>> GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU
FOR MAKING TIME TO ATTEND THIS
SPECIALLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12th, 2023. AND
THE TIME IS 6:13 PM. I AM THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR, KSHAMA SAWANT.
PLEASE CALL ROLE.
>> [ ROLL CALL ] I SEE COUNCIL
MEMBER TAMMY MORALES ON ZOOM
BUT YOU ARE MUTED. COUNCIL
MEMBER TAMMY MORALES. WE WILL
COME BACK. COUNCIL MEMBER SARA
NELSON. I ALSO SEE COUNCIL
MEMBER SARA NELSON ON THE ZOOM
BUT NOT COMING OFF OF MUTE. SO
WE WILL WORK OUT ANY TECHNICAL
ISSUES THERE. WE ALSO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORA JUAREZ.
>> I'M SURE IF THERE ARE
TECHNICAL ISSUES. COUNCIL
MEMBER TAMMY MORALES, THEY'RE
ASKING ME TO CHECK AGAIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER SARA NELSON.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
>> I AM HERE TOO. WILL WE BE
ABLE TO SEE THE SCREEN THAT
SHOWS US? WHERE IS THE SCREEN?
AM NOT SEEING IT WHERE THE
SPEAKERS WILL BE SHOWN ON OUR
SCREEN . NORMALLY THERE IS A
RECTANGLE .
>> YES. LET ME TURN IT ON.
>> THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.
>> THREE PLEASANT THREE PRESENT
>> THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD WHO
IS ALSO ATTENDING US. THERE AR
A FEW COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE
EXCUSED AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. TODAY'S MEETING HAS ONE
ITEM ON THE AGENDA. A PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION THAT MY OFFICE HAS
PROPOSED. THE BILL WAS
DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST COMMITTEE
MEETING ON JUNE 30th AT CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AND IT IS
INTENDED FOR A VOTE THAT OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING ON JULY
21st. AFTER WHICH IT IS EXPECTE
TO GO FOR A FINAL VOTE AT THE
FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON
AUGUST 1st. I APOLOGIZE THAT
BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL ISSUES THA
NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED, THE
MEETING STARTED A LITTLE LATE.
HOPE YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT IT
IS WORTH ALL THE TROUBLE.
BECAUSE IT BECAUSE IT IS IN THE
COMMUNITY AND AT 6 PM INSTEAD O
2 PM AND AND SEATTLE DOWNTOWN
WHICH HELPS PEOPLE SHOW UP
BECAUSE OF TYPICAL WORK HOURS.
>> MAY I INTERRUPT,
COUNCILMEMBER? HAVE WE
OFFICIALLY STARTED THE MEETING?
I HAVE NOT STARTED THE
RECORDING.
>> SORRY. WHAT IS THAT?
>> WE'VE OFFICIALLY STARTED THE
MEETING BUT THE RECORDING HAS
NOT STARTED YET.
>> APOLOGIES.
>> STANDBY. LET ME KICK OFF TH
RECORDING SO WE CAN MAKE AN
OFFICIAL RECORDING.
>> AND I WILL STILL CALL ROLL.
>> RECORDING IN PROGRESS.
>> WE ARE RECORDING NOW. PLEASE
PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU. FOR OFFICIAL
REASONS WE HAVE TO OFFICIALLY
START AGAIN. IT FEELS FUNNY BUT
I WILL DO IT. IT EVENING AND
THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING TIME T
ATTEND THIS SPECIAL SCHEDULED
MEETING AND TODAY'S WEDNESDAY,
JULY 11th OF 2023 AND THE TIME
IS 6:16 PM. AND THE CHAIR OF TH
COMMITTEE AND WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLL?'S. ACCOUNTS A
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT. PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SARA NELSON.
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER TAMMY
MORALES. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD. HERE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS
DEBORA JUAREZ AND ANDREW LEWIS
LET US KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT
ABLE TO ATTEND. TODAY'S MEETIN
IS ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION AND WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
BUT JUST VERY QUICKLY, SOME
LOGISTICAL DETAILS. WE ARE
MAKING SURE THAT DRINKING WATER
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
IT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE? GREAT.
DRINKING WATER IS ALREADY
AVAILABLE SO PLEASE GRAB A
BOTTLE OF WATER IF YOU NEED TO.
ALSO IT'S PROBABLY DINNERTIME
FOR MOST OF YOU SO MAKE SURE YO
GET SOMETHING TO EAT. WE HAVE
BANH MI. SO DON'T STAY HUNGRY.
THERE ARE SIGN-UP SHEETS BACK
THERE FOR THE TESTIMONIALS. MAK
SURE TO SIGN UP FOR THAT. AND D
YOU JUST WANT TO GO OVER THE
RESTAURANT DETAILS?
>> THE RESTROOMS ARE RIGHT
THROUGH HERE SO JUST WALK
THROUGH THE SIGNS AND IT WILL
TELL YOU THERE IS ONE RESTROOM
ON THIS FLOOR AND THEN ANOTHER
ONE DOWNSTAIRS.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBOD
KNOWS THAT THIS MEETING IS OF
COURSE BEING LIVE TRANSMITTED B
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AND I'M
REALLY THANKFUL TO ALL THE STAF
AT SEATTLE CHANNEL FOR MAKING
THIS POSSIBLE. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO ARE NOT HERE IN
PERSON, OF COURSE YOU CAN ASK
FOR COUNCIL CONVENTIONS SINCE
THE COVID-19 ERA BEGAN, YOU ARE
ABLE TO SIGN UP OVER THE PHONE
USING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-U
SYSTEM THAT IS USED FOR ALL
OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. YO
CAN FIND A LINK TO THAT SIGN-UP
FORM ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
SO IT IS NOT GOING TO COME TO
NEEDS TO ANYBODY THAT RENTS ARE
SKYROCKETING AND THEY HAVE BEEN
FOR OVER THE LAST DECADE AND A
HALF. IN FACT, BETWEEN 2010 AND
2020, RENTS IN SEATTLE HAVE
ALMOST DOUBLED. THIS IS A
BRUTAL REALITY FOR THE VAST
MAJORITY OF OUR RENTERS. AND
KEEP IN MIND THAT RENTERS NOW
MAKE UP WELL ABOVE THE MAJORITY
OF THE CITY. THIS IS A BURNING
ISSUE. AND IT'S NOT ONLY IN
SEATTLE BUT STATEWIDE THE CRISI
HAS GROWN. IN FACT, IN 2020, W
HAVE A STATEWIDE POLL OF THE
LIKELY VOTERS OF WASHINGTON
STATE. IN THAT POLL, 71%, A
STRONG MAJORITY WASHINGTONIAN
SAID THAT THEY SUPPORT AND
CONTROL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO THERE IS NO QUESTION AT
THIS MOMENT, DO ORDINARY PEOPLE
AND SPECIFICALLY RENTERS SUPPOR
RENT CONTROL? OF COURSE THEY
DO. THEY DON'T NEED TO BE TOLD
THAT THEIR LIFE'S SUCK WHEN
THEY ARE AT THE MERCY OF
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND THEY
NEED SOME POLICY TO PROTECT
THEM. AND YET, WHAT WE HAVE SEE
IS THIS STATEWIDE BAN ON RENT
CONTROL. AND THIS MAN HAS BEEN
IN PLACE IN OLYMPIA FOR THE LAS
42 YEARS. AS I WAS SAYING
EARLIER, THAT IS LONGER THAN
MANY OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN
LIFE. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE INJUSTICE THAT
THIS MAN HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR
NEARLY HALF A CENTURY. IMAGINE
NOT ONLY IS IT LEGAL FOR YOUR
LANDLORD TO DOUBLE YOUR RENT,
BUT STATE LAW MAKES IT ILLEGAL
TO PASS A LOCAL LAW PREVENTING
IT EITHER. DOES THIS HAPPEN
BECAUSE OF A REPUBLICANS HAVE
CONSISTENTLY CONTROLLED OLYMPIA
AND WE KNOW THERE ENTRY WORKER?
YES, WE KNOW REPUBLICANS ARE
ANTIWORKER. HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT
THE CASE. DEMOCRATS HAVE
CONTROLLED WASHINGTON STATE
GOVERNOR'S MANSION FOR 30 OF TH
LAST 30 YEARS AND THE SENATE FO
20 YEARS AND THE HOUSE FOR 23
YEARS. AND DEMOCRATS HAVE
CONTROLLED ALL OF THOSE THREE
CENTERS OF GOVERNMENT POWER FOR
15 OF THOSE 30 YEARS. AND YET,
THE BEEN ON RENT CONTROL HAS
REMAINED INTACT. MUCH LESS,
ACTUALLY PASSING A STATEWIDE
RENT CONTROL POLICY. AND SO,
HERE WE ARE IN THE SITUATION. A
THE PARTY IN POWER, THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, NEEDS TO
DECIDE WHICH BILLS ARE BROUGHT
TO A VOTE. THEY HAVE DECIDED TO
NOT EVEN BRING BILLS TO A VOTE.
THIS PAST SESSION, THERE WERE
TWO BILLS TO REPEAL THE
STATEWIDE BAN ON RENT CONTROL
AND THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT EVEN
BRING THIS UP FOR A VOTE.
>> SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? WHO I
ACCOUNTABLE? THERE ARE NEVER AN
VOTES SO THE DEMOCRATS WANT US
TO BELIEVE THAT NO ONE IS TO
BLAME. OUR RENT CONTROL BILL
WILL BE PUT TO A VOTE. [
APPLAUSE ] AND IT IS SIMPLY A
FACT THAT THE OTHER EIGHT
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE
DEMOCRATS. THIS WILL BE THEIR
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHERE THEY
STAND. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY
COUNCILMEMBER SAY THAT THEY WIL
SUPPORT THIS RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES. I URGE THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS WERE PRESENT HERE TO
ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT FOR RENT
CONTROL AND RENTERS IN SEATTLE
SHOULD ASK YOUR COUNCILMEMBERS
IF THEY WILL SUPPORT YOU. WE
HAVE TO BE CLEAR. THE RENT
CONTROL POLICY THAT I HAVE
BROUGHT FORWARD WILL ONLY AFFEC
THOSE LANDLORDS WHO GOUGE THEIR
TENANTS. IF YOU ARE A SMALL
LANDLORD OR IF YOU WANT TO CALL
YOURSELF A MOM-AND-POP LANDLORD
AND YOU DON'T GOUGE YOUR
TENANTS, THEN THIS LAW WILL NOT
AFFECT YOU IN ANY WAY. IN FACT,
NOT SURPRISINGLY, A SURVEY OF
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS FROM THE
LAST YEAR SHOWS THAT WE CAN GO
ON THIS PRESENTATION IN MORE
DETAIL. BUT BASICALLY, WITH THE
SURVEY DATA SHOWS IS THAT THE
LANDLORDS FOR THE MOST LIKELY T
RAISE RENTS TO RAISE RENTS BY
BIG AMOUNT ARE REALLY CORPORATE
LANDLORDS. THEY ARE NOT MAYBE
YOUR FELLOW UNION MEMBER WHO
HAPPENS TO HAVE A DECENT MEMBER
AND HAS ONE UNIT TO RENT AND
THAT IS THEIR RETIREMENT
LIFELINE. THOSE ARE NOT THE ONE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THOSE ARE
NOT THE ONES WHO GOUGE THEIR
TENANTS. NATIONALLY, THE DATE
IS PRETTY STRONG. WE KNOW THAT
THE MAJORITY OF APARTMENTS ARE
OWNED BY BIG LANDLORDS.
ACCORDING TO THE 2020 RENTAL
HOUSING FINANCE SURVEY,
CONSIDERED CONDUCTED BY THE U.S
CENSUS BUREAU, 61% OF RENTAL
APARTMENTS ARE OWNED BY
LANDLORDS WHO OWN MORE THAN 25
APARTMENTS. AND MORE REVEALING
IS THE STATISTIC FROM THE SAME
STUDY. THAT FULLY 5454% OF ALL
APARTMENTS NATIONALLY ARE OWNED
BY CORPORATIONS WHO OWN 100 MOR
RENTAL APARTMENTS. SO WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT GIANT
CORPORATIONS. I DON'T HAVE
SEATTLE SPECIFIC DATA HANDY. BU
I IMAGINE IT'S EVEN STRONGER, I
ANYTHING. AND SO, WE ARE SEEING
THIS SITUATION OF EXPLOITATION
FOR RENTERS. AND I WOULD CALL
THIS THE QUOTE UNQUOTE NORMAL
CONDITIONS UNDER CAPITALISM. A
IF THAT IS NOT BAD ENOUGH, NOW
WE ARE HEARING MULTIPLE LAWSUIT
THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD ALLEGE
PRICE-FIXING SCHEME. I WANT TO
CONVEY MY DEEP APPRECIATION TO
THE AUTHORS OF THE PUBLIC
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT AND OTHER
CO-AUTHORS AND ALSO JONATHAN
ROSENBLUM. HAS PUBLISHED A VERY
IMPORTANT ARTICLE TODAY. ABOUT
THIS EXPLOSIVE ISSUE OF THE
LEGEND PRICE-FIXING. WE HAVE
COPIES OF THIS ARTICLE IN THE
BACK. IF YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN ONE
TAKE ONE WITH YOU AND GO HOME
AND READ IT IT WILL BLOW YOUR
MIND. USING THE DATA FROM THES
LAWSUITS, MY OFFICE HAS COMPILE
ALL OF THE DATA THAT WE COULD
FIND. ADMITTEDLY, THIS WILL BE
INCOMPLETE DATA BECAUSE WE ONLY
GOT WHAT WE FOUND. THANKS TO ON
OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN
MY OFFICE WHO DID THIS DETAILED
ANALYSIS, WE NOW KNOW ALL OF
THE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES NAMED
IN THE LAWSUITS AND IN BUILDING
IN SEATTLE. AND ALTHOUGH COULD
BE A SIGNIFICANT UNDERCOUNT
BECAUSE MANY OF THE COMPANIES
MAY NOT LIST THEIR FULL
PORTFOLIO ONLINE. THAT'S A
COMMON PRACTICE FOR THEM OR THE
DIVIDE THEIR PROPERTIES INTO
SMALLER LLCS. SO IT'S MUCH
HARDER TO TRACK IT. BUT
ALREADY, THE NUMBER OF APARTMEN
HOMES BY OUR ESTIMATE IN SEATTL
THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THIS A
LEGEND AND SCANDALOUS
PRICE-FIXING IS A SHOCKING
35,376 APARTMENTS.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, I HAVE
TO THINK THAT SOME OF YOU LIVE
IN ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS. JUST
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
APARTMENTS. AT THE BACK, THERE
IS ANOTHER HANDOUT WHICH SAYS
THAT SEATTLE RENTERS IS A
LANDLORD TAKING PART IN AN
ALLEGED PRICE-FIXING SCHEME TO
DRIVE UP RENTS? SHOULD
DEFINITELY TAKE A COPY OF THIS.
BECAUSE THIS LEAFLET HAS ALL TH
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF ALL THE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE PRESUMABLY
IN THE LAWSUIT. BECAUSE THEY'RE
OWNED BY ALL THE CORPORATIONS
THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE CITY.
TAKE THIS HOME AND SEE IF YOU
ARE BUILDING ON THIS LIST AND
TAKE EXTRA COPIES IF YOU WANT
FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND
COWORKERS. IF YOU SEE YOUR
BUILDING OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
SEES THEIR BUILDING LISTED ON I
AND YOU OR THEY WANT TO JOIN U
TO FIGHT BACK, SCAN TO USE THI
QR CODE TO SIGN UP TO TALK WITH
US. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IF
THE INFORMATION FROM THIS
INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS
MASSIVE ALLEGED PRICE-FIXING
SCHEME THAT IS GOING ON IN
SEATTLE AND NATIONWIDE. IF THI
IS NOT DEVASTATING EVIDENCE WHY
WE NEED RENT CONTROL, THEN I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. [ APPLAUSE
] THE LAWSUITS SAY THAT A
COMPANY HAS DEVELOPED AN
ALGORITHM AND THE BIG LANDLORDS
WITH THE CUSTOMERS THAT THEY
QUOTE DEVELOPED AND USED
PROPRIETARY ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE AND ALGORITHMIC
DECISION-MAKING SYSTEMS TO HELP
BIG LANDLORDS OPERATE AS A
CARTEL TO PUSH UP RENTS AND ALL
TO INCREASE PROFITS AT THE
EXPENSE OF THOUSANDS OF
UNWITTING TENANTS. AND QUOTE. I
YOU READ THIS INVESTIGATION,
ACTUALLY, WHICH I HAVE. IT READ
LIKE A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE ABOUT TH
MAFIA. BOTTOM LINE. THERE IS
ALREADY RENT SETTING. IT IS
BEING DONE BY BIG BUSINESS AND
IT'S NOT ONLY JUST CAPITALISM.
IT IS ALSO AND ALLEGEDLY
PRICE-FIXING SCHEME. SO THE
QUESTION FOR THE DEMOCRATS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT WHETHER
OR NOT THEY SUPPORT RENT
CONTROL. IT IS WHOSE RENT
CONTROL DO THEY SUPPORT? DO THE
SUPPORT RENT SETTING BY THIS BI
BUSINESS? [ APPLAUSE ] OR, DO
THEY STAND WITH RENTERS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO GET BY AND KEEP A
ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS FOR THEIR
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN? [
APPLAUSE ] WE WILL BEGIN THE
PUBLIC HEARING SOON. I URGE YOU
ALL. I KNOW IT WILL BE A LONG
EVENING . SO I APOLOGIZE IN
ADVANCE. BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
WE'RE FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES AN
OUR DIGNITY. PLEASE STAY WITH
US. THERE IS FOOD AND WATER.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE HEARING PAR
OF IT, I'M GOING TO INVITE OUR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FROM MY
OFFICE NUMBER WHO WILL QUICKLY
GO OVER A VERY IMPORTANT
PRESENTATION PLEASE PAY
ATTENTION.
>> OKAY, GREAT. I AM A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S OFFICE.
I'M GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATIO
ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICE ON THE
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION AND TH
FIGHT THAT RENTERS AND WORKERS
ARE WAGING TO WIN IT . AS
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT IS
OUTLINING, OUR CITIES RENTERS
ARE IN DEEP CRISIS. SEATTLE'S
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND RENTA
CRISIS IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN
IN DECADES, AND IT'S ONLY
GETTING WORSE. OF THE LAST THRE
YEARS, OVERALL COST OF THE
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN AREA CLIMB
MORE THAN 20%. MORE THAN CITIES
LIKE NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES , SA
FRANCISCO. WAGES IN SEATTLE
MEANWHILE HAVE FAR FROM KEPT UP
GROWING JUST 16% AFTER A SHARP
DROP AT THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC. SO WHY DO RENTS KEEP
INCREASING SO DRAMATICALLY? IS
IT BECAUSE, AS FOR-PROFIT
LANDLORDS CLAIM THAT THEY NEED
TO INCREASE RENT TO PAY THEIR
MORTGAGES AND TAXES AND TO PAY
FOR MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATIONS
WE KNOW THE REALITY WHICH IS
NOT THAT THAT IS THE CASE. IT'S
NOT WHAT LANDLORDS CLAIM. IT'S
ACTUALLY A FAR MORE TROUBLING
PICTURE. FOR-PROFIT LANDLORDS
RAISE RENT BECAUSE THEY CAN.
THEY HAVE IMMENSE POWER OVER
WORKING-CLASS AND POOR RENTERS,
AND THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
UNSURPRISINGLY, A SURVEY OF
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS FROM LAST
YEAR SHOWS THAT THE LIKELIHOOD
THAT A LANDLORD WILL RAISE RENT
GOES UP THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIE
THAT THEY OWN. COMPARE 52% OF
THE OWNERS THAT OWN ONE PROPERT
SAYING THEY WILL INCREASE RENT
WITH 92% OF THOSE WHO OWNED 10
UNITS AND THEY WILL INCREASE
RENT. THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS THA
MANY GENUINE MOM-AND-POP
LANDLORDS RAISE THE RENT LESS
THAN WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE
THE MARKET RATE. MAKE NO
MISTAKE. CORPORATE LANDLORDS
HAVE WORKED IN ASTRONOMICAL
PROFITS. A RECENT REPORT FROM
THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS MADE
ENORMOUS RECORD PROFITS IN 2022
BY QUOTE IMPOSING DOUBLE-DIGIT
RENT INCREASES AND CHARGING
AGGRESSIVE FEES AND ENGAGING IN
AGGRESSIVE TACTICS. THE FOUND
THE SIX LARGEST PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES IN THE U.S
MADE $4.3 BILLION IN PROFITS I
2022. WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN
INCREASE FOR THEM OF $1.3
BILLION MORE THAN THEY MADE IN
2021. AT LEAST THREE OF THOSE
SIX PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES, INVITATION HOMES,
AVALON BAY, AND AMH, ON MULTIPL
PROPERTIES IN SEATTLE. HOST OF
THE BIG PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES LIKE THESE ARE OWNED
BY MAJOR CORPORATIONS, BANKS AN
OTHER LARGE CORPORATE ENTITIES.
AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO BREAK I
THESE MULTIMILLION AND BILLION
DOLLAR PROFITS ARE
MULTIMILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES. CORPORATE
LANDLORDS THOUGH DON'T JUST
BREAK IN HUGE PROFITS FROM RENT
INCREASES. BUT ALSO BY CHARGING
PREDATORY FEES LIKE LATE FEES
FOR OVERDUE RENT AND EVEN FEES
ON TOP OF LATE FEES LIKE A
DELIVERY FEE THAT TENANTS HAVE
TO PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF
GETTING A LATE FEE FROM YOUR
LANDLORD. BUT IN APRIL, RENTER
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S OFFICE GOT ORGANIZED.
ALONGSIDE UNION MEMBERS AND
SOCIALISTS AND WON ATTEND A
LEPER LIMIT ON THE LATE FEES
LANDLORDS CAN CHARGE FOR OVERDU
RENT. THIS GENERALLY WAS A
MASSIVE VICTORY FOR SEATTLE'S
330,000 RENTERS. SOME OF WHOM
REPORTED BEING CHARGED HUNDREDS
OF DOLLARS IN LATE FEES FOR
PAYING RENT EVEN ONE DAY LATE.
WE WON THAT LAW, DESPITE THE
OPPOSITION OF CORPORATE
LANDLORDS AND ATTEMPTS BY EVEN
SELF-DESCRIBED QUOTE UNQUOTE
LABOR DEMOCRATS TO WATER DOWN T
SERVE CORPORATE GREED. SO, IS
THAT THE END OF THE STORY OF HO
CORPORATE LANDLORDS JACK UP
RENTS? NOT QUIET. AS IF THE
NORMAL SITUATION UNDER
CAPITALISM WAS NOT BAD ENOUGH,
AS COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
WAS EXPLAINING, MULTIPLE
LAWSUITS REPORT THAT MULTIPLE
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
HAVE CONSPIRED TO RAMP UP RENT
USING RENT SETTING SOFTWARE. A
OPENLY ADMITTED BY REAL PAGE,
THE RENT PRICES GENERATED BY TH
ALGORITHM MAKE FAR GREATER
PROFITS FOR CORPORATE LANDLORDS
UNLIKE HUMAN LEASING EMPLOYEES
WHO HAVE QUOTE TOO MUCH EMPATHY
AND QUOTE FOR TENANTS. AS
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
SAID, THE SEATTLE DATA THAT WE
HAVE FOR LANDLORDS NAMED IN THE
LAWSUITS TELLS US THAT AT LEAST
A WHOPPING 35,376 RENTAL
APARTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO THIS
ALLEGEDLY PRICE-FIXING. WITH A
BLOCKS FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT
NOW AND CAPITOL HILL, THERE
MULTIPLE BUILDINGS OWNED BY THE
VERY SAME CORPORATE LANDLORDS
WHO ENGAGE IN ALLEGEDLY
PRICE-FIXING EXPOSED BY THE PRO
PUBLIC INVESTIGATION FREEZING
REAL PAGE SOFTWARE. LOOK AT THE
RENTS THAT THESE LANDLORDS ARE
CHARGING. I WILL SHOW YOU SOME
OTHERS. THESE ARE SOME OF THE
LARGEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
CORPORATIONS AND THEY ARE
SUBJECT TO THREE CLASS-ACTION
LAWSUITS FOR THIS PRICE-FIXING
SCHEME. THIS ALLEGEDLY
PRICE-FIXING SCHEME. THE
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MADE $480
MILLION IN PROFIT IN 2022. THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO SAID THEY
EXCEEDED EXPERT EXPECTATIONS.
GRAY STAR OPERATES BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND COVERING 803,000
APARTMENTS. IT'S THE BIGGEST
LANDLORD IN THE U.S. AND THEY
ARE PRIVATE CORPORATION. SO WE
DON'T KNOW THEIR PROFITS. BUT A
YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE CEOs WITH
$5.2 BILLION. WHICH IS ACTUALLY
$1.5 BILLION THICKER. EQUITY
RESIDENTIAL MEANWHILE MADE $80
MILLION IN PROFITS IN 2022. AND
AVALON BAY LOGGED $1.1 BILLION
IN 2022 PROFITS. A 13% INCREASE
AS YOU CAN SEE, A CEO TOLD HIS
INVESTORS THAT THIS WAS BASED O
A DOUBLE-DIGIT RENT INCREASE ON
THE UNIT INVENTORY WE LEASED. A
VERY FAVORABLE OUTCOME THAT SET
US UP WELL FOR 2023. AND QUOTE.
AND LOOKING AT A STUDIO FOR
$1851. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
INSANE. THE QUESTION THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
SAID IS NOT WHETHER SHIP SEATTL
SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE RENT
CONTROL. THE QUESTION IS WHAT
TYPE OF RENT SETTING. FOR
WORKING AND POOR PEOPLE OR THE
PRICE-FIXING SCHEMES BY BIG
CORPORATIONS? WE ARE ALL SURE
THAT LANDLORDS SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE RENT AND SURE REGULAR
MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AND
RESPOND TO TENANT COMPLAINTS IN
A TIMELY MANNER. IN FACT. EVE
FOR SKYHIGH RENT PRICES, THESE
ARE FAR FROM WELL-MAINTAINED
HOMES. IN SOME CASES, TENANTS
MAY BE TOO INTIMIDATED TO
COMPLAIN. INVITATION HOMES HAS
NOTORIOUSLY ENGAGED IN FEE
STACKING AGAINST ITS TENANTS.
WHILE FORCING THEM TO FACE LEAK
PIPES AND TOXIC MOLD AND
NONFUNCTIONING APPLIANCES A
MONTH LONG WAITS FOR REPAIRS.
IN 2015, THE EAST AFRICAN
TENANTS HAD FOUGHT ALONGSIDE
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
OFFICE WHEN THEY BRAZENLY
ATTEMPTED TO DOUBLE THE RENTS
WHILE IGNORING THE LONG-STANDIN
MOLD AND ROACH INFESTATION.
BROKEN HEATERS AND OTHER SERIOU
CONDITIONS IN THE APARTMENTS.
THEY ARE NOT ONLY DELIVERED A
MAJOR DEFEAT BUT HELP TO BUILD
MOMENTUM FOR COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S OFFICE AND THE
CITY'S WORKING PEOPLE TO
PROHIBIT LANDLORDS FROM RAISIN
RENTS.
NOW I WANT TO MOVE TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HER RENT
CONTROL LAW WOULD WORK. IT
WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO RAISE
THE RENT MORE THAN INFLATION. I
IT IS INCREASED, THE INCREASE
CAN BE NO MORE THAN THE RATE OF
INFLATION. AS WAGES AND COSTS G
UP OVER TIME, SO WILL RENT, BUT
NO FASTER. WE HAVE NONE OF THE
LOOPHOLES THAT THEY HAVE OFTEN
USED TO NULLIFY PROTECTIONS IN
CITIES AND STATES AROUND THE
COUNTRY. OUR LAW PROTECTS ALL
RENTERS IN SEATTLE. MANY CITIE
AND STATES TO LIMIT PROTECTIONS
TO ONLY APPLY TO A FEW RENTERS.
FOR EXAMPLE. NEW YORK'S LAW ONL
APPLIES TO A FEW APARTMENTS
BUILT BEFORE 1947 THAT HAVE
CONTINUOUSLY BEEN OCCUPIED BY
TENANT SINCE 1971. IN THESE
PLACES, RENT CONTROL WORKS GREA
IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND
RENT-CONTROLLED APARTMENT. BUT
IT LEAVES EVERYONE ELSE
VULNERABLE. THEY PUT THESE
LOOPHOLES AND THEN THEY
DISHONESTLY POINT TO THE HIGH
RENT AND CLAIM THAT RENT CONTRO
DOES NOT WORK. OUR RENT CONTROL
LAW WOULD PROTECT ALL RENTERS I
SEATTLE. REGARDLESS OF THE
RENTAL HOME SIZE OR LOCATION OR
BUILDING DATE. THE OTHER MAJOR
LOOPHOLE THAT OUR LAW STOPS IS
VACANCY DECONTROL. MANY CITIES
AND STATES, MOST NOTABLY IN
CALIFORNIA HAVE VACANCY
DESTABILIZATION WHERE THEY CAN
RAISE THE RENT EVERY TIME A
RENTER MOVES. HOUSING IS
CONTINUALLY REVERTING TO MARKET
PRICES. IT ALSO CREATES
SITUATIONS WHERE THE MAY BULLY
LONG-STANDING RESIDENTS OUT OF
THEIR HOMES IN ORDER TO INCREAS
RENTS. THEY HAD FOUGHT AND
OVERTURNED THE LOOPHOLE IN THE
STATE IN 2019. SO WE SHOULD
LOOK AT THE LESSON FROM PLACES
LIKE CALIFORNIA. FOR THE HAVE
THE ACT PASSED IN 1995 AND
SPONSORED BY DEMOCRAT AND
REPUBLICAN IN A BIPARTISAN
EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN HUGE FOR
CORPORATE LANDLORDS. IT SAYS AL
RENT CONTROL IN CALIFORNIA CITY
MUST INCLUDE VACANCY DECONTROL
WHICH MEANS MARKET RENT CAN BE
HAPPENING WHEN THEY'RE MOVED OU
AND IT ALSO COMES ALL BUILDINGS
BUILT AFTER 1995 AND EXEMPT
SINGLE HOME FAMILY CONDOS. THI
CLAIM THAT RENT CONTROL REDUCES
THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF A
FEDERAL HOUSING IS A MYTH
PERPETUATED BY THE LOBBY. THE
TWO ROOMS TOOK PLACE DURING
STRICT RENT CONTROL. THE 1920s
AND THE POSTWAR PERIOD BETWEEN
1947 AND 1965. MORE RECENTLY,
UC BERKELEY RESEARCHERS HAVE
FOUND THE CITIES THAT HAD MORE
AVAILABLE PRODUCED MORE HOUSIN
PER CAPITA THAN THOSE WHO HAD
RENT CONTROL. IN ADDITION TO
RENT CONTROL, OUR MOVEMENT ALSO
NEEDS TO FIGHT TO WIN VICTORIES
WE CAN MAKE A MASSIVE
INVESTMENT IN SOCIAL HOUSING.
ONCE OTHER FACTORS WERE
CONTROLLED, 2016 STUDIES OVER 4
YEARS FOUND THAT THE POLICIES
DID NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING
MARKETS. THERE IS A DEEPLY
UNJUST STATEWIDE RULE ON RENT
CONTROL. DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD BIPARTISAN
AGREEMENT IN MAINTAINING THIS
1981 LAW. IT PROHIBITS ANY
MUNICIPALITY IN WASHINGTON STAT
FROM PASSING ANY LAW TO REGULAT
RENT. ESSENTIALLY THIS IS A
TRIGGER LAW AND IF PASSED IT
WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE THE MOMEN
THE STATE LAW REGARDING RENT
CONTROL IS OVERTURNED. THIS IS
COMPLETELY LEGAL AND OUR
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY
REVIEWED BY THE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. WHY PUSH FOR THE TRIGGE
LAW NOW? WILL IT MAKE STATE
LEGISLATORS EVEN MORE DETERMINE
TO UPHOLD THE BAN? WINNING THIS
TRIGGER LAW IN SEATTLE WOULD
ACTUALLY CREATE INCREDIBLE
MOMENTUM TO CREATE PRESSURE ON
STATE LEGISLATORS TO LIFT THE
RENT CONTROL BAND. RENTERS AND
WORKING PEOPLE SIMPLY CANNOT
SPEND MORE TIME HOPING THAT
THEY WILL ACT ON OUR BEHALF.
THERE WERE TWO BILLS THIS YEAR
TO LIFT THE RENT CONTROL BAND
AND NEITHER ONE WAS EVEN BROUGH
UP FOR A VOTE. WHEN OUR
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT WAS FIGHTIN
IN 2014 FOR SEATTLE TO BECOME
THE FIRST MAJOR CITY WITH A $15
PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE, MANY
CAUTIONED THAT IT WOULD
JEOPARDIZE STATEWIDE RENT
INCREASES. INSTEAD, AFTER
SEATTLE WON, IT BUILT MOMENTUM
FOR HISTORIC INCREASES
STATEWIDE. SO WAS HER OPPOSITIO
IN THE RENT CONTROL FIGHT?
NATURALLY, MILLIONAIRE AND
BILLIONAIRE SHAREHOLDERS ARE
FIGHTING HARD AGAINST THIS
CRUCIAL PROTECTION RENTERS. ON
OF OUR MOST PROMINENT OPPONENT
SO FAR IS AVENUE FIVE
RESIDENTIAL. THE SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS RECENTL
MESSAGE CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS
CURRENTLY THE 10th LARGEST COMP
MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY AND THE MANAGED
$25 BILLION IN MULTIFAMILY AND
SINGLE-FAMILY ASSETS NATIONWIDE
AND THEY HAVE 28 BUILDINGS WITH
MORE THAN 4000 UNITS IN SEATTLE
THEY ARE HEADQUARTERED IN THIS
CITY. THESE ARE THE OUTRAGEOUSL
UNAFFORDABLE RENTS THE AVENUE
FIVE IS CHARGING IN PLACES LIK
THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. THE
HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY FORCED MANY
FAMILIES FROM THEIR HOMES AND
THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT MAINTAINING THE
AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IN THE
CITY. AS YOU CAN SEE, LANDLORDS
ARE SPELLING SPENDING MILLIONS
TO DEFEAT RENT CONTROL MEASURES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE BILLION
IN PROFITS ARE ON THE LINE.
WELL SUPPOSES RENT CONTROL? THE
CORPORATE MEDIA WHO WILL GLADLY
REPEAT THE LIES OF CORPORATE
MEDIA LOBBYISTS AND BRING THEM
ON HIS GUESS FOR UNCRITICAL
INTERVIEWS. HOPING THAT PEOPLE
WILL BELIEVE THAT RENT CONTROL
IS A PIPE DREAM. WE
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO COUNT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE ELECTED
OFFICIALS AS OUR OPPONENTS IN
THE FIGHT. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE
HELD THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION FOR
30 OF THE LAST 30 YEARS IN THE
HOUSE FOR 20 YEARS AND THE
SENATE FOR 10 YEARS. YET
DESPITE THE GROWING NATIONAL
DEBATE ON RENT CONTROL, THE
CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO GIVE ANY
SORT OF RENT CONTROL POLICY A
VOTE OR EVEN OFFICIALLY DISCUSS
LIFTING THE BAND. MEANWHILE, WH
SUPPORTS RENT CONTROL? ALL OF
YOU IN THIS ROOM OF COURSE.
RENTERS AND WORKING PEOPLE.
ULTIMATELY, THE MAJORITY IN OUR
CITY. AS COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT SAID, A 2020 SURVEY FOUN
A VAST MAJORITY OF 21% OF LIKEL
WASHINGTON VOTERS SUPPORTING
RENT CONTROL. AND 35,000
SATELLITES HAVE SIGNED PETITION
FOR STRONG RENT CONTROL. THANK
YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
TONIGHT. PLEASE JOIN US NEXT
FRIDAY, JULY 21st, AT 9:30 AM
FOR THE VOTE THAT WILL BE TAKIN
PLACE AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING. COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL
BE VOTING ON THE RENT CONTROL
BILL. AND PLEASE EMAIL OUR
OFFICE WITH QUESTIONS OR IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INVOLVED
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS
A VERY IMPORTANT PRESENTATION
AND I HOPE YOU ALL GOT A LOT OU
OF IT. OF COURSE WE CAN ASK MY
OFFICE FOR A COPY OF THAT. OR I
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
TECHNICAL OR POLITICAL, WE ARE
HAPPY TO ANSWER. JUST VERY
QUICKLY, JULY 21st IS WHEN THE
COMMITTEE WILL BE VOTING ON THI
LEGISLATION. THAT WILL BE
FRIDAY AT 9:30 AM. UNFORTUNATEL
IT WILL BE A MORNING MEETING.
BUT AS MANY OF YOU WHO ARE ABLE
TO SHOW UP, PLEASE COME. WE NEE
YOUR SUPPORT THERE. AND ALSO,
SOMETHING I HAVE ALREADY SAID
FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE ON THE
COMMITTEE. BUT I JUST WANT TO
SHARE WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLI
HERE AS WELL. THE DEADLINE FOR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SEND
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL IS
TOMORROW, JULY 13th. THAT
SOUNDS LIKE I'M GIVING THEM LES
THAN A DAY. BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE
WE SHARE THE DEADLINE ALL THE
WAY BACK ON JUNE 30th . WHEN WE
HAD THIS DISCUSSION AND IT WAS
MORE DETAILED TECHNICAL
DISCUSSION AT OUR COMMITTEE. SO
THIS IS SOMETHING COUNCILMEMBER
HAVE KNOWN SINCE THEN AND I JUS
WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
KNOWS THAT TOMORROW IS THE
DEADLINE TO SEND ANY AMENDMENTS
IN CONSIDERATION FOR THE STAFF
WHO WILL BE WORKING ON THIS. AN
ALSO, WORKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE A
RIGHT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF
LOOPHOLES COUNTY DEMOCRATS ARE
HOPING TO BRING FORWARD. I WIL
NOT BE SUPPORTING ANY WATERING
DOWN LOOPHOLES OR ANY LOOPHOLES
IN FAVOR OF CORPORATIONS. BUT I
THERE ARE ANY STRENGTHENING
AMENDMENTS, WE CERTAINLY WILL
WELCOME THEM. STRENGTHENING
AMENDMENTS IN FAVOR OF RENTERS.
AND SO, WE WILL START THE
PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC
COMMENT IN ONE SECOND. JUST VER
QUICKLY. SOME OF YOU ACTUALLY
TOLD US THAT YOU HAVE SIGNED UP
ONLINE BUT THAT YOU ARE ACTUALL
HERE IN PERSON. IF YOU ARE HERE
IN PERSON, WANT TO HEAR FROM YO
IN PERSON. IF YOU SIGNED UP
ONLINE BUT YOU ARE HERE, CAN YO
MAKE SURE, IF YOU HAVE NOT
ALREADY, TO SIGN UP PHYSICALLY
WITH THE SIGN UP SHEET AT THE
BACK OF THE ROOM. WILL MAKE SUR
TO COLLECT ALL OF THE NEW SHEET
AS THEY COME. THAT WILL MAKE IT
EASIER FOR US RATHER THAN HAVIN
TO READ YOUR NAME FROM THE
ONLINE LIST. BEFORE WE BEGIN TH
PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAVE TWO
SPEAKERS WHO WILL SPEAK VERY
BRIEFLY. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HEAR FROM THEM. FIRST WE HAVE A
ORGANIZER WITH THE SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE AND WITH THE WORKER
STRIKE BACK. SHE IS ALSO MOTHE
TO TWO CHILDREN. I KNOW
PERSONALLY HOW MUCH SHE AND
THEIR FAMILY JUGGLE THEIR TIME
AND THEIR LIMITED INCOME FOR
CHILD CARE FOR PAYING RENT AND
FOR BUYING OTHER NECESSITIES FO
THEIR FAMILY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, KSHAMA SAWANT. AN
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BEING
HERE. MY NAME IS KAYLA NICHOLSO
AND I'M A RENTER IN SEATTLE AND
I AM A MOM OF TWO. IS A MEMBER
OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE, I HAV
BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT FOR
RENT CONTROL FOR SEATTLE FOR TH
PAST 10 YEARS NOW. SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE WAS OUT OF PRIDE TH
OTHER WEEKEND. BUILDING FOR THI
EVENT AND COLLECTING SIGNATURES
ON A RENT CONTROL PETITION IT
MADE ME THINK OF THE LAST TIME
WE HAD A TOWN HALL IN THIS
BUILDING IN THE ALL PROGRAMS
CHURCH. WAS BACK IN 2014. THE
YEAR AFTER KSHAMA SAWANT HAD
FIRST BEEN ELECTED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. THERE HAD BEEN THIS
OUTBREAK OF VIOLENT ATTACKS
AGAINST LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE ACROSS
SEATTLE AND SO WE ORGANIZED A
LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS TOWNHALL. BUT
THE TOWNHALL ENDED UP FOCUSING
OVERWHELMINGLY ON THE DEMAND FO
RENT CONTROL. WHICH EVERY TIME
IT WAS MENTIONED, WAS MET WITH
JUST THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE BY THE
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN
ATTENDANCE. THERE WERE MANY,
MANY ACTIVISTS WHO SPOKE TO THE
URGENT NEED FOR SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LGBTQIA
PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY YOUTH. WH
EXPERIENCE RATES OF HOMELESSNES
120% HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL
POPULATION. SEVERAL SPEAKERS
IDENTIFIED HOUSING IS THE SINGL
MOST URGENT ISSUE FACING THE A
LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY. AND THIS
WAS NEARLY A DECADE AGO. SINCE
THEN, RENTS HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED
IN SEATTLE. AND NOW FOR THE
FIRST TIME, OVER HALF OF RENTER
NATIONALLY ARE OFFICIALLY RENT
BURDENED. MEANING THAT THEY PA
MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEIR
INCOME IN RENT. STABLE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN URGENT
ISSUE FOR EVERYONE. FOR ALL
WORKING PEOPLE. BUT IT'S A
PARTICULARLY URGENT ISSUE FOR
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE. WHO
EXPERIENCE HIGHER RATES OF WAGE
DISCRIMINATION AND HOMELESSNESS
AND HARASSMENT BY FAMILY MEMBER
AND PARTNERS AND MEMBERS OF
THEIR HOUSEHOLD. THEREFORE RENT
CONTROL IS A RIGHTS ISSUE AND
RACIAL JUSTICE IS YOU. IT'S A
FEMINIST ISSUE AND A DISABILITY
RIGHTS ISSUE. [ APPLAUSE ] I
HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE COMING UP
ON 15 YEARS NOW. FOR THE FIRST
10 YEARS THAT I LIVED HERE, LIK
MANY RENTERS, I MOVED AN AVERAG
OF ONCE PER YEAR FOR 10 YEARS.
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MY
FAMILY HAS BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO
HAVE FOUND A GENERALLY KIND AND
RESPECTFUL SMALL LANDLORD, WHO
IN FIVE YEARS HAS NEVER RAISED
RENT OF OF THE EVENT THAT HIS
PROPERTY TAXES HAVE GONE UP. SO
THIS RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION,
WANT TO BE SUPER CLEAR. THIS
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WOULD
NOT IMPACT OUR LANDLORD AT ALL.
IT WOULD NOT IMPACT HIM. BUT I
HE WERE TO FACE UNEXPECTED
EXPENSES OR MEDICAL ISSUES THAT
PUT HIM IN A POSITION WHERE HE
HAD TO SELL HIS PROPERTY, MY
FAMILY WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY
HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE CITY.
BECAUSE WE ARE THE SMALL
EXCEPTION TO HAVE FOUND A
LANDLORD LIKE THIS AND THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO AFFORD MARKET RATE
RENTS. IF WE IMAGINE A FAMILY
FOUR WITH TWO FAMILIES WORKING
FULL-TIME MINIMUM WAGE JOBS, IN
SEATTLE THIS WOULD MEAN THE
HOUSEHOLD WILL EARN $74,760 PER
YEAR. IF YOU SUBTRACT FROM THAT
THE AVERAGE RENT FOR A THREE
BEDROOM APARTMENT, WHICH IS
$4670 PER MONTH AND THE AVERAGE
COST OF FULL-TIME CHILDCARE,
YOU ARE LEFT WITH JUST $864 FOR
A FULL YEAR OF UTILITIES, FOOD,
CLOTHING, GAS, ETC. IT'S
ABSOLUTELY ABSURD AND COMPLETEL
IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE ON THAT. IN
FACT, YOU NEED TWO PARENTS
WORKING FULL-TIME FOR MORE THA
TWICE THE MINIMUM WAGE. MORE
THAN $35 PER HOUR. TWO PARENTS
WORKING FULL-TIME TO NOT BE REN
BURDENED IN THE FULL-TIME
APARTMENT. SO MANY, MANY WORKIN
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN AND ARE
CURRENTLY BEING FORCED TO MOVE
OUT OF THE CITY AND OFTEN THAT
MEANS MOVING AWAY FROM FRIENDS,
FAMILIES, THE SCHOOLS THAT THE
KIDS HAVE GROWN UP GOING TO.
MANY FAMILIES ARE FORCED INTO
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING OR UNSAFE
HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S ALL THEY
COULD AFFORD. MANY WOMEN AND UP
LOSING THEIR JOBS AND ARE FORCE
OUT OF THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE
THEY CANNOT AFFORD AFFORDABLE
CHILDCARE ON TOP OF RENT. I
THINK EVERY WORKING PLAT CLASS
PARENT IN THE CITY KNOWS HOW
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT IT IS TO
RAISE KIDS HERE. WE SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOVING EVER
YEAR BECAUSE GREEDY LANDLORDS
ARE RAISING THE RENT OR REFUSIN
TO KEEP HER HOUSING UP TO CODE.
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT PREVENTS
US FOR DEVELOPING THE SAFE AND
STABLE COMMUNITIES THAT OUR KID
DESERVE TO GROW UP IN. THEY
SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES PAYING
THE PRICE SO THESE MASSIVE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS CAN SCRATCH
$1 MILLION IN PROFIT EVERY YEAR
THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT WE, AL
OF US HERE TODAY, WE ARE NOT TH
EXCEPTION, WE ARE THE NORM.
THERE'S NOT A SINGLE DISTRICT I
SEATTLE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT
RENT BURDENED AND THERE'S NOT
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR RENT
CONTROL. WE NEED EVERY SINGLE
CITY COUNCILMEMBER TO STAND WIT
THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND TO STAND
WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND FAMILIE
AND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH N
LOOPHOLES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARIN
THAT . I WAS ALSO ON MY WAY HER
THINKING ABOUT THAT TOWNHALL
THAT WE DID ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO
NOW I AM VERY HAPPY TO
INTRODUCE JOE, WHO IS AN
EDUCATOR AND A MEMBER OF THE
NORTH SHORE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT. AS HE SAID, MY
NAME IS JOE. I AM A TEACHER IN
THE NORTH SHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND A MEMBER OF THE NORTH SHORE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND A
RENTER. MY OWN RENT HAS BEEN
INCREASED TWICE IN THE LAST YEA
AND A HALF. IT HAS MADE LIVING
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HARDLY
AFFORDABLE. AS WE ARE ALREADY
STRETCHED. ONE OF THE OPPONENTS
OF THE LEGISLATION WHO SPOKE IN
COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
COMMITTEE LAST MONTH CLAIMED
THAT THIS WOULD MAKE THINGS
UNPREDICTABLE FOR LANDLORDS. BU
WHAT IS REALLY UNPREDICTABLE IS
THAT WITHOUT RENT CONTROL, THE
VAST MAJORITY OF RENTERS REALLY
DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN BUDGET
THE MONTHS AHEAD AND THEREFORE
OUR ENTIRE HOUSING SITUATION IS
UNPREDICTABLE. UNPREDICTABILITY
IS COMING HOME FROM A LONG DAY
WORK TO COME HOME TO A PIECE OF
PAPER ON YOUR FRONT DOOR SAYING
THE RENT IS INCREASING AND IF
YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT THEN TOO
BAD. YOU COULD MOVE TO ANOTHER
APARTMENT OR IN SOME CASES
BECOME HOMELESS. HAVE WORKED IN
SEVEN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FROM
TUESDAY TO FRIDAY AND THEREFOR
I WAS ONLY PLAY PAID 85% OF THE
TEACHERS SALARY. POSITIONS LIKE
THIS ARE COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABL
AND A PRODUCT OF THE DEMOCRATS
REFUSAL TO FULLY FUND PUBLIC
EDUCATION. THOSE WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS AND IN ADEQUATE PAY
AND CONTINUOUS RENT INCREASES I
MY APARTMENT BUILDING AND ACROS
THE WHOLE CITY ASKED ME TO LOO
FOR WORK IN THE NORTH SHORE
SCHOOL DISTRICT. EVEN WITH A
HIGHER WAGE NOW, I AM ONE RENT
INCREASE AWAY FROM BEING FORCED
OUT OF SEATTLE ALTOGETHER.
INSTEAD WHAT WE NEED IN SEATTLE
AND STATEWIDE IS FOR ALL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO BE FULLY FUNDED BY
TAXING THE RICH AND MEANINGFULL
COMPREHENSIVE RENT CONTROL WITH
NO LOOPHOLES. FAMILIES IN THE
CITY AND IN THE STATE AND REALL
IN THIS COUNTRY AND WORLD NEED
RENT CONTROL. THE EXCELLENT
POINTS MADE LAST MONTH ABOUT TH
THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES IN OUR STATE. THER
ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE NUMBERS
AND THEY POINT TO THAT. MORE
BROADLY, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AND STABILITY IS AN ISSUE THAT
IS IMPORTANT TO AND TO THE
ENTIRE WORKING CLASS. THIS IS
LGBTQIA+ ISSUE AND IT'S AN ISSU
FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER
PEOPLE OF COLOR. IN FACT, RENT
CONTROL IS ONE OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO FIGHT AGAINST
GENTRIFICATION. THIS IS AN
ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE WORKING
CLASS. THE FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL IS ALSO ABSOLUTELY A
UNION ISSUE. AND THE LABOR
MOVEMENT HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY
THE MAIN TASK THAT WE HAVE AS
ORGANIZED WORKERS IN A UNION IS
TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS IN THE WOR
PLACE AND ALSO TO FIGHT FOR
HIGHER WAGES. THAT IS TRUE. BUT
WHAT GOOD OR HIGHER WAGES IF TH
COST OF RENT CONTINUES TO GO UP
AND UP WITH NO END IN SIGHT? AN
SO, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE T
COLLECTIVELY FIGHT FOR RENT
CONTROL. I APPEAL TO ALL
RANK-AND-FILE UNION MEMBERS HER
OR LISTENING AND WHO WILL LISTE
TO THIS LATER. TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S OFFICE OR ME PERSONALL
OR OTHER RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS
AT THIS MEETING. WE CAN DISCUS
HOW TO PASS MEANINGFUL
RESOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION AND MAKE A PLAN TO
MOBILIZE OUR UNION SIBLINGS TO
UPCOMING EVENTS TO END THE
STRUGGLE FOR REAL RENT CONTROL
AND HOUSING JUSTICE. SOLIDARITY
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I
REALLY ECHO WHAT JOE SAID. IF
YOU ARE UNION MEMBER AND YOU AR
WATCHING THIS OR YOU ARE
WATCHING THE RECORDING OF THIS.
PLEASE FIGHT TO PASS RESOLUTION
THAT WILL BE IN YOUR UNIT AND
THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP
US WIN THIS. WE WILL START
PUBLIC COMMENT. WITHOUT FURTHER
ADO. I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYON
KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED VERY
STRONG LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM
SOME VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
ADVOCATES. AND I WILL READ PART
OF THOSE LETTERS DURING THE
PUBLIC HEARING. BUT I JUST WANT
TO LET YOU KNOW WHO ALL HAS
ALREADY SUPPORTED IT WE HAVE A
LETTER FROM TIFFANY McCOY, THE
ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF REAL
CHANGE. HOLDER APPLAUSE UNTIL
SAY ALL OF THE NAMES. AND WE
HAVE PAUL A LOOK ALSO, WHO IS
THE PRESIDENT OF THE WASHINGTON
FEDERATION OF STATE EMPLOYEES
LOCAL 495. AND VIOLET, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TENANT
ISSUES IN WASHINGTON STATE. KAT
RUBIN, WHO IS THE ORGANIZING
DIRECTOR IN SEATTLE AND SHE
WOULD BE SPEAKING PERSONALLY.
ALSO, WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT
AND INTERESTING ANONYMOUS
STATEMENT FROM A PROPERTY
MANAGER IN SUPPORT OF RENT
CONTROL. SO THE MICROPHONE IS
RIGHT THERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO
COME THERE IF YOU ARE IN PERSON
I WILL CALL ALL OF THE IN PERSO
NAMES FIRST AND THEN THE ONLINE
NAMES. EVERY PERSON WILL HAVE
ONE MINUTE. I KNOW IT'S NOT A
LOT. TRY TO KEEP IT WITHIN ONE
MINUTE SO THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM
EVERYONE. THIS IS NOT THE END O
THE CONVERSATION. WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO WIN UNLESS WE ALL KEEP
SHOWING UP AND KEEP ORGANIZED.
BUT KEEP YOUR COMMENT TO ONE
MINUTE. I WILL READ OUT THREE
NAMES AT A TIME. IF YOU HEAR
YOUR NAME, PLEASE STAND IN ORDE
SO WE DON'T WASTE TIME WITH
PEOPLE TRYING TO COME OUT OF
THEIR CHAIRS AND EVERYTHING. S
WE'LL JUST KEEP A VERY STEADY
FLOW. IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME,
COME TO THE LINE. AND ALSO SAVE
YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END OF
THAT MINUTES SO THAT THEIR TIME
IS NOT EATEN UP. BECAUSE THE
TIMER WILL BE RUNNING. DON'T
TAKE THEIR TIME AWAY FROM THEM
BUT FEEL FREE TO APPLAUD AT THE
END OR ANY OTHER REACTION,
THAT'S FINE. JUST DO IT AFTER
THEY FINISH. SO I WILL READ
THREE NAMES NOW AND THE FIRST
THREE NAMES ARE HERE.
>> HELLO. I'M ONE OF SEATTLE'S
FIRST CARBON PROVIDERS. YOU ARE
RIGHT THAT SAFE LIVING OPTIONS
ARE HUMAN RIGHT. SCIENCE IS
REAL AND IT'S OUR BEST
INSTRUMENT FOR SOLVING THE
PROBLEMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
HOUSING. BUT DOES THE
PEER-REVIEWED SCIENCE SAY? A
PEER-REVIEWED STUDY IN SAN
FRANCISCO FOUND THAT QUOTE
REDUCED HOUSING SUPPLY BY 15%
AND QUOTE LIMITS RENTERS
MOBILITY BY 20%. THE CONCLUDED
QUOTE, WE FIND LOSSES TO ALL
RENTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO AT $2.
BILLION DUE TO RENT CONTROL AS
AN EFFECT. THE STUDY BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IN THE FUNNIER
FOUND THAT LARGE NUMBERS PLACE
UNDUE BURDEN ON LANDLORDS AND
MAY REDUCE HOUSING ACCESS FOR
LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS. THE
REASON SMALL LANDLORDS LIKE ME
ARE SELLING OUT TO BIG
CORPORATIONS IS BECAUSE OF
POLICIES LIKE THIS. A HARVARD
PAPER ON THE EFFECTS OF RENT
CONTROL IN NEW YORK CITY SAYS
THAT IT FREEZES THE CITY AND
STOPS IT. ADJUSTING TO CHANGES.
FREEZES PEOPLE IN APARTMENTS AN
FREEZES THE MOTION INHERENT IN
CITIES. THE LOSS OF $500 MILLIO
ANNUALLY TO CONSUMERS OF NEW
YORK. WE CONSIDER THE SOCIAL
LOSSES.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. ONE
SECOND. PLEASE WATCH THE
SCREEN.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DID NOT
GO OFF.
>> OKAY. PAY ATTENTION TO THE
SOUND OF THE DING AND ALSO THE
SCREEN. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING POLITE
LISTENERS. MY NAME IS HEATHER.
RENT CONTROL HAS BEEN TRIED
ALREADY AND IT ONLY TAKES A
CURSORY OF THE RESULTS TO SEE
HOW IT HAS FAILED. FIRST. MIND
CONTROL REDUCES THE SUPPLY OF
HOUSING. ARTIFICIALLY REDUCED
PRICES WILL DECREASE DEMAND FOR
HOUSING BY DECREASING THE
INITIATIVE AND INCENTIVE TO
PROVIDE THIS HOUSING. MEANWHILE
FOR FEAR OF INCREASED
REGULATIONS, HOUSING PROVIDERS
WILL STOP BUILDING HOMES.
FURTHER DECREASING THE SUPPLY.
THE HOUSING SHORTAGE CRISIS WIL
CONTINUE. SECOND, RENT CONTROL
REDUCES THE QUAITY OF HOUSING.
WHEN LANDLORDS DON'T GET PAID T
IMPROVE HOUSING QUALITY, THEY
WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE
INCENTIVE TO MAINTAIN A TOP
QUALITY UNIT. RENT CONTROL
DIVERTS NEW INVESTMENTS.
INVESTMENTS WILL GO TO OUTSIDE
OF THE CITY. WHERE IT IS MORE
LUCRATIVE. RENT CONTROL
EXEMPLIFIES GOOD INTENTIONS BUT
IT'S MORE ECONOMICS.
>> I WANT TO READ THE NEXT
NAMES. AUSTIN PRICE AND EVA
METZ AND KELLY YOUNG. PLEASE
COME TO THE FRONT.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GRASS
ROOTS MOBILIZING EFFORT OF
FORMER HOMELESS WOMEN STOOD WIT
WOMEN IN BLACK TODAY. FOR 20
MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE DIED
OUTSIDE OR BY VIOLENCE. WITHOUT
SHELTER, PEOPLE DIE. IT IS 162
PEOPLE ALREADY THIS YEAR. AND
WHEN RENT GOES UP, HOMELESSNES
GOES UP. WHEN HOMELESSNESS GOE
UP, THE DEATHS GO UP. IT IS
OUTRAGEOUS WHEN YOU LEARN THAT
LANDLORDS ARE ORGANIZING TO KEE
THE RENTS HIGHER. LANDLORDS ARE
KILLING US. WE HAVE TO ORGANIZ
TO LOWER THE RENT. RENT CONTROL
NOW. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NOW EWA METZ. GO AHEAD
AUSTIN PRICE.
>> I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL AND
ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING THIS
AND 1 MILLION OTHER STORIES THA
YOU WILL HEAR THAT TESTIFY TO
HOW INHUMANE THESE RENT
INCREASES ARE. WE NEED TO STAND
WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND NOT
WEALTHY LANDLORDS. AND I WILL
SEE THE REST OF MY TIME. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM A NURSING STUDENT AND A
HOME HEALTHCARE WORKER. BECAUS
I'M A RENTER IN SEATTLE WITH
ASTRONOMICAL RENT, I ALSO CLEAN
HOUSES AND PET SIT TO TRY TO
KEEP UP ON MY RENT. I'M SPEAKIN
TODAY TO URGE THE DEMOCRATS AND
THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE AND VOTE YES ON
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH N
LOOPHOLES OR WATERING DOWN. I
HAVE MOVED FAST FIVE TIMES IN
THE PAST FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF
RENT INCREASES IN PREDATORY
LANDLORDS. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I
LIKE MOVING. IT'S TERRIBLE AND
EXHAUSTING AND ANY TIME OFF OF
WORK AND STUDIES. BUT IN SOME
WAYS THIS IS CONSIDERED LUCKY
FOR RENTER IN SEATTLE. LUCKY
THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A
PLACE BY CRAMMING IN WITH OTHER
ROOMMATES AND SPENDING A LOT OF
TIME SEARCHING AND HOPING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A VERY
CLEAR CHOICE. STAND WITH
RENTERS OR STAND WITH GREEDY
LANDLORDS WHO ARE GETTING THEIR
PROFITS FROM EXPLODING RENTERS
LIKE MYSELF. EXPLOITING.
>> NEXT IS KELLY YOUNG. AFTER
THAT IT IS BRETT. THEN KATE
RUBIN AND DYLAN COLD. DO WE
HAVE KELLY YOUNG? IF WE DON'T
HAVE KELLY YOUNG HERE, THE NEXT
IS BRETT. DO WE HAVE BRETT?
KATE RUBIN, YOU ARE NEXT, I
GUESS. AFTER KATE IS DYLAN AND
THEN MARTIN
>> HELLO. I'M A RENTER THAT
LIVES IN BEACON HELP PARK I AM
LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON AND I
LIVE IN FEAR THAT MY LANDLORD
WILL RAISE MY RENT AND I WILL
BE FORCED AWAY FROM THE HOME
THAT I LOVE. FORCED TO LIVE
WITH ROOMMATES THAT I DON'T LIK
HER NO. BUT MY LIVING SITUATIO
CONSTANTLY CHANGES AND THIS IS
JUST THE STANDARD. THE PROPHETS
THAT THESE LANDLORDS ARE MAKING
ON THE BACKS OF WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE AND ON THE BACKS OF
EVERYONE HERE. TO BE A LANDLOR
SHOULD NOT BE A WAY TO GET RICH
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AN
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PRICE
GOUGING IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE
I URGE ALL OF COUNCIL TO
PROTECT THE 400,000+ RENTERS
THAT LIVE IN SEATTLE. THIS IS
WHAT WE NEED TO STAY STABLE AND
NOT FURTHER INCREASE THE HOUSIN
CRISIS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM HONORED TO REPRESENT
THE MOST MOVABLE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE IN LAKE CITY. MY
CONSTITUENTS OF THOSE MOST
IMPACTED BY OPPRESSION AND
TRAUMA AND GREED BY THE WORKING
CLASS. I CALL ON ALL OF THE
DEMOCRATS AND THE CITY COUNCIL
TO STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE.
WITH OUR ELDERS AND DISABLED
COMMUNITY. ALL OF SEATTLE'S
YOUTH AND THOSE SYSTEMATICALLY
MARGINALIZED. NOT WEALTHY
LANDLORDS. VOTE YES ON COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT TO
CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH NO
LOOPHOLES. ALSO WORK FOR COUNTR
DOCTOR AND HEALTHCARE FOR
HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE DEDICATED
MY LIFE TO DIGNIFYING COMMUNITY
CARE. AND I AM LITERALLY SICK
FROM THE AVOIDABLE SUFFERING
CAUSED BY NOT A HOUSING CRISIS,
BUT A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSIN
CRISIS. PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN
FORCED TO MOVE OVER 30 TIMES IN
MY 18 YEARS AS A SEATTLE RENTER
DUE TO THE LACK OF RENT CONTROL
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ONE SECOND. PLEASE LINEUP
IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME.
>> THE POINT I WILL BRING UP IS
ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THIS
LEGISLATION. TYING IT TO
INFLATION AND THE CPI. THERE
ARE CERTAIN COSTS THAT ARE NOT
INCLUDED IN THE CPI. THAT
INCLUDES INSURANCE FOR THESE
LARGE BUILDINGS. WE HAVE TWO
RENTALS AND TWO LARGE BUILDINGS
INSURANCE ON THE BUILDING IS
53% PER YEAR. IF WE PASS THAT
ONTO HER TENANT, IT'S 3%. THAT
DOES NOT INCLUDE PROPERTY TAXES
AND IN 2022 THOSE WENT UP SIX
POINT .4%. IT'S A TOTAL OF
ALMOST 9% THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE
ON. WE HAVE NOW REACHED A
TIPPING POINT WHERE, IF WE SELL
THE UNIT AND PUT IT IN THE 5%
SAVINGS COUNT, IT WILL ACTUALL
GARNISH MORE DAILY INCOME FOR
FIXED INCOME NEEDS THAN
CONTINUING TO RENT IT. WE HAVE
LOST MONEY EVERY YEAR FOR THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS ON OUR UNIT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REALITIES
THAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT
TAKE INTO COUNT. I WILL ALSO
SAY, THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. I HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR ABOUT 10
YEARS AND HAVE BEEN RENTING ALL
THAT TIME. I MOVED A FEW TIMES.
MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE NOT
LIVING HERE. IT SEEMS ABNORMALL
REPRESENTATIVE HERE. BUT I DO
UNDERSTAND THE INCREASING RENT
THAT IS A PRESSURE IN MY LIFE A
WELL. BUT LET ME SAY A FEW
THINGS. MANY CITIES IN AMERICA
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SEATTLE'S
PROBLEM AND THAT IT GROWS
RAPIDLY AND THAT THEIR GROWING
PAINS. THEIR DYING CITIES IN
THIS COUNTRY WITH VERY LOW RENT
THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS
KIND OF PROBLEM OTHER THAN THEI
PROBLEM. WHEN YOU MAKE RENT
CAPPED AT THE INFLATION RATE,
THAT MEANS REAL ESTATE CANNOT B
AN INVESTMENT. THAT MEANS
PEOPLE WILL NOT RENT AS
INVESTMENT. DO YOU WANT REAL
ESTATE TO NOT BE AN INVESTMENT?
THEN LET'S SAY THAT AND SAID
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
LET'S NOT HAVE AN INDIRECT
METHOD TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT ANY
SPEAKER. LET'S JUST DO IT AFTE
THEY SPEAK.
>> I HAVE THE MICROPHONE. MY
NAME IS MARSHALL AND I HAVE
BEEN A RENTER FOR FOUR YEARS. I
MOVED TO SIX TIMES. WHEN I USED
TO WORK AND RESTAURANTS HAD
COWORKERS THAT WOULD COMMUTE TO
SEATTLE BECAUSE LIKE CANNOT
AFFORD THE HIGH RENTS. IS THE
CITY WHERE THIS HAPPENS IS
DOOMED TO FAIL. WE MUST PROTEC
THOSE WHO WANT TO RAISE A FAMIL
AND HAVE A FUTURE HERE. SEATTL
HAS THE ABILITY BUT YOU AND CIT
COUNCIL NEED TO HAVE THE GUTS.
COULD CARE LESS ABOUT COMPANY
PROFITS. EVERYONE HERE TALKING
FOR THE LANDLORDS IT'S JUST
CROCODILE TEARS. THEY COULD MAK
NOTHING FOR ALL I CARE. HOUSING
SHOULD NOT BE COMMODITY BECAUSE
THE COMMODIFICATION OF HOUSING
KILLS PEOPLE. IT DRIVES THEM
INTO THE STREET AND MAKES US AL
AND SAVE. IT MAKES US ANGRY. FO
COMMUNITY TO THRIVE AND BE SAFE
AND GOOD BE A GOOD PLACE TO LIV
AND GROW AND FOR PEOPLE TO BE
FREE, YOU NEED TO VOTE YES ON
RENT CONTROL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> NOW WE HAVE HENRY GRAHAM.
ONCE AGAIN. AFTER HENRY WE HAV
DOMINIC WOLFGANG WALLACE AND
JOHN AND JULIO.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS HENRY
GRAHAM., RENTER DISTRICT 4 AT A
LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SEATTLE. I
CAME HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTE
ANSWERS FROM THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WILL YOU SUPPORT KSHAM
SAWANT'S CITYWIDE RENT
CONTROLLED LEGISLATION WITHOUT
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES? IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATS TO PASS THIS TO THERE
AND TO JOIN THE FIGHT TO
OVERTURN THE STATEWIDE BAND.
WHICH THEIR PARTY HAS IMPOSED O
THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON. THIS
VOTE WILL DECIDE WHETHER YOU
STAND WITH A HANDFUL OF WEALTHY
DONORS FOR EVERYDAY WORKING
PEOPLE. YOU CAN CHOOSE THE 71%
OF LIKELY WASHINGTON VOTERS WHO
SAY THEY WILL SUPPORT RENT
CONTROL AND THE 35,000
SEATTLEITES WHO WANT KSHAMA
SAWANT'S LEGISLATION. OR HE
COULD THROW YOUR WEIGHT BEHIND
THE CORPORATE LANDLORDS BLEEDIN
THE CITY DRY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. I AM DOMINIC WOLFGANG
WALLACE. I AM A SEATTLE RENTER
AND ZIP GRADE 98105. I HAVE COM
HERE TO URGE ALL CITY COUNCIL
DEMOCRATS TO STAND WITH WORKING
PEOPLE AND NOT LANDLORDS. IN OU
SUPPORT OF THIS RENT CONTROL
BUILD YOU HAVE HEARD
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM
RENTERS HERE TODAY. SPECIFICALL
CALLING OUT THOSE WHO HAVE
REMAINED SILENT ON WHETHER THEY
WOULD SUPPORT THIS. AND SUPPORT
THE PEOPLE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
REPRESENT. THE DEMOCRATIC PART
HAS NOT DONE THIS IN THE 30
YEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN IN POWER
BUT HOPEFULLY YOU ALL CAN DO IT
RIGHT NOW. I SEED THE REST OF M
TIME. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. I AM A
UNION TECH WORKER AND AN
ACTIVIST WITH WORKERS STRIKE
BACK. I URGE ALL DEMOCRATS ON
THE CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE AND NOT WEALTHY
LANDLORDS. IT IS YOUR PARTY THA
HAS UPHELD THIS FOR 40 YEARS.
OUR RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION
HERE IN SEATTLE, COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT HAS 21 STATE
LEGISLATORS REPRESENTING SEATTL
TO GO ON THE RECORD IN SUPPORT
OF RENT CONTROL. NOT A SINGLE
DEMOCRAT SAID THEY WOULD STAND
WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND RENTERS
IN SEATTLE. SHAMEFULLY, THREE
LEGISLATORS EVEN RESPONDED WITH
SNARKY RESPONSES. GOING SO FAR
AS TO CALL THE SITUATION FUNNY.
THIS IS BEYOND SHAMEFUL AND
REFUSING SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION SPEAKS VOLUMES. STA
DEMOCRATS WOULD NOT ANSWER
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
BUT MAYBE THE ANSWER RENTERS AN
UNION MEMBERS OF SEATTLE WHEN W
UNITE TO DEMAND RENT CONTROL.
ALLSTATE DEMOCRATS. WE SEND A
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR RENT
CONTROL BILL? LET THE STATEWIDE
BAN WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR
NEARLY HALF A CENTURY. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER JULIA, WE WILL HAVE
WILL AND JULIE MASSEY AND
JONATHAN ROSENTHAL.
>> THANK YOU. I AM A
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER AND A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 6. I URGE AL
CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS TO VOTE
YES ON RENT CONTROL IN SEATTLE
BECAUSE MY FELLOW UNION MEMBERS
AND I ARE BEING CRUSHED BY THE
COST OF HOUSING. WE DESPERATELY
NEED UNIVERSAL RENT CONTROL WIT
NO LOOPHOLES. IT IS SHOCKING TH
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, COMPETITORS
WILL COME TO SPEAK AT MY UNIONS
RALLY WHILE WE WERE ON STRIKE
LAST MONTH. AND REFUSED TO VOIC
SUPPORT FOR THE STORM RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION. EVEN AFTER
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
DIRECTLY REACHED OUT TO THEM.
STATE DEMOCRATS WOULD NOT ANSWE
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT. I
HOPE THEY RESPOND AFTER THIS
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM
WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENTS. I
ASK ALL WASHINGTON STATE
RESIDENTS TO LIFT THE STATEWID
BAN ON RENT CONTROL. ANYTHING
LESS A MONSTER SIDING WITH
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WHO ARE WIT
THE HOUSING CRISIS AND A
BETRAYAL OF THE THOUSANDS OF
RENTERS AND WORKING PEOPLE IN
YOUR DISTRICTS.
>> HELLO. I MET PCC GROCERY
WORKER AND A MEMBER OF PCC
WORKERS UNITED. RANK-AND-FILE
GROUP FARING FOR A FAIR AND
STRONG CONTRACT INCLUDING ANY
FIVE DOLLAR PER HOUR MINIMUM
WAGES AND UP TO 25 AND THREE
YEARS. THE BIG PART OF THAT IS
BECAUSE 25 IS WHAT IT TAKES TO
QUALIFY FOR THE BARE MINIMUM OF
HOUSING IN SEATTLE AND BEYOND.
NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT LIVING I
OUR COMMUNITIES BUT LIVING IN
THE STATE THAT ALL. I WANT TO
BE CLEAR THAT MY COWORKERS ARE
IN TEARS WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT
THEIR HOUSING SITUATIONS. WE
HAVE PEOPLE IN SHELTERS AND
PEOPLE CONSIDERING BRINGING
THEIR CHILDREN TO SHELTERS FOR
SAFETY. THE FACT THAT IS IF
YOU'RE SIDING WITH THE
LANDLORDS, YOU ARE NOT EVEN
SIDING WITH THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY. THE BUSINESSES CANNO
CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE THE
EGREGIOUS AND DOUBLE DIGIT
PROFIT MARGINS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
>> UPROOTING THEIR LIVES YEAR
OVER YEAR TOO SOME CORPORATIONS
CAN MEASURE THEIR MARGINS EVEN
IN HIGHER. CORPORATIONS ARE
OPENLY COLLUDING WITH EACH OTHE
THROUGH PRICE SETTING A I.
THIS IS THE ACTUAL WORLD WE ARE
LIVING IN. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBE
KSHAMA SAWANT STANDS WITH
WORKING PEOPLE. MY QUESTION IS,
WILL THE DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY
GROW A SPINE AND FOLLOWER
MOVEMENT ? PASS UNIVERSAL RENT
CONTROL WITH NO LOOPHOLES, NOW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER JONATHAN WE HAVE DAVI
AND SASHA AND NATALIE. GO
AHEAD.
>> JONATHAN ROSENBLUM. NATIONAL
WRITERS UNION MEMBER. SPEAKING
IN FULL SUPPORT OF RENT CONTROL
THE QUESTION FOR DEMOCRATS IS
NOT WHETHER SEATTLE SHOULD OR
SHOULD NOT HAVE RENT CONTROL.
IT'S WET SYSTEM OF RENT SETTING
THAT THEY SUPPORT. RENT CONTROL
TO BENEFIT WORKING PEOPLE? OR
RENT CONTROL BY THE BILLIONAIRE
LANDLORDS, WHO ACCORDING TO
MULTIPLE CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN PRICE
FIXING TO JACK UP RUNS.
COMPANIES LIKE DRIVE, WHICH HAV
BEEN ACCELERATING RACIST AND
FURCATION IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. DEMOCRATS NEED TO
STOP STALLING AND DECIDE WHOSE
SIDE THEY ARE ON. COUNCIL
MEMBER TAMMY MORALES. YOU
REPRESENT DISTRICT 2, MY
DISTRICT. ON MAY 2nd WHEN YOU'R
ASKED BY STRANGER WHETHER YOU
SUPPORTED RENT CONTROL, YOU
SAID, WE WILL KNOW MORE WHEN W
SEE A DRAFT OF THE BILL. WELL,
YOU HAVE THE DRAFT AND YOU HAVE
HAD THE DRAFT. WHOSE SIDE ARE
YOU ON, COUNCIL MEMBER TAMMY
MORALES? RENTERS OR BIG
LANDLORDS? [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. I DON'T HAVE ANY STAT
OR ANYTHING. JUST A PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE. I'M A LITTLE
CONFUSED. OUR RENT WENT UP FOR
NEXT YEAR. SO WE ARE MOVING.
WHEN THEY LISTED OUR APARTMENT,
IT'S LESS TO THAT WHATEVER AND
CURRENTLY IS. WHICH IS TELLS ME
I AM DAVID. ANYWAY. SO THEY DI
NOT NEED TO RAISE THE RENT
BECAUSE WHOEVER'S GOING TO LIVE
IN IT NEXT YEAR WILL BE PAYING
WHAT WE PAID THIS PAST YEAR. BU
IF WE WERE STILL THERE, WE WOUL
BE PAYING MORE. THAT DOES NOT
MAKE SENSE. ALSO, I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO SAY THAT STATISTICS ARE
NOT SCIENCE AND ALSO SCIENCE
SHOULD BE QUESTIONED AND WE
EXPERIMENTED. BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT SCIENCE IS ALL ABOUT.
REDOING THE SIGNS THAT YOU HAVE
ALREADY DONE TO RECONFIRM AND
MAYBE CHANGE THINGS. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>> YOUR LANDLORD JUST DID IS
NOT LEGAL BASED ON SEATTLE LAW.
BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID. SO
TALK TO SOMEONE IN OUR OFFICE
ABOUT THAT.
>> OKAY. NOW WE HAVE ELLEN AND
SASHA AND STEPHEN AND NATALIE.
PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT WHEN
YOU HEAR YOUR NAME. BEFORE
ELLEN GOES AHEAD, I WANT TO MAK
SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT
YOU SHOULD PICK UP ONE OF THESE
LEAFLETS. ALL OF THE POWERFUL
TESTIMONIALS THAT WE ARE HEARIN
TODAY. IF WE DON'T HAVE YOU WIT
US ON JULY 21st, WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO WIN BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN
THE COMMITTEE WILL BE VOTING.
THEN IT GOES TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. WE NEED YOU AGAIN AND
AGAIN. OTHERWISE, WE NEED TO
STAY ORGANIZED TO PUT PRESSURE
ON THE DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY
COUNCIL. ALSO, THERE IS MORE
BANH MI AND WATER IN THE BACK.
IF YOU'RE HUNGRY OR THIRSTY,
MAKE SURE TO GET SOME .
>> HELLO. I'M A SMALL
MOM-AND-POP STYLE RENTER LIVING
IN BEACON HILL. I DON'T HAVE
ANY CORPORATIONS BACKING MY
SEARCH FOR HOUSING. IT'S JUST
ME. I HAVE LIVED HERE IN SEATTL
FOR EIGHT YEARS AND HAVE MOVED
SIX TIMES. EVERY TIME IS NOT
BECAUSE I WANTED TO HER I DID
NOT LIVE WHERE I WAS AT WHERE M
COMMUNITY THAT I HAD BUILT. BU
BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN RENT
THAT I COULD NO LONGER AFFORD O
JUST UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS
THAT MY LANDLORD REFUSES TO FIX
EVERY YEAR THAT I HAVE TO MOVE,
THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING
OPTIONS HAVE DISAPPEARED. EATEN
UP BY THE GREED OF LANDLORDS AN
TRYING TO MAKE A MASSIVE PROFIT
OFF OF THIS BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.
WE HAVE CONTINUALLY HEARD FROM
THE LANDLORDS THAT THEY'RE DOIN
SEATTLE A FAVOR BY PROVIDING
HOUSING. BUT THE REALITY IS THE
WORKERS WHO ACTUALLY BUILD THE
HOUSING IN THE CITY ARE
COMPLETELY UNABLE TO AFFORD
UNITS THAT THEY BUILD. THIS IS
WHY IT'S SO CLEAR THAT WE NEED
TO STAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT FOR
RENT CONTROL. NO LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. I'M A RECENT SEATTLE
CENTRAL GRADUATE. WERE HAVE
SURVIVED IN SEATTLE IS LIVING
WAS UNREASONABLE NUMBER
ROOMMATES. I LIVE DO 12
ROOMMATES FOR FOUR YEARS. THAT'
NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY OF GETTIN
THROUGH THIS. I URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE RENT
CONTROL BILL WITH NO LOOPHOLES
OR WATERING DOWN. AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY TO THE AUDIENCE HER
THAT WE HAVE WON A LOT OF
THINGS. WE HAVE WON THE AMAZON
RENTAL RATES AND THIS TAKES
WORKERS AND RENTERS GETTING
ORGANIZED AND PUTTING PRESSURE
TODAY'S IMPORTANT. BUT WE REALL
NEED TO COME BACK ON THE 21st O
THE RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE,
WHEN THE VOTE WILL BE HAPPENING
TODAY, WE ARE ASKING CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT
MADE THEIR POSITION KNOWN.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S FIRST CITYWIDE
RENT CONTROL WITH NO CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES AND WE WILL BE BACK O
THE 21st TO HEAR YOUR ANSWER.
APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS STEPHEN.
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT. I
LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO BE A
WHEN SHE WAS SPEAKING AND SHE
SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY STUC
OUT TO ME. SHE SAID THAT THESE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS IN THE
INTERESTS OF PROFIT AND INTERES
THAT ARE WITH THEM. THEY THINK
THAT THE PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH
EMPATHY. THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAK
SENSE TO ME. I THINK THE PROBLE
IN THE WHOLE WORLD IS THAT
THERE'S TOO LITTLE EMPATHY. BU
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT A LITTL
BIT. BECAUSE I LIVE IN
ASSISTANCE HOUSING. I WORK.
SOME THE PEOPLE I LIVE WITH OUR
OLDER CLOSE TO RETIREMENT AGE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM
TO.. SOME PEOPLE I LIVE WITH
WERE FORMERLY INCARCERATED AND
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO
GET A JOB. IF YOU THINK THAT
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL PROMISE
FOR ASSISTED HOUSING, OUR RANK
WAS UP TOO AND WE HAVE LATE FEE
TOO. VOTE YES TO HAVE RENT
CONTROL. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> AFTER NATALIE , WE WILL HAVE
JASON . AND THEN AFTER JASON W
HAVE JORDYN YOUNG AND BRANDON
>> MY NAME IS NATALIE BAILEY.
ASK YOU TO STAND WITH WORKING
PEOPLE ARE NOT WEALTHY
LANDLORDS. I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES WITH NO LOOPHOLES OR
WATERING DOWN. I LIVED IN
SEATTLE FOR 10 YEARS AND HAVE
LIVED IN APARTMENTS WHERE I WA
GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO PAY AN
EXTRA $200 OR $300 TO STAY IN A
RAT INFESTED APARTMENT BASICALL
RAW SEWAGE POURING THROUGH THE
CEILING. THAT HAS BEEN MIKE
SPRINTS OF LIVING IN THE CITY
WITH THE LACK OF RENT CONTROL.
I THINK THAT IS ONE REASON WE
REALLY NEED TO FIGHT FOR THIS.
WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE RENT
CONTROL WITH NO LOOPHOLES AND
ALSO EXPANDS SOCIAL HOUSING BY
EXPANDING THE TAX ON AMAZON. I
URGE ALL WORKING PEOPLE ON UNIO
MEMBERS AND RENTERS TO JOIN ME
IN THIS FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
SOLIDARITY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JASON. I'M
A RECENT SEATTLE RESIDENT. I
ONLY MOVED HERE IN JANUARY OF
THIS YEAR. I'M CURRENTLY LIVING
IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. I
HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE
CITY IN THE SHORT TIME HAVE BEE
HERE. I THINK THE PEOPLE HERE
FANTASTIC AND EVERYONE IN THIS
ROOM IS AMAZING. BUT THE SAD
FACT OF THE MATTER IS, BECAUSE
OF THE ABSOLUTELY AWFUL HOUSING
CRISIS AND THE ABSOLUTELY
DESPICABLE ACTIONS OF A LOT OF
THESE CORPORATE LANDLORDS,
THERE'S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY
THAT I WON'T BE IN THE CITY NEX
YEAR. DESPITE HOW MUCH YOU WANT
TO STAY HERE AND MAKE A LIFE
HERE. I MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE OUT
OF THE CITY AND OUT OF THE
STATE. BECAUSE EVEN DOING THE
JOB THAT I DO, WHICH IS PRETTY
SOLID. I BARELY MAKE ENOUGH
MONEY JUST TO PAY MY RENT. LET
ALONE ANYTHING ELSE. THIS IS WH
AM URGING CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRAT
TO PASS RENT CONTROL WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES AND STICK IT TO THE
CORPORATE BILLIONAIRES. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT AND THANK YOU. I'M
A RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER OF YOU C
3000. I LIVED IN SEATTLE ALL MY
LIFE AND HAVE BEEN A RENTER IN
SEATTLE FOR THE PAST DECADE. I
CURRENTLY PAY OVER HALF MY
RENTAL INCOME AND I HAVE
VARIOUS NEIGHBORS IN MY
APARTMENT COMPLEX GET PRICED OU
AND FORCED TO MOVE. HAVE
COWORKERS WHO CURRENTLY SHARE
HOME AT FIVE FIXED ROOMMATES. I
MYSELF DID THE SAME FOR MANY
YEARS. I THINK THIS IS OVER
ARCING INEQUALITY THAT WE SEE.
WHEN A HANDFUL OF WEALTHY
INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES HAVE
THE ABILITY TO WRITE THE RULES,
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTUR
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. TO MAKE
SURE THIS ECONOMIC PLAYING FIEL
NEVER SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY.
RENT CONTROL HELPS TO LEVEL THE
ECONOMIC PLAYING FIELD FOR
WORKING PEOPLE AND IT HELPS TO
KEEP THE MOST VALUABLE AND
VULNERABLE IN THEIR HOMES. SO
THAT THEY CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF STABILITY. THAT IS WHY SO
MANY OF US ARE FIRED UP TO FIGH
FOR THIS CHANGE IN THE LAW. WIT
THAT, WE URGE ALL DEMOCRATS AND
CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE AND NOT WEALTHY
LANDLORDS. WE URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES ON COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. I'M A UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON UNDERGRAD STUDENT.
AM ABSOLUTELY FED UP WITH THIS
EVER-INCREASING RENT. AND I
DEMAND THAT CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
STAND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAM
SAWANT TO SUPPORT THE RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION. I HAVE
BEEN IN SEARCH FOR AN APARTMENT
TO MOVE ENOUGH MY LEASE EXPIRES
AT THE END OF AUGUST. AND THE
SHEER SHORTAGE OF UNITS
AVAILABLE WITHIN MY BUDGET THA
MY MOTHER AND I CAN AFFORD. IT
HAS PUT A GOOD DEAL OF STRESS.
AND WHILE I HAVE A PLAN TO MOVE
IN, I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT
THESE UNITS AND THAT THE
LANDLORDS ARE NOT USING METHODS
TO EXTRACT EXTRACT AS MUCH RENT
AS THEY CAN FROM US. PLEASE,
SUPPORT OUR RENT CONTROL
MEASURE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE
>> AFTER DOMINIC, WE WILL HAVE
JULIAN HERNANDEZ AND TRICIA
COLEY. ALICIA BURTON AND GO
AHEAD.
>> I'M A RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER O
OUR UNION AND WE PASSED A
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RENT
CONTROL IN 2019. OUR MEMBERS AR
HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THE RAPIDLY
INCREASING COST OF LIVING IN
SEATTLE. WHAT EVER INCREASES I
WAGES WE ARE MAKING OUR
IMMEDIATE LEASE-BY LANDLORDS.
THERE MAKING RECORD PROFITS AS
PEOPLE ARE FORCED OUT OF THEIR
HOMES. LANDLORDS ARE FIGHTING
FOR THEIR GREED WHILE WE ARE
FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES. HERE'S
PATH TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WE
NEED A SOLUTION. WE DON'T NEED
HOMELESS SWEEPS AND WE DON'T
NEED HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE. AND
WE DON'T NEED EXCUSES. WHAT WE
NEED IS RENT CONTROL. [ APPLAUS
]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JULIAN
HERNANDEZ. I'M A RENTER FROM ON
OF THE 10 MAJOR SEATTLE
COMPANIES BEING SUED FOR
COLLUSION AND PRICE GOUGING
USING SOPHISTICATED ALGORITHMS
TO PRICE FIX UNITS DOWN TO A
UNIT PER UNIT LEVEL. I DON'T
HAVE AN ALGORITHM TO FIGHT BACK
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE DON'T HAV
AN ALGORITHM TO FIGHT BACK.
THERE'S A METHOD CALLED RENT
CONTROL BUT IT'S BEEN. SEATTLE
RENTERS OF THE VICTIMS OF CLASS
WARFARE AND THE STATE HAS
OUTLAWED THEM FIGHTING BACK
BASICALLY . RESULT IS THE
CURRENT SITUATION WE ARE IN.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL NOT BEEN
RENT CONTROL IN THE STATE BUT
IT'S A REAL STEP FORWARD TO
BUILD A MOVEMENT THAT CAN
OVERTURN UNJUST MAN. IF YOU
SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE MAJORIT
THE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE, URGE YOU
TO VOTE YES ON THIS LEGISLATION
AS IT STANDS. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> AND ALSO, JUST TO BE CLEAR,
IF THIS LEGISLATION HELPS US TO
BUILD MOMENTUM TO REPEAL THE
BAN AND THE BAND DOES GET
LIFTED, THEN OUR RENT CONTROL
LAW IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO
EFFECT. SO IT IS BOTH TOGETHER.
FIRST IT IS TRICIA NOW AND THEN
ALICIA AND THEN HARRIET.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM TRICIA. I
AM A LONGTIME SEATTLE RESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT 2 FOR
ALMOST 50 YEARS. MY HUSBAND AN
I COME HERE IN FULL SUPPORT OF
RENT CONTROL IN THE CITY. AS WE
HAVE THIS VISION AND LONG-TERM
VISION OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO
PEOPLE'S HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS. AND RECENTLY, WE
ARE PARTICULARLY IN TUNE WITH
THE IMPACT OF TWO CHILDREN.
BECAUSE WE ARE BOTH WORKING IN
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I AM IN
THE SEATTLE PT ESSAY ADVOCACY
CHAIR. AND ONE OF OUR GREAT
CONCERNS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IS THE IMPACT OF UNSTABLE
HOUSING FOR CHILDREN. IF A CHIL
ENDS UP WITHOUT A COAT IN THE
MORNING YOU CAN GET THEM A COAT
IF A CHILD ENDS UP WITHOUT
BREAKFAST, YOU CAN GET THEM
BREAKFAST. BUT THE IMPACT OF NO
HAVING STABILIZED HOUSING AND
BEING IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD
AND HAVING FRIENDS AND ATTACHIN
TO THE SCHOOL IS ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE. SO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE
THIS WORK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
ALICIA BURTON AND I AM FROM
NICHOLASVILLE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT FOR THIS HONOR.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL LOW
INCOME HOUSING COALITION, PEOPL
NEED TO EARN $40-$60 PER HOUR
TO LIVE JUST IN THE SEATTLE
METRO AREA. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
SEATTLEITES MAKING MINIMUM WAGE
NEEDS TO WORK 80 HOURS PER WEE
BEFORE THEY REACH THE MEDIA AN
MONTHLY INCOME RENT. INCOME
GROWTH HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH
RENT. LEADING TO AN
AFFORDABILITY CRUNCH WITH
CASCADING EFFECT THAT IS FOR
PEOPLE ON THE BOTTOM ECONOMIC
RUNG AND IT INCREASES THE RISK
OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS NEEDS TO
STOP. WE NEED RENT CONTROL NOW
NOT TOMORROW. VOTE YES. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM A
RESIDENT OF NICHOLASVILLE
NORTHLAKE. WE NEED RENT CONTRO
NOW. WE SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION 100%. ACCORDING TO
THE LOW, COMMUNITIES WHERE
PEOPLE SPEND MORE THAN 32% OF
THEIR INCOME ON RENT CAN EXPEC
A MORE RAPID INCREASE IN
HOMELESSNESS. WE SEE THAT
EVERYDAY ON THE STREETS AROUND
HERE. ACCORDING TO THE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE, AFTER EXAMINING
POTENTIAL DRIVERS OF THE UPPER
TREND AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IT
APPEARS THAT THE INCREASE IS
OVERWHELMINGLY CAUSED BY GROWIN
RENTS PUSHING PEOPLE LIVING AT
THE MARGINS INTO HOMELESSNESS.
I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. MY
RENT WAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED
TWICE OF WHAT IT WAS AND I
CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE THAT WAY.
I WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE TENTS THAT YOU SE
OUT HERE. FORTUNATELY I GOT INT
NICHOLASVILLE. BUT WE NEED REN
CONTROL NOW. MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE ARE GETTING EVICTED AND
THEY CANNOT AFFORD THEIR RENT.
WE NEED THIS NOW. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT WE WILL HAVE LINDA AN
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. I AM A MEMBER OF THE
PCC WORKERS UNITED. I AM A
GROCERY STORE WORKER AND A
RANK-AND-FILE WORKER . WE ARE
FIGHTING FOR $25 STARTING PAY
WITH $35 AFTER THREE YEARS. THE
RENT SITUATION IS CRAZY. I SPEN
OVER HALF MY INCOME ON RENT
ALONE. AND YOU STILL HAVE TO
CONSIDER FOOD AND UTILITIES AND
OTHER KINDS OF EXPENSES. HAVE
TO PAY FOR A DOG AND A HAVE TO
PAY FOR MY WIFE. HAVE TO SUPPOR
OF FAMILY. I HEARD FOR THREE
YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT
THERE WAS THE LARGEST WEALTH
TRANSFER IN HUMAN HISTORY. THEY
MADE SO MUCH MONEY OVER THE
PANDEMIC AND THEY HAVE NOT
STOPPED. I DON'T SEE WHAT THE
NEED IS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE PROFITS OFF OF HOUSING. IT
IS TOO MUCH. WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING NOW. I HOPE EVERYONE
IS WITH US. PLEASE VOTE YES ON
THE RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION
BILL. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> LINDA HENDRIX.
>> MY NAME IS LINDA HENDRIX.
I'M HERE IS A SENIOR. I WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS. I LIVE IN NORTH
SEATTLE BY THE SHORELINE.
INITIALLY PEOPLE HAVE TO SHOW
THE INCOME OF 40% TO 60% OF TH
SEATTLE MEDIAN. OR TWO TIMES
THE MONTHLY RENT. OUR RENT
INCREASE AVERAGES 70% PER YEAR.
SOME SENIORS MAY BE PAYING 50%
OF THEIR INCOME FOR RENT. AND
ALL OF THIS FOR LONG TERM BROKE
WASHERS AND DRYERS ON EVERY
FLOOR. THE QUALIFY FOR THE
SMALLEST APARTMENT THAT A
PERSON WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AT
LEAST 2600 PER MONTH IN INCOME.
MUCH HIGHER THAN MOST PEOPLE
SOCIAL SECURITY. ESPECIALLY
OLDER WOMEN. GENERALLY HAVE
LESS, DUE TO LOWER PAY OR YEARS
OF RAISING CHILDREN. MUST
INCOME AND SOCIAL SECURITY BUT
SOME HAVE ANNUITIES. BUT THE
INCOME DOES NOT INCREASE BY 7%
ANNUALLY. EVERY YEAR, WHEN TH
RENT INCREASES ANNOUNCED, SOME
PEOPLE MOVE OUT AND GENERALLY
MOVE IN WITH RELATIVES OR OUT O
SEATTLE. THAT'S KIND OF SAD
BECAUSE WE GET VERY CLOSE TO
EACH OTHER. I REALLY HOPE THAT
RENT CONTROL CAN GO THROUGH.
>> WE HAVE RIVER. IS MORGAN
HERE? OKAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SPOKE
IN PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT IF YOU
ARE ABLE TO STAY AND LISTEN TO
OTHERS, YOUR FELLOW RENTERS,
PLEASE STAY. SO THEY FEEL LIKE
THEY HAVE SUPPORT AS WELL. I
UNDERSTAND IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE
BUT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAY,
PLEASE STAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
BE HERE AS A LEAD COMMUNITY
ACTIVISTS AND INTERSEX PERSON
THAT LIVES IN THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY BUILDING.
PEOPLE HAVE THIS SENSE AND
NOTION THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU
LIVE IN LOW INCOME HOUSING LIKE
THE SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
THAT THEY WON'T RAISE THE RENT
ON THE LOW INCOME TENANTS. THAT
IS A MYTH. A LOT OF THE TENANT
HAVE COME TO ME EXPRESSING AND
SAYING THAT THE SHA ARE NOW
STARTING TO RAISE THE RENTS
BEYOND 30% OF THEIR INCOME. JUS
BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN LOW INCOME
HOUSING. WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION PASSED
TO INCLUDE US LOW INCOME RENTER
IN BUILDINGS LIKE THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY. [ APPLAUSE
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RIVER
MARTIN AND I AM A RENTER HERE O
CAPITOL HILL. I ALSO LIVE IN A
LOW INCOME BUILDING . OWNED AND
OPERATED BY CLEAN ROOTS
HOUSING. I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO
WHERE I HAVE NOT DEALT WITH ANY
RENT INCREASES RECENTLY. BUT I
IT WERE NOT FOR THE RELATIVELY
LOW RENT THAT I PAY, I WOULD NO
BE ABLE TO AFFORD LIVING ON
CAPITOL HILL AT ALL. FINDING
HOUSING AND INCOME RESTRICTED
LOW RENT BUILDING IN SEATTLE IS
KIND OF LIKE WINNING THE
LOTTERY. I GOT LUCKY. BUT
THOUSANDS OF RENTERS IN THE CIT
CANNOT SAY THE SAME. REASONABLE
RENTS SHOULD NOT BE SEQUESTERED
TO THESE UNICORN BUILDINGS.
WHEN SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR
ALL WORKING PEOPLE. I URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL T
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND
TO NOT LET WEALTHY LANDLORDS. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON COUNCIL
MEMBERS VICTORIES RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES
AND NO WATERING DOWN. THANK YOU
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND IF I SAID YOUR NAME,
PLEASE COME FORWARD. BEFORE WE
GO FORWARD, I WANT TO QUICKLY
READ AN EXTRACT FROM A VERY
IMPORTANT LETTER THAT HAS BEEN
SENT BY TIFFANY McCOY, THE
ADVOCACY DIRECTOR OF REAL
CHANGE. I WILL JUST READ A SMAL
PART OF IT. SHE SAID THAT BEYON
THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL ON A
SYSTEMIC LEVEL, THIS HELPS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HELP TO
LOWER THE SPECULATION OF LAND
AND PROPERTY PRICES. THERE IS
EVIDENCE FROM CITIES SUCH AS
VIENNA THAT HAS SHOWN THE
PRESENCE OF RENT CONTROL NOT
ONLY IMPROVES THE LIVES OF
RESIDENTS. BUT IT ALSO MAKES IT
EASIER FOR THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL
HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE
LAND FOR LOWER PRICES AND
ALLOWING FOR FASTER GROWTH OF
THE SOCIAL HOUSING SECTOR. THI
IS A LETTER FROM THE ENTIRE
ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT AND SO WE
THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A
VERY IMPORTANT POINT. NOT ONLY
DO STUDIES SHOW THAT ACTUALLY
WENT CONTROL DOES NOT INHIBIT
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOR-PROFIT
HOUSING. ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT
OUR DESIRE TYPE. BUT IN
ADDITION TO THAT, IT ACTUALLY
HELPS TO BRING DOWN THE PROPERT
PRICES SUCH THAT SOCIAL HOUSIN
IS LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE
AFFORDABLE. AND THAT IS THE
MAIN KIND OF HOUSING THAT WE
NEED. IN A LITTLE WHILE, I WOUL
ALSO PROVIDE SOME EVIDENCE THAT
REFUTES THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMEN
THAT SAID AND QUOTED A STANFOR
STUDY. SO THAT IS COMING UP.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3.
I AM A PROPERTY OWNER AND I'M
HERE BECAUSE BEFORE I WAS ABLE
TO GET A CONDO BECAUSE OF
FAMILY WEALTH PRIVILEGE. I WAS
RENTER FOR 10 YEARS. I THINK
IT'S MY DUTY TO BE HER AS A
PERSON WHO OWNS PROPERTY. AND
WHILE I WAS RENTING FOR THOSE 1
YEARS, I MADE MINIMUM WAGE.
SHOUT OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO WOR
AT PCC AND ARE ORGANIZING FOR
$25 PER HOUR. BECAUSE THAT PLAC
KILLS YOUR SOUL AND THEY DESERV
TO BE PAID $100 FOR EVERY SHIFT
OR PER HOUR THERE. ANYWAYS. I
LIVED IN A HOUSE AND WE
IDENTIFIED AS A SMALL TOWN
MOM-AND-POP PROPERTY OWNER. THE
WANTED TO RAISE MY RENT TO 30%
FROM $550 WHICH WAS WAY BELOW
MARKET VALUE TO $720. THIS WAS
FOR A ROOM IN A HOUSE. SO I WAS
LIVING WITH FOUR OTHER PEOPLE I
A HOUSE. I DID THE MATH AND THA
WOULD BE $3600 JUST IN PASSIVE
INCOME FOR THE PERSON NOT
WORKING. FOR THE HOUSE. THAT
COMES TO $100 A MONTH WHICH
COMES TO $22 PER HOUR IF YOU AR
WORKING 40 HOURS PER WEEK. THI
WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO. SO I THINK
THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS 12. CORREC
ME IF I'M WRONG. BUT IT'S $10
MORE PER HOUR THAT THIS PERSON
WOULD BE GETTING IF THEY WERE
WORKING MINIMUM WAGE. AND SO
SUPPORT RENT CONTROL. I WILL BE
WATCHING IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT
THIS AND I WILL WORK HARD TO
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T REGAIN YOUR
SEAT. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> BEFORE LEO GOES FORWARD. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBOD
KNOWS AND I WILL JUST MENTION
THAT THERE IS A BOARD OF PCC
WORKERS AND MANY OF THE PCC
WORKERS SPOKE HOW THEY ARE
FIGHTING FOR HIGHER WAGES THAT
THEY HAVE BARELY LIVABLE WAGES
AND ALSO RENT CONTROL. IF YOU
SUPPORT THE MANY KNOW IF THEY
WIN, THEN WE ALL WIN THEN SIGN
THE PETITION. BEFORE YOU LEAVE
AND DON'T LEAVE NOW BECAUSE
MAKE SURE YOU SIGN THE PETITION
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WORKERS.
2 HELLO. I'M A RENTER IN THE
SEATTLE AREA. EARLIER THIS YEAR
MY RENT WAS INCREASED BY $100
SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY NEARBY ROAD
CONSTRUCTION CUTTING DOWN ALL
THE TREES THAT REDUCED NOISE
FROM THE ROAD. IN EFFECT MY
ROOMMATE AND I ARE PAYING MORE
MONEY FOR HER APARTMENT THAT
GETS HOTTER IN THE SUMMER
FASTER. IN ADDITION I HAVE SEEN
MULTIPLE NEIGHBORS GET INFECTE
AFTER THE RENT INCREASE. 2020
STUDY BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE SHOWED
$100 INCREASE IN RENT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH A 9% INCREASE I
HOMELESSNESS. I URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY COUNCIL T
STAND WITH THE WORKING PEOPLE
AND NOT WEALTHY LANDLORDS. I
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON COUNCIL
MEMBERS KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES OR WATERED-DOWN. I
ALSO URGE OTHER RENTERS WERE
WATCHING THIS TO JOIN IN THE
FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL. THE BES
TIME TO PASS RENT CONTROL WAS
YEARS AGO BEFORE THE ALLEGED
PRICE-FIXING. THE NEXT BEST TIM
IS NOW.
>>
>> I AM A SOCIAL WORKER FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUT
AND FAMILIES. CORPORATE GREED
CONTINUES TO MAKE IT HARDER AND
HARDER TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
PRICE-FIXING AND SELF-RESTRAINT
RAISING BY CORPORATE LANDLORDS
WITH GRASSROOT HOUSING PROVIDER
PUSHES THIS OUT OF THEIR HOMES
IS TRULY IMPOSSIBLE IN SEATTLE
SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING IS A
CRISIS IMPACTING THE SAFETY OF
CHILDREN ACROSS WASHINGTON. AND
RENT CONTROL IS A SOLUTION BEIN
PLACED AT OUR FEET. DEMOCRATS I
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON HAVE
CONTINUED TO FAIL WORKING PEOPL
FOR DECADES BY ALLOWING THE
STATEMENT IN RENT CONTROL
CONTENDING. I URGE DEMOCRATS ON
CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT COUNCIL
MEMBERS KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH NO
LOOPHOLES OR WATERING DOWN.
>> HELLO. I'M A RENTER JUST A
FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE. I'M HERE
TO URGE THE DEMOCRATS FROM CITY
COUNCIL TO STAND WITH WORKING
PEOPLE AND TO VOTE YES WITHOUT
WATERING DOWN THE RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION. WHOSE SIDE ARE YO
ON? WILL YOU STAY WITH RENTERS
AND WILL YOU SELLOUT AFTER
FELLOW PARTY MEMBERS HAVE DONE
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS? THE
SURVIVAL OF WORKING-CLASS AND
POOR RENTERS OF THE PROFIT
MARGINS OF LANDLORDS. JONATHAN
ROSENBLUM MAKES IT CLEAR. THEY
HAVE FAILED TO OVERTURN THE REN
CONTROL BANDS ELABORATE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO RUN WILD WITH
RIDICULOUS RENT HIKES AND
PRICE-FIXING. WENT IN SEATTLE I
NEARLY 92% LAST DECADE. NOT TO
MAGICAL MARKET FORCES BUT
BECAUSE LANDLORDS CAN RAISE REN
TO RENTERS. TO MY FELLOW
MENTORS ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN
US AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR
RENT CONTROL AT CITY HALL ON TH
21st TO TAKE THE FIGHT ALL THE
WAY TO OLYMPIA.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MONICA. I'
NOT PART OF ANY ORGANIZATION IN
PARTICULAR. I'M JUST A REGULAR
CITIZEN IN DISTRICT 2. MY
BUILDING IS LISTED IN THE REAL
PAGE SCAM. I'M CURRENTLY AND
WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN AFFORDABL
HOUSING BUILDING. MY RENT WENT
UP NEARLY $500 AFTER MY LEASE
ENDED AND DUE TO BUREAUCRATIC
INCOMPETENCE MY PAPERWORK HAS
BEEN RESUBMITTED MORE THAN THRE
TIMES. THE PROCESS THAT I HAVE
LEARNED IS UNNECESSARILY
INVASIVE AND HOSTILE. WHILE
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO LIVE IN A BUILDING
WITH AN ELEVATOR, WHICH IS KIND
OF COOL. I KNOW THAT THE
STATISTIC THAT PEOPLE ARE ABOUT
THREE PAYCHECKS AWAY FROM
HOMELESSNESS. I AM NOW PART OF
THE COHORT. AFTER ILLNESS AND
CHANGE IN CAREER. IN THE TIME I
HAVE LIVED IN MY BUILDING, I'VE
SEEN TENANTS MOVE CYCLICALLY
AROUND EVERY 6 TO 9 MONTHS. IT
HAS BEEN HARD TO CONNECT WITH
RESIDENTS. THE HIGHER SECURITY
FOR THE LEASING OFFICE AND BLAS
AIR CONDITIONING WHILE OUR UNIT
DO NOT. ARE HEATING ROUTINELY
CIRCUITS OUT IN THE WINTER AND
HUMAN WASTE AND TRASH PILES UP
IN OUR COMMUNAL AREAS. ALL MY
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE
STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT IN TH
CITY. I PARTICULARLY WORRY
ABOUT MY ELDERLY NEIGHBORS
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENS TO THEM IN THE MOVEOUT.
WITH FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT
CONSULTANTS AND ATTORNEYS. I'M
SICK OF PLEADING FOR DEMOCRATS
TO DO YOUR JOB. POWER DOES NOT
CONCEDE AND I DO NOT ACCEPT CIT
COUNCILMEMBERS WILLFULLY RUNNIN
THE CORPORATE INTEREST. IF YOU
CANNOT DO YOUR JOB AND YOU
CANNOT CHOOSE TO SEE HOW EXCITE
THE IMAGINATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, I'M
READY TO DO ANYTHING INCLUDING
RENT STRIKE AND THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M
A SOPHOMORE STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. I HAV
SEEN NUMEROUS STUDENTS THAT ARE
RESIDENTS OF HERE. BUT WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO
STAY. THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THAT WE
HAVE TO WORK AND THE PLACE FOR
BIPOC COMMUNITIES. MY FRIEND
WAS GIVEN A NOTICE WITH ONE OR
TWO DAYS IN HAND. LATER SHE WA
LONG AWAY FROM HER RENTED HOUSE
HER SITUATION AS I WITNESSED WA
WHERE WOULD SHE STAY QUICK SHE
CALLED THE COPS BUT THE COPS
COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. OUR
PEOPLE NEED SAFETY AND SECURITY
SAFETY AND SECURITY. WE NEED
ALL DEMOCRATS TO STAND WITH
WORKING PEOPLE AND NOT THE
LANDLORDS. WE WILL MAKE SEATTL
AND ANTIDISCRIMINATION CITY AND
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND
ESPECIALLY FOR MENTIONING THE
HISTORIC CASE THAT WE JUST WON
HERE. NEXT TO HAVE MADELEINE
HUGHES. SORRY IF I AM NOT
SAYING YOUR LAST NAME RIGHT.
NOW IN THE ORDER. AND I QUICKLY
WANT TO READ THE EXTRACTS FROM
THE LETTER IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE WASHINGTON FEDERATION OF
STATE EMPLOYEES. SINGER
REPRESENT 2000 WORKERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND TH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MEDICA
CENTER INCLUDING CUSTODIANS AND
FOOD SERVICE WORKERS. WE WORK
HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
WITHOUT US FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON CANNOT FUNCTION.
YET, MOST OF US STRUGGLE JUST T
MAKE ENDS MEET AND MANY OF US
CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE. ONE OF THE MAIN REASON
FOR THIS IS THE HIGH COST OF
RENT. THAT IS WHY MY UNION
MEMBERS PUSH FOR NOT ONLY
BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS AND
WORKING CONDITIONS, BUT ALSO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE
URGENTLY NEED RENT CONTROL. I
KNOW THERE A LOT OF WORKERS OUT
THERE WHO SUPPORT RENT CONTROL
BUT THE DON'T THINK IT'S
POSSIBLE. THAT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. GIVEN HOW LONG
THE POLITICIANS AND PUNDITS HAV
BEEN SAYING THAT WE CANNOT WIN
AND THAT WE SHOULD SETTLE FOR
LESS. THIS IS THE SAME THING
ABOUT THE $15 PER HOUR MINIMUM
WAGE UNTIL WE BUILT A POWERFUL
MOVEMENT AND FORCED THE
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS TO FORCE 15
OR PAY A POLITICAL PRICE. IN
APRIL OF 2020, THE THEN
DEMOCRATIC MAYOR SAID THAT THE
AMAZON TAX IS QUOTE UNQUOTE
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> THREE MONTHS LATER THEY WERE
CELEBRATING VICTORY AND NOW WE
ARE TAXING AMAZON AND OTHER BIG
BUSINESSES OVER $200 MILLION PE
YEAR FOR PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND PROGRAMS.
>> IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN TO PROV
THE NAYSAYERS WRONG AND LET'S
BUILD A POWERFUL MOVEMENT OF
WORKERS AND RENTERS AND BUILD
RENT CONTROL IN SEATTLE.
>> WE ARE IN FAVOR OF
ESTABLISHING RENT CONTROL NOW.
WE WANT TO URGE ALL OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO
PLEASE STAND WITH THE WORKING
PEOPLE. WE URGE YOU TO VOTE ON
THE RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION
WITH NO LOOPHOLES. I'M HERE
SPECIFICALLY TO ASK IF YOU WILL
SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBERS KSHAMA
SAWANT LEGISLATION FOR CITYWIDE
RENT CONTROL. I ASKED YOU THIS
BECAUSE THEY COUNCILMEMBERS ON
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. URGE
YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATURE WITHOUT WATERING IT
DOWN. I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE
DEMOCRATS ON CITY COUNCIL USING
THIS EXCUSE THAT THERE IS A
STATEWIDE BAN ON RENT CONTROL.
IT IS YOUR PARTY THAT HELPED TO
PASS THIS UNJUST MAN AND YOU AR
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. UP US TO
PASS THE TRIGGER LAW FOR RENT
CONTROL AND CAN HELP TO FORCE
STATE DEMOCRATS TO LIFT THIS
BAND. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
IN MY NAME IS TO LISA SANCHEZ
AND I AM A RENTERS COMMISSIONER
AND FORMER COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
FOR THE TENANTS UNION. AS A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HAVE
WITNESSED SEATTLE RENTERS PLAYE
FOR RENT CONTROL THAT HAS GONE
UNHEARD FOR YEARS ON YEARS. EYE
A MEXICAN WOMAN IN SINGLE MOTHE
HAVE BEEN GENTRIFIED OUT OF THE
CITY MORE THAN TWO TIMES. THAT
I'M FIGHTING TO GIVE MY SON A
COMMUNITY WITH HIS SCHOOLMATES.
WE ARE HERE ON CAPITOL HILL
RIGHT NOW. BUT WE WILL SEE HOW
LONG THAT LASTS. OUR HOMELESS
CRISIS IS BEYOND HEARTBREAKING.
AND THE FACT THAT RENT
INCREASES ARE THE MAIN CAUSES O
HOMELESSNESS AND DISPLACEMENT
IDENTIFICATION IS BEING IGNORED
BY THE CITY. IT'S DISHEARTENING
I URGE ALL DEMOCRATS IN THE CIT
COUNCIL TO STAND WITH THE
WORKING PEOPLE TO VOTE YES ON
THE CITY COUNCIL KSHAMA SAWANT'
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WITH N
LOOPHOLES OR WATERING DOWN.
ALSO, I WANT TO SAY THAT
SEATTLE INSPIRED THE MOVEMENT
FOR STATEWIDE JUST CAUSE. IF WE
DO THIS IN SEATTLE, IT WILL
INSPIRE THE MOVEMENT FOR
STATEWIDE RENT CONTROL.
>> THAT BASICALLY PUT PRESSURE
ON THE STATEWIDE DEMOCRATS TO D
IT ALSO. THERE YOU GO. THEN WE
HAVE KAREN TAYLOR AND SEAN
BUTTERFIELD AND GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY. I AM RAY AND I LIVE
WITH FAMILY BECAUSE MY LANDLORD
AT THE TIME SOLD THE HOUSE AND
DID NOT GIVE ME OR MY ROOMMATES
ADEQUATE NOTICE. IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE 90 DAYS AND I THINK SHE
GIVE US 60 OR 30 DAYS. AND MY
ROOMMATES AT THE TIME WHEN ASKE
THEM ABOUT FIGHTING MY LANDLORD
THEY SAID, I QUOTE, WHAT IS THE
POINT OF DOING ANYTHING? WE
DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS ANYWAY.
IT'S A JOKE BECAUSE TENANTS
DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS. IT'S THE
BARE MINIMUM THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL DEMOCRATS CAN DO TO PAS
THE LEGISLATION AND NOT WATER I
DOWN. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE AND MAKE
YOUR FOOD AND ALL OF THESE
THINGS THEY INCREASINGLY CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AT ALL. AND
THESE PREDATORY PROPERTY
DEVELOPERS JUST COME IN AND
PROFIT OFF THE WHOLE THING. SO
THE DEMOCRAT ON THE CITY COUNCI
MUST SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION FO
RENT CONTROL. NOT WATER DOWN AN
NO LOOPHOLES.AND FURTHERMORE,
SHOULD THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO
REPEAL THE UNJUST MAN. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KAREN. I
HAVE A DISABILITY AND AM A
DOMESTIC WORKER AND A RENT. I
DEFINITELY CANNOT AFFORD'S
HOUSING HOUSING IN SEATTLE WITH
DISABILITIES SOCIAL SECURITY S
I CLEAN PEOPLE'S HOUSES UNDER
THE TABLE SO THAT I CAN SUPPORT
MYSELF. WHAT I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT IS THAT SOMEONE
MISSPOKE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER
THAT WHEN THEY SAID THE MOST
VULNERABLE THIS IS THE MOST
VALUABLE. AND WE HAVE TO
REMEMBER THAT THAT IS TRUE. I'M
CLEANING PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND I
TAKE THAT MONEY FROM ACTIVE WOR
AND GIVE IT TO MY LANDLORD. DOE
NOT MATTER THAT HE IS A
MOM-AND-POP LANDLORD. IT IS
PASSIVE INCOME TO HIM. AND SO W
ARE THE PEOPLE CREATING THE
VALLEY AND WE CAN SET THE
STANDARDS FOR WHATEVER HOUSING
IS GOING TO BE LIKE. WE ALL KNO
THE PROBLEMS AND I'M GLAD WE
HAVE A SOLUTION. DEMOCRATS,
PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS LEGISLATIO
AND THANK YOU.
>> HELLO., REGISTERED NURSE AND
RANK-AND-FILE MEMBER. I URGE AL
DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL T
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND
NOT WEALTHY LANDLORDS. I URGE
THE SUPPOSEDLY PROLABOR CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION WITHOUT
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES. ESPECIALLY
VACANCY DECONTROL. I WORK AND
HOME HOSPICE WHICH MEANS I HELP
FAMILIES TO TAKE CARE OF THE
DYING LOVED ONES. I WORKED
HOSPICE FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTH
AND HAVE ALREADY SEEN MANY
FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO KEEP A ROO
OVER THEIR HEADS WHILE CARING
FOR THE LOVED ONES ON THEIR
FINAL JOURNEYS. I CAN JUST
IMAGINE MY PATIENTS LANDLORDS
ARE SALIVATING WHEN THEY SEE ME
ARRIVE AT THE TENANTS DOORS.
KNOWING THEY WILL SOON GET THE
JACK UP THE RENTS ON THEIR NEXT
TENANTS AS SOON AS MY PATIENTS
FINALLY SETTLE OFF THEIR MORTAL
CORAL COILS. AND I CANNOT STAND
THE THOUGHT. PLEASE PASS THE
LEGISLATION FOR ME, MY PATIENTS
THEIR FAMILIES, AND YOUR SOULS,
IF YOU BELIEVE IN SUCH A THING.
I SUSPECT SOME OF MY PATIENTS
HAVE UNKIND THINGS TO REPORT TO
ST. PETER ABOUT THEIR LANDLORDS
I WOULD NOT WANT TO STAND NEXT
TO THEM LIKE MANY THE DEMOCRATS
ON CITY COUNCIL WHEN MY PATIENT
SHARE THE ABSOLUTE BALL SHOULD
THEY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH ON
THE DEATH BEDS. THANK YOU [
APPLAUSE ]
>> NOW WE HAVE THE NEXT NAMES.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. I'M A RENTER HERE AND
CAPITOL HILL. I URGE ALL
DEMOCRATS IN THE COUNCIL TO
STAND WITH WORKING PEOPLE AND
NOT WEALTHY LANDLORDS. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE YES ON COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION. AS IT IS
WITH NO LOOPHOLES. THIS
PLACEMENT IS VISIBLE EVERYWHERE
IN THE CITY AND IT WILL ONLY GE
WORSE WITHOUT RENT CONTROL. I
CANNOT IMAGINE A FUTURE FOR
MYSELF AND MY LOVED ONES OR
OTHER WORKING PEOPLE HERE.
DIFFERENCE KEEP GOING UP AS THE
HAVE. COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE
SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVES AND
DEMOCRATS AND THE WAY YOU ARE
VOTING ON THIS LEGISLATION WILL
INDICATE WHETHER YOU SIT
SUPPORT THE SURVIVAL OF THE POO
AND WORKING-CLASS OR IF YOU
ENDORSE THE PRICE GOUGING
WEALTHY LANDLORDS. WHICH SIDE
WILL YOU BE ON? [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. THE UNION
OF ACADEMIC WORKERS AND NOW
RESEARCH SCIENTIST AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. I'M
AN ORGANIZER WITH THE UNION
WORKERS ORGANIZING FOR A FUTURE
WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OU
UNION IS COMPRISED OF 8000
WORKERS THAT MAKE THE WORLD
CLASS RESEARCH TEACHING AND MOR
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
WORK. TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD
LIVING IN SEATTLE IT'S AN ISSUE
THAT IMPACTS MANY OF OUR MEMBER
AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE STANDING
IN SUPPORT OF THESE MEASURES
AROUND RENT CONTROL. WE STRONGL
URGE ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS T
VOTE YES ON COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION WITH NO LOOPHOLES O
WATERING DOWN. LIVING IN
SEATTLE AND WORKING AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON IS
SUSTAINABLE FOR EVERYONE. NOT
JUST THE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY.
RENT IN SEATTLE HAS RISEN
ASTRONOMICALLY AND MANY OF OUR
MEMBERS HAVE REPORTED MOVING
FURTHER FROM WORK IN ORDER TO
AFFORD LIVING IN THE CITY.
THAT'S WHEN 2019 WE SET PASSED
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RENT
CONTROL. OUR MEMBERS ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO DECISIONS THAT
DEMOCRATIC CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE MAKING. THEY NEED RENT
CONTROL NOW. WE ARE PROUD TO
PUSH FOR PROACTIVE RENT CONTROL
MEASURES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S OFFICE.
SOLIDARITY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M A DISTRICT 2 RENTER.
>> GO AHEAD. AND A JOURNEYMAN
IRONWORKER AND A CASUAL
LONGSHOREMAN. I'VE GOT TWO UNIO
BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE MYSELF.
OR FOR HOUSING FOR RENT
CONTROL.
I URGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE
SUPPORT THIS BILL AND WE'RE
TALKING WITH THE COUNCILMEMBERS
AND THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THIS
RENT CONTROL BILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M A RENTER IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
WE HAD BEEN IN POWER FOR
DECADES AND REFUSED THE APPEAL
ON RENT CONTROL.
WE ESPECIALLY NEED TO TALK
ABOUT FOLKS WHO REPRESENT THIS
AREA RIGHT HERE.
ALL OF THEM WERE ASKED TO
PUBLICLY ENDORSE OUR RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION AND ALL OF
THEM HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO.
I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
AND WE KNOW IT WILL TAKE A
MOVEMENT TO OVERTURN THE
STATEWIDE BAN AND WE KNOW THAT
THAT MOVEMENT STARTS HERE IN
SEATTLE.
AND WE CANNOT ALLOW THE
AND WE GO ON THE RECORD AGAINST
THE STATEWIDE BAN ON RENT
CONTROL?
AND ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO
DO IT?
THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY
SEE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> NEXT WE HAVE HOWARD GAIL AND
WE HAVE CHAS AND THEN AIDEN
CAROL.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT.
I'M A COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT 3
AND I'M HOLDING THESE TWO
THINGS IN MY HAND.
IS A WOMAN WITH DISABILITIES
AND COLOR I LIVE SUPPOSEDLY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EVERY
YEAR MY RENT GOES UP $100.
NOW I HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE
2012 AND I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT
IT WILL GO UP TO.
I LIVE OFF A GOOD AMOUNT OF
DISABILITY AND AS LONG AS WE
HAVE UNCAPPED RENT CAPS, PEOPLE
THAT ARE RENTING WILL BE OUT
HERE.
WORKING PEOPLE WILL ALL BE OUT
HERE TOGETHER.
NOBODY WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD
TO LIVE HERE.
WE HAVE TO USE OUR MINDS TO
BRING MORE AWARENESS SO OTHER
PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES AND
STATES OR WHEREVER IT IS WILL
KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE
RENT CAPS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO,
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
GOD BLESS YOU.
PLEASE VOTE FOR RENT CONTROL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IS HOWARD GAIL HERE?
>> DISTRICT 7. RENTER FOR A
LONG TIME.
AND AFTER THE LAST, THIS IS THE
OUTSTANDING STATISTIC.
IN NEW YORK STATE, 5.4% OF
HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE ON
SHELTERED.
WE OFTEN CONFUSE HOMELESS AND
ON SHELTERED 5.4% OF HOMELESS
PEOPLE ARE IN SHELTER.
WASHINGTON STATE AND IN
SEATTLE, IT IS 50.2%.
AND THAT IS ACTUALLY A VAST
IMPROVEMENT ON THREE YEARS AGO
WAS UP AROUND 80%.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS A NEW
YORKER, THE REASON IT'S NOT
SOME MAGIC OR KINDNESS OF NEW
YORKERS.
THE REASON THAT THERE IS SHELTER
IN NEW YORK IS BECAUSE OF THE
HISTORY OF RENT CONTROL.
AND SO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
HOMELESSNESS AND THE WORST
ASPECT OF HOMELESSNESS, WHICH
IS LIVING IN A SHELTER, AND
RENT CONTROL, IT IS ABSOLUTELY
LOCKSTEP.
ONE LAST THING. I WOULD REQUEST
THAT WE NEED RENT CONTROL
ABSOLUTELY.
WE ALSO NEED AN OFFICE OF
RENTERS RIGHTS JUST LIKE WE
NEED AN OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
WE NEED AN OFFICE OF RENTERS
úRIGHTS.
WITH THAT WITHOUT THAT, WILL
KEEP GETTING SCREWED.
THE OFFICE OF RENTERS RIGHTS
WOULD ALSO BE AN ADDITIONAL
SOURCE OF ADVANCING THE CAUSE
OF RENT CONTROL.
THANKS.
>> I AGREE ABOUT HAVING AN
OFFICE OF RENTERS RIGHTS.
IS CHAS HERE?
AND AIDEN CAROL.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
I WILL FACE YOU AND TALK.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT
TO SAY ABOUT RENT CONTROL.
BUT WHERE WE ALL FACING THE
FRONT?
WERE WE NOT TALKING TO EACH
OTHER?
WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING IN SMALL
GROUPS AND IDEA EATING AND
SHARING KNOWLEDGE DIRECTLY?
WIRE WE ALL FACING THE LEADERS?
I'M A LEFTIST JUST LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE HERE.
BUT WHY DO WE KEEP DOING THIS?
AND IT TOTALLY IS AND IT'S
REALLY AMAZING WHAT EVERYONE
HERE HAS DONE.
BUT WHEN OUR CURRENT COUNSEL
ROTATES, IT'S GOING TO STAY THE
SAME.
GOING TO BE THE SAME UPHILL
BATTLE AND IT WILL BE JUST AS
HARD AS IT EVER WAS.
AND WE WILL BE FIGHTING JUST AS
HARD.
I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S MY OBSERVATION IN MY
TIME WITH SEATTLE SO FAR.
AND BEING POLITICALLY ACTIVE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DIRECT
PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL
PROCESS FROM EVERYONE [
APPLAUSE ]
>> ARE THERE MORE SHEETS WITH
PUBLIC COMMENTS?
GO AHEAD.
>> THANKS AND I ALSO APPRECIATE
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA
SAWANT AND HER ORGANIZATION HAS
DONE.
FIRST THING FIRST, I SUPPORT
THIS.
I AM LUCKY THAT MY PARENTS
COULD AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE 26
YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS CHEAPER
IF YOU ARE ANNOYED ABOUT SEEING
HOMELESSNESS IN PUBLIC SPACE,
YOU JUST ABORT THIS.
IF YOU ARE AND ADDRESSING THOSE
OF US WITH DISABILITIES IN THE
STATE WITH MORE OBVIOUS, YOU
SHOULD SUPPORT THIS.
IF YOU ARE MAD ABOUT PUBLIC
DRUG USE AND OPENER DRUG
DEALING, THAT'S A FREE MARK.
YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS.
YOU NEVER KNOW HOW EASILY COULD
BE AN ADDICT.
BECAUSE THAT'S A DISABILITY.
HOUSING SHOULD NOT BE
PROFITABLE.
WORK SHOULD BECOME SUITED FOR
VALUE OF THE LABOR.
AND THIS IS ENTIRELY A RESULT
OF LACK OF HOUSING.
THAT TAKES VOLUNTEER TIME IN
SEATTLE AS WELL AS WELL AS
THOSE WHO WERE AFFECTED BY.
A CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE
RENT CONTROL DOES NOT MAKE TIME
MOVE FASTER.
BUT RENT CONTROL MEANS YOU
CANNOT CUT TO THE FRONT OF THE
LINE BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE
MONEY.
LIBERTY AND EQUALITY AND BODILY
AUTONOMY.
FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, WE NEED
THIS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>
>> THERE ARE NOT MANY BUT WE
WILL HEAR YOUR ONLINE NAMES AND
THEN WE WILL LEAVE TOGETHER.
>> I WAS GOING TO START OFF BY
COMMENDING SOME OF THE
LANDLORDS THAT SHOWED UP OR
PEOPLE THAT ARE IDEOLOGICALLY
ALIGNED WITH THE LANDLORDS.
AND THERE WITH OTHER LANDLORD
SITTING AT HOME COMFORTABLE AND
WAGING THIS BATTLE WITH THE
POCKETBOOKS AND FIGHTING US,
THE PEOPLE.
AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING
ON JUNE 30th, I WARNED THAT
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ALONG WITH
THEIR HENCHMEN AND SELF-
PROCLAIMED MOM-AND-POP
LANDLORDS WOULD SOON BEGIN A
CAMPAIGN OF FEAR MONGERING AND
SELF VICTIMIZATION.
EVEN I DID NOT ANTICIPATE JUST
HOW QUICKLY THAT 10 MINUTES
LATER ON THE CALL THAT THE SO-
CALLED HOUSING PROVIDERS WOULD
CATCH ON AND USE A LITANY OF
ISSUES. AND I WANT TO GO
THROUGH THEM ONE BY ONE.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
BUT BASICALLY, THEY ARE THE
ONES THAT ARE DIVISIVE BUT
EVERY TIME WE SPEAK UP FOR
OURSELVES, THEY COLOR IT IS
HALF-BAKED.
THEY CLAIM THAT THE CHAINS OF
OPPRESSION THAT ALL OF US
FEELING THAT WE ARE IMAGINING
THEM.
AND THAT THEY'RE NOTHING BUT A
FEVER DREAM.
BUT THIS IS WHATEVER THEY WANT
TO CALL IT, AND ECHO CHAMBER.
THIS IS PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT
THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE FACING IN
THEIR LIVES.
I'M GLAD SOME OF THEM STAYED.
WE COULD SEE IT ON THEIR FACES
AND WERE ABLE TO REALIZE THE
THINGS THEY'RE DOING TO OTHER
PEOPLE WERE ALSO.
WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THE BUT
WE ALSO DO THINK THAT WE NEED
TO SPEAK ON THE MICROPHONE TO
THE CITIZENRY.
YES, WE CAN BREAK INTO SMALL
GROUPS.
WE ARE DOING THAT.
BUT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT
WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AND
THANK YOU.
>> I AM A NATIVE OF SEATTLE AND
SINCE 1972 I HAVE BEEN A RENTER.
MY FIRST APARTMENT WAS ONLY $98
AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL STUDIO
UNION ARMS.
BUT NOW, I'M LIVING LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE AND I AM PAYING
MORE THAN HALF MY INCOME ON
RENT.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TELL LYNN
ON THE LAST WEEK OR WE
OFTENTIMES DO COME ACROSS AS,
WHO ARE WE TO COMPLAIN AND WHO
ARE WE WITH OUR IDEAS OF WHAT
WILL HAPPEN?
I HAVE TO SAY WHAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW IS BROKEN.
WHY ARE WE TRYING TO CONTINUE
ON WHEN SOMETHING IS BROKEN?
SOMETHING BREAKS, YOU WANT TO
FIX IT BUT WHY DON'T WE JUST
TRY THIS AND VOTED IN AND TRY
IT FOR FIVE OR 10 YEARS AND SEE
WHAT HAPPENS?
VOTING IN A DEMOCRACY MEANS WE
CAN TURN THINGS AROUND IF EVEN
THIS DOES NOT WORK.
BUT WHY CAN WE NOT TRY THIS?
MY THE LANDLORD SAID THAT THEY
WOULD BE HURTING IF THIS
HAPPENED.
WE HAVE BEEN HURTING AND
GRINDING UNDER THE STONE FOR A
LONG TIME.
HW ABOUT THEY CARRY THE STONE
FOR A WHILE AND GIVE US ARREST.
REALLY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DEMOCRATS
OR REPUBLICAN.
IN AMERICA, WE TRY NEW THINGS.
IF IT DOES NOT WORK, WE TOSS IT
OUT AND TRY ANOTHER THING.
THIS MAY NOT WORK.
THE NEXT THING MIGHT WORK.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE HOPE
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING.
AND MY TIME IS UP.
BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS.
GIVE IT FIVE YEARS.
GIVE IT FIVE YEARS AND THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MELINA.
THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL
ACTIVIST AND WE MET HER DURING
THE STRUGGLE THAT SHE AND HER
FELLOW TENANTS HAVE HAD AT
THEIR PLACE.
AND AFTER THAT SHE KEPT SHOWING
UP FOR EVERY RENTERS FIGHT THAT
WE HAVE AND SHOOT EMBODIES THE
WORKING-CLASS SOLIDARITY THAT
WE NEED.
THAT SHOW UP EVEN IF IT'S NOT
YOUR DIRECT FIGHT BUT YOU SHOW
UP BECAUSE OTHER WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE CAN MEET A VICTORY.
THEN IT'S A VICTORY FOR ALL OF
US.
BECAUSE IT PUTS LANDLORDS AND
BOSSES AND THE RULING CLASS,
THIS ANY TIME WE WIN.
AND THERE JUST A FEW HANDFUL OF
THEM.
PLEASE BEAR WITH US.
BUT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO
IT.
AND TO REFUTE THE POINTS THAT
WERE MADE WITH THE VERY FIRST
PUBLIC COMMENT BY A LANDLORD
WHO QUOTED A SO-CALLED STANFORD
STUDY WHICH SUPPOSEDLY JUST
DEMOLISHES RENT CONTROL AND
PROVES IT DOES NOT WORK AND WAS
STANFORD, WE WOULD SAY, GOSH.
THOSE ECONOMIST MUST KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS ONE ECONOMIST WHO
STRONGLY BELIEVES IN RENT
CONTROL.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY
WORD FOR IT.
HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT THEN A
NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION THEY
HAVE HAD THEIR ECONOMISTS
METICULOUSLY ANALYZE THE
SUPPOSEDLY CONTROL STUDIES BY
THE STANFORD PROFESSORS.
AND THEY LAID OUT AT LEAST FIVE
KEY FLAWS OF THE STUDY WHICH
THEY SAME SHOULD MAKE ANY
JOURNALIST OR POLICYMAKER THINK
TWICE ABOUT HOLDING UP THE
PAPER AS PROOF THAT RENT
CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.
FLAW NUMBER ONE IS THE CLAIM
THAT RENT CONTROL INCREASED
EDIFICATION IN SAN FRANCISCO IS
EXTREMELY MISLEADING.
BECAUSE THEY COMPLETELY FAILED
TO MENTION THAT IT IS BECAUSE
OF THE LOOPHOLES IN THE LAW
THAT THESE PROBLEMS HAPPEN.
FLAW NUMBER TWO IS THE STUDY'S
CONCLUSIONS OF RENT CONTROL
CONCLUDING THE OTHER TENANTS
ARE BASED ON THE SERIOUSLY
SKEWED DATA SET THAT DOES NOT
REALLY APPLIED TO THE TOTAL
AMOUNT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
THE STUDY VASTLY UNDERESTIMATES
THE BENEFITS OF RENT CONTROL
BIKES GETTING A BIG SECTION OF
THE TENANTS IN THE DATA SET BY
OFFICIALLY CUT OFF YEAR WOULD
YOU CALL IT SCIENTIFIC?
I WOULD NOT.
BASICALLY, IT'S A SELECT
HANDFUL.
FLAW NUMBER 4 ARE THE FIRST TWO
VERSIONS OF THE STUDY THAT WERE
DECEPTIVELY PACKAGED TO BURY
POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS FOUND
ABOUT RENT CONTROL THAT DON'T
FIT WITH THE OFFICE PREDECIED
AGENDA.
THAT IS NOT HOW SCIENTISTS DO
STUDIES.
FLAW NUMBER FIVE.
AUTHORS RELEASED THREE
DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE
STUDY.
MANIPULATING THE MATHEMATICAL
MODELS IN EACH ONE TO MAKE WHEN
CONTROL LOOK WORSE.
IF THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH, THE
REPORTERS AND POLICYMAKERS WERE
QUICK TO HOLD UP A STANFORD
STUDY AND SAY, LOOK. RENT
CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.
THEY HARDLY EVER MENTION THE
NUMBER RENT CONTROL STUDIES BY
TOP RESEARCHERS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS
ANGELES AND UC BERKELEY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY ALARMING AND
DON'T YOU THINK THAT BALANCED
COVERAGE DEMANDS THE INCLUSION
OF PRO RENT CONTROL STUDIES AS
WELL?
DON'T BUY INTO THESE LIES.
DO OUR OWN RESEARCH AND WE KNOW
RENT CONTROL WORKS.
IN FACT, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH
MELINA.
WE KNOW THE STATUS QUO IS NOT
WORKING SO WHY NOT TRY
SOMETHING NEW?
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ENOUGH
REASON TO TRY OUT RENT CONTROL.
BUT IT'S MUCH STRONGER THAT WE
KNOW THAT THERE ARE IS
OVERWHELMING AROUND AMOUNTS OF
DATA WITH BERKELEY OR NEW YORK
OR VIENNA.
WE KNOW RENT CONTROL WITHOUT
LOOPHOLES WORKS.
IT'S NOT EVEN A PRAYER.
WE KNOW IT WORKS AND WE NEED IT
DONE.
[ APPLAUSE ] FOR OUR ONLINE
SPEAKERS, I WILL NOW CALL THE
ONLINE SPEAKERS IN ORDER FOR
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED,
PLEASE UNMUTE USING STAR SIX ON
YOUR PHONE.
THE FIRST SPEAKER WE WILL JUST
READ OUT THE NAMES.
JESSICA, YOU ARE FIRST.
CLICK STAR SIX.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JESSICA
AND I'M A RENTER AND DISTRICT
THREE.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THE RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION
THAT SUPPORTS RENTERS NOT FOR
THE BILLIONAIRE LANDLORDS.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE
CONTINUED TO BRING THIS
FORWARD.
HAVE CONTINUALLY MOVED INTO
SMALLER AND SMALLER APARTMENTS.
RIGHT NOW I LIVE IN A POD WHICH
IS A SMALL ROOM.
WHERE I SHARE KITCHEN WITH
EVERYONE ON MY FLOOR.
AND CONTINUALLY I'M STILL
HAVING THE FEAR THAT THE RENT
CONTINUES TO GO UP AND THAT I
WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE
INTO SMALLER PLACES OR SHARE A
ROOM OR WHATNOT. AND ALSO THAT
I WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO
OVERWORK MYSELF AND CONTINUE TO
LEAD TO MORE INJURIES AND
ILLNESSES AND FATIGUE BECAUSE
OF KEEPING UP THE PACE OF
CAPITALISM.
AS WELL AS I JUST SAW A SUITE
TODAY ON RANIER.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS RENT
CONTROL MEASURE FOR RENTERS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> BARBARA FINNEY.
>> MY NAME IS BARBARA AND I AM
A RETIREE AT THE CONFEDERATION
OF EMPLOYEES LOCAL 9137.
OUR UNION LOCAL SUPPORTS
COUNCIL MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT'S
PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR RENT
CONTROL WITH NO LOOPHOLES AND
NO WATERING DOWN.
COUNCIL MEMBERS STAND WITH YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
THE MAJORITY WHO ARE RENTERS
AND WHO SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION.
THE UNAFFORDABLE RENT FORCES
WORKERS ACROSS TRADES AND WAGES
TO HAVE TO MOVE.
AS MANY HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT.
BUT HAVING TO MOVE RANKS AMONG
THE HIGHEST STRESSORS IN LIFE.
AND POSES A THREAT FOR PHYSICAL
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RELATIONAL
AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.
AND IN SUPPORT OF RENT CONTROL
AS PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
PLEASE BRING THIS TO YOUR UNION
ORGANIZATION IF THEY HAVE NOT
YET GONE ON BOARD.
AND DEFERRED TAXES ON THE RICH
TO FUND MAJOR EXPANSIONS.
WITH RENT CONTROL SOCIAL
HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO.
I LIVE IN SEATTLE DISTRICT 5.
MORE THAN 50% OF THE RESIDENTS
AND VOTERS AND DISTRICT 5 ARE
RENTING.
RENT CONTROL HELPS PEOPLE
REMAIN IN STABLE HOUSING.
AND IN LATE 2019, A 32nd
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DEMOCRATS
PASSED A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT
OF RENT CONTROL IN SEATTLE.
THIS WAS JUST BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC HIT.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
IN THE DISCUSSION BEFORE THE
VOTE, WE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE
WHO HAD MOVED TO SHORELINE IN
WYNNEWOOD AFTER GETTING RENT
GOUGED OUT OF THEIR SEATTLE
HOUSING.
THE STILL WORK IN SEATTLE BUT
THEY JUST HAD TO MOVE FURTHER
AWAY.
ADDING MORE COMMUTING TIME TO
THEIR DAY AND LESS TIME TO
SPEND AT HOME.
LESS TIME TO REALLY TAKE CARE
OF THEMSELVES.
IN EARLY 2020, DEMOCRATS PASSED
SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT
OF RENT CONTROL.
FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
SEATTLE NEEDS RENT CONTROL.
WE NEED EVERY MEMBER OF THE
CITY COUNCIL TO GET BEHIND
THIS.
RENT CONTROL WITHOUT LOOPHOLES
AND SEATTLE NEEDS TO BE A
STRONG VOICE IN OLYMPIA TO END
THE 42-YEAR-OLD BAN ON RENT
CONTROL.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE FAILED TO
PASS RENT CONTROL IN THE LAST
SESSION.
THE HAVE TO GET IT DONE.
>> SORRY WE HAD TO CUT YOU.
BUT PLEASE SEND YOUR TESTIMONY
IN FULL IN WRITING.
SORRY?
YES.
ABSOLUTELY.
I HEARD YOU HOPE EVERYONE SAYS
THEY SUPPORT YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE MARLON HATHAWAY.
HIT STAR SIX.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY.
I'M A HOMEOWNER AND DISTRICT 5
IN SEATTLE AND I'M HERE TO
SPEAK ABOUT RENT CONTROL.
WE URGE YOU STRONGLY THAT THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL PASS THIS
RESOLUTION FOR RENT CONTROL.
WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLES OR
WATERING DOWN.
I HAVE BEEN A SEATTLEITE FOR 44
YEARS.
HAVING SPENT MORE THAN THREE
QUARTERS THE TIMES A RENTER.
ALSO OWN A RESTAURANT HERE IN
SANTA FROM 1997 TO 2008 IN THAT
TIME I HAVE PUT HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE.
I SERVED FOOD WITH HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF MY FELLOW
RESIDENTS AND OTHERS.
CURRENTLY, SPECIALIST FOR LOCAL
GROCERY CO-OP AND A YOUTH 3000
MEMBER.
AND A WORK WITH THE WORKERS
UNITED GROUP.
IS AN AD HOC GROUP THAT WAS
FIGHTING FOR $25 PER HOUR BASE
WAGE FOR ALL MY COWORKERS AND
$35 FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE
JOURNEYING AND PEOPLE LIKE
MYSELF WILL HAVE MORE 10 YOU.
I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN A
HOME IN TWO OTHER RENTAL
PROPERTIES THAT MY WIFE AND I
HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED AS A
STRATEGY FOR RETIREMENT.
OUR GOAL IS NOT TO PROFIT BUT
TO LONG-TERM APPRECIATION AND
SELL THEM LATER AT A HIGHER
PRICE OUR PHILOSOPHIES TO
CHARGE AS LITTLE AS WE CAN FOR
RENT.
>> SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF BUT WE
APPRECIATE YOU SUPPORTING RENT
CONTROL AND THE WORKERS AS A
HOMEOWNER YOURSELF.
>> HELLO.
WE CAN HEAR YOU AND GO AHEAD.
>> SORRY.
DAVID, RENTER AND DISTRICT 3
AND I MADE SIX MOVES IN THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS.
I'M NOT AT THE MEETING BECAUSE
I MET MY SECOND CHILD RIGHT
NOW.
ASKED THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES
ON THIS LEGISLATION.
SEATTLE ALREADY MADE STRIDES
TOWARDS GREATER INVESTMENTS IN
PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND ALSO THIS MAY RESULT IN
DEVELOPERS MAKING INDIVIDUAL
THREATS TO THE BEST IN
COMMUNITIES THAT LIMIT THE
PROFIT MARGINS TO BE MADE FROM
RED.
ADDITIONALLY, SEATTLE IS BUILT
WITH WELFARE TRACKS IN MIND
RATHER THAN RESIDENTS WHOSE
INCOME IS MOSTLY STAGNANT YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS MOST
PROFITABLE.
THESE ARE THE PRIMARY DRIVERS
OF THE HOUSING CRISIS AS ALL
CRISIS INCLUDING RENTER DRIVEN
UP.
INCLUDE LEAVING US WITH HIGH
RATES OF HOMELESSNESS AND
LUXURY HIGH RISES WITH LARGE
PERCENTAGES OF VACANT UNITS AT
THE SAME TIME.
MOST PEOPLE CANNOT FORGO
HOUSING.
THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE REAL
MARKET PRICE INCLUDING WHAT CAN
BE CHARGED AND GOTTEN AWAY
WITH.
THIS IS AN INSANE SITUATION WE
ARE DEALING WITH.
PLEASE VOTE YES WITH NO
WATERING DOWN AND NO LOOPHOLES
THANKS.
>> WE WANT TO THINK SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE
SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
I LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 25
YEARS.
I'M RETIRED NOW AND I CURRENTLY
LIVE IN SEATTLE HOUSING.
MY HOUSING IS SUBSIDIZED AND I
CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN ANY
OTHER HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
AS A PROFESSIONAL.
BUT I DO WANT TO THINK COUNCIL
MEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT FOR
COURAGE TO STAND UP TO FOR
WORKING PEOPLE IN SEATTLE AND
FOR TAKING A STAND AGAINST
CORPORATIONS.
THANK YOU, KSHAMA SAWANT.
AND I WANT TO URGE THE
DEMOCRATS AND THE CITY COUNCIL
TO VOTE YES FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S LEGISLATION.
TAKE A STAND FOR WORKERS.
AND FOR THE ONLY HOUSE LIVING
IN THE SHADOWS OF LUXURY
APARTMENTS.
PLEASE TAKE A STAND, CITY
COUNCIL.
MAKE HISTORY AND VOTE YES ON
RENT CONTROL.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> PERFECT.
I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AND A
SECOND YEAR MASTER OF SOCIAL.
STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AS WELL AS A RENTER
IN NORTH SEATTLE.
WITH REGARDS TO RENT COSTS,
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AND
ACROSS THE NATION IS
UNSUSTAINABLE AND INHUMANE.
WE HAVE THE DATA AND WE KNOW
THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF
HOMELESSNESS IS THE COST OF
LIVING.
WE KNOW THAT ONCE RENT PASSES
THAT THE TO PERCENT OF
HOUSEHOLD INCOME COULD
SKYROCKET.
LANDLORDS ARE ALLOWED TO PUT
THEM AT RISK FOR A PROFIT.
WE CANNOT KEEP GOING DOWN THIS
PATH.
I URGE ALL OF YOU TO LET
SEATTLE BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE
REST OF THE NATION.
WHEN YOU VOTE ON THIS, THINK OF
THE MILLIONS OF HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION.
INCLUDING THE VAST MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND CALLING
IN.
CONSTANTLY AT RISK OF LOSING
THEIR MOST BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.
A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD THROUGH
NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
I PROMISE YOU THAT LANDLORDS
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AND THE REST
OF US DON'T AND WE'RE FAIRLY
SURVIVING BARELY SURVIVING.
URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON COUNCIL
AND THE KSHAMA SAWANT'S RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION.
>> THERE ARE ONLY TWO MORE
SPEAKERS WERE SHOWING AS
PRESIDENT.
>> HELLO AND I'M A RENTER IN
NEW YORK CITY HERE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER
KSHAMA SAWANT'S PROPOSED RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION . THIS WAS
SINCE THE 1940s TO MAKE NEW
YORK ONE OF THE BEST THAT WE
HAVE IN THE U.S. ALONG
PROTECTIONS THAT WE ARE FOR
WORKING FAMILIES AND THE
DISASTROUS RESULTS THAT FOLLOW
THE CARVEOUTS FROM THE REAL
ESTATE LOBBY.
AND THE FACT THAT LESS THAN 1%
OF THE UNITS ARE ACTUALLY RENT-
CONTROLLED AND ANYTHING BUILT
AFTER 1973 IS UNDER NO
REGULATION WHATSOEVER.
THIS IS STILL IN PLACE FOR MOST
RENT-CONTROLLED APARTMENTS AND
THE PRACTICE OF WAREHOUSING
WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO
INTENTIONALLY STABILIZE UNITS
AND RESULTING IN 20,000 VENT
RENT UNITS IN NEW YORK.
THIS IS WHY NEW YORK REMAINS
ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY AND THE
LOOPHOLE IN SEATTLE WOULD GIVE
MOMENTUM TO THE KIND THAT IS
URGENTLY NEEDED AND GETS REAL
PROTECTIONS FOR MENTORS AND
WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
>> IT IS NEARLY MIDNIGHT IN NEW
YORK CITY AND SHE STAYED UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S WHAT SOLIDARITY LOOKS
LIKE.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS JULIE DOING.
>> I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE
LAKE CITY HOUSE FOR THE
RESIDENT COUNSEL FOR THE LAST
SIX YEARS.
AND THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL
HUMAN BEINGS.
IN THE DISTRICT 5. THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME FOR KING COUNTY
IS $137,000.
OUR FORMER MAYOR PUT INTO LAW
THAT THE LOW INCOME APARTMENTS
BE PUT AT 65% OF THAT INCOME.
WHICH IS $89,200.
WHICH MEANS HE CURRENTLY HAVE
TO MAKE $46.50 AN HOUR TO LIVE
IN LOW INCOME PRIVATE HOUSING.
WHICH IS A FORMER MAYOR ALLOW
DEVELOPERS TO SET ASIDE A FEW
LOW INCOME APARTMENTS AS THE SO-
CALLED LOW INCOME LEVEL OF 65%.
AND MAKING $46.50 PER HOUR.
WE PUT THAT MONEY INTO A
COMMUNITY POT. AND THESE ARE
NOT NECESSARILY BEING USED
WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
HOMELESSNESS IN LAKE CITY ALONE
HAS INCREASED 20% IN THE LAST
MONTH.
AS A TRUE LOW INCOME RESIDENT
LIVING IN HOUSING, I GET 15% OF
THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
INCREASING RENT AND TRICKLING
DOWN AND AFFECTING ALL CITIZENS.
>> SORRY WE HAD TO CUT YOU OFF
BUT WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US ON
JULY 21st.
PLEASE, EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE UP
IN FAVOR OF RENT CONTROL, WE
NEED YOU TO JOIN US ON FRIDAY,
JULY 21st, AT 9:30 AM AT THE
SEATTLE CITY HALL.
MAKE SURE YOU TELL ALL YOUR
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND
EVERYONE WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH
SKYROCKETING RENTS.
IT'S IN THEIR INTEREST TO COME
AND FIGHT FOR RENT-CONTROLLED
SO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A REALLY
GOOD TURNOUT AND MAKE SURE TO
TAKE ONE OF THESE AND JUST SCAN
THIS SMALL PRINT LIST.
IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES BUT
IT'S WORTH IT.
THEN HE CAN TELL YOUR FELLOW
TENANTS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A
LAWSUIT THAT ALLEGES THAT OUR
BUILDING IS PART OF A ALLEGED
PRICE-FIXING SCHEME?
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT.
AND ANOTHER REMINDER TO ALL THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THAT THERE DO FOR CITY COUNCIL
AND STAFF.
WE THINK ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR STAYING AND THOSE WHO
STAYED UNTIL THE END.
AND ESPECIALLY THANKS TO
EVERYONE WHO SPOKE BOTH ONLINE
AND IN PERSON.
AND HE SAW TODAY HOW POWERFUL
IT IS WHEN PEOPLE COME IN
PERSON.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH OR
OTHER REASONS WE CANNOT SHOW UP
OR IF YOU COULD TAKE TIME OFF
FROM.
WORK.
PLEASE COME.
WE NEED YOU THERE.
LET'S KEEP FIGHTING.
WANT TO WIN RENT CONTROL?
ARE WE GOING TO WIN?
WHAT DO WE NEED?
RENT CONTROL.
WINDOW WE NEED IT?
NOW.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
RENT CONTROL.
WHEN DO WE NEED IT?
NOW.
AWESOME.
[ APPLAUSE ]