEMOCRATS TO LIFT THE BAN. WE
URGENTLY NEED MORE SOCIAL
HOUSING PAID FOR BY RENT CONTRO
IN SEATTLE.
>> MY NAME IS JERMEY HAWKINS.
THE FOR PROFIT HOUSING MARKET
DOES NOT EXIST TO FULFILL THE
HOUSING NEEDS OF WORKING PEOPLE
INSTEAD IT CATERS TO THE GREED
OF THE WEALTHY SHAREHOLDERS AND
THE REAL ESTATE COMPANIES.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS CHECKUP
RENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE
POWER TO DO SO, NOT BECAUSE THE
NEED TO. THAT IS WHY WORKING
PEOPLE AND UNION RANK-AND-FILE
FOUGHT BEHIND BESIDE [ ROLL CAL
] TO FIGHT THE AMAZON TAX TO
FUND PUBLICLY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. IT'S FAR FROM ENOUGH A
THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISI
IS SO CUTE THAT WE NEEDED
DRAMATIC EXPANSION AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
WE NEED MUCH MORE SOCIAL HOUSIN
PAID FOR BY TAXING THE RICH AND
WE URGENTLY NEED RENT CONTROL.
URGE ALL DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO STAND WITH WORKING
PEOPLE AND NOT WEALTHY
LANDLORDS. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO WATERING
DOWN. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE ALAN AND THEN
SARAH.
>> I AM A RENTER IN GREEN LAKE
AND I'M HERE TO ASK ALL
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL T
VOTE YES ON COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S LEGISLATION.
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE ARE IN A
CRISIS RIGHT NOW WITH THE BIG
CORPORATE LEARNERS ARE WORKING
IN MILLINGTON PROFIT. CORPORATE
APOLOGISTS A THE BECAUSE
LANDLORDS ARE HOUSING PROVIDERS
THAT THEY GET TO CHARGE THE REN
HOWEVER HIGH THEY WANT. BUT NOT
EVEN TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAVE TO
GO ON STRIKE BECAUSE
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, WHO ARE
THE REAL HOUSING PROVIDERS,
CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE
CITY. THEY HAVE TO CARPOOL IN
HOURS EVERY DAY TO GO TO THEIR
JOBS BECAUSE THEY STRUGGLE TO
AFFORD HOUSING IN THE CITY. HOW
CAN THIS COUNSEL CLAIM TO
SUPPORT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
WHEN THE BEST AND MOST DIVERSE
LAYERS OF OUR CITY ARE BEING
DRIVEN OUT EVERY SLOW DAY? THAT
IS WHY WE NEED TOTAL
COMPREHENSIVE RENT CONTROL FOR
EVERY SEATTLE RENTER. WE NEED
SOCIAL HOUSING PAID FOR BY
TAXING THE RICH AND WE
DESPERATELY NEED YOU TO VOTE YE
ON THIS LEGISLATION THAT WE CAN
TAKE THIS FIGHT ALL THE WAY TO
OLYMPIA.
>> HELLO AND WE SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION.
>> PLEASE HOLD THE MICROPHONE
CLOSER.
>> ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE , THERE
IS A REASON THAT ALL OF THE
HOMELESSNESS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE PREVIEWING THIS. BUT
PEOPLE EARLY PUSHED OUTSIDE TO
THIS COMPETITION. AND
HOMELESSNESS IS GROWING. PLEAS
VOTE YES AND THANK YOU. THANK
YOU.
>> BRANDON AND AUSTIN.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH AND
I'M A UNION MEMBER. I HAVE LIVE
IN SEATTLE MY WHOLE LIFE AND
HAVE MOVED PROBABLY FIVE TIMES
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WHILE
RENTING. I HAD A GOOD JOB THE
WHOLE TIME. IN 2019, MY
LANDLORD, WHO IS NONE OTHER THA
THE CEO OF PCC MARKETS HAD
FORCED MOST EVERYONE OUT OF MY
BUILDING WITH RENT HIKES RIGHT
BEFORE COVID-19. SHOUT OUT TO
YOU, KATE. I STRONGLY URGE
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL T
PASS COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWAN
FULL RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION
WITHOUT LOOPHOLES FOR CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS. THEY
DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW
THEY HAVE HAD RECORD PROFITS AN
BILLIONS MORE EVERY YEAR. THEY
CHECKUP RENT FOR PROFIT AND NOT
OUT OF NECESSITY. A SERIOUS
FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE
UNDENIABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN
SEATTLE NEEDS TO INCLUDE A PLAN
FOR RENT CONTROL NOW AS THE COS
OF LIVING IS SKYROCKETING. WILL
ALSO NEED HIGH-QUALITY SOCIAL
HOUSING PAID FOR BY TAXING THE
RICH. SEATTLE IS BECOMING
UNLIVABLE AND THE WORST PART IS
THAT THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO
ABOUT IT. BUT IT TAKES A
FIGHTING MOVEMENT BECAUSE THE
STATUS QUO IS NOT ON OUR SIDE.,
PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER AND SOCIAL
HEALTH AND PUBLIC HOUSING ARE
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. THAT
SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF
US AFTER THE BRUTAL COVID-19
PANDEMIC. RENT CONTROL WORKS
WHEN IT'S NOT LOBBY WATER DOWN
BY CORPORATE LOBBYISTS AND
POLITICIANS. IT WOULD BE A
POWERFUL DEFENSE FOR THE
NON-WEALTHY IN THIS HOSTILE
COUNT ECONOMY. HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY HAS BEEN THE MAJO
ISSUE FOR OVER A DECADE AND WHE
A DRASTIC AND IMMEDIATE ACTION
ON IT. THANK YOU.
>> I AM A UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT. RENTING AN OFF-CAMPUS
APARTMENT. I'M ABSOLUTELY FED
UP WITH THE RAPID PACE OF RENT
WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS. AND I HAV
BEEN SEARCHING FOR APARTMENTS T
MOVE IN STARTING THIS
SEPTEMBER. OPTIONS ARE VERY
LIMITED WITH THE BUDGET THAT I'
SEARCHING FOR AND AMONG OTHER
THINGS. IF THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS CAN CONTINUE TO
INCREASE RENTS, WHY ARE THERE
SOME REPORTS OF UNITS THAT ARE
UNDER MAINTENANCE? WE NEED REN
CONTROL AND WE NEED IT NOW. FUL
ACCOUNTABILITY WITH NO EXCUSES.
>> PLEASE FOLLOW BRANDON'S
EXAMPLE AND HOLD THE MICROPHONE
PHYSICALLY BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT
IS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH.
>> HELLO AND I'M A RENTER
DISTRICT 5. I'M HERE TO URGE TH
CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR O
THIS LEGISLATION. HAVE LIVED AL
OVER THE COUNTRY AT THIS POINT
AND HAVE LIVED IN COLORADO AND
CAN SAY THAT SEATTLE RENTER THE
MOST RIDICULOUS AND THE RATES O
INCREASE OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS
THAT I HAVE SEEN ALL OVER THIS
COUNTRY. SO THE FOR PROFIT
HOUSING MARKET DOES NOT EXIST T
FILL THE HOUSING NEEDS OF
WORKING PEOPLE. WE ALL SEE THAT
IT CATERS TO THE GREED OF
WEALTHY SHAREHOLDERS AND REAL
ESTATE COMPANIES. CORPORATE
LANDLORDS CHECKUP RENTS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO.
NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO AND
BECAUSE THERE IS NO
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEM. THAT I
WHY WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER
WITH RANK-AND-FILE UNIONS AND
ALONGSIDE COUNCIL MEMBER [ ROLL
CALL ]. BUT THE POINT IS THAT W
NEED THIS LEGISLATION
DESPERATELY. EVERY SINGLE ONE O
US AND WE WILL JUST KEEP
GETTING BEEN OUT OF THE CITY AN
IT WILL GET WORSE AND WORSE AND
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU
>> HELLO. I AM A TECH WORKER
AND A MEMBER OF THE RENTERS
UNION AND I'M A RENTER IN
SEATTLE. I'M HERE TO URGE OF TH
DEMOCRATS ON CITY COUNCIL TO
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND
NOT THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS.
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND
VOTE YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAM
SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. YOU MAY READ SOM
SCARY FEAR MONGERING REPORTS
THAT RENT CONTROL WILL DECREASE
THE HOUSING STOCK. THESE
PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY THE
LOOPHOLES THAT WE DEFINITELY
DESPERATELY NEED TO AVOID.
THINGS LIKE VACANCY IS NOT REN
CONTROL AND MORE THAN ALLOWING
RENTS TO REVERT BACK TO MARKET
RATES ONCE TENANTS MOVE OUT. IT
ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO PUSH
TENANTS OUT TO AVOID RENT
CONTROL MEASURES. THAT'S WHY
WORKING PEOPLE LIKE US HAVE
FOUGHT FOR THINGS LIKE THE
AMAZON TAX. TO MAKE PUBLICLY
OWNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AVAILABLE. BUT WE NEED MORE THA
THAT. WE NEED RENT CONTROL.
>> WE HAVE BAILEY AND HOWARD.
>> HELLO. I AM DANIEL. I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT THIS IS A
MEANS FOR PROFIT FOR REAL ESTAT
FIRMS BUT IS WORKING PEOPLE, WE
CANNOT VOTE WITH OUR WALLETS
BECAUSE WHATEVER THE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS WANT US TO PAY IS
PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER WE PAY.
THEY RAISE THE RENT BECAUSE THE
CAN AND THE UNION RANK-AND-FILE
FOUGHT FOR THE AMAZON TAX
ALONGSIDE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
OFFICE OF KSHAMA SAWANT. I'M
PERSONALLY VERY PROUD OF THE
MOVEMENT. BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY
ENOUGH CONSIDERING THE STATE OF
THE HOUSING CRISIS WHICH WORKIN
PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR. WE NEED
RENT CONTROL. I'M NOT ALONE HER
AND DEMANDING THE DEMOCRATS ON
CITY COUNCIL TO PICK ASIDE AND
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE IT IS
THE PARASITIC REAL ESTATE
INDUSTRY. YES ON COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. THAT INCLUDES
THINGS LIKE NO VACANCY CONTROL
EXPERIENCE SHOWS THIS
OBLITERATES AFFORDABILITY OF
RENT CONTROL THE EXAMPLE OF
SANTA MONICA WERE 83% USED TO B
AFFORDABLE AND IT WENT TO 4%
AFTER VACANCY CONTROL. WE DON'T
NEED ANY POISON PILLS LIKE THAT
WE NEED RENT CONTROL IN ITS
STRONGEST FORM NOW.
>> AFTER LIVING IN SEATTLE FOR
THE LAST THREE YEARS, IT IS
CLEAR TO ME AS WELL AS THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF WORKIN
PEOPLE AND RENTERS THAT WE NEED
RENT CONTROL AND WE NEED IT NOW
CORPORATE LIMITS HAVE RAKED IN
ASTRONOMICAL PROFITS WHILE
DRIVING THOUSANDS OF RENTERS AN
FAMILIES INTO FOOD BEEN GLANCE
AND HOMELESSNESS. A 2020 STUDY
FROM THE NATIONAL STUDY OF
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE SHOWED A
$100 INCREASE IN MEDIAN RENT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH A 9% INCREASE I
ESTIMATED HOMELESSNESS RATE.
FROM 2019 TO 2020, SETTLE SAW 5
INCREASE IN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. IF THE CITY
COUNCIL IS SERIOUS ABOUT
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, IT WIL
VOTE YES ON RENT CONTROL. WHEN
HE RENT CONTROL FOR ALL RENTERS
AND ALL RENTAL HOMES WITH NO
LOOPHOLES AND NO VACANCIES. I
URGE ALL DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO STAND WITH RENTERS
AND NOT WITH THE WEALTHY
LANDLORDS. VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
COMPREHENSIVE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS NATALIE
BAILEY. I'VE BEEN A RENTER HERE
IN SEATTLE FOR OVER A DECADE.
THE FOR PROFIT HOUSING MARKET
DOES NOT EXIST TO FILL THE NEED
OF WORKING PEOPLE. INSTEAD IT
CATERS TO LANDLORDS AND THEY
JACK UP THE RENT BECAUSE THEY
HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO NOT
BECAUSE THEY NEED TO. THAT IS
WHY UNION PEOPLE AND
RANK-AND-FILE FIGHT ALONGSIDE
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT TO
FIGHT THE AMAZON TAX FOR
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT THAT IS
FAR FROM ENOUGH. THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS SO ACUT
THAT WE NEED A DRAMATIC
EXPANSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN OUR CITY. WE NEED MUCH MORE
HOUSING PAID FOR BY THE RICH AN
WE URGENTLY NEED RENT CONTROL.
RENTS HAVE ACUTE HUMAN CAUSE.
THE GREED OF MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATE
LANDLORDS IS DRIVING THOUSANDS
OF RENTERS TO FOOD BANKS. AND
INTO HOMELESSNESS. THE CLAIM
THAT RENT CONTROL REDUCES THE
QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF
AVAILABLE HOUSING IS A MYTH
PERPETUATED BY THE REAL ESTATE
LOBBY. BIG DEVELOPERS ESTABLISH
THIS FOR YEARS AND DESPITE A
SKYLINE LITTERED WITH GRAINS,
SIENNAS BIGGEST DEVELOPERS HAV
DONE NOTHING TO MAKE RENT MORE
AFFORDABLE. WE DESPERATELY NEED
RENT CONTROL FOR WORKING CLASS
PEOPLE.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I
HAVE LIVED HERE IN SEATTLE MY
ENTIRE LIFE. THROUGHOUT THE
PAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN
CLOSER AND CLOSER TO
HOMELESSNESS. DESPITE HAVING
FAMILY THAT HAS WORKED 40 TO 6
HOURS OR MORE CONSTANTLY EVERY
WEEK. AND IT HAS NOT MATTER
HOW MUCH THEY WORK. WE CANNOT
MAKE ENDS MEET AND HAVE SEEN
EVEN MORE FAMILIES NOT ABLE TO
MAKE ENDS MEET. WITH THE PASSIN
OF RENT CONTROL, WE WILL BE ABL
TO CHESS LIVE AND PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO NOT BE JUST OUTSIDE
ON THE STREETS WITH NOWHERE TO
GO. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY
WORK, THEY CANNOT MAKE THEIR
ENDS MEET.
>> RENT IS TOO HIGH AND IF WE
PASS THIS, RENT WILL BE FAR
MORE MANAGEABLE FOR MANY PEOPLE
HERE. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I AM A GROCERY STORE
CASHIER AND I URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY COUNCIL T
VOTE YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAM
SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. RENT PRICES HAV
CONTINUED TO SKYROCKET
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE YET MINIMUM
WAGE REMAINS THE SAME AND HAZAR
PAY HAS ALL BUT VANISHED AS
SEATTLE LIVING SPACES GROW MORE
EXPENSIVE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF
HOMELESSNESS BECOMES EVER MORE
PRESENT TO PEOPLE WHO RESIDE
HERE. I AM LOW INCOME AND I
HAVE RENTED UNITS IN THE PAST
AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES
DOING SO. MANY APARTMENT
COMPLEXES TODAY ARE OWNED BY
LLCS. THE PAPERWORK TRAINING
THAT CERTAIN LLCS PROVIDE TO
BUILDING MANAGEMENT TRAINING IS
LACKING AND MANY UNITS REMAIN
EMPTY. ONLY TO PROVIDE TAX
BREAKS FOR THESE COMPANIES
BECAUSE OF POOR TRAINING AND
CONVOLUTED APPLICATION
PROCESSES. PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY
FOR THESE UNITS ARE NOT GETTING
THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED. I
SPENT A YEAR CORRECTING MY
PAPERWORK AND I WAS TOLD BY
SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY TO
CORRECT MY SITUATION BUT AT THE
END OF THE DAY, HOUSING IS A
BUSINESS. MY ISSUE IS NEVER
RESOLVED AND I'M NOT GREAT DEBT
BECAUSE OF THIS. HOUSING HAS
NEVER BEEN A BUSINESS AND FOR A
LONG AS PEOPLE REQUIRE SHELTER
FOR SURVIVAL, HOUSING IS AND
WILL CONTINUE CONTINUE TO BE A
HUMAN RIGHT THAT SHOULD BE
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL
STATUS. 16 MILLION HOMES REMAIN
UNOCCUPIED THROUGHOUT THE UNITE
STATES. THIS INCLUDES CONDOS,
APARTMENTS, HOUSES AND MORE.
MEANING THERE ARE 28 HOUSES FOR
EVERY PERSON EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN THE U.S. RENT
CONTROL IS A NECESSITY UNDER
SYSTEM WAREHOUSING IS VIEWED AS
A COMMODITY. WE WILL PROVIDE TH
PEOPLE OF OUR CITY HOUSING ON
THIS EARTH THAT EVERYONE ON
THIS EARTH DESERVES TO HAVE.
>> THIS FOR PROFIT HOUSING
MARKET DOES NOT EXIST TO
FULFILL THE NEEDS OF WORKING
PEOPLE. INSTEAD IT'S FOR WEALTH
COMPANIES. CORPORATE
LANDHOLDERS JACK UP RENTS
BECAUSE THEY CAN. THAT IS WHY
UNION RANK-AND-FILE HAD FOUGHT
TO WIN THE AMAZON TAX FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT IT'S FA
FROM ENOUGH. FOR THE HOUSING
CRISIS IS SO ACUTE THAT WE NEED
DRAMATIC EXPANSION IN OUR CITY.
WE NEED HOUSING PAID FOR BY
TAXING THE RICH AND WE URGENTLY
NEED RENT CONTROL. I URGE
DEMOCRATS AND THE CITY PEOPLE T
STAND WITH THE WORKING PEOPLE
ARE NOT WEALTHY LANDLORDS. I
URGE YOU TO RENT YES WITH NO
LOOPHOLES OR WATERING DOWN. I
PAY 1004 AND $75 MONTH FOR TINY
STUDIO APARTMENT IN SOUTH LAKE
UNION. MY MICHAEL HANDEL BROKE
OFF A FEW WEEKS MOVING IT AND
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE
BATHROOM FAN RUNS. THE WINDOWS
DO NOT OPEN AND JUST THIS
MORNING, MY DOOR DID NOT
OUTRIGHT LOCK. HAVE TRIED TIME
AND TIME AGAIN FOR MANAGEMENT T
TACKLE THESE ISSUES. BUT I WOUL
SUE BUT I CANNOT AFFORD A
LAWYER AND EVEN IF I DID, THE
MENTAL TOLL TO GO THROUGH A
LENGTHY LAWSUIT IS SOMETHING I
SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT DEAL
WITH. REMIND ME HELP PAYING 1
1/2 THOUSAND DOLLARS REMINDS
MAKE IT QUALITY HOUSING. THE
LANDLORDS OF THE CITY ONLY SEEM
AS A SOURCE OF PASSIVE INCOME
AND IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING
SOON, IT WILL BE CLEAR THAT THA
IS HOW YOU SEE ME TOO. DO YOUR
JOB OR AT LEAST TURN ON YOUR
CHEMIST TO PROVE YOU HAVE THE
COURAGE TO LOOK ME IN THE EYE.
>> THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING
THIS MEASURE. GOOD MORNING,
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I URGE
YOU IN GOOD CONSCIOUS. HOW COUL
YOU POSSIBLY VOTE NO? HOW COULD
ANYBODY VOTE NO CHECK ON THIS?
LIVE IN ASSISTANCE HOUSING AND
HOW TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF M
NEIGHBORS. I NEIGHBOR ACROSS TH
HALL IS A VIETNAM VETERAN AND
FORMER POLICE OFFICER WITH
DEMENTIA. IF HIS RENT HAS
INCREASED, ARE YOU GOING TO
ALLOW THIS VETERAN AND FORMER
POLICE OFFICER TO BE EVICTED?
ALSO, TWO OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE A
COUPLE WHO ARE ON DISABILITY
BECAUSE THEY HAVE MENTAL
ILLNESS. ARE YOU GOING TO ALLO
THEIR RENT TO BE RAISED AND FOR
THEM TO BE EVICTED? HOW CAN YO
SLEEP AT NIGHT AND VOTE NO NO O
THIS MEASURE? THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. I AM A LOW-WAGE
CASHIER AND A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS O
AMERICA. I AM HERE BECAUSE MY
FRIEND COMMITTED SUICIDE IN A
STANDOFF WITH THE KING COUNTY
CIVIL PROCESSING UNIT AFTER SHE
WAS BEING EVICTED FROM HER SLU
OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING THAT
SHE COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD. SHE
LOST HER LIFE OVER $6000. WHILE
HER LANDLORDS ON A HOME IN
HAWAII IN ADDITION TO A MANSION
IN BELLEVUE. THE FOUNDATION
GROUP AND THE PROPERTY MANAGER
FOR HER BUILDING HAD PROFITS.
WE NEED RENT CONTROL AND SOCIAL
HOUSING NOW SO MORE PEOPLE DON'
LOSE THEIR LIVES TO SUICIDE OR
TO HOMELESSNESS ON THE STREET.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON GRADUATE AND I WAS
IN COLLEGE BUT I RECENTLY MOVED
BACK IN WITH MY PARENTS BECAUSE
I COULD NOT AFFORD TO RENT IN
THE CITY. I WANT TO URGE OTHER
DEMOCRATS ON CITY COUNCIL TO
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND
NOT WEALTHY LANDLORDS AND VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. THE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND COST-OF-LIVIN
CRISIS IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN
IN DECADES AND IS ONLY GETTING
WORSE. CLAIMS PRICES MORE
CLIMBED MORE THAN NEW YORK AND
SAN FRANCISCO. HAVE FAR FROM
KEPT UP AFTER 16% AT THE START
OF THE PANDEMIC AND EVEN BEFORE
THIS WAS RELEASED IT WAS BY
NEARLY 92% FROM 2010 AND 2020.
THIS MEANS THAT SEATTLE AREA
RENTS HAD INCREASED OVER
COMPARABLE REGION SUCH AS THE
CALIFORNIA BAY AREA. WANTED TO
VOTE YES ON THIS LEGISLATION
WITHOUT LOOPHOLES.
>> HELLO., RENTER AND DISTRICT
4. AND, ACCORDING TO AN INTERNA
SURVEY FOR UNION MEMBERS, OVER
HALF OF US ARE RENT BURDENED.
THREE WEEKS AGO, WE LAUNCHED A
STRIKE AGAINST UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON WHO HAD REGULARLY PE
REFUSE TO PROVIDE RAISES IN
LINE WITH COST-OF-LIVING. WHICH
NOW MATCHES THE DYSTOPIAN
INEQUALITY OF SAN FRANCISCO. U
HAS BEEN WORKING WITH EVERYONE
TO JACK UP RENTS. NOT JUST BY
LOBBYING FOR DEVELOPER GIVEAWAY
BUT LITERALLY TRYING TO GIVE
AWAY THEIR PUBLIC LAND TO THESE
PRIVATE DEVELOPERS. I URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL T
STAND WITH THE STUDENTS AND
RESEARCHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING
TO MAKE THE UNIT WORK. AND NOT
THE CALLOUS ADMINISTRATORS AND
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WITH
MILLION-DOLLAR SALARIES. VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT STRONG RENT CONTROL WITH
NO LOOPHOLES AND NO WATERING
DOWN
>> MY NAME IS LUKE AND I MOVED
BACK TO SEATTLE IN 2016 AND
SOMETIMES I WAS MOVING TWICE A
YEAR BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE
STRANGLEHOLD THAT THE FOR PROFI
MARKET HAS ON OUR CITY. I'VE
HAD FRIEND AFTER FRIEND FORCED
OUT OF THE CITY AFTER BEING BLE
DRY BY THEIR LANDLORDS. RENTERS
GET MAILS AND AVOID DOCTOR
VISITS AND MISS LIFE BECAUSE
THEY'RE WORKING TO KEEP UP WITH
THE RENTS. MEANWHILE, LANDLORDS
LITERALLY GAMBLE AWAY YOUR
MONEY. LITERALLY. OR WORSE
DONATE MONEY TO REPRESENTATIVES
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT. CONSERVATIVE BUSINESSES
WILL DO WITH THE HAVE ALWAYS
DONE. FEAR MONGERING AND CALLIN
THE RENT CONTROL AND OUTLANDISH
DEMAND THAT WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR
MORE MODERATE REFORMS. WHILE I
SUPPORT MORE RADICAL DEMAND SUC
AS DEACON MODIFYING HOUSING
ALTOGETHER GETTING RID OF SECON
HOMES, WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR
RENT CONTROL NOW AND PASS THIS
BILL.
>> ALL OF THE SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP IN PERSON.
>> GO AHEAD. I DID NOT SEE YOUR
NAME BUT GO AHEAD.
>> CHECK THE BACKSIDE OF THE
SIGN-UP SHEET.
>> YOU ARE SIGNED UP.
>> I STUDY LEON TROTSKY AND
JUST AS THEY WANT US TO THINK
THAT RESOURCES ARE SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE TO COMPETE FOR. IN
ORDER TO WIN, WE HAVE TO
UNDERCUT PEOPLE AND JUST LIKE
THE MILITARY BASES THAT THE
CAPITAL HAS SET UP TO
DESENSITIZE PEOPLE IN MILITARY
BASES AND FUND WARS AND MAKE
PROFIT OFF OF.. THE BIG REAL
ESTATE HAS BECOME LIKE A GIANT
MILITARY BASE. DESENSITIZE THAT
THE PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPETE FOR
HOUSING. IF THE SOCIALISTS WERE
IN CONTROL, THEN THE MILITARY
COULD BECOME A THING TO RESTORE
THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO FOCUS O
ALL THE MILITARY BASES AROUND
THE WORLD. TO FOCUS ON RESTORIN
THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHEREAS
GLOBAL WARMING COMING FROM? REA
ESTATE COULD BE A FORCE TO SEE
WHO NEEDS THE MOST HOUSING. TH
MOST OPPRESSED WORKERS BECOME
THE PROLETARIAT AND THE LEADERS
OF THE MOVEMENT. IF THE
PROLETARIAT WERE THE LEADERS OF
THE MOVEMENT, THEN WE WOULD NOT
BE HAVING THESE ISSUES.
>> THE FIRST THREE REMOTE
SPEAKERS .
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A SMALL
LANDLORD AND VIOLATED. TO NOT
CONFORM TO RENT CONTROL.
SETTLERS IS LOSING RENTAL UNITS
AND IT'S RISKIER THAN EVER FOR
PEOPLE TO RENT HOUSING TO OTHER
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. COUNSEL
REGULATIONS ARE DIMINISHING
OPPORTUNITIES WITH LESS
DIVERSITY OF HOUSING. AND THE
LAST FEW YEARS, SEATTLE HAS LOS
MANY THOUSANDS OF RENTAL UNITS
AND SMALLER SIZE BUILDINGS. OR
MOST OF OUR NATURALLY AFFORDABL
RENTAL HOUSING IS. AT THE SAME
TIME, MOST BILLION-DOLLAR
HOUSING MONEY IS BEING PUT TO
VOTERS THAT WILL BUILD AND
PRESERVE OVER 3000 AFFORDABLE
UNITS. THE STATE LEGISLATURE HA
SEATTLE PASSING LAW AFTER LAW
RAISING THE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE
TO BE ABLE TO VIABLY BUILD
FINANCE OR OPERATE OR DO RENTAL
IN THE CITY. THIS IS A DREAM AN
POLITICAL DISTRACTION. PLEASE
REDIRECT YOUR ENERGY TO A ONE
SEATTLE APPROACH AND ENCOURAGE
HER RENTAL HOUSING ENVIRONMENT
WHERE MORE PEOPLE ARE NOT FEWER
CAN OFFER RESIDENTIAL HOUSING T
OTHER SEATTLEITES. THANK YOU.
>> BRETT, THERE YOU GO.
>> HERE TODAY AND OPPOSITION OF
THIS COUNSEL BILL. THIS DOES
NOT ALLOW THE POLICY TO TAKE
EFFECT IN THE CURRENT
LEGISLATURE IS NOT PART OF IT.
THE POLICY WILL NOT ACHIEVE
HOUSING STABILITY BUT IN FACT
THE OPPOSITE IMPACT. BUT THERE
ARE STEPS THEY CAN TAKE.
REFUNDING CONSTRUCTION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE ALSO
PASSED SEVERAL LAWS WITH
PERMANENT AND ZONING REFORM.
WHICH LEADS TO A MUCH-NEEDED
INCREASE IN SUPPLY. THIS IS JUS
TAKING EFFECT OF THE PROPOSAL
DECREASING THE QUANTITY OF
HOUSING IN OUR CITY. WE WILL
LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. AND IN
CERTAIN WESTERN COUNTRIES THIS
HAS CONSTITUTED MAYBE THE WORST
EXAMPLE OF POOR PLANNING BUT
GOVERNMENT LACKING COURAGE AND
VISION. PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS
APPROACH AND I STRONGLY URGE YO
TO OPPOSE THIS MEASURE. THANK
YOU.
>> HELLO. I AM A RENTER ON
CAPITOL HILL AND AN ACTIVIST
WITH WORKER STRIKE BACK. I'M
HERE TO DEMAND THAT THEY PASS
STRONG RENT CONTROL. WORKING
PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE BEING
CRUSHED BETWEEN RECORD
INFLATION, SKYROCKETING RENTS,
AND AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT A
DECENT AMOUNT OF TIME COUCH
SURFING AND LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK, I DON'T CONSIDER RENT
CONTROL TO BE A FEVER DREAM LIK
A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, BUT AN
OBVIOUS NECESSITY. I THINK IF W
WANT TO TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING
THE HOMELESS CRISIS, ALSO WITH
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT
SEARCH WITH COVID-19, WE NEED
RENT CONTROL AND RAPID EXPANSIO
OF SOCIAL HOUSING. THE IDEA THA
THE HOUSING SUPPLY GOES DOWN
THIS JUST NOT SUPPORTED BY THE
DATA AND CITIES THAT ALREADY
HAVE RENT CONTROL. THIS IS A
REALLY STRONG BILL AND IT'S
URGENT FOR WORKING PEOPLE THAT
IT STAYS THAT WAY WITHOUT ANY
PILLS OUR CARVEOUTS FOR BIG
DEVELOPERS. WANT TO GO BACK TO
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID ABOUT
VACANCY CONTROL. ALLOWS
LANDLORDS TO JACK UP RENTS
BETWEEN TENANTS. THERE ARE SOME
STRIKING NUMBERS FROM SANTA
MONICA WERE WITHOUT VACANCY
CONTROL RENTS WERE CONTROL 83%
OF UNITS AFFORDABLE AND RENT
CONTROL UNITS TO LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS. AND WITH IT IS 4%
WERE AFFORDABLE TO LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS.
>> AFTER JOE COMES PATRICK.
>> I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER
AND A UNION MEMBER WHOSE RENT
HAS GONE UP TWICE IN THE LAST
YEAR AND A HALF. WE URGE
EVERYONE TO VOTE YES ON THE REN
CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH NO
LOOPHOLES. THERE CAN BE NO
VACANCY TO ERODE THE BENEFIT O
RENT CONTROL SPECIFICALLY FOR
LOW INCOME TENANTS. IT DOES NOT
CREATE BELOW MARKET RATES THAT
ARE MAINTAINED OVER TIME. IT'S
AS SIMPLE AS THAT FOR
DEVELOPERS. AND THE NUMBERS FRO
SANTA MONICA ARE STUNNING. 83%
OF RENT CONTROL UNITS WENT FROM
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
BUT SINCE VACANCY CONTROL WAS
IMPLEMENTED, THE NUMBERS NOW 4%
AND THE PERSON TALKING ABOUT TH
BAN IN OLYMPIA, YES THERE IS A
BEEN PLEASE FROM THE DEMOCRATI
PARTY BUT THEY ENERGIZE THE
MOVEMENT AND PRESSURE ON THEM T
REPEAL THE BAN. VOTE YES WITH N
LOOPHOLES.
>> MY NAME IS BEN RUSSELL AND
I'M A RENTER HERE IN SEATTLE.
I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES ON RENT CONTROL IF
LANDLORDS ARE RAISING RENT SO
MUCH THEN IT MUST MEAN THE HOME
THEY WENT OUT ARE
WELL-MAINTAINED AND SAFE, RIGHT
FAR FROM IT. AND 2021, MY FIGHT
MY HOME WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE
CAUSED BY DILAPIDATED FIRE
WIRING. THE LANDLORD TREATED
US WITH TOTAL RUTHLESSNESS
INCLUDING THE RETURN OF OUR
SECURITY DEPOSIT AS A BARGAININ
CHIP WHICH MANY OF US KNOWN
FINANCIAL CRISIS DESPERATELY
NEEDED. IN THE COURSE OF DEALIN
WITH THE LANDLORD THEY WERE
HOLDING THE BUILDING AND NAMED
IT'S MY PARTY LLC. THE BRUTALIT
WE WERE TREATED WITH GOES TO
SHOW HOW FAR LANDLORDS WILL GO
TO PROTECT THEIR PROFITS EVEN
WITH THE MOST BASIC SAFETY
MEMBERS WHICH BY SHEER LUCK DID
NOT RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS
INJURY. AND AS THE ALERT LLC
NAME SUGGEST, IT WAS THEIR
PARTY. WE NEED RENT CONTROL AND
THANK YOU.
>> AFTER RANDY COMES JENNIFER
AND SOME OF THESE THAT WERE HER
PREVIOUSLY BUT THERE WERE NO
LONGER CONNECTED. IF YOU
RECONNECT, THEN WE CAN CALL YOU
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND I'M HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE KING COUNTY
REALTORS. WITH THE 30 YEAR
MORTGAGE AND THIS PROPOSAL DOES
NOTHING TO ADVANCE THE DREAM OF
HOME OWNERSHIP. MEMBERS WHO
STRUGGLE EVERY DAY TO HELP
PEOPLE BUY A HOME IN SEATTLE IN
A MARKET WHERE THEY ARE
INCREASINGLY PRICED OUT. ONE TO
MANY BARS USE INCLUDES RUNNING
OUT FOR THE DUPLEX IN ORDER TO
BOTH QUALIFY FOR THE MORTGAGE
AND MAKE PAYMENTS ON THAT
MORTGAGE. RENT CONTROL SHATTERS
THAT DREAM BECAUSE IT
ILLUMINATES THE BUYERS ABILITY
TO KEEP PACE WITH THE RISING
EXPENSES BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
PAY FOR INCREASED PROPERTY TAXE
AND FOR THE UTILITY RATES AND
MORTGAGE RATES. RENT CONTROL
HAS PROVED TO BE AN ABJECT
FAILURE IN EVERY MAKET.
CONSTRAINS THE SUPPLY RENTAL
UNITS AND ESTABLISHES
DISINCENTIVES TO IMPROVING THOS
UNITS. IT'S A LOOSE
PREPOSITION. BAD FOR THE
TENANTS AND BAD FOR THE RENTAL
HOUSING UNITS. I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO REJECT THIS LEGISLATION.
>> IF YOU RECONNECT, THEN WE CA
CALL IT. MARILYN, YOU APPEAR T
BE MUTED. PLEASE HEAD START SI
ON THE PHONE.
>> THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT
SEATTLE NEEDS TO CREATE LOWER
RENT. I URGE YOU TO HEED THIS
AND STOP ENTERTAINING THIS NOW.
CREATING IMPOSITIONS ON RENT I
PREEMPTIVE FIND THE STATE. NO
CITY OR TOWN OF ANY CLASSMATE
AND ACTOR MAINTAIN OR ENFORCE
ORDINANCES OR OTHER PROVISIONS
WHICH REGULATE THE AMOUNT OF
RENT TO BE CHARGED FOR
SINGLE-FAMILY MULTIPLE UNIT
RESIDENTIAL UNIT STRUCTURES.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ON THE LIST IS BRUCE
BECKER.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BRUCE
BECKER. I AM A MOM-AND-POP
LANDLORD IN SEATTLE. THIS KIND
OF RENT CONTROL IS REALLY THE
WORST POSSIBLE FORM OF PROVIDIN
ADDITIONAL HOUSING WHAT YOU
WANT TO DO IS TO PROVIDES
HOUSING THAT IS SIMPLE AND
EFFICIENT AND PREDICTABLE AND
THIS DOES NONE OF THAT. FOR
EXAMPLE, IN PORTLAND, AFTER REN
CONTROLS PUT IN PLACE, THE LAST
14% OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY RENTA
STOCK. THAT'S HAPPENING IN
SEATTLE TOO WITH ALL THE OTHER
REGULATIONS THE GOAL OF
PROVIDING HOUSING. THIS BILL IS
ESPECIALLY BAD. IT LIMITS RENT
INCREASES FOR AN INDEX THAT HAS
NO RELATIONSHIP TO COST BUT THE
COST OF PROVIDING HOUSING. FOR
EXAMPLE, TAXES ON MY RENTAL
HOUSING A FEW YEARS AGO WENT UP
TO 25% FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THIS
THE KIND OF INCREASE THAT CAN
HAPPEN SOMETIMES. AND THIS ALS
PROVIDES FOR YEARS WITHOUT
REGARDS TO IMPROVEMENTS OR
COSTS. AND THESE EXCEPTIONS MA
REQUIRE A TWO THIRDS VOTE TO
APPROVE THE DEMOGRAPHIC. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST
THIS PROPOSAL AND THANK YOU.
>> HELLO AND I AM A SMALLTIME
LANDLORD. I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED
TO RENT CONTROL FOR THREE MAIN
REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, IT HAS
NEVER BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE AN
OVERALL EFFECT ON ANY OF THE
COST OF HOUSING AS WAS IN THE
PAST. AND TO A LARGE DEGREE,
THESE POLICIES PROPOSED
ILLUSTRATE THE COMPLETE FAILURE
AND CREATIVITY OF THE CITY
COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH THE HIGH
COST OF HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
SECOND, WE HAVE ONLY RECENTLY
COME OUT OF A PANDEMIC DURING
WHICH LANDLORDS HAD INCREASED
RENT AND MANY OF US HAD TO PAY
WOULD NOT ON DEAL WITH
NONPAYING TENANTS FOR A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME. PRICES CAN GO U
DRAMATICALLY IN MY CASE I WAS
JUST GETTING THE PRICES BACK TO
WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. LOCKING US INTO LOW
RENT THIS TIME IS LIKE A SLAP I
THE FACE FOR THOSE OF US WHO
TRIED TO HELP OUR TENANTS.
THERE IS FUNDING THE PAST FEW
YEARS TO INCREASE RISK AND IT'S
ONLY RENT-CONTROLLED TO SELL MY
PROPERTY AND GET OUT OF THIS
ALTOGETHER. TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
THAT, I HAVE TENANTS PAYING WAY
BELOW MARKET VALUE AND THE
PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD TO
DEVELOPERS. THE BIGGEST IRONY
HERE IS THAT RENT CONTROL WILL
BE THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER. AND
A FEW QUESTIONS. WHY IS IT OKAY
FOR ME TO WORK HARD AT MY JOB
AND NOT EXPECT TO MAKE A PROFIT
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS HENRY
GRAHAM., RENTER AND DISTRICT 4
AND I URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBERS
TO VOTE YES ON COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITHOUT LOOPHOLES O
WATERING IT DOWN. A GROUP IN
SEATTLE AND I CAN BARELY AFFORD
THE BASEMENT WERE NOW SLEEP.
WORKING PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS
PLACE CAN SEE IT. LIKE PEOPLE
AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR THE
PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THE MOST. BUT
IF YOUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T MOVE
YOU, THEN JUST LOOK AT THE
FACTS. STUDY AFTER STUDY
REVEALS THE GREED OF CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AN UNDENIABLE
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE RISING
RENTS AND PEOPLE BEING FORCED
OUT ONTO THE STREETS. NOT TO
MENTION THE BENEFITS THAT REAL
RENT CONTROL HAS ALREADY BROUGH
AROUND THE WORLD. IF YOU VOTE N
AND YOU CAN KNOW THAT THE PEOPL
OF SEATTLE --
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD. YOU ARE
MUTED. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX ON
YOUR PHONE.
>> I'M AN ARCHITECT AND
DISTRICT 3 AND HAD PURCHASED
THE HOME AND 2014. THEY WERE
NOT ALLOWED TO RESIDE IN SEATTL
WITH OTHER RACIALLY RESTRICTED
COVENANTS AND PROHIBITING
NONWHITE RESIDENTS AND FROM
PURCHASING IN SEATTLE UNTIL
1968. THE GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND
WHITE RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTES TO
WEALTH INEQUALITY IN OUR
COMMUNITY. WHITE HOUSEHOLDS NET
WORTH IS 460,000 AND THE RATE O
HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR WHITE
RESIDENTS IS AND BLACK
RESIDENTS IS BELOW THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE. HOUSING STABILITY IS
KEY FOR TURNOUT. HOUSING
STABILITY IS A FORM OF JIM CROW
WE DO HAVE LAWS THAT MAKE IT
MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE. HOUSING
AND SECURITY AND HOUSING
INSECURITY IS JIM KROHN
DIFFERENT CLOSE. HOW COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
MODIFICATION PROTECTING TENANTS
AND MANY OF WHO ARE VICTIMS AN
VULNERABLE TO HOMELESSNESS TO
REPAIR THE HARM CAUSED BY RACIS
PRACTICES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6. WHERE IS THE
TESTING PROVISIONS IN THE BILL?
I DON'T THINK SOMEONE LIVING I
A PENTHOUSE IS PARTICULARLY
WORRIED ABOUT THEIR RENT
INCREASE. ARE THERE ANY PLANS
TO REDUCE LANDLORD EXPENSES?
WILL YOU CAP ANY INCREASES IN
REGISTRATION FEES AND INSPECTIO
FEES? WILL YOU CAP ANY UTILITY
BILLS INCREASES FOR LANDLORDS
THAT MUST HOLD THE WATER AND
SEWERAGE LINE AND GARBAGE IN
THEIR NAME? BY THE WAY, IN YOUR
REPORT, THERE WAS AN OFFSHORE
REFERENCE TO CAMBRIDGE
MASSACHUSETTS AND RENT CONTROL.
RENT CONTROL WAS TERMINATED IN
1995 IN CAMBRIDGE. IF YOU ARE
GOING TO USE STATISTICS TO
SUPPORT YOUR BUEHRLE ARGUMENTS
AT LEAST TRY TO USE SOMETHING
FROM THE 21st CENTURY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS BRAD
AUGUSTINE AND I'M A COMPANY OF
THE REAL ESTATE SERVICES IN
SEATTLE. WE MANAGE WHAT I CALL
MOM AND POP OWNED APARTMENTS. I
THE CITY OF SEATTLE 74.4% OF AL
APARTMENTS ARE OWNED BY MOM AND
POPS. AND YET WE HAVE SEEN IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS DRAMATIC
REDUCTION IN THOSE DESIRES TO
OWN APARTMENTS. HOUSING IS AN
INVESTMENT AND SO SHE ALSO SAI
OF THE DEVELOPER TEARS DOWN
THREE OR FOUR RENTAL UNITS TO
PROVIDE A LARGE APARTMENT AND
THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO
MAINTAIN RATES FOR THE UNITS
DOWN. NO ONE WILL BUILD
APARTMENTS IN SEATTLE. THERE AR
58,526 UNITS BEING ADDED TO
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW. SEATTLE'S
POPULATION GROWTH IS FLAT. WE
DON'T HAVE THE 20,000 PEOPLE
MOVINGAND POOR PORTLAND OREGON
THAT HAS RENT CONTROL.
>> THIS IS DANIEL BANNON CALLIN
IN ON BEHALF OF THE RENTAL
HOUSING ASSOCIATION OF
WASHINGTON WITH 5000 PROVIDERS
ACROSS THE STATE. RENT CONTROL
HAS APPROVED THIS EVERY TIME IT
HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE IT
REDUCES SUPPLY AND ACTUALLY
INCREASES RENTAL HOUSING COSTS
SPECIFICALLY, A STUDY CONDUCTED
BY THE STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL
OF BUSINESS AND THE PROFESSORS
OF THAT SCHOOL FOUND THAT RENT
CONTROL CAUSED AN OVERALL
INCREASE IN RENTAL RATES, WHICH
MADE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FO
NEW RESIDENTS TO FIND AFFORDABL
HOUSING. IN THIS INSTANCE, IT
ACTUALLY PROVES TO ACCELERATE
GENTRIFICATION IN THE SAN
FRANCISCO RENTAL MARKET THIS
ONLY PROVIDED BENEFIT TO THOSE
ALREADY RESIDING IN ANY UNIT
WITH AN AFFORDABLE RATE AND A
LACK OF INVESTMENT AND NEW
CONSTRUCTION STRANGLED SAN
FRANCISCO'S HOUSING SUPPLY
INCLUDED IMMENSE BARRIERS FOR
NEW RESIDENTS TO FIND HOUSING A
ALL. FURTHERMORE, THE RENT
CONTROL TO DECREASE HOUSING
UNITS WILL CREATE A PRICE GAP
BETWEEN RENT CONTROL UNITS AND
MARKET RATE UNITS. WHICH CREATE
AN ECONOMIC BARRIER FOR THE REN
CONTROL UNITS TO REMAIN
STAGNANT. AND IT CAN INCREASE
MORE RAPIDLY THAN THE MARKET
WITHOUT RENT CONTROL POLICIES.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
THE NICHOLASVILLE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. SINCE JANUARY HAVE
STRUGGLED TO FIND WORK THAT PAY
ENOUGH TO SUCCESSFULLY GET ME
OUT OF HOMELESSNES. ACCORDING
TO THE NATIONAL LOW INCOME
HOUSING COALITION, PEOPLE NEED
TO EARN $40-$60 PER HOUR TO
LIVE IN THE SEATTLE METRO AREA.
THIS IS FAR FROM THAT. BEING I
ONLY $15.74 AS OF JANUARY 1st
OF 2023. WITH THE PRICES OF REN
BEING SO HIGH, MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE HAVING TO MOVE FURTHER
FROM THEIR JOBS AND FARTHER FRO
SEATTLE WHERE THEY CAN
COMFORTABLY LIVE. THE PROBLEM
WITH THIS IS THAT NOW I HAVE TO
SPEND MONEY ON GAS AND CAR
MAINTENANCE. TRANSPORTATION IS
OFTEN LIMITED AND GOOD PAYING
JOBS ARE RARE. THE ANNUAL
SALARY OF $100,000 IS NOT EVEN
ENOUGH TO BUY SINGLE-FAMILY HOM
IN SEATTLE. THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE DON'T EVEN MAKE THAT
SALARY TODAY. MY CONCERN IS THA
PEOPLE COMING OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS AND THE PEOPLE MAY
HAVE LOWER PAYING JOBS SUCH AS
JANITORS AND RETAIL CLERKS WIL
NOT EVER BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULL
GET OUT OF HOMELESSNESS DUE TO
THE INCREASE IN RENT IF THEY DO
>> THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING AND THE WAGE
CANNOT QUITE KEEP UP THE COST O
LIVING. I SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AND IT'S HARD TO
EXPLAIN. BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. SORRY.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> ASPECTS. A GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I BECAME
HOMELESS AND AFTER WEEKS AND
MONTHS OF TRYING, WE FINALLY GO
INTO A HOMELESS SHELTER. MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING
HOMELESS EVERY DAY. THIS IS
WITH THE INCREASE OF
HOMELESSNESS BETWEEN 6% AND 32%
WITH THESE NUMBERS, IT'S HARD
TO FIND SHELTER FOR HOMELESS
PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS.
IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT NOT TO
GET INTO A SHELTER DUE TO THE
OVERFLOW OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE. WHY WE GUARANTEED
SHELTER AND I FOUND MYSELF
STRUGGLING AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE
AMOUNT OF HOMELESSNESS IN
SEATTLE. WITH RENT PRICES
CONTINUING TO GO UP, MORE AND
MORE PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY
BECOME HOMELESS. THIS PROVIDES
SHELTER IN THE RENT PRICES
CONTINUE TO GO UP. THEY WILL
ALSO CONTINUE TO GO UP. WE
APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT FOR PUTTING THE
LEGISLATION FORWARD AND WE URGE
THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THE
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> IN 2022 I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
CANCER AND I FOUND THAT TO BE
AN ADEQUATE SYSTEM FOR THESE
TREATMENTS. MY ABILITY TO WORK
FULL-TIME HAS BEEN CURTAILED.
ALTHOUGH I DO WORK A PART-TIME
JOB. BECAUSE THEIR INCOME
LIMITATIONS WITH MEDICAID, I'M
ONLY ABLE TO EARN $1167 PER
MONTH. TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE, THE CITY I LIVE IN I
ONE OF THE PRICIEST IN SEATTLE.
I AM CURRENTLY PAYING $870 MONT
WHICH COVERS UTILITY ALSO. MY
ORIGINAL PAYMENT IN NOVEMBER OF
21 WAS 650 A MONTH INCLUDING
UTILITIES. WHICH I FOUND TO BE
REASONABLE RENTAL PAYMENT FOR
THE SIZE OF THE UNIT WHICH IS
UNDER 200 SQUARE FEET. BEGINNIN
IN DECEMBER, MY RENT IS
SCHEDULED TO INCREASE TO $900
PER MONTH PLUS UTILITIES WHICH
ARE $120 PER MONTH. THIS WILL
CAUSE ME TO BE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT IN RELATION TO MY INCOME
THANK YOU.
>> ANDREW, GO AHEAD. ANDRO, WE
CANNOT HEAR YOU. UNMUTE YOUR
PHONE OR HEADSET.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU. WE
DESPERATELY NEED AND DESERVE
RENT CONTROL. OUR FAMILY HAD TO
MOVE OUT OF SEATTLE TO
MOM-AND-POP RENTAL IN THE
SUBURBS BECAUSE WE COULD NO
LONGER AFFORD SEATTLE. I USED T
WALK TO WORK IN SEATTLE BUT NOW
I'M PART OF SEATTLE'S TRAFFIC
PROBLEM. WE ARE NOT ALONE IN
THIS. INFLATION CONTINUES TO
OUTPACE WAGE GROWTH. THE
INCREASE IN RENT IS NOT ONLY
DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF SEATTLE
BUT ALSO DRIVING PEOPLE TO
HUNGER AND OUT ON THE STREETS.
I HAVE DEALT WITH MOLD AND
INSTALLATION AND CHEAP PAINT.
THIS IS A CRISIS THAT SO MANY O
US FACE. WE CANNOT BUILD OUR WA
OUT OF THIS AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS. WE NEED RENT CONTROL IN
THE APARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
THIS RENT CONTROL IS A TRIGGER
LAW. YOU CAN PASS THIS LAW AND
WITH IT, SAID WILL BE A POSITIV
DRIVING FOR STATEWIDE FOR REAL
CHANGE. URGE THE CITY COUNCIL T
PASS THE LEGISLATION WITHOUT
WATERING DOWN OR LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I HAVE BEEN A HOUSING
PROVIDER FOR MANY YEARS AND I
SPENT TWO YEARS REMODELING MY
PROPERTY. ONE IS ONLY $1400 AN
THE OTHERS A TWO BEDROOM 1 1/2
BATH THAT IS $1700 WITH THE
VIEW OF THE LAKE. THE LAST
APARTMENT IS A TWO BEDROOM TWO
BATHROOM AND IT'S ONLY ONE
DOLLAR PER MONTH BECAUSE THE GU
LIVING THERE IS GETTING
CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION FOR
TWO CANCERS AT KAISER
PERMANENTE. FOR MANY, THE MOM
AND POPS PROVIDE NATURALLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY WILL B
BURDENED LIKE MYSELF OF THIS
LEGISLATION. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
NO OR AT LEAST TO ADD
EXEMPTIONS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY
AND DUPLEX AND TRIPLEX AND FOUR
PLEX. TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
GOOD HOUSING AND WE NEED TO KEE
DOING THAT. THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE HOUSING MATTERS AND
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. WE
HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT WE
FACE. HOUSING PROVIDERS PROVID
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AREN'T HELP
US TO KEEP DOING THIS. RENT
CONTROL DOES NOT ALLOW THAT. I
WANT TO KEEP MY CURRENT TENANTS
AT THE BELOW-MARKET RATE AND AN
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HELP MAKE
SEATTLE POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL NOT START BY PRAISING
TROTSKY. RENT CONTROL HAS
FORCED HOUSING PROVIDERS BIG AN
SMALL TO REDUCE EXISTING HOUSIN
SUPPLY AND FORGO INVESTMENTS.
THE REDUCTION IN SUPPLY MAKES I
HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO FIND
HOUSING AND IT LOWERS THE
QUALITY OF EXISTING HOUSING. TH
DATA ARE CLEAR ON THAT. NO LEVE
OF IDEOLOGICAL FERVOR WILL
CHANGE THAT. THE COUNCIL
CONTINUES TO SPREAD THE HOUSING
MARKET BY IDEOLOGICAL SPITE. I
SEE THE WILLINGNESS TO DEMONIZE
PEOPLE FOR HOW YOU HATE DOCTORS
FOR HIGH HEALTHCARE PRICES?
GROCERY STORES FOR FOOD
INFLATION? THERE SO MUCH
DEMONIZING GOING ON AND IT'S
LEADING TO AWFUL PUBLIC POLICY
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
I WILL STOP THERE.
>> I'M AGAINST THIS RENT
CONTROL BILL. WE FIRST GOT INT
THE HOUSING BUSINESS AS A
UNIVERSITY STUDENT BECAUSE I
NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING MYSEL
AND MANAGED A FIVE BEDROOM
HOUSE WHILE I LIVED IN AN
UNFINISHED BASEMENT. COMING OU
OF COLLEGE, WE MANAGED TO RESCU
AN OLD 1890S VICTORIAN APARTMEN
FROM THE RECORDS BALL AND OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE PUT OUR
SWEAT EQUITY INTO RESTORING IT
INTO A BEAUTIFUL AND AFFORDABLE
AND DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD JIM.
TODAY WE STILL FIGHT TO AVOID
THE RECORDS BALL AND A DEMAND
FOR HIGHER DENSITY HAS DRIVEN
UP LAND PRICES AND PROPERTY
TAXES AND UTILITIES AND
INSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE. 50
YEARS LATER, WE'RE STILL
REMODELING AND IMPROVING. RENT
CONTROL WILL DRIVE THE FINAL
NAIL INTO THE COFFIN OF PRIVATE
RENTAL HOUSING IN SEATTLE. ARE
NOT THE ENEMY HERE. IF SEATTLE
HAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROBLEM AND RENT CONTROL WILL
MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE, NOT
BETTER.
>> NEXT UP IS LUCAS JOHNSON.
LUCAS, YOU APPEAR TO BE MUTED I
YOU HIT STAR SIX ON THE PHONE.
>> OKAY. GOOD MORNING. I AM
LUCAS JOHNSON AND I RENT A
STUDIO APARTMENT IN GREENWOOD
AND BEFORE THAT I WAS HOMELESS.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT FOR INTRODUCING
THIS LEGISLATION. NATIONWIDE
STUDY SHOW THE MAIN CAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS IS UNAFFORDABLE
RENT. AND THIS UNAFFORDABLE
RENT IS DRIVEN BY GREED. SOMEON
TALKED ABOUT DEMONIZING
LANDLORDS BY COMING IN WITH
THIS GREED. THEY'RE USING THIS
REAL PAGE ALGORITHM THAT MOST
CORPORATE LANDLORDS TO THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO SQUEEZE RENTERS
RUTHLESSLY FOR AS MUCH AS THEY
CAN GET OUT OF THEM TO INCREASE
THEIR SHORT-TERM PROFITS. AND
MAKING THE HOUSING CRISIS
SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT AND
PREDICTABLE. RESULT. HOUSING I
A HUMAN RIGHT AND WE NEED TO
TREATED AS SUCH RATHER THAN
PRIORITIZING PEOPLE'S PROFITS.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS KEVIN AND I'M AN
EDUCATOR DISTRICT 3 AND I PAY
WELL OVER HALF MY INCOME TO MY
LANDLORD. SEATTLE RENTS HAVE
DOUBLED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
WHICH IS WHAT I'M CALLING IN TO
STRONGLY URGE ALL COUNCILMEMBER
TO VOTE YES. WITH THE LOOPHOLES
WE ARE WATERING DOWN. THE SMALL
LANDLORDS DECIDE DIFFERENT JOB
AND THE HAVE THE OPTION TO SELL
THE PROPERTY. BUT WHEN RENTERS
GET NEW JOBS, WE KEEP PAYING
RENT. WHEN A MOVEMENT TO RENTER
WON THE CAP ON LATE FEES TO $1
A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WERE HERE,
REMEMBER HOW WE MENTIONED JUST
HOW MANY PAINS THEY TAKE TO TAK
CARE OF THEIR PORTFOLIOS.
CORPORATION CSS LEDGER LINES ON
THEIR BOOKS AND INTERCHANGEABLE
ALL THESE RECORD PROFITS FROM
THE HOUSING INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING FOR THE FOUR DAYS THAT
WHEN CONTROL HAS BEEN BANNED AT
THE STATE LEVEL. WE CONTINUE T
PROTECT THE PROFITS BUT THERE'S
A STRONG MOVEMENT THAT CAN
CHANGE THIS AND IF YOU'RE
SERIOUS ABOUT ENDING
HOMELESSNESS, VOTE YES FOR MY
CONTROL WITHOUT LOOPHOLES OR
WATERING DOWN.
>> NEXT WE HAVE RYAN ARMSTRONG
WHO IS RECONNECTED NOW. PLEASE
GO NEXT .
>> HELLO. I'M A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3 AND A CANDIDATE FOR
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL STRONG
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS. I'M
TALKING AND SPEAKING TO HUNDRED
OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AND
ALSO WITHIN THEIR HOMES. THEIR
DEMANDING RENT CONTROL. I PRAIS
KSHAMA SAWANT'S OFFICE FOR
PUSHING THIS LEGISLATION FORWAR
SO WE CAN AFFECT ACTIONABLE
CHANGE AGAINST THE STATE LAW.
GREW UP HERE BUT I ALSO LIVED I
NEW YORK CITY FOR FIVE YEARS AN
THE ONLY REASON I COULD LIVE
THERE WAS BECAUSE I WAS IN A
RENT-STABILIZED LEASE. I WAS
PAYING $875 A MONTH TO LIVE IN
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN AS AN ARTIST
WORKING IN THEATER. FOR ME, THI
IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION AND ESPECIALLY WITH
THE FACT THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR,
SEATTLE HAS A NEARLY 19%
INCREASE IN RENT. THAN WITH THE
AVERAGE RENT FOR ONE BEDROOM OR
FOR TWO BEDROOM THIS IS
UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE HAVE THIS
LEVEL OF INEQUALITY AND GREED
FROM CORPORATE LANDLORDS. I
WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE
SECURE THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> AHEAD, NAOMI.
>> HELLO. LAST WEEK MY NEIGHBO
WAS STYLED. HE WAS THE VICTIM O
A VIOLENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
RELATIONSHIP AND STATISTICS SHO
A CORRELATION BETWEEN VIOLENCE
AND BEING INJURED WHEN THERE'S
NOT AS MUCH HOUSING AVAILABLE
AND WHEN HOUSING IS
UNAFFORDABLE. HE COULD NOT MOVE
OUT. HE HAD NOWHERE TO GO. I
STRONGLY URGE COUNSEL TO RENT
COULD PASS RENT CONTROL WITH NO
LIMITATIONS AND NO WATERING
DOWN. I SAW STATEMENT ABOUT
CROCODILE TEARS. A REMINDER TO
LANDLORDS THAT YOU ARE NOT
PROVIDING HOUSING TO SECOND
TICKET SCALPERS ARE NOT
PROVIDING TICKETS FOR SHOWS.
IT'S NOT HARD TO BE A LANDLORD.
YOU CAN QUIT AND SELL AT ANY
TIME. THE IDEA THAT RENT CONTRO
WILL BE A BARRIER TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS IMPOSSIBLE. TH
PRIMARY DRIVER OF THESE PRICES
IS THE CROWDED DEMAND MARKET FO
PROFIT. I REALLY ASK ALL OF TH
LANDLORDS AND REALTORS HERE TO
ASK THEMSELVES WHETHER HUMAN
LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE PROFITS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS GABRIEL AN
I'M A RENTAL AND TECH WORKER
CALLING AND EMPHATIC SUPPORT OF
THE PROPOSED RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION. THIS WAS THE
PREDOMINANT BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN
DRIVEN OUT DUE TO SHOCKING RENT
CONTROL INCREASES. RENT CONTROL
IS WITHOUT QUESTION A STRONG
STRAIGHT PROTECT PEOPLE AND KEE
THEM IN THEIR HOMES. IT'S
DISINGENUOUS TO DESCRIBE THE
BILL ASSUMPSIT OF UNDUE BURDEN
OR RESTRICTION THAT WILL DRIVE
PEOPLE TO STOP RENTING THEIR
HOMES. NEITHER COMMONSENSE NOR
DATA SUPPORTS THAT MOTION. IN
FACT THE REAL THING DRIVING
PEOPLE TO SELL THEIR SPARE HOME
IS THE SPECULATIVE HOUSING BOWL
WHICH DROVE HOME PRICES AT
ASTRONOMICAL LEVELS. THE LACK O
RENT CONTROL IS IN FACT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT FUELED THE
BUBBLE FOR THIS POSSIBILITY OF
JACKING UP RENT. EVEN AS A TECH
WORKER, I CANNOT AFFORD WITH
RENTS GOING UP 50% AND 20% THIS
YEAR. WE URGE YOU TO DO
SOMETHING TO PROTECT OUR
COMPANIES. DON'T LET THE BIG
CORPORATIONS GET AWAY WITH USIN
SMALL LANDLORDS AS A SHIELD TO
TRY TO JUSTIFY LOOPHOLES LIKE
THIS. THANK YOU.
>> NOW THE LAST SPEAKER WHO
SIGNED UP AND PRESENT.
>> WITH THE FIFTH GENERATION OF
THE SEATTLE AREA AND I WAS A
RENTER UNTIL THE AGE OF 41. I
SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A MEDICA
DOCTOR WHICH MEANS 16 YEARS OF
MEDICAL TRAINING AND IS TO HAVE
SIX FIGURES OF STUDENT DEBT AN
I PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR 17%
OF THE RATES PROVIDED BY
HOSPITALS. I'M TRYING TO SERVE
THE COMMUNITY HERE. AT THE AGE
OF 40 WHEN I GOT MARRIED TO A
FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT AND
PERSON OF COLOR. WOMAN WHO WORK
VERY HARD TO TRY TO OWN A HOUSE
IN THIS AREA. I BECAME THE
ACCIDENTAL LANDLORD TRIED TO
HELP KEEP THE HOUSE THAT SHE
WORKS SO HARD TO PURCHASE. I'M
FINDING WE HAVE A HUGE
AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM IN THE
SEATTLE AREA. I THINK THAT THER
IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
CORPORATE AND I THINK WE NEED T
BE VERY SENSITIVE AND NUANCED
WITH THIS LEGISLATION TO
DISTINGUISH CORPORATE FROM
MOM-AND-POP SHOPS WITH INCREASE
INFLATION AND UTILITY TAXES AND
UNCOMPENSATED DAMAGE DONE BY
RENTERS. I THINK WE NEED TO
PAUSE AND I'M CONCERNED THAT
SEATTLE HAS LOST 40% OF THE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES IN THE LAS
YEAR AND THAT WE WILL BE NEXT
UNLESS WE GET SOME SUPPORT FROM
THE STUDY.
>> HELLO, I'M CATHERINE. THANK
YOU. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3
AND I'M CALLING TO ASK THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON RENT
CONTROL. AS YOU HAVE HEARD AND
NO, SEATTLE'S AND AND
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND THE
MAJORITY OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
ARE RENTERS LIKE ME WITH OVER
40% THAT ARE RENT BURDENED. AN
SO THAT LANDLORD AND INVESTORS
CAN MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFIT BUT
THEY'RE FORCED TO BEAR THE
BURDEN OF THESE INCREASES IT
OFTEN LEADS TO DISPLACEMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE YOU HEARD, MY
LANDLORD INCREASED MY BASE RENT
BY 10% IN ADDITION TO ADDING A
BUNCH OF NEW FEES. THERE ALSO
ONE OF THE 10 MEGA LANDLORDS
CURRENTLY BEING SUED FOR
ALLEGEDLY COLLUDING AND USING
PRICE-FIXING TO ARTIFICIALLY
INFLATE PRICES. IT IS ABOUT
PROFITS AND NOT ABOUT HOUSING
SUPPLY OR ANYTHING ELSE. LIKE
MANY RENTERS, I HAVE SHUFFLED
BETWEEN APARTMENTS TO TRY TO
AVOID THE BIG RENT HIKES, BUT
EVEN THAT STRATEGY DOES NOT
WORK. PLEASE VOTE YES FOR THE
STRONG RENT CONTROL AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NEXT COMES RUBY HOLLAND. AN
THEN SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE
PREVIOUSLY NOT PRESENT ARE NOW
CONNECTING. SO I WILL READ OUT
THE NEXT LIST AFTER RUBY. IN
YES. MY NAME IS RUBY HOLLAND AN
I'M A HOMEOWNER BORN AND RAISED
IN SEATTLE. I URGE YOU TO PASS
A BALANCED RENTAL LEGISLATION
THAT WORKS FOR RENTERS AND
MOM-AND-POP LANDLORDS THAT DOES
NOT HAVE TO BE EITHER/OR. AND
THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT HAS BEEN
CITY HALL AND NOT THE DEMOCRATI
DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE PUSHED THEI
PRICE TO RESPONSIBLE RESIDENCE
AND OUT INTO THE SUBURBS OR INT
THE STREETS. THE NOT SO
DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATS WILL FORCE
THE HOMEOWNERS OUT OF THEIR
HOMES IN ORDER TO GIVE THE LAND
TO THE RICH. THIS IS THE NOT S
DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE
THE US STAMPED AND THEY KNOW
THEY CAN ONLY PROVIDE HOUSING T
LUXURY CLIENTS AND NOT THOSE
NEEDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS
PROMISED TO THOSE WITH THIS
PURPOSE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS COOKS RICH PEOPLE TO THE
CURB AND PASS FOR THESE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAWS FOR
THESE PEOPLE AND THANK YOU.
>> PEOPLE ARE NOW RECONNECTED
>> I'M AT 20+ YEAR RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE AND I HAVE BEEN A RENTE
AND A HOUSING PROVIDER. ARE URG
YOU NOT TO PASS THIS TYPE OF
LEGISLATION. WHAT IT DOES IS
PREVENTS HOUSING PROVIDERS TO
ACTUALLY TAKE GOOD HAIR CARE OF
THEIR PROPERTIES. COSTS WENT WA
UP AND THERE'S NO WAY WHEN
YOU'RE USING A FIGURE LIKE 4%
THE TAKE ON THE INFLATION RATE.
WHEN THE CITY CHARGES GO WAY
UP. AS AN EXAMPLE WITH THE
BACKFLOW TESTING ON THE
PROPERTY. THAT WENT UP FROM
$150-$230 THIS YEAR. UNLESS YO
CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR COSTS
DON'T GO UP. THERE IS NO WAY
THAT RENTERS PASSING THE
LEGISLATION IS A REALLY BAD
IDEA. ALSO WE ARE WORKING WITH
OUR TENANTS AND THEY ARE OUR
FRIENDS AND WE ARE GOOD PEOPLE
AND WHEN THEY HAVE PROBLEMS, WE
HELP THEM. WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> MY HUSBAND IS A UNION MEMBER
AND MY FATHER WAS. I DEDICATED
THE CAREER TO NONPROFITS SUCH A
UPLOADS NORTHWEST. AND RENTAL
HOUSING OWNER. WE HAVE TWO
PROPERTIES AND SEATTLE. THESE
ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE AREAS THAT
WE WENT FOR 1300 AND 1600.
THIS IS WITH SMALL OWNERS AND
TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE BEING
FORCED OUT . TO THE PERSON WHO
SAID WE HAVE ALGORITHMS TO
FIGURE OUT RENT FOR A SMALL
LANDLORDS , THAT SHOWS HOW
LITTLE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT BEIN
A SMALL LANDLORD IS. I SEE THE
FOLKS PUT ON THIS MEETING
OFFICIALLY TO PRESENT BUT NONE
OF THEM REPRESENTED SMALL
LANDLORDS. AND SO AS WE GO
FORWARD, I THINK THE FOCUS IS A
RATIONAL WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS
AND LOOKING AT THE SMALL
LANDLORDS DIFFERENTLY THAN LARG
LANDLORDS. WE ARE THOSE THAT
CARE ABOUT OUR TENANTS AND WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO CAUSE OUR
PROPERTY TAXES THAT HAVE GONE U
35% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND
INCLUDING ALL OF THE OTHERS. I
JUST HAD ONE PIECE DONE FOR
RENTER OF OVER $1000.
>> ALAN ANDERSON IS THE LAST
SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND PRESENT.
>> I MIKE WEIR RENTER AND A
SMALL MOM-AND-POP SMALLTIME
RENTER. AND I FIND IT TO BE AN
ABSOLUTE SHAME FOR SO MANY
SMALL LANDLORDS TO TRY TO USE
THESE IDENTITIES OF AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR LANDLORDS QUOTE
UNQUOTE LIVELIHOODS CLAIMING
THEIR LIVELIHOODS ARE AT RISK.
TO TRY TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE
REALITY THAT THE SEATTLE AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES ARE
CURRENTLY IMPACTED THE MOST BY
THIS OUTRAGEOUS AND COMPLETELY
UNREGULATED COST IN HOUSING.
CLAIMING THAT RENT CONTROL MAKE
RENT UNPREDICTABLE AND
INEFFECTIVE AND MORE
UNAFFORDABLE FOR WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE IS LAUGHABLE AND
COMPLETELY NOT BASED IN REALITY
THEY CLAIM THAT RENT CONTROL
REDUCES THE QUALITY AND QUANTIT
OF AVAILABLE HOUSING. THAT IS A
MYTH PERPETUATED BY THE REAL
ESTATE LOBBY. THE TWO LARGEST
BOOMS TOOK PLACE DURING THE TIM
OF STRICT RENT CONTROL. AND IN
THE POSTWAR PERIOD BETWEEN 1947
IN 1965. AND MORE RECENTLY,
RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT SIX
CITIES HAD RENT CONTROL AND THE
BAY AREA ACTUALLY PRODUCED MORE
HOUSING PER-UNIT PER CAPITA THA
THE CITY WITHOUT THE RENT
CONTROL. I ENCOURAGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PASS THIS
WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLES OR WITHOU
ANY POTHOLES. LET'S GET THIS
PUSHED THROUGH SO WE CAN HAVE
THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND WH
RAN THE CITY.
>> THAT IS THE FINAL SPEAKER IN
THE ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT. THER
FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP BUT NOT
PRESENT. AND WE ARE WELCOME TO
SEND THESE COMMENTS.
>> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAV
SPOKEN IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT AN
THE PRESENTERS ARE ARRIVING
HERE. WE HAVE ONE PRESENTER
ARRIVING ONLINE. THE WAY WE
WOULD DO IT IS FOR ALL OF THE
PRESENTERS AND THE PANELISTS.
WHEN YOU START, IF YOU COULD
START BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF
THE RECORD AND THEN GO AHEAD AN
SAY YOUR CONTRIBUTION. AND IF
YOU COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR SOM
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BUT THAT
WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATED.
>> I AM JOINING IT REMOTELY FRO
NEW YORK CITY. AND I AM A
MEMBER OF THE UNION
REPRESENTING PUBLIC LEGAL
SERVICES. AND I'M ALSO NEW YOR
CITY RENTER. I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT RENT CONTROL IN NEW YORK
CITY WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED A
FEW TIMES. AND THE PROTECTIONS
IT HAS FOR TENANTS AND ALSO TH
LIMITATIONS FOR THE KIND OF REN
CONTROL LEGISLATION THAT IS
BEING PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S OFFICE.
AND HOW THESE ARE NEEDED IN
SEATTLE AND NEW YORK. TO
BRIEFLY OUTLINE THE SITUATION
HERE, NEW YORK CITY HAS HAD SOM
FORM OF RENT REGULATION EVER
SINCE THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS
WERE ENACTED. AS PART OF THE
EMERGENCY PRICE CONTROL ACT. AN
SINCE 1950 WHEN THE FEDERAL
REGULATIONS LAB, AND ERIC
CARRIED ON REGULATING RENT WHIC
IS CURRENTLY ADMINISTERED AT TH
STATE LEVEL. THIS IS OVERSEEN
BY THE RENT GUIDELINES THIS IS
MORE RESTRICTIVE AND BASICALLY
IT ESTABLISHES THE MAXIMUM REN
FOR EACH APARTMENT WHICH COULD
ONLY BE CHANGED EVERY THREE
YEARS BASED ON THE LANDLORDS
OPERATING COST. AND WE HAVE REN
STABILIZATION. WHICH IS
MENTIONED WITH THE COMMENTERS.
IT IS LESS RESTRICTIVE. WHERE
THERE IS NO OVERALL MAXIMUM REN
BUT RENTS CAN ONLY BE RAISED
BASED ON AMOUNTS SET BY THE
BOARD EACH YEAR. THE MORE
RESTRICTIVE RENT CONTROL
CURRENTLY APPLIES TO ABOUT
16,000 APARTMENTS IN THE CITY
AND ABOUT 1 MILLION. THAT ALL
SOUNDS WELL AND GOOD BUT I'M
CERTAIN IS NOT A PART CERTAIN
PERSON HERE TODAY THINKING TO
THEMSELVES THAT I HEARD NEW YOR
CITY IS A REALLY AFFORDABLE
PLACE TO LIVE. IN FACT NEW YORK
IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN
THE UNITED STATES FOR RENTER.
CLEARLY SOMETHING IS GOING WELL
WITH THE MEASURES WE HAVE IN
PLACE. ONE MAJOR THING IS 3.4
MILLION HOUSING UNITS IN NEW
YORK CITY AND 2.1 MILLION OF
WHICH ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPYING
RENTERS AND THAT MEANS THAT THE
APARTMENTS AND ERIC CITY ARE
UNDER NO RENT. AND THE REASON
FOR THIS IS THAT OUR REGULATION
ARE ONLY APPLICABLE TO A VERY
NARROW FIELD OF UNIT AND RENT
CONTROL IS ONLY FOR BUILDINGS
BUILT BEFORE 1947. AND THEY HAV
BEEN CONTINUOUSLY OCCUPIED SINC
1971. AND STABILIZATION IS ONL
FOR BUILDINGS BUILT BETWEEN 194
AND 1973. THAT HAVE A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF UNITS. THIS IS CLEARL
EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE IN THE
CITY WERE LIKE SEATTLE, WILL
CONSTANTLY SEE DEVELOPERS
SEIZING UP LAND TO BUILD NEW
LUXURY APARTMENTS AND ANYTHING
BUILT AFTER 1973 HAS ABSOLUTELY
NO RENT CONTROL. THESE ENORMOU
GAPS IN THE PROTECTIONS THAT
WORKING FAMILIES HAVE WITH
DEVELOPERS AND LANDLORDS. AND
THE BLACKSTONE GROUP IS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST DEVELOPERS AND ERIC
CITY OF COMMERCIAL AND
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE. AFTER
$30 BILLION. AND WITH AN
INFLATIONARY PRESSURES OVER THE
LAST THREE YEARS. AVERAGE RENT
HAVE INCREASED BY ABOUT 1% AND
PUSHING THE AVERAGE RENT FOR
ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT TO OVER
$4000. WHICH IS ABOUT $1200
OVER THE AVERAGE NEW YORK AND
HALF OF NEW YORKERS ARE MEANT
BURDENED OR SPENDING 30% OR MOR
OF OUR INCOME ON RENT. AND FULL
ONE THIRD OF NEW YORKERS ARE
PAYING HALF THE INCOME OR ONE
THIRD OF RENTERS. AS HAS BEEN
POINTED OUT REGARDS TO THE
SEATTLE LEGISLATION, LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CLEARLY HAS
DIRECT IMPACT AND CURRENTLY NEW
YORK CITY HAS THE HIGHEST
CONCENTRATION OF VERY WEALTHY
INDIVIDUALS OF ANY CITY IN THE
WORLD AND THERE ARE 70,000
PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS AN
IN SHELTERS INCLUDING OVER
20,000 CHILDREN. THEY REALLY
COVER THIS WITH THESE MEASURES
THAT KEEP ALL THE POWER IN THE
HANDS OF BIG LANDLORDS AND
DEVELOPERS AND THE PERFECT
POLITICIANS IN THEIR POCKET. ON
HUGE ONE IS THE FACT THAT THE
BOARD THAT OVERSEES THESE
ELECTIONS TO DECIDE HOW MUCH
RENT CAN BE RAISED EACH YEAR IN
RENT STABILIZED UNIT IS MADE UP
OF NINE MEMBERS WERE SOMEHOW
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. OUR
CURRENT MAYOR IS UNAMBIGUOUSLY
IN L.A. BIG BUSINESS. HE WOULD
NEVER WILLINGLY APPOINT A BOARD
>> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
BUT YOU SEEM TO BE CUTTING IN
AND OUT LIKE YOUR AUDIO. I DON'
KNOW IF YOU COULD MAYBE STAY
CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE OR
SOMETHING. WE SEEM TO BE MISSIN
THE ENDS OF SOME OF YOUR
SENTENCES.
>> OKAY. I WILL TRY. I'M NOT
SURE WHY. AS EVIDENCE OF THIS,
JUST LAST WEEK, THE BOARD
APPROVED UNIVERSAL RENT
INCREASES ON STABILIZED
APARTMENTS FOR THE SECOND YEAR
IN A ROW AND THIS YEARS
INCREASES WITH THE HIGHEST THAT
THEY HAD APPROVED IN A DECADE.
UP TO 5% INCREASES FOR TWO YEAR
LEASES. AND AMONG THE LOOPHOLE
AND WAYS AROUND THIS THEY CAN
HIGHLIGHT VACANCY THE
CONTROLLING. AND ALLOWING
LANDLORDS FOR THIS APARTMENT
WITH A GAP IN RESIDENCY. THEY
CAN SAY THAT THIS IS PART OF A
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WHICH
IS WHY YOU HEAR STORIES OF
FAMILIES HOLDING ONTO
RENT-CONTROLLED APARTMENT IN NE
YORK CITY BY THE SKIN OF THEIR
TEETH OVER GENERATIONS. IT MAKE
SENSE WHEN ONLY 16,000 EXIST IN
A CITY OF 8 1/2 MILLION PEOPLE
THIS WAS FOR RENT STABILIZED
APARTMENTS AND THE MAIN ONE IS
THE PRACTICE OF WAREHOUSING.
AND THE LANDLORDS KEEP IT EMPTY
BY NOT ADVERTISING ANYWHERE IN
ORDER TO AVOID RENTING THE MONE
FOR HIGH RENTS AND BECAUSE OF
THIS PRACTICE IT IS ESTIMATED
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 20,000. I'
ALSO RENTER NEW YORK CITY AND
GIVEN MY EXPERIENCES, IT'S CLEA
TO ME THAT THE LEGISLATION
PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT WITHOUT CORPORAT
LOOPHOLES IS NECESSARY ALL
AROUND THE COUNTRY. I DON'T LIV
IN A RENT-CONTROLLED OR
STABILIZED APARTMENT BUT ARE
HOUSING LAW HAS A LAW FOR ALL
TENANTS THAT SAYS ALTHOUGH
LANDLORDS CAN RAISE RENTS BY AS
MUCH AS THEY WANT AND HOW LONG
YOU HAVE LIVED IN AN APARTMENT,
TO HAVE TO GIVE YOU CERTAIN
DOLLARS BEFORE THE INCREASE GOE
INTO EFFECT. JUST IN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS, MY LOVER TRIED TO
RAISE THE RENT BEYOND THE LEGAL
THRESHOLD GIVEN LESS THAN 90
DAYS NOTICE AND MY ROOMMATES AN
I HAD TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND AN
REPEATEDLY POINT OUT THE HOUSIN
LOTS WERE LANDLORD. ALL OF HIM
THREATENING US AND SAYING HE
WOULD GET HIS ATTORNEY INVOLVED
BECAUSE WE WERE BREAKING THE
LAW. BEFORE HE CONCEDED THAT WE
WERE RIGHT. AND THIS WAS THE
INSANE RENT INCREASE THAT WOULD
NEVER GO INTO EFFECT. AND I
THINK THESE ANECDOTAL AND
WIDESPREAD EXAMPLE SHOW THE
LIMITATIONS OF WEAKLY ENFORCED
PROTECTIONS. WHICH RESULTS IN
PEOPLE HAVING TO ESSENTIALLY
REPRESENT THEMSELVES AND VERY
ADVERSARIAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH
LANDLORDS AND IT'S A SMALL
LANDLORD ALSO. ONE LAST POINT
IS THAT I ALSO WORK IS A
PARALEGAL AT ONE OF THE PUBLIC
DEFENDERS OFFICES IN NEW YORK.
AND CONVICTED OF FELONIES IN
BROOKLYN QUEENS. AND THIS
ALLOWS ME TO SEE CLEARLY FOR
DIRE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AN
NOT HAVING ANY BASIC NEEDS MET
LIKE HOUSING. THERE ARE MORE AT
RISK OF GETTING CAUGHT UP IN TH
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SOMETIMES FOR LIFE. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE BLACK WORKING
CLASS FAMILIES. WHEN PEOPLE ARE
POSTED TO HOUSING INSECURITY AN
HOMELESSNESS BY SKYROCKETING
RENTS A SNOWBALL EFFECT IS
CREATED WHERE BECOMES MORE
DIFFICULT TO HOLD DOWN A JOB AN
MORE LIKELY THAT SOMEONE GETS
INVOLVED WITH THINGS LIKE DRUGS
AND GANG ACTIVITY TO MAKE MONEY
AND ALSO PROVIDE RESULTS WITH
THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM WITH
LENGTHY SENTENCES. THIS IS TO
MENTION THE FACT THAT
HOMELESSNESS ITSELF IS OFTEN
CONSIDERED A CRIME BY SOME
JURISDICTIONS WITH SOME PEOPLE
GETTING ARRESTED AND LOCKED UP
FOR THINGS LIKE SITTING DOWN IN
PUBLIC. WHICH HAPPENED IN
AUSTIN, TEXAS, AFTER PROPOSITIO
B PAST THERE. WHEN PEOPLE ARE
PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BY
CORPORATE GREED, THERE PUSHED
INTO JAILS. AS PART OF MY JOB
JUST WENT TO ONE OF OUR STATE
PRISONS ON MONDAY TO VISIT WITH
ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WHO IS
SURFING AND 8 1/2 YEAR SENTENCE
FOR VIOLENT CRIME STEMMING FROM
A SEVERE EPISODE OF POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION AFTER SHE HAD A CHIL
AS A TEENAGER AND WAS KICKED OU
OF HER HOME AND WAS DEALING WIT
CARING FOR AN INFANT WHO HAD
SEVERE MEDICAL PROBLEMS BY
HERSELF. WHILE SLEEPING ON
TRAINS AND FRIENDS COACHES. SHE
IS NOW COMING WITHIN A FEW YEAR
OF HER RELEASE FROM PRISON AND
TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE DOES NOT
PLAN TO RETURN TO BROOKLYN WHER
SHE WAS RAISED AND WHERE ALL HE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS BECAUSE O
THE INCREASE IN COST OF LIVING
SENSUOUS INCARCERATED. AFTER
LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING HOME
SINCE SHE WAS LOCKED UP AT 19
YEARS OLD, SHE'S GOING TO A NEW
STATE TO START OVER BY HERSELF.
WHEN RENTERS HAVE NO PROTECTION
OF THE CREATIVE BIG BUSINESS AN
DEVELOPERS, THIS IS INCREASINGL
HAPPENED TO WORKING FAMILIES AN
SINGLE MOTHERS AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR. PEOPLE ARE BEING PUSHED
OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. AN
THIS HAS GONE SOME OF THE WAY O
ARGUING WITH THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH THE RENT
INCREASES TO COVER ALL RENTAL
UNITS. AND THE PROTECTIONS THA
NEW YORK RENTERS DO HAVE AGAINS
CORPORATE GREED TRACE BACK TO
TIMES WHEN TENANT AND LABOR
MOVEMENTS WERE STRONG AND THE
ROLLBACK AND LOOPHOLES IN THES
MOVEMENTS WHEN BIGGEST BUSINESS
WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VICTORY I
SEATTLE. AND THE RENT CONTROL
CONTINUES AND THIS IS
DESPERATELY NEEDED IN NEW YORK.
>> THANKS SO MUCH AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
>> I LIVE IN LAKE CITY. I
HAVEN'T OF MY CURRENT PLACE FOR
ABOUT A YEAR AND I RENTED IN
SEATTLE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS NOW.
DURING THAT TIME, I'VE SEEN
ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS INCREASE
TO A PRICE OF WHAT TWO-BEDROOM
APARTMENTS USED TO BE. IN A
SHOCKINGLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME
THE COST OF RENTING IN SEATTLE
IS RIDICULOUS AND WORKING PEOPL
NEED STRONG RENT-CONTROLLED NOW
TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN THE
CITY. LAST YEAR, WORKING PEOPLE
STRUGGLE TO BATTLE INFLATION.
REPORTS HAVE INFLATION TOPPED
OFF AT ABOUT 7% OVERALL LAST
YEAR. THAT OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS SINCE COVID-19, THE COST
OF RENTING IN SEATTLE HAS GROWN
BY OVER 20%. AS A TEACHER IN TH
SEATTLE AREA I CANNOT AFFORD TH
PRICE OF AN AVERAGE ONE-BEDROOM
APARTMENT. LIKE ME, OTHER
RENTERS ARE STRETCHED INCREDIBL
THIN. WE HAVE THE STRETCH OUT
OVER WEEKS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
NATIONALLY 39% OF AMERICANS SAY
THEY'RE FORCED TO SKIP MEALS IN
ORDER TO AFFORD HOUSING
PAYMENTS. IN THE CITY WITH ONE
OF THE HIGHEST RENTS IN THE
COUNTRY I'M SURE THIS IS EVEN
HIGHER. PASTURE IN WASHINGTON
STATE, THE TEACHER RESIGNATION
WAS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN
THREE DECADES WITH RECORD
NUMBERS OF TEACHERS AND WE NEED
TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD
TO SUPPLY AND THAT IS NOT THE
CASE. IT'S ALSO WORTH
MENTIONING THE SAME DEMOCRATS A
THE STATE LEVEL WHO HAVE REFUSE
TO LIFT THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL
HAVE ALSO REFUSED TO TAX THE
RICH TO FULLY PLAN FUND OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALONG WITH
SCHOOL CLOSURES IN SEATTLE AND
ACROSS THE STATE. AS A TEACHER
IN THE SEATTLE AREA, I'VE SEEN
HER RENTS HAVE AFFECTED
STUDENTS. ONE OF MY TEACHING
EXPERIENCE IT IN ANOTHER
DISTRICT INCLUDING STUDENTS
WHOSE FATHER MOVED OUT OF THE
COUNTRY AFTER DIVORCE BECAUSE O
RENT THAT HE COULD NOT AFFORD O
HIS OWN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS
NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THE STUDENT
PARTICIPATION IN CLASS. THERE
HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS WHO HAVE
SIMILAR STORIES OF HOW RENT AND
HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY CAN
BRING DEVASTATION TO STUDENTS
AND EDUCATORS. THIS IS ONE OF
THE REASONS WHY KSHAMA SAWANT .
>> TAKE YOUR TIME.
>> THIS IS WHY THE MOVEMENT OF
RENTING PEOPLE IN 2021
>> YOU ARE DOING GREAT, ROSE.
>> THE SCHOOL STAFF WAS KICKED
OUT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. IS
SHAMEFUL IN SEATTLE WALL
BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATE REAL
ESTATE TEXANS USE THE PLAYGROUN
FOR THE RICH AND 2149 STUDENTS
AND ONE OUT OF EVERY 25 IN THE
DISTRICT ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN 2021. THE SCAL
OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
REPORTED GROUP HOMES AND
SHELTERS DOUBLED UP WITH OTHER
FAMILIES AND TRADITIONAL
HOUSING. OTHER STUDENTS REPORTE
LIVING ON THE STREET OR IN A
VEHICLE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR ABOUT 4200 STUDENTS
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. AND
THE SITUATION COMES AT A TIME
WHEN CORPORATE LANDLORDS ARE
MAKING HUGE PROFITS WHILE
WORKING PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO MAKE
ENDS MEET. WINNING EVICTIONS I
2021 IS NOT EASY. JUST LIKE
EVERY WORKING-CLASS VICTORY THA
WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
OFFICE. SIMILARLY IN APRIL,
SEATTLE RENTERS AND UNION
MEMBERS AND SOCIALISTS ALONGSID
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
OFFICE WON ATTEND ON A PER MONT
LIMIT ON LATE FEES THAT LENDER
CAN CHARGE FOR OVERDUE RENT AND
A BAN ON ANY JUNK FEES ATTACHED
TO LATE FEES. THIS VICTORY
PROVIDED HUGE RELIEF FOR WORKER
AND SOME OF WHOM REPORTEDLY
CHARGE OR REPORTEDLY CHARGED
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN LATE FEE
FOR PAYING RENT EVEN ONE DAY
LATE. AND ONE WAY WE HAVE WON
THE RANK-AND-FILE UNION MEMBERS
ON THE ORGANIZED LABOR MOVEMENT
GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICAL
FIGHTS. THE ENDORSEMENTS AND
MOBILIZATION OF UNIT MEMBERS AN
THE RESOURCES THAT UNITS BUT
FORWARD TO BUILD THE PRESSURE
NEEDED TO WIN. I'M AN EDUCATOR
IN THE TEACHERS UNION. IT'S SO
CLEAR TO ME AND OTHER EDUCATOR
THAT WE NEED RENT CONTROL. THIS
IS A WORKERS FIGHT. IF YOU'RE
LISTENING TO ME AND YOU ARE IN
UNION, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT PASSING A
RESOLUTION IN YOUR UNION TO
SUPPORT THIS RENT CONTROL
STRUGGLE. AND BRING YOUR FELLOW
UNION MEMBERS TO THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING. MAJORITY OF
SETTLERS WORKING PEOPLE ARE NO
RENTERS. BUT EVEN IF NOT EVERY
UNION MEMBER IS A RENTER, OTHER
UNIONS WILL VERY MUCH FEEL THE
EFFECTS AND BE IN SOLIDARITY.
NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF MY UNION
WAS AN AMAZON WORKER. WE PASSED
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE
AMAZON WORKERS WAREHOUSE WHO AR
COURAGEOUSLY ORGANIZING TO WIN
THE UNION BECAUSE THIS IS
VITAL. UNIONS TAKE UP SOCIAL AN
POLITICAL STRUGGLES TO
STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE WORKING
CLASS BUT I URGE THE EVERY
COUNCILMEMBER SUPPORTS THIS. FO
THE SPIRALING RENT WE HAVE BEEN
LOBBYING BEHIND WORKERS TO MAK
IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO AFFORD TO
LIVE IN THE CITY. WE URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SIDE WITH
WORKERS AND NOT THE REAL ESTATE
CORPORATIONS TO PASS THE BILL
WITHOUT ANY WATERING DOWN
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK YOUR TESTIMONY
REVEALS HOW DEEPLY CARE ABOUT
YOUR STUDENTS AND HOW DEEPLY
HER FELLOW TEACHERS CARE ABOUT
THEIR STUDENTS. I KNOW THAT
YOUR FELLOW MAN UNION MEMBERS
WILL BE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND W
WANT TO THINK YOUR FELLOW UNION
MEMBER. ALONG WITH THE TEACHER
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE AND I HOPE THAT YOU
UNION IS ABLE TO COME HERE IN
BIG NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS BIL
THE NEXT TIME WE MEET AS A
COMMITTEE. AND TALKING ABOUT
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THIS BILL
>> I'M WITH MLK LABOR COUNSEL
FOR AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. WE
APPRECIATE YOU AS A
RANK-AND-FILE UNION MEMBER
YOURSELF. AND INVITING ME TO
JOIN THIS PANEL TODAY AND THIS
AWESOME EXPERIENCE TO HEAR THI
TESTIMONY FROM SO MANY PEOPLE
IN FAVOR RENT-CONTROLLED. I AM
A RETIRED NURSE FROM THE VA
HOSPITAL AND A PROUD
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER WHICH
REPRESENTS THE BARGAINING UNIT
OF PROFESSIONALS AND BLUE-COLLA
AND CLINICAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS
AT THE SEATTLE VA MEDICAL
CENTER. OUR DIVERSE WORK PLACE
WITH THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE UW MEDICAL
SCHOOL. VETERANS MAKE UP ABOUT
THIRD OF THE EMPLOYEES AND THE
ENTIRE POPULATION IS ENTIRELY
MADE UP OF VETERANS. IS A
MEDICARE FOR ALL SYSTEM AND
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND
NOT-FOR-PROFIT. WITH THE CIVIL
SERVICE SYSTEM. WORKERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES ALONGSIDE
EVERYONE ELSE HAVE STRUGGLED TO
PAY THE RISING RENTS IN SEATTLE
ONE VA CLINIC WORKER AND UNION
MEMBER PUTS IT LIKE THIS.
EVERYBODY IN SEATTLE IS AFFECTE
BY THE HIGH RENT. YOU CANNOT
GET AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR
FAMILY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY
THE RENT AND IT ABSOLUTELY
AFFECTS OUR PATIENTS. THEY ARE
TRYING TO PAY THE RENT AND BUY
FOOD AND PAY FOR GAS TO GET TO
MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. RENT IS
JUST OUT OF CONTROL. ANOTHER
UNION MEMBER DESCRIBES THE
STRUGGLE OF SINGLE-PARENT
COWORKERS WORKING FULL TIME AND
PAYING THE RENT AND SKIMPING ON
EVERYTHING ELSE. HAVING TO
DEPEND DEPEND ON THE FOOD BANK
TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. BROWN
EXPERIENCE AS A NURSE
COORDINATOR FOR THE VA SURGICAL
SECTION INCLUDED WORKING WITH
PATIENTS BEING DISCHARGED HOME
AFTER SURGERY. THIS WAS FOR
SHELTER BED BECAUSE THEY WERE
HOMELESS. THOSE SITUATIONS
HAPPEN TOO OFTEN BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC. AND THE CURRENT SKY
EVENTS AND INFLATION AND THE
CURRENT LEVEL OF HOMELESSNESS I
OUR CITY. SEATTLE'S HIGH RENTS
ARE INCREASINGLY DRIVING WORKER
AND VETERANS AND SENIORS AND TH
POOR AND THE DISABLED AND
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND TO
MOVING INTO EVICTION AND
HOMELESSNESS.
>> WE VOTED TO ENDORSE AND
SUPPORT RENT-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY THE
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT. THE RENTERS RIGHTS AND
RENTERS PROJECTIONS ALREADY WON
WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT. AN
OUR MOVEMENT HAVE BEEN CONCRETE
GAINS FOR SEATTLE RENTERS AND
PUTTING PRESSURE ON OTHER CITIE
AND THE STATE TO FOLLOW SUIT.
I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE MANY
UNION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
BUT IT HAS BEEN LONGER FOR THE
MOVEMENT I KNOW. BUT WE HAVE
FOUGHT AND WON LEGISLATION TO
HELP THOSE IN SEATTLE. ALONG
WITH ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE IN TH
WINTER EVICTION BEEN TO PROTECT
TENANTS FROM BEING DISPLACED
DURING THE THREE COLDEST MONTHS
OF THE YEAR. AND THIS MADE A
POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR WORKING
PEOPLE INCLUDING FEDERAL
WORKERS. BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
CORPORATE LANDLORDS THAT
DOMINATE THE SEATTLE AND RENTAL
MARKET TO INCREASE RENTS TO
INCREASE THEIR PROFITS. AND
AFFORDABLE RENT HAS BEEN FORCIN
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
ACROSS TRADES AND WAGE BRACKETS
TO HAVE TO MOVE. THE
RESIDENTIAL MOVE RANKS AMONG TH
HIGHEST STRESSORS OF LIFE.
DEMANDS OF STRESSORS ON THE BOD
POSE A THREAT TO PHYSICAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL, RELATIONAL, AND
SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING. THE
MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF
SEATTLE ARE RENTERS. THE
WELL-BEING OF RENTERS IS
INSEPARABLE FROM THE WELL-BEING
OF OUR WORKPLACES AND OUR
UNIONS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES,
AND OUR CITY. AND TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ARE NOT
SURE OF THE COMMITTEE, MANY OF
YOU SUPPORT UNIONS AND HAVE
JOINED US AND FIGHTING FOR
BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS. BUT
YOU ARE NOT PROTECTING THOSE
GAINS IF YOU LOOK LET BIG
LANDLORDS TAKE AWAY THE
HARD-FOUGHT RAISES IN THE FORM
OF RENT INCREASES. THAT IS WHY
FIGHTING FOR PAY RAISES AND FOR
RENT CONTROL ARE TWO SIDES OF
THE SAME COIN. IF YOU SUPPORT
GOOD PAY FOR WORKERS, THEN YOU
NEED TO SUPPORT RENT-CONTROLLED
WITH NO EXCEPTIONS AND NO
LOOPHOLES. AND THEN TOGETHER T
DEMAND THAT LEGISLATORS IN
OLYMPIA LIFT THE BAN ON
RENT-CONTROLLED. PROGRESSIVE
ELECTIVE ASSOCIATE OFFICIALS IN
OLYMPIA HAVE SAID FOR YEARS THA
THEY WANT TO SUPPORT RENTERS BU
TIME AND AGAIN THEY HAVE FAILED
THE PARTY IN OLYMPIA, WHICH HAS
SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITIES IN BOTH
HOUSES ALLOWED TWO BILLS TO
REPEAL RENT CONTROL TO DIE. IN
COMMITTEE AND THE WASHINGTON
STATE LEGISLATURE DURING THIS
MOST RECENT SESSION. THAT IS
UNACCEPTABLE. ALL OF US HAVE A
STAKE FOR THE FIGHT IN RENT
CONTROL IN SEATTLE. WE MUST USE
MOMENTUM TO PRESSURE LEGISLATOR
IN OLYMPIA TO RESEND THE
ANTIWORKER BAN ON RENT CONTROL
AND THEN RENT TO CAP THE RENT
INCREASES AT THE RATE OF
INFLATION. WORKING PEOPLE AND
UNIONS AND THEY MUST FIGHT
TOGETHER FOR RENT CONTROL
WITHOUT LOOPHOLES OR CARVEOUTS
OR EXCEPTIONS AND FOR TAXES ON
THE RICH TO FUND MAJOR
EXPANSIONS OF PUBLICLY OWNED
RENT-CONTROLLED SOCIAL HOUSING.
WE SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT TO
WIN RENT CONTROL FOR THE SAKE
OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE VETERANS
THAT WE SERVE AND ALL WORKING
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. MY UNION
STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
CITY'S WORKING-CLASS AND LOW
INCOME RENTERS. LAB
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I COUL
NOT AGREE MORE WHEN HE SAY
FIGHTING FOR PAY RAISES IN RENT
CONTROL OR TWO SIDES OF THE SAM
COIN. I REMEMBER HEARING THE
SEATTLE EDUCATORS STRIKE LAST
YEAR. AND THE STRIKE IN 2015.
THE THING I HEARD THE MOST WHEN
I WENT TO THE PICKET LINES WAS
THE HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY.
SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT
THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE UNIONS
AND I HOPE MORE UNIONS WILL JOI
US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE WITH
THE LOCAL 1495 THAT HAD JOINED
US. WE WILL BE HOLDING THE
RENT-CONTROLLED HEARING ON
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12th, AT 6:00 P
AT CAPITOL HILL. THESE ARE
TESTIFIED TODAY IN PUBLIC
COMMENT AND HE SHOULD FEEL FREE
TO COME AGAIN AND TESTIFY. YOU
WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE MANY MORE
SEATTLE RENTERS THERE BECAUSE
IT'S AN EVENING TIME AND MORE
PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT
BECAUSE IT WON'T BE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE WORKDAY FOR MANY.
AND BARBARA, I THINK YOU HELPED
TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT OF 30
SECONDS. THERE IS
RENT-CONTROLLED FOR DEMOCRATS
AND I'M SURE THAT THAT IS
TESTIFIED BY THE FACT THAT THIS
32nd LEGISLATIVE THAT DEMOCRAT
VOTED TO ENDORSE RENT CONTROL I
THE RENT CONTROL CAMPAIGN THAT
IS PART OF THEIR PLATFORM.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THIS
ENDORSEMENT IS ONGOING FOR THAT
GROUP.
>> THINK SO MUCH, BARBARA. THI
IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOR
THE RANK AND FILE FOR THOSE THA
RECOMMEND DEMOCRATIC PARTY
SUPPORTERS ARE STRONGLY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND THE
DEMOCRATS WILL ALSO SUPPORT
THIS. AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AS
FAR AS THE DISCUSSION IS
CONCERNED, I HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE START AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS YOU SHOULD
FEEL FREE TO RAISE YOUR ZOOM
HAND. ONE THING I WANT TO NOT
IS THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH
US THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN THIS HAS A POLE IN RENT
CONTROL. DID I HEAR YOU RIGHT?
WITH NEW YORK'S POPULATION IS
ABOUT 8 1/2 MILLION OR SOMETHIN
LIKE THAT. THEY SAID THEIR
16,000 APARTMENTS OR RENTAL
HOMES THAT ARE RENT-CONTROLLED.
>> EXACTLY. AND THEN 1 MILLION
HAVE THE LESS RESTRICTIVE
STABILIZATION. BUT THIS IS 1
MILLION OUT OF 3 MILLION TOTAL
HOUSING UNITS.
>> THAT'S A PRETTY STUNNING
NUMBER AND I THINK IT POINTS
TOWARDS WHY WE ARE INSISTING. A
WE HAVE IN THE DRAFT LEGISLATIO
THAT WE HAVE. TO MAKE SURE THA
RENT CONTROL APPLIES TO ALL
RENTAL HOMES REGARDLESS OF SIZE
OR LOCATION AND REGARDLESS OF
WHICH ARE THE BUILDING WAS
BUILT. WE HAVE SEEN CORPORATE
LANDLORDS CARVE OUT ALL KINDS O
LOOPHOLES, LIKE IN CALIFORNIA.
THIS IS AMONG THE MANY THINGS
UNDERMINED WHEN RENT-CONTROLLED
POLICY IS THERE. TO SAY THAT
BUILDINGS THAT WERE BUILT AFTER
CERTAIN YEAR WILL BE TREATED
DIFFERENTLY THAN BUILDINGS BUIL
BEFORE. THESE ARE STILL RENTER
AND HUMAN LIVES AFFORDED
AFFECTED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALL UNITS SHOULD BE
RENT-CONTROLLED. AND ANOTHER
VERY IMPORTANT POINT THAT YOU
MADE WAS THE KIND OF LOOPHOLES
THAT LANDLORDS ARE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT. EVEN THOUGH THE
VACANCY CONTROL WAS REMOVED.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THE FIRST STEP
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE DO
NOT HAVE THE VACANCY CONTROL AN
ACTUALLY THERE'S A VERY POWERFU
STEAK THAT IS SHARED BY SOME OF
THE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC COMMENT. I
WILL NOT MENTION NOW BECAUSE WE
WILL COME TO THAT. BUT YOU ARE
SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH WE NOW
HAVE VACANCY CONTROL IN NEW YOR
CITY THAT LANDLORDS ARE TRYING
TO GET AROUND THAT BY THE
PRACTICE OF WAREHOUSING. AND W
STILL HAVE VACANCY RATE CONTROL
FOR THE ACTUAL RENT-CONTROLLED
APARTMENTS. AND FROM THE
RENT-STABILIZED APARTMENTS
REPEALED INTO 2019. AND THEY
ARE TAKEN UP BY BIG LANDLORDS
WITH THESE OTHER BUILDINGS THA
OFTEN ARE NOT REGULATED WHERE
THEY CAN CHARGE SKYHIGH RENTS.
AND WE SAW THAT THEY DON'T
ADVERTISE IT ANYWHERE SO THAT N
ONE KNOWS IF IT'S AVAILABLE.
AND IN 2022 THAT IS FOUND THAT
THERE WERE 20,000
RENT-STABILIZED APARTMENTS AND
OBVIOUSLY AN EGREGIOUS WASTE IN
THE CITY WAS 70,000 PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE STREETS.
>> AND IN THE APPEAL THAT THEY
DID WERE THEY HAD WON VACANCY
CONTROL FOR RENT-STABILIZED
UNITS, WHY DID THEY NOT INCLUDE
THE RENT CONTROL UNITS? YOU AR
SAYING THAT THE RENT CONTROL
UNIT STILL HAVE VACANCY CONTROL
>> I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY.
BUT I IMAGINE THE REAL ESTATE
LOBBY IN NEW YORK AND THE
POLITICIANS LETTER BEHOLDEN TO
THEM WOULD QUIT PUT UP QUITE
PUSHBACK AGAINST THE RENT
CONTROL AS WELL.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. AND JUST
MAKE SURE EVERYONE WATCHING THI
IS ON THE SAME PAGE. THESE ARE
TECHNICAL TERMS. VACANCY
CONTROL AND VACANCY DECONTROL.
VACANCY DECONTROL IS THE
CORPORATE LOOPHOLE THAT WE ARE
OPPOSED TO. VACANCY CONTROL
MEANS WHEN A TENANT WAS OUT OF
RENTAL HOME THAT THE LANDLORD
CAN THEN INCREASE RENT AS MUCH
AS THEY WANT BECAUSE IT'S NO
LONGER CONTROL. WHICH BASICALLY
IN MY VIEW DEFEATS THE PURPOSE
OF RENT-CONTROLLED BECAUSE
TENANTS MOVE OUT ALL THE TIME.
THAT MOBILITY IS ALWAYS THERE.
AND SO WE NEED VACANCY CONTROL.
ONE LAST QUESTION ON THE ISSUE.
AND WITH THE LANDLORDS IN NEW
YORK THEY'RE JUST DOING THIS
BETTER HOUSING PRACTICE WITH TH
PROTECTION THAT RENTERS CAN
HAVE.
>> FIRST WE WILL OF COURSE SEE
EVERY ATTEMPT AT THE LOOPHOLES
ANYTIME WORKING PEOPLE ARE
FIGHTING TO WIN SOMETHING AND W
SEE BIG BUSINESS WITH EVERY
POSSIBLE LOOPHOLE AND JUST LIKE
IN NEW YORK. AND WITH THESE
VACANCY CONTROLLED LOOPHOLES AN
THEN SUDDENLY WE SEE WHAT THEY
CALL FRANKENSTEIN WHERE THEY
TAKE TWO APARTMENTS AND SMASHED
THE WALL BETWEEN AND SAY IT'S
NOON. AND THIS WAREHOUSE WHERE
YOU WILL HAVE A BIG LANDLORD
COMPANY. WHICH WILL OFTENTIMES
OWN UNITS IN THE BUILDING THAT
ARE NOT CONTROLLED. IN THE SAME
BUILDING AS OTHER UNITS THAT DO
HAVE THE RENT STABILIZATION. S
THEN WHEN THEY REFUSED TO RENT
OUT THE STABILIZED UNITS, THEY
CREATE THIS MANUFACTURED
SCARCITY SO THAT THEY CAN FORCE
MORE PEOPLE INTO THE MARKET
RATE. ONES THAT ARE NOT
CONTROLLED AND MAKE EVEN MORE
MONEY. WITH THE LEGISLATION WE
HAVE A LOT OF PROTECTIONS
AGAINST THAT. MOST IMPORTANTLY
THE FACT THAT IT COVERS ALL THE
UNITS AND THERE IS NOT MARKET
RATE UNITS THAT THE LIMITS CAN
FORCE PEOPLE INTO BY KEEPING TH
RENT CONTROL WITH THE MARKET.
AND WE ALSO HAVE IN TERMS OF TH
FRANKENSTEIN LOOPHOLE THAT WE
HAVE PROTECTIONS TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT REDEVELOPMENT IS IN
THE VARIOUS FORMS DOES NOT
BREAK THE CHAIN OF
RENT-CONTROLLED. AND IF THE
LANDLORD TEMPORARILY SAYS THAT
THIS IS NOT A RENTAL HOUSING
BUT NOW IT'S BACK TO RENTAL
HOUSING. THAT ALSO DOES NOT
BREAK THE CHAIN UNLESS IT'S A
VERY LONG TIME AND TRULY
CHANGING PURPOSES. THANKS FOR
EXPLAINING THAT AND I TOTALLY
AGREE THAT THE BEST PROTECTION
THAT WE HAVE AGAINST PRACTICES
LIKE WAREHOUSING IS FOR ALL
RENTAL HOMES TO BE
RENT-CONTROLLED. HOW MANY UNITS
WILL THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS AN
WAREHOUSES. THEY NEED PROFIT
WITH THE PROFIT COMING FROM THE
RENT. IF THEY DON'T RENT THE
APARTMENT, THE WILL NOT MAKE
PROFIT. IN THE CASE OF NEW YORK
THERE IS ONLY A TINY FRACTION O
THE TOTAL UNITS THAT THEY OWN
THAT ARE RENT-STABILIZED. SO
THEY CAN AFFORD TO WAREHOUSE
THEM AND I BELIEVE THIS IS IN
THE HOPE OF WINNING A LAWSUIT
THAT THEY COULD FINALLY KEEP TH
APPEAL ON THE VACANCY CONTROL
DECISION FROM THE STATE COURTS
OR CITY COURTS. I'M NOT SURE
WHICH COURTS RULED ON IT. BUT
YES. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST
PROTECTION. IF ALL THE UNITS IN
THE CITY ARE RENT-CONTROLLED,
THEN HOW MANY UNITS WILL THEY
WAREHOUSE? AND FOR WHAT PERIOD?
THAT ALL PROVIDED A REAL
UNDERSTANDING OF WHY WE HAVE
THE LAW WRITTEN THE WAY WE HAVE
IT WRITTEN. THOSE ARE MY INITIA
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POINTS AND
THE PANELISTS THAT FOR THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ALONG WITH
THE STAFF MEMBER. I DON'T SEE
ANY COUNCILMEMBERS ASKING TO
COME IN FOR NOW. WE WOULD DO
THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE CENTRA
STAFF PRESENTERS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
AND I WILL SEE IT PASS IT OVER.
>> GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT TO
SHARE MY SCREEN AND PULL UP THE
PRESENTATION.
>> IS THAT VISIBLE TO EVERYBODY
AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, WE ARE
IN DISCUSSION ABOUT COUNSEL
012-0606 ABOUT RENT CONTROL. W
HAD A QUICK DISCUSSION ABOUT TH
RENTAL MARKET AND WHAT THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF DOES. ALONG
THE POLICY CHOICES MADE IN THE
LEGISLATION AS WELL AS
COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES. I
KNOW IT'S A LONG PRESENTATION A
YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT THE MEMO
WAS A LITTLE LENGTHY AS WELL AS
WE WOULD TRY TO STATE A
HIGH-LEVEL. PLEASE LET US KNOW
IF YOU WANT US TO DIG INTO ANY
OF THE DETAILS SPECIFICALLY.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
STATE OF THE RENTAL MARKET THE
WE HAVE A POPULATION WHICH MORE
THAN 50% OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
ARE RENTERS. RENT PRICES HAVE
INCREASED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS BUT SINCE 2010 WE CAN SEE
THAT THE MEDIAN SETTLEMENTS
INCREASED BY ABOUT 80% AND THE
REGIONS RENTS INCREASED CLOSER
TO ABOUT 92%. AND IDEA AND
ATTENTIVE RENT CONTROL IS
INTENDED HELP MODERATE RENT
INCREASES TO HELP MAINTAIN
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY THROUGH
THE POLICY. WE ARE NOT SEEING
THE PRESENTATION ON THE AGENDA.
DID I MISS IT ON THE EMAIL? I
LIKE TO GO ALONG WITH THE PRINT
VERSION.
>> I SHOULD ADD, COUNSEL AND
MADAM PRESIDENT OR MADAM CHAIR.
I DID NOT RECEIVE IT EITHER. I
DON'T NEED IT RIGHT NOW BUT IF
YOU CAN SEND IT, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> THIS CONTAINS THE SAME
INFORMATION OF THE MEMO AND TH
COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOW. ALL OF
THE PIECES AROUND EFFECTIVENESS
AND MOVING INTO WHAT TYPES OF
HOUSING UNITS UNITS THAT THE
RENT CONTROL HOUSING PROGRAM
WOULD APPLY TO. WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT NEW RENTAL UNITS OR
WHAT IS APPLICABLE TO NEW UNITS
AND TALK ABOUT THE RENT CONTROL
COMMISSION AND THE DISTRICT WHE
CONTROL BOARDS. THE POTENTIAL
FOR PETITIONS FOR EMERGENCY
RENT-CONTROLLED EXEMPTIONS AND
THEN MOVING INTO THE
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
PIECES. IN TERMS OF
EFFECTIVENESS, I BELIEVE THIS
CAME UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE'S CURRENT STATE
LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS THE
REGULATION OF RENT IN ANY CITY.
WHICH DOES INCLUDE SEATTLE. THE
WAY THE BILL IS STRUCTURED AS I
THE BILL PASSES, IT'S EFFECTIVE
ONLY AFTER THE REPEAL OF THE
PROHIBITION OF REGULATING RENTS
OF THE STATE LEVEL. IF THIS WER
TO HAPPEN, THE APPEAL WOULD
TRIGGER THE 18 MONTH PERIOD IN
WHICH RENTS ARE FROZEN . AND TH
PROVISIONS OF ON RENT CONTROL
WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. AND THEN
PREEMPTING THE CITY'S REGULATIO
OF RENT. AND THE PROGRAM AND
LEGISLATION WILL NOT GO INTO
EFFECT. ALONG WITH THE CHARTER
AMENDMENT TO MAKE
RENT-CONTROLLED COMMISSIONERS
AND ELECTED OFFICERS. AND WE
WILL FUTURE AMEND THIS
LEGISLATION TO REFLECT THE NEW
ELECTION STRUCTURE. WILL GET
INTO TERMS OR APPOINTMENTS OF
THE COMMISSIONERS AND IN TERMS
OF THE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE
CHARTER AMENDMENT WOULD AFFECT
THE TRANSITION FROM APPOINTMENT
TO ELECTIONS. THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WILL APPLY TO
ALMOST ALL TYPES OF RENTAL
HOUSING UNITS. WITH A FEW
LIMITED EXCEPTIONS. IT DOES NOT
APPLY TO SHORT-TERM LENTILS AND
IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO HOTELS O
MOTELS. IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO
SHELTER OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
OR ANY GOVERNMENT OR HOUSING
AUTHORITY OWNED HOUSING OR ANY
UNITS THAT ARE OTHERWISE
EXEMPTED FROM CITY REGULATIONS.
JUST ONE NOTE ABOUT THE HOUSIN
THAT IS A SPECIFIC EXEMPTION.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE HOUSING THA
IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH
NONPROFITS OR THROUGH CITY
FUNDING. IT IS SPECIFICALLY
NARROWED TO OWNERSHIP BY THE
GOVERNMENT OR HOUSING
AUTHORITY'S. TALKING ABOUT THE
LIMITATION ON RENT INCREASES AN
THE BASIC CALCULATION IS THAT
NO RENT CAN BE INCREASED OVER
THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL RENT INCREAS
OVER 12 MONTH PERIOD. AND SO
FIRST THE 12 MONTH PERIOD
APPLIES TO ONE SINGLE RENT
INCREASE OR THE RESULT OF
CUMULATIVE RENT INCREASES. IF
FOR WHATEVER REASON IF SOMEONE
IS INCREASING RENT EVERY THREE
MONTHS, CUMULATIVELY, THE
AMOUNT OF INCREASE CANNOT EXCEE
THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL INCREASE. TO
CALCULATE IS THE MARK MAXIMUM
ANNUAL INCREASE BY CALCULATING
THE RATE OF INFLATION BY THE
AVERAGE RENT OVER THE PREVIOUS
FEW MONTHS. IF SOMEONE WAS
PAYING $1000 OVER THE PREVIOUS
12 MONTHS AND FOR EXAMPLE IF
INFLATION WAS 10%, THEN THE
MAXIMUM ANNUAL RENT INCREASE
WOULD ONLY BE $100. RENT WOULD
ONLY HAVE TO BE INCREASED TOTAL
TO $1100. LEGISLATION PROVIDES
FOR WHAT HAPPENS IF UTILITIES
ARE INCLUDED IN RENT VERSUS
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY'RE NOT
INCLUDED IN RENT AND HOW IT
FACTORS INTO THE ANNUAL RENT
INCREASE. AND AS MENTIONED
PREVIOUSLY, THE LIMITATION
APPLIES TO RENT THE UNIT
SPECIFICALLY BUT NOT EACH
TENDENCY. WHICH IS STILL
REFERRED TO AS VACANCY CONTROL.
THIS REFERS TO WHAT HAPPENS
BETWEEN TENANTS AND GIVEN THAT
THE PROVISIONS HERE ARE INTENDE
TO APPLY TO UNITS THEMSELVES
AND ANYONE MOVING IN OR OUT OF
THE UNIT WOULD HAVE LESS IMPACT
ON THE ABILITY OF A LANDLORD T
INCREASE RENT. OUTSIDE OF THE
MAXIMUM RENT INCREASE. AND
THERE ARE A FEW CIRCUMSTANCES I
WHICH THE INITIAL RENT
LIMITATION WOULD NOT APPLY. FO
GENERAL WITH RENTAL UNITS THAT
ARE OFFERED FOR RENTAL IN THE
MARKET THERE WOULD BE A
LIMITATION OF THE RENT INCREASE
AND IN SETTING NEW RENT FOR TH
UNIT WITH THESE PARTICULAR
CIRCUMSTANCES THERE IS NO
LIMITATION TO HOW MUCH THE
AMOUNT WOULD BE. IS THERE FOR
NEWLY OFFERED UNITS FOR PLACING
PREVIOUS RENTAL HOUSING AND A
SITE THAT DID NOT HAVE THE
RENTAL HOUSING THAT WAS ONLY ON
THE SITE MORE THAN 10 YEARS
BEFORE THE NEWLY OFFERED UNIT I
HAPPENING. IN OTHER WORDS, IF
SOMEONE WERE TO RENT OUT A NEW
UNIT IN 2023, IF THE LAST TIME
THE UNIT OR THE PARCEL WAS USE
FOR RENTAL HOUSING WAS BACK IN
2010, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SET
THE INITIAL RENT AT ANY AMOUNT.
AND THIS WAS NEVER USED WITH
RENTAL HOUSING AT ALL AND WILL
GET INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT IN
THE NEXT SLIDE. IF THERE IS
RENTAL HOUSING IN THE UNIT THIS
EXCEEDS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF
THE PREVIOUS RENTAL HOUSING THA
WAS ON THE PARCEL. AND ONCE IT
IS SET IT WAS SUBJECT TO THE
SUBSEQUENT RENT INCREASES AND
ONCE THE INITIAL RENT IS SET BY
THE LANDLORD, THE MAXIMUM ANNUA
RENT INCREASE APPLIES TO
WHATEVER INCREASE THAT THE
LANDLORD WANTED TO MAKE IN RENT
MOVING FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO
ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT
REQUIREMENT AND THIS BASICALLY
MEANS THAT THE LIMITATIONS ON
THE INITIAL RENT THAT IS CHARGE
IN RENTAL HOUSING WHAT APPLY
WHEN ANY UNIT ON THE SITE HAS
BEEN USED AS RENTAL HOUSING
PREVIOUSLY. IF A NEW
CONSTRUCTION HAPPENS AND A
RENTAL UNIT IS GOING ON THE
MARKET IN 2023, PREVIOUSLY
THERE HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED
RENTAL UNITS THAT WERE TAKEN
DOWN IN 2018 THAT WILL BE
SUBJECT TO THE MAXIMUM RENT
INCREASE. AND THAT CANNOT
INCREASE THE RECENT CHARGE. AN
IN ADDITION ABOUT THE MAXIMUM
ANNUAL RENT INCREASES BETWEEN
THE OTHER UNITS WERE DEMOLISHED
AND THE NEW YEAR. AND WITH
THESE PREVIOUS UNITS THAT WERE
DEMOLISHED IN 2018 AND LET'S SA
THERE WERE THREE OR 400 SQUARE
FOOT UNITS. THE NEW UNITS THAT
WERE BUILT IN 2023 AND THAT SA
THERE WERE FOUR 300 SQUARE FOOT
UNITS AND THE NEW UNIT WOULD
EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF REPLACEMEN
HOUSING AND THAT UNIT WOULD NOT
BE'S SUBJECT TO THE RENT
INCREASE LIMITATIONS BUT THE
EXISTING THREE UNITS WOULD BE.
THE INTENT IS FOR THE LANDLORD
TO MATCH THE NEW UNITS TO THE
PREVIOUS UNITS AND IN TERMS OF
COMPARABILITY AND TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH UNITS ARE REPLACEMENT
UNITS THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO
THE LIMITATION. AND WHICH ONES
ARE NEW UNITS WHICH WOULD NOT B
SUBJECT TO THE INITIAL RENT
LIMITATION. I WILL PAUSE THERE
QUICK FOR QUESTIONS. I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF MATH AND THAT
ONE. WILL PAUSE QUICKLY TO SEE
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
THERE IS INTENT TO BE A CITYWID
RENT CONTROL COMMISSION WITH 42
MEMBERS TOTALED 35 MEMBERS THAT
WOULD BE RENTERS AND SEVEN OUR
PROPERTY OWNERS. AS WE DISCUSS
WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD THAT TH
42 MEMBERS IS SPLIT UP INTO
DISTRICTS. THE IDEA IS THEM FOR
TO MEET TO SOLICIT COMMENTS AND
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ABOUT REN
CONTROL POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS. SEE IF THERE ANY
CHANGES THAT THEY WOULD
RECOMMEND ABOUT THE CALCULATION
OF THE AMOUNT OF ACTUAL RENT
INCREASE. AND THEN TO ENSURE
FAIR AND CONSISTENT APPLICATION
OF RENT CONTROL APPLICATIONS. A
WE MENTIONED THE INITIAL
APPOINTMENT IS FOR TWO YEARS BU
IF THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS WERE
TO BE IN EFFECT AND THE
LEGISLATION WAS AMENDED, THESE
WERE TRANSFERRED TO ELECTED
RATHER THAN APPOINTED OFFICES
THE DISTRICT RENT CONTROL BOARD
ARE A DIVISION OF THE RENT
CONTROL COMMISSION AND
ESSENTIALLY DIVIDED AND SEVEN
COUNCIL DISTRICTS. AND THE
INTENT OF THE BOARD IS TO HOLD
HEARINGS ON THE RENT CONTROL
EMERGENCY EXCEPTIONS AND THEN
MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER
THE PETITION SHOULD BE GRANTED.
AND THEY ALLOW LANDLORDS TO
ASK FOR EXEMPTIONS FROM THE
ACTUAL MENTAL INCREASE APPLYIN
TO THE RENTAL HOUSING UNITS.
THE PETITIONS THEMSELVES WILL B
HEARD WITHIN THE DISTRICT FOR
ABOUT RENTAL HOUSING UNIT WAS
LOCATED. WITHIN THE APPROPRIATE
DISTRICT RENT CONTROL BOARD
ANGIOGRAPHY. AND THE RENT
CONTROL BOARD WILL BE DEALING
WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST
TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE
EXEMPTION THEY NEED TO
ENCOURAGE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
FROM THE COST OF REPAIRING MAJO
DAMAGE COMING FROM UNFORESEEABL
EVENTS. THINGS LIKE EARTHQUAKE
OR FLOODS OR THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS. AND FOR PAYING FOR
COMPLETED REPAIRS WITHOUT THE
EXEMPTION BEING GRANTED. THE
BOARD IS NOT INTENDED AND THI
IS NARROWED THOSE REPAIRS.COM
UNFORESEEABLE EVENTS. AND THE
BOARD IS ALSO REQUIRED TO LOOK
AT FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS FOR
TENANTS. AND IN GENERAL WITH
THIS LEGISLATION THE BOARD WILL
GRANT THE EXEMPTIONS WHICH MEAN
THEY WOULD HAVE ONE OR MORE
TENANTS ON THE UNABLE TO REMAIN
HOUSED. IT'S NOT IF THE TENANT
WAS UNABLE TO REMAIN HOUSED BUT
IN GENERAL ACROSS SEATTLE. THE
NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE ABOUT
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT IN
FORCING THESE REGULATIONS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE DOING THE
WORK. AND IT COULD BE
RETALIATING AGAINST TENANTS
WITH THE SAME RETALIATION
PROTECTIONS THAT THEY HAVE WITH
MANY OF THE CODE PROVISIONS.
AND THERE IS A PRESUMPTION
ALREADY BAKED INTO THE BILL
THAT PRESUMES THAT RETALIATION
HAS OCCURRED IF A LANDLORD
TAKES THESE SPECIFIC ACTIONS
WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE TENANTS
EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
GOING BACK TO THE CHARTER
AMENDMENT ISSUE. COULD YOU SAY
MORE ABOUT THAT? I'M WONDERING
WHY THE NEED FOR THE CHARTER
AMENDMENT WILL AFFECT OFFICES
INCLUDED IN THE BODY OF THE
LEGISLATION. THAT SEEM
SIGNIFICANT. THINKING THEY
COULD READ THE RECITAL FOR
PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE IT IN
FRONT OF THEM. WHEN WILL THAT
OCCUR? AFTER HOW MANY TERMS FO
THE APPOINTED OFFICES DO YOU
THINK THAT WOULD OCCUR? AND IN
DEVELOPING THIS LEGISLATION,
THE RECITAL IS ABOUT INTENTION.
THE INTENTION IS TO HAVE THESE
RENT CONTROL BOARDS WITH THESE
POWERS TO BECOME ELECTED BODIES
LEGALLY AND LEGISLATIVELY VERY
COMPLICATED. TO HAVE A NEW
ELECTED BODY REQUIRING CHANGING
THE CHARTER. THEY LIST THE
ELECTED BODIES AND SO THE
ACTUAL CONTENT OF THE BILL AND
BUT IT DOES AND THEY ARE
APPOINTED LIKE THE OTHER BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY
CITY. RECITAL STATES THE
INTENTION TO CARRY THAT OUT . T
REQUIRE NEW LEGISLATION. AND W
DETERMINED IT WOULD NOT MAKE
SENSE TO BUILD IT INTO THIS
BILL AT A TIME THAT THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
LEGISLATION HAD BEEN TRIGGERED.
AND TO HAVE THE RENT CONTROL
BOARD IN OPERATION BEFORE THE
RENT CONTROL POLICY IS IN PLACE
AND TO HAVE IT BE AN ELECTED
BODY WITH EVERYTHING THAT
ENTAILS THAT WOULD NOT MAKE
SENSE UNTIL THIS LEGISLATION
TOOK EFFECT. THAT RECITAL WILL
REQUIRE NEW LEGISLATION TO
CREATE THE ELECTION STRUCTURE
FOR THE RENT CONTROL BOARD. AND
THE RECITAL SIMPLY STATES THE
INTENTION FOR THAT.
>> WITH SIX NEW OFFICERS PER
DISTRICT? HOW WOULD THAT BE
ALLOTTED?
>> SIX. COUNCIL DISTRICT. NOT
COUNTING THE CITYWIDE COUNCIL
DISTRICTS. SIX WITH EACH OF TH
SEVEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS. FIVE
RENTERS AND ONE LANDLORD IN EAC
OF THE SEVEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND TO READ THE RECITAL ITSELF
IT'S WHEREAS THE COUNCIL
PURSUES THE CITY CHARTER TO
ALLOW THE DISCUSSION FOR RENT
CONTROL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MOVING BACK TO ADMINISTRATION
AND ENFORCEMENT IN TERMS OF
VIOLATIONS, THE SEC I WOULD BE
ABLE TO ENFORCE THE LEGISLATION
THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
PATHS TO GETTING TO COMPLIANT.
THEY COULD ISSUE WARNINGS AND
CITATIONS AND NOTICES OF
VIOLATION OR ASK FOR CRIMINAL
PENALTIES FOR THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THIS IS ALS
IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT AND
NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS BASED ON
THESE DISCUSSIONS. EACH
SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION WILL BE
$1000 WITHIN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD
THIS IS SUBJECT TO CUMULATIVE
PENALTIES UNTIL COMPLIANCE IS
ACHIEVED. THE ALTERNATIVE
CRIMINAL PENALTY WOULD ONLY
COME INTO EFFECT FOR A LANDLORD
WHO VIOLATES OR FAILS TO COMPLY
WITH TWO OR MORE CITATIONS AND
ONE NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS WITHIN
THREE YEARS. THE CITY ATTORNEY
WILL BE ABLE TO FILE CHARGES
AGAINST THE LANDLORD FOR THE
MISDEMEANOR. LASTLY, ON THIS
SLIDE, THE LEGISLATION DOES
INCLUDE THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION FOR TENANTS AGAINST THE
LANDLORDS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
SUE IN A COURT OF THE RIGHT
JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE THEIR
RIGHTS. IN THE LAST SLIDE WITH
ENFORCEMENT THIS IS MOSTLY ABOU
REGISTRATION AND THE INTENT IS
FOR LANDLORDS TO INCLUDE THE
AMOUNT OF RENT CHARGED OVER THE
PAST 10 YEARS AND THE CURRENT
RENTAL AMOUNT AT THE TIME OF
REGISTRATION. BEFORE WE MOVE
INTO ANALYSIS, I WILL PAUSE
AGAIN FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN
TURN IT OVER TO JEN.
>> I DON'T SEE QUESTIONS.
>> NOW WILL MOVE ON TO THE
CENTRAL STAFF ANALYSIS OF
VARIOUS RENT CONTROL POLICY
LEVELS WHICH WILL INCLUDE
INFORMATION ON OTHER
JURISDICTIONS FOR RENT CONTROL
POLICIES. WILL ALSO LOOK AT THE
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT AND
IMPLICATIONS FOR RENT CONTROL
ALONG WITH SOME FINANCIAL
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. AS
PART OF OUR ANALYSIS, WE DID
LOOK AT FOUR OTHER CITIES WITH
RENT CONTROL ALONG WITH OREGON'
LAW ON THE STATE LINE. WE WILL
GO INTO SOME SPECIFIC DETAILS A
WE TALK ABOUT THESE POLICIES.
JUST A LITTLE ORIENTATION FIRST
TO THE RESEARCH THAT IS
AVAILABLE AROUND RENT CONTROL.
A LOT OF THE RESEARCH IS FROM
TRADITIONAL ECONOMICS
LITERATURE. WHICH GENERALLY
FINDS THAT RENT CONTROLIS AN
INEFFECTIVE OR COUNTERPRODUCTIV
POLICY. HOWEVER, WHEN THERE AR
EMPIRICAL STUDIES DONE ON THE
LIFE EXAMPLES, RESULTS CAN BE
MORE MIXED. OVERALL, IT'S
DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE IMPACT
OF SPECIFIC RENT CONTROL POLICY
DECISIONS BECAUSE THE IMPACT
WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF
FACTORS ON LOCAL CONDITIONS SUC
AS ZONING AND THE HOUSING MARKE
AND THE ECONOMY. NEXT SLIDE.
BASED ON THE LIMITED EMPIRICAL
DATA THAT IS AVAILABLE, THERE
IS A FIELD OF RECOMMENDED BEST
PRACTICES RELATED TO RENT
CONTROL AND WE HAVE HEARD SOME
OF THAT FROM THE PANELISTS.
THIS SLIDE HAS RECOMMENDED BEST
PRACTICES BY POLICY LINK. THIS
GENERALLY INCORPORATES THESE
BEST PRACTICES AND I WANT TO
NOTE THAT IT IS BEYOND THE SCOP
OF THE CENTRAL STAFF ASSESSMENT
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT
TENANT PRODUCTIONS ARE ROBUST.
AND WE WILL TALK THROUGH A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC
POLICY DECISIONS. THE FIRST IS
AROUND WHAT UNIT SHOULD BE
COVERED BY RENT CONTROL LAWS AN
WHAT UNITS SHOULD BE EXEMPTED.
THE BILL WE ARE DISCUSSING TODA
COVERS ALL RENTAL UNITS
INCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THERE ARE FEW IF ANY EXISTING
RENT CONTROL POLICIES IN THE
UNITED STATES TO COVER NEW
CONSTRUCTION. THERE IS NO
EMPIRICAL DATA ABOUT WHAT THE
IMPACT MIGHT BE TO COVER RENT
CONTROL WITH WHAT THE IMPACT
WOULD BE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION O
RENTAL UNITS. WITH THE OVERALL
HOUSING SUPPLY. COVERING SOME
BUT NOT ALL RENTAL UNITS CAN
CREATE WHAT IS CALLED A
PARTITIONED MARKET. AND
SOMETIMES THE PARTITION MARKET
CAN HAVE THESE INTENDED
CONSEQUENCES. FOR EXAMPLE
PLACES MAY BE HIGHER IN THE
UNCONTROLLED PORTION OF THE
MARKET THAN A FRIEND CONTROL DI
NOT EXIST AT ALL. AND THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT THE CLASSIC
ECONOMIC LITERATURE PHONES FRON
CONTROL TO BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE
IMPLICATIONS THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT. IT IS ALSO THE HIGHEST
CAPACITY AND THE HIGHEST
RESOURCE TENANTS THAT ARE ABLE
TO SECURE THE LIMITED SUPPLY OF
CONTROLLED UNITS. NEXT PAGE,
PLEASE. ANOTHER KEY POLICIES
AROUND VACANCY CONTROL AND THER
HAS ALREADY BEEN QUITE A BIT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. A
REMINDER THAT VACANCY DECONTROL
IS WHEN A RENTAL PROPERTY OWNER
CAN ESTABLISH ANY RENT BEYOND
THE VACANCY AND BREAK VACANCY
CONTROL IS WHEN THE SAME
INCREASE APPLIES WHETHER OR NOT
THE UNIT IS VACANT. AND THEY D
HAVE THE VACANCY CONTROL
PROVISION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT
VACANCY CONTROL MAY SUPPRESS
THIS OVER TIME AND CREATING
UNITS THAT ARE MORE AFFORDABLE
TO LOW INCOME TENANTS. AND OUR
VIEW OF THE FIVE JURISDICTIONS
WITH RENT CONTROL POLICIES, WE
SAW A RANGE OF PRACTICES RELATE
TO VACANCY CONTROL. SOME
JURISDICTIONS HAVE THE SAME
POLICY AS THIS PROPOSAL WERE
RENT STAYED THE SAME AND OTHERS
ALLOWED PROPERTY OWNERS TO SET
CAP. THEY COULD INCREASE RENTS
BUT IT COULD NOT BE MORE THAN
20% OF THE PRIOR RENT THAT WAS
CHARGED ON THE UNIT. AND THE
JURISDICTIONS JUST ALLOW THE
TOTAL RESET WITH NO CAP. I
THINK THAT IS IT FOR THAT. NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE. AT ANOTHER KEY
POLICY LEVER WITH RENT CONTROL
IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RENT
INCREASE SHOULD BE. AS YOU HAVE
HEARD IN THE PROPOSAL, THE
MAXIMUM RENT INCREASE WOULD BE
TIED TO THE CHANGE IN THE
CONSUMER PRICE IN FLEX AND
INFLATION. FOR THE FIVE
JURISDICTIONS THAT WOULD LOOK
AT, AGAIN WE SAW A RANGE OF
PRACTICES. AND SOME HAVE
ALLOWED THESE ADDITIONAL
FACTORS. 3% EVERY YEAR
REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH CPI AND INTERESTINGLY, SOM
WOULD CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE OR
CALCULATE A PERCENTAGE IN THE
ANNUAL CHANGE OF CPI. AND THE
ANNUAL ALLOWABLE INCREASE WOULD
BE 6%. JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT O
CPI, A CAN OF COURSE BE
VARIABLE. LOOKING BACK AT THE
LAST 12 YEARS IN THE REGION, ON
CPI NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SOME
RENT CONTROL POLICIES DO ALLOW
PROPERTY OWNERS TO INCREASE
ABOVE THAT ANNUAL MAXIMUM FOR
REASONS SUCH AS CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS OR SUBSTANTIAL
REHAB. THIS IS NOT ALLOWED UNDE
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TODAY
ALTHOUGH THE COST IS EXPECTED
UNLESS THE COST IS UNEXPECTED O
UNFORESEEN. AND THIS PROTECTS
THESE PETITIONS BUT THEY MAY
NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR
PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAINTAIN OR
REPAIR THE PROPERTY. NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE. AND AS MENTIONED, THER
IS A DECISION FOR PART OF THE
POLICY FOR WHAT THEY WILL LOOK
ALIKE. SEVERAL OF THE
JURISDICTIONS THAT WE LOOK AT
HOW THIS OVERSIGHT BOARD FORME
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE.
THIS IS SMALLER LESS THAN 10
MEMBERS AND SO ONE BOARD HAD NO
REQUIREMENTS AROUND PROPERTY
OWNERS VERSUS TENANT AND
ANOTHER REQUIRED A MIX OF TWO
PROPERTY OWNERS AND TWO TENANTS
WITH THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE
NEITHER. NEXT SLIDE. FINALLY,
ONE FINDING IS THAT RENT CONTRO
MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY OWNERS
OPTING TO CONVERT THEIR
BUILDINGS TO OWNER OCCUPIED
UNITS. ESSENTIALLY TAKING THE
UNITS OFF OF THE RENTAL MARKET.
THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT
COULD ALSO IMPACT THE PROPERTY
OWNERS DECISION TO CONVERT THEI
UNITS THAT COULD INCLUDE THING
LIKE THE LEGAL LIABILITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH CONDO
CONSTRUCTION. IT IS NOT CLEAR A
THIS POINT HOW THIS BILL WOULD
IMPACT THE CONDO CONVERSION
RATES. AND I DID WANT TO TAKE
MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE RECENT
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACTS OF THIS
PROPOSAL. RENTERS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW INCOME
AND BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS. RENT
CONTROL COULD REDUCE COST
BURDENS BY THE PERCENTAGE
RENTERS ARE PAYING TOWARD RENT.
HOWEVER, IT'S NOT A GUARANTEED
OUTCOME. IF THIS WERE TO
BENEFIT LOW INCOME TENANTS AND
BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS, THOSE
HOUSEHOLDS WOULD BE ABLE TO
ACCESS RENT CONTROLLED UNITS AN
THE RENT CONTROL POLICY WOULD
NEED TO PRODUCE RENTS THAT
SUPPORT ECONOMIC STABILITY AND
LOWER COSTS. THE BILL BEFORE U
DOES CONTAIN ELEMENTS THAT WOUL
INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT
RENT CONTROL WOULD BENEFIT LOW
INCOME AND BIPOC TENANTS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. I WILL TURN IT
BACK OVER FOR THE FINAL TWO
SLIDES.
>> THANKS. LET'S TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACTS AN
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. A LO
OF THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE MEM
AND THE SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT
IT WOULD TAKE TO BUILD TO STAND
UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
STAFFING NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO
STAND UP RENT CONTROL. THEIR
INDICATION IS THAT THEY CANNOT
GET THE ACCURATE ESTIMATION OF
THE COSTS. A LOT OF THAT IS
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS
PROGRAM WOULD ACTUALLY GO INTO
EFFECT. SINCE IT IS DEPENDENT O
THE STATEWIDE REPEAL ON THE BEE
OF REGULATION OF RENTS. AND
GIVEN THAT LABOR COSTS AND I.T.
COSTS AND CONSULTANT COSTS ALL
CHANGE OVER TIME. THE CLOSEST
GENERAL AND COMPARABLE ESTIMATE
THAT WE COULD COMPARE THIS
PROGRAM TO IS SETTING UP THE
PROGRAM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. AT
THAT POINT IT COST ABOUT $5
MILLION. WHILE THAT IS NOT A
PERFECT APPLES TO APPLES
COMPARISON COSTS, IT IS SORT OF
A GENERAL ESTIMATE OF WHAT THIS
WILL COST AT A MINIMUM FOR THE
CITY TO BE ABLE TO STAND IT UP
AND DO ALL THE ENFORCEMENT AND
THE STAFFING OF BOTH THE BOARDS
AND THE COMMISSIONS. AS WELL AS
STAFFING PHONE CALLS THAT COME
IN ABOUT RENT CONTROL FOR THE
PROPERTY OWNER AND TENANT
ASSISTANCE. TO BE ABLE TO FIELD
ALL OF THOSE INQUIRIES. ONE
THING THIS BILL DOES DO IS BUIL
IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS BETWEEN THE
RENT FREEZE WOULD HAPPEN AND
WHEN THE RENT CONTROL PROGRAM
ITSELF WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.
SOME OF THAT WAS BUILT ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT ANY REPEAL OF
THE STATE LEGISLATION WOULD
LIKELY GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY
1st. GIVING THE EXECUTIVE A
CHANCE TO THEN FIGURE OUT HOW
MUCH IT WOULD COST TO STAND UP
THIS PROGRAM AND TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION AND THE ANNUAL
BUDGET PROCESS ABOUT THAT AND T
HOPEFULLY GET ANY POTENTIAL
APPROPRIATIONS TO BE ABLE TO
START STANDING UP INFRASTRUCTUR
IN JULY 1st AND JANUARY 1st OF
THE NEXT YEAR . WITH
ANTICIPATION THAT 12 MONTHS
LATER THAT THIS BILL WOULD GO
INTO EFFECT.
>> LASTLY, IN TERMS OF NEXT
STEPS OF THE COUNCILMEMBER
MENTIONED, THERE'S LIKELY A
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING ON
JULY 12th ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION. WE REQUEST THAT
THEY SUBMIT THE AMENDMENTS TO
CENTRAL STAFF TO PREPARE THEM
AND GET THEM READY FOR A VOTE
ON JULY 21st WHICH IS THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETING. WITH
THE INTENT OF VOTING THE
COMMITTEE OUT OF THAT TIME.
THIS WILL LIKELY BE IN FRONT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE ON
AUGUST 1st. WITH THAT, WE WILL
STOP SHARING THE SCREEN AND TAK
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> I WAS GOING TO MAKE A COMMEN
WRAPPING UP. I KNOW WE TALKED
OFF-LINE. BUT I JUST WANT TO
SHARE THAT FIRST OF ALL THANKS
TO THE COUNCILMEMBER FOR
BRINGING THIS UP AND THAT WE
DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ
YOUR RENT CONTROL FAQ
LEGISLATION ITSELF WITH THE
SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE. AND TO
GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RCW
3521 830. WHICH IS THE 1981 LAW
OUTLINING RENT CONTROL. THANK
YOU FOR FORWARDING US THE POWER
PLANT. THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. I
WILL HOLD OFF ON SOME QUESTIONS
COUNSEL AND MADAM CHAIR. AT
LEAST FOR NOW. AGAIN, THANK YO
FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU MAY TALK BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE AND LET ME KNOW
PERSONALLY IF YOUR STUFF WANT T
CONTACT IN TERMS OF ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE I
THE COMING DAYS. COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
>> THANKS. I ASKED CENTRAL STAF
AT THIS WOULD APPLY TO A CITY
FUNDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS. IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO
ME IN THE MEMO BUT SHE SAID YES
AND SO I ASKED IF THERE HAD
OUTREACH BUT SHE SAID SHE DID
NOT KNOW. I AM ASKING IF YOU
HAVE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT IT
AND ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT LOOK.
NOT YET BUT WE ARE PLANNING TO.
AND WE'RE ASSUMING THEY'RE
WATCHING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS
RELEVANT TO ALL OF THEM.
>> AUDIT AND ANOTHER QUESTION I
HAVE IS YOU HAD MENTIONED
SOMETHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND THE SECTION IN THE
LEGISLATION THAT I THINK IS THE
LAST THREE DIGITS.
>> SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
CAN YOU GET CLOSER TO THE
MICROPHONE?
>> CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME MORE
ABOUT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION. I
DID READ THAT IN THE LEGISLATIO
IN SECTION 0.80. IT IS A
ONE-TO-ONE REPLACEMENT THAT ALS
APPLIES TO NEW CONTRUCTION. AND
HE SAID IN YOUR PRESENTATION
THAT THAT IS NEW OR THAT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE NOT DONE
THAT. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT?
>> MY REFERENCE WAS THAT IN THI
BILL THERE IS NO EXEMPTION FOR
NEW CONSTRUCTION. THE MOMENT
THE UNIT IS CREATED OR BUILT, I
IS SUBJECT TO RENT CONTROL.
UNLESS THERE ARE SORT OF TWO
SCENARIOS THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN
NEW UNIT COMES ON. IF THERE IS
RENTAL HOUSING ON THE SITE THAN
THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS, THEN THE
PROPERTY OWNER WILL BE
RESTRICTED IN TERMS OF THE RENT
THAT THEY CAN CHARGE. WHATEVER
THE RENT WAS CHARGED BEFORE
PLUS THE ANNUAL ALLOWABLE
INCREASES SINCE IT WAS
DEMOLISHED. I THINK I GOT THAT
RIGHT I SEE YOU NODDING. THE
SECOND SCENARIO THAT CAN HAPPEN
IS THAT A NEW UNIT IS BUILT WIT
THE RENTAL HOUSING THERE IN TH
PREVIOUS 10 YEARS. THE PROPERTY
OWNER CAN SET THE INITIAL RENT
ON ANYTHING THEY WANT WITH THE
NEW UNIT INITIALLY COMING
ONLINE. BUT THEREAFTER, THE UNI
IS SUBJECT TO RENT CONTROL FOR
THE SAME ANNUAL RESTRICTIONS ON
RENT INCREASES. IN OUR RESEARCH
WHAT WE FOUND, IS THAT THEY HAV
VERY LIMITED IF ANY
JURISDICTIONS IN THE UNITED
STATES THAT COVER NEW UNITS OR
NEW CONSTRUCTION WITH RENT
CONTROL. I THINK IT ALMOST ALL
OTHER CASES, NEW CONSTRUCTION I
EXEMPT FROM RENT CONTROL. THE
NEW CONSTRUCTION EXEMPTIONS
VERY. IN OREGON, IT IS IN A
UNIT BUILT WITHIN THE LAST 20
YEARS. AND OTHER PLACES IT GOES
MUCH FURTHER BACK. IT MIGHT BE
ANY UNIT BUILT BEFORE 1985. IT
DOES VARY DEPENDING ON THE
JURISDICTION IN TERMS OF HOW
THEY DEFINE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
>> AND THIS WOULD BE FUTURE
CONSTRUCTION?
>> IT'S KIND OF A LOOK BACK .
FOR EXAMPLE, IN OREGON, AS OF
TODAY, ANY UNIT THAT WAS BUILT
WITHIN THE LAST 20 YEARS IS
EXEMPT. IF YOUR UNIT WAS BUILT
BEFORE 2003 AND IF YOUR UNIT WA
BUILT AFTER 2003, IT'S EXEMPT.
IF IT COMES ONLINE TODAY, IT
WILL BE EXEMPT FOR THE NEXT 20
YEARS. OR I'M SORRY. THAT IS
ST. PAUL. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF HOW IT MIGHT WORK.
>> THANKS AND DO YOU WANT TO AD
SOMETHING?
>> YES. THESE EXEMPTIONS, BASE
ON WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT
ARE ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THAT
CITIES HAVE CREATED THE
PARTITIONING . AS THEY TALK
ABOUT THE PARTITIONING OF THE
RENTAL HOUSING MARKET. WERE SOM
UNITS ARE SUBJECT TO RENT
CONTROL AND SOME ARE NOT. IF
YOU'RE LUCKY AND GET INTO THE
RENT CONTROL DEPARTMENTS, THEN
HE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND
IF YOU DON'T GET INTO THOSE,
THEN YOU ARE STUCK PAYING MARKE
RATE WITH ALL THE EXPENSIVE
HOUSING THAT THAT ENTAILS. THIS
LEGISLATION HAS A STRUCTURE FOR
MAKING IT SO THAT NOT ONLY DOES
THE RENT CONTROL COVER ALL THE
HOUSING TODAY WHEN IT GOES INT
EFFECT. BUT ALSO, WHAT HAPPENS
THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR
IN NEW YORK, THE RENT CONTROLLE
UNITS ARE NOW DOWN TO 16,000
UNITS OUT OF THE CITY OF
MILLIONS. IT'S BECAUSE EVERY
YEAR IT BECOMES FEWER AND FEWER
OF THE UNITS. UNTIL IT BECOME
AN ALMOST NEGLIGIBLE PORTION OF
THE HOUSING. IN TERMS OF WHAT
HAPPENS THE NEXT YEAR AND THE
NEXT YEAR, THIS BILL HAS THE
STRUCTURE TO INCORPORATE NEWLY
BUILT CONSTRUCTION INTO THE
RENT CONTROL STRUCTURE. SO THE
FIRST RENT THAT IS SET AND WHIL
THERE IS NO WAY OF SAYING THAT
THIS IS THE INFLATION ADJUSTMEN
ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S NEW. IT'S
BRAND-NEW. IT HAS NEVER BEEN
RENTED BEFORE. THE FIRST RENT
THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER GETS TO
CHOOSE THE STARTING RENT. AND
FROM THAT POINT ON, THE GET TO
RAISE THE RENT NO MORE THAN THE
RATE OF INFLATION. JUST LIKE
EVERY OTHER RENTAL HOUSING IN
THE CITY.
>> YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING THAT
OTHER CITIES PICK A DATE AND SA
THAT NEW BUILDINGS OR BUILDINGS
THAT ARE BUILT PAST THIS DATE
ARE SUBJECT TO RENT CONTROL. BU
YOU ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS THE
FIRST JURISDICTION THAT WE KNOW
ABOUT WERE NEWLY BUILT FUTURE
THAT WILL APPLY TO FUTURE UNITS
THAT'S WHAT'S DIFFERENT.
>> THIS IS HOW THEY CARVE OUT
THE RENT CONTROL APPLYING TO
BUILDINGS BUILT BEFORE A
CERTAIN DATE AND NOT THE ONES
THAT WERE BUILT LATER. OR RENT
CONTROL APPLIES TO ALL THE
BUILDINGS BUILT AFTER A CERTAIN
DATE, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY IT
IS DONE. IT'S A CORPORATE
LOOPHOLE. AT THE END OF THE DAY
THE PURPOSE OF SUCH EXEMPTIONS
IS TO ENSURE THAT MANY, IF NOT
THE MAJORITY IN SOME CASES LIKE
IN NEW YORK, THAT A BIG CHUNK
OF RENTAL HOUSING IS NOT
GOVERNED BY RENT CONTROL. THAT
IS THE INTENTION OF THESE KINDS
OF EXEMPTIONS. AND EXEMPTION
MAKES IT SOUND INNOCUOUS BUT
IT'S REALLY A CORPORATE
LOOPHOLE. AND YOU HAVE MANY
EXAMPLES. THE CENTRAL STAFF
TALKS ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST
STARTLING ONES. THIS WAS AN AC
IN CALIFORNIA THAT WAS A
STATEWIDE POLICY PASSED IN 1995
IT WAS A MAJOR ATTACK ON RENTER
AND IT WAS PASSED BY DEMOCRAT
AND REPUBLICAN. I BELIEVE THAT
WAS WHAT THEIR NAMES WERE. AND
ONE OF THE THINGS IT SAID IS
THAT CITIES CANNOT PASS VACANCY
CONTROL. IT WAS A STATEWIDE
POLICY. AND THEY COULD NOT
ACTUALLY DO A BAND BECAUSE THER
WERE MANY CITIES IN CALIFORNIA
THAT ALREADY HAD RENT CONTROL.
BUT WHAT THEY DID WAS HAVE A
SWEEPING LAW STATEWIDE THAT
SEVERELY CURTAILED WHAT
MUNICIPALITIES CAN DO IN
CALIFORNIA. ONE THING THEY SAI
IS THAT THE CITY CANNOT PASS
VACANCY CONTROL. THE THE THING
IT SAID IS THAT CITIES CANNOT
EXTEND RENT CONTROL TO ANY
CONDOS OR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
THAT ARE RENTED OUT OR ANY
HOUSING BUILT AFTER 1995. IT'S
A MAJOR ATTACK AND IT HAS MEANT
THAT INCREASINGLY THAT THERE AR
SWATHES OF RENTERS WHO ARE NOT
COVERED BY RENT CONTROL. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS ? I DON'T SEE
ANY I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL O
YOU FOR DOING A VERY THOROUGH
MEMO. A LOT OF THE ASPECTS WER
ALREADY COVERED IN THE MEMO AND
ALSO THE POWERPOINT SLIDES. AN
SO, I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS T
LET US KNOW OF ANY OF YOUR
QUESTIONS THAT COME UP ABOUT TH
POLICY. AND I ALSO WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT ONE MORE THING THAT
WAS ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED BY THE
PEOPLE WHO SPOKE IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND SOMETHING THAT IS
INCLUDED IN THE CENTRAL STAFF
MEMO. WHICH IS THAT THERE ARE
MANY DIFFERENT OF THE SO-CALLED
EXEMPTIONS OR LOOPHOLES IN THE
DIFFERENT RENT CONTROL LAWS
AROUND THE COUNTRY. ONE OF THE
MOST STARTLING EXAMPLES OF WHAT
HAPPENS TO RENTERS OR HOW
RENTERS ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED
WHEN WE HAVE LOOPHOLES IS THIS
EXAMPLE FROM SANTA MONICA. WER
BEFORE THE VACANCY DECONTROL WA
ESTABLISHED AND BEFORE THE
CORPORATE LOOPHOLE WAS
ESTABLISHED, RENTS FOR 83% OF
RENT CONTROLLED HOMES WERE
AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT
WERE LOW AND VERY LOW AND
EXTREMELY LOW INCOME. IN
CONTRAST, SINCE THE VACANCY
DECONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED, LESS
THAN 4% OF THE STABILIZED RENT
CONTROL UNITS AND RENTAL UNITS
TODAY ARE AFFORDABLE TO THE LOW
VERY LOW, AND EXTREMELY LOW
INCOME. IT SHOWS YOU THAT IT
DIRECTLY ADVERSE EFFECTS SOME
OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
AND IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED THA
CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME OF THE
LANDLORDS WERE SAYING IN PUBLIC
COMMENT THAT SOMEHOW THAT BLAC
AND OTHER COMMUNITY OF COLOR
THAT RENT CONTROL IS BAD BUT
IT'S ACTUALLY THE EXACT
OPPOSITE. IF YOU LOOK AT HOW
MUCH THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS AFFECT COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY. I
OTHER WORDS, WITHIN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, A GREATER PROPORTION
OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY'S
AFFECTED BY NOT HAVING RENT
CONTROL AND NOT HAVING SOCIAL
HOUSING. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IT HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPAC
AND A POSITIVE EFFECT IF WE HAV
RENT CONTROL FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR. AND THEN JUST ONE OTHER
POINT I WILL MAKE IN CLOSING.
JUST TO REITERATE A POINT THAT
WAS MADE BY ONE OF THE RENTERS
WHO SPOKE IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND
WHO SAID, I AM PARAPHRASING
THEM BUT BASICALLY, THOSE WHO G
AROUND CALLING THEMSELVES SMALL
LANDLORDS AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY
SAY THAT . THEY DON'T HAVE A
MONOPOLY ON SMALLNESS. IF YOU
REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SMALLNESS THE NEED TO TALK ABOU
THE VAST MAJORITY RENTERS WERE
SMALL. IS INTEREST ORDINARY
PEOPLE WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY
STRUGGLING TO GET BY. AND ARE
BARELY ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
ESPECIALLY WITH UNPRECEDENTED
INFLATION. LET'S MAKE SURE WE
REMEMBER WHO THE SMALL PEOPLE
ACTUALLY ARE. AS FAR AS SMALL
LANDLORDS ARE CONCERNED, I THIN
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN TERMS
OF HOW WE INTERPRET SOME OF THE
NUMBERS BY THE LANDLORD LOBBY.
ONE IS THAT WHEN THEY SAY SMALL
LANDLORDS, THEY MEAN SOMETHING
VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE AS
RENTERS AND WORKING PEOPLE MEAN
WHEN WE THINK OF SMALL
LANDLORDS, WE OFTEN THINK OF
SOME UNION MEMBERS WHO OWN AN
EXTRA HOME AND THEN THEY RENTED
OUT TO ANOTHER WORKING PERSON.
BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM TO
SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME BECAUSE
EVERYBODY'S WAGES ARE SO NOT
KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION. MAN
LANDLORDS, SAY THEIR SMALL
LANDLORDS BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT
THEY MEAN. THEY OFTEN ON FIVE O
10 EXTRA HOMES. IMAGINE NOT ONL
OWNING YOUR OWN HOME BUT ON TOP
OF THAT OWNING FIVE OR 10 HOMES
THAT IS UNIMAGINABLE FOR MOST
PEOPLE. I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU
DEFINE SMALLNESS, BUT I DO NOT
DEFINED SMALLNESS IN THAT WAY.
SMALLNESS IN MY BOOK IS IF
YOU'RE A EARLY ABLE TO PUT OVER
ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD. THAT IS AN
INDICATION OF SMALLNESS. IF YOU
OWN FIVE OR 10 UNITS, YOU ARE
NOT INVITATION HOMES OR GOODMA
REAL ESTATE, WHICH ARE BIG
CORPORATIONS. BUT YOU ARE ALSO
NOT A SMALL PERSON. LET'S BE
CLEAR ABOUT THAT. THE OTHER
PROBLEM WERE TAKING INTO COUNT
IS HOW WE TECHNICALLY INTERPRET
THE DATA. A LOT OF THE BIG
CORPORATIONS THAT WE MADE THIS
POINT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.
MANY OF THIS BIG LANDLORDS AND
CORPORATIONS ACTUALLY END UP
DIVIDING INTO SHELL COMPANIES,
SMALLER SUBSIDIARIES. NEED TO
QUIT YOUR JOB AND DO FULL-TIME
RESEARCH IN ORDER TO FIND OUT
THE THREAD AND WHO ACTUALLY OWN
THESE HOMES. ON THE FACE OF IT
YOU MAY THINK IT'S A SMALL
COMPANY. BUT IN REALITY IT'S TH
SUBSIDIARY OF A LARGE COMPANY.
ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO DETERMINE
THAT THE TERM SMALL LANDLORDS I
USED EXTREMELY LOOSELY. BUT
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, THE BOTTO
LINE IS BIG OR SMALL, NO ONE HA
THE RIGHT TO EXPLOIT ANOTHER
PERSON. THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR STAYING. IT WAS
SOMEWHAT OF A LONG COMMITTEE BU
WE KNEW THAT BECAUSE SO MANY
RENTERS AND LANDLORDS CAME TO
SPEAK. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUE SO WE EXPECT THERE WILL B
A LOT OF COMMENTARY ON THIS. AN
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND TAMMY MORALES, WHO
HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO COME TO
THE COMMITTEE ON JULY 12th. I
URGE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO
ALSO, IF YOU ARE ABLE. ZOOM
OPTION IS AVAILABLE TO YOU AS
PER COUNCIL RULES. EXCEPT IF
YOU'RE IN PERSON, THEN THE
COMMITTEE IS UP THE CHURCH ON
EAST BROADWAY AT 6:00 PM ON JUL
12th. I URGE EVERYONE WATCHING
THIS AND EVERYONE WHO TESTIFIED
TODAY . YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WHO ARE FACING RENTAL CRISIS,
PLEASE, JOIN US. LET'S HEAR ONE
ANOTHER. AND THEN AFTER THAT,
FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I
WOULD JUST REITERATE THE APPEAL
THAT YOU SEND WHATEVER
AMENDMENTS YOU MAY HAVE BY, WHA
WAS YOUR DEADLINE? JULY 13th?
>> JULY 13th.
>> THANKS SO MUCH AND PLEASE,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, REACH OUT TO
ME PERSONALLY, OR MY STAFF. IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR POST
AMENDMENTS. I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S PATIENCE AND I WILL
GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE
MEETING. THANK YOU.