>>> GOOD EVENING.
CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION,
PLEASE?
THIS IS THE HUMAN SERVICES,
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT & RENTER
RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL AND WE ARE IN CITY
HALL CHAMBERS AND IT IS 6:30
P.M.
ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019.
I WANTED TO START BY PAYING
RESPECTS AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN JOINED HERE BY KING
COUNTY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER,
THANK YOU ARE BEING HERE.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM AGENDA FOR THE
COMMITTEE TONIGHT AND THAT IS
ON RENTERS RIGHTS AND
SPECIFICALLY TO GO OVER THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION ON RENT
CONTROL THAT WE HAVE PUT
FORWARD THROUGH OUR MOVEMENT.
AND THAT MY COUNCIL OFFICE IS A
PART OF.
WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR
MEETING AND THEN WE WILL
CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
BEFORE BEGINNING THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY SECTION OF THE
MEETING I WANTED TO INVITE ALL
THE TENANTS FROM THE STRUGGLE
TO STAND HERE SO THAT YOU CAN
RECEIVE RECOGNITION FROM
EVERYBODY IN THE MOVEMENT FOR
THE INCREDIBLE BREAK THROUGH
VICTORY THAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED.
PLEASE WAIT UNTIL ALL THE
TENANTS COME UP HERE AND THEN
GIVE THEM HOPEFULLY A
RESOUNDING APPLAUSE.
. [CALLING NAMES ]
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS ]
.
>> WE WANTED TO DO THIS NOT
ONLY TO GIVE THE TENANTS A
WIDER RECOGNITION FOR THEIR
STRUGGLE AGAINST $185 MILLION
COMPANY CADENCE REAL ESTATE,
BUT ALSO SO THAT EVERYBODY ELSE
WHO IS WATCHING US KNOWS THAT
IF YOU ARE A TENANT WHO IS
BEING EXPLOITED BY A CORPORATE
LANDLORD AND WANT TO FIGHT, GET
ORGANIZED TO WIN JUSTICE YOU
CAN BECAUSE THEY DID AND THEY
WON, YOU CAN TOO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] .
>> I WANT TO THANK ALSO AND
RECOGNIZE IN PARTICULAR, ALL
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN MY
OFFICE AND PARTICULARLY ON THE
STRUGGLE I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN
ME IN GIVING AN APPLAUSE TO
JONATHAN AND SASHA WHO WERE ON
THE FOREFRONT OF THIS STRUGGLE.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE ]
.
>> AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN
RECOGNIZING ALL THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS AND POLICY ANALYSTS
IN MY OFFICE.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE ]
.
>> AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZATIONS WHO PLAYED A
LEADING ROLE IN, YOU KNOW,
WORKING ALONG SIDE THE TENANTS
TO WIN THIS VICTORY.
TOO NUMEROUS TO TAKE YOUR TIME
ON BUT THIS STRUGGLE WAS
SUPPORTED BY LENT RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS, UNIONS, FAITH
LEADERS AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE
WHO CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
NEXT I WANTED TO INVITE THE
MEMBERS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT,
COME TO THE MICROPHONE, THIS IS
FRAN AND TALIA WHO AUTHORED A
LETTER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT
URGING THEM TO EXCUSE ABSENCES
FOR STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE CLIMATE
STRIKE ON FRIDAY AND ALSO
ANGELINA WHO READ THE LETTER TO
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SO CAN WE GIVE THEM A HAND.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE ]
.
>> FACE THE ODDGRANCE A SECOND
SO AUDIENCE FOR A SECOND SO
THEY COULD SEE YOUR FACES.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE]
>> THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY
KNOW THAT WE CANNOT WAGE A
BATTLE AGAINST THE CLIMATE
CATASTROPHE AND WIN A GREEN NEW
DEAL UNLESS THAT INCLUDES THE
FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO.
I AM FRAN.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT OUR ROLES IN
THE CLIMATE MOVEMENT BEFORE
CONNECTING IT TO WHY WE NEED
RENT CONTROL.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILED TO
EXCUSE THE ABSENCES DESPITE
DEMANDS FROM THE STUDENT
ADVISORY BOARD, THE SEAT CITY
COUNCIL AND TEACHERS.
IT IS DISAPPOINTED FOR OUR
VOICES TO BE UNHEARD BUT WE
WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
IT IS NOT OFTEN OUR OFFICIALS
CARE WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE
THINK STOW IS GREAT TO HAVE HER
ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS ANGELINA AND I AM
A JUNIOR AT RAINIER BEACH HIGH
SCHOOL.
ACTIVISM AS GRETA THUNBERG
SAID WORKS.
PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE
A CHANGE WORKED FOR CENTURIES
AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK.
I LIVE IN THE SOUTH END.
EVERY YEAR MY BLACK AND BROWN
PEERS DISAPPEAR ONE BY ONE.
SOME FRIENDS MOVED SOUTH, BUT
SOME FRIENDS LIVE OUTSIDE AND
IN AND OUT OF SHELTERS.
THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL
DECKILATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
STATES EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT
TO STANDARD OF LIVING ADEQUATE
FOR HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF
THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR
FAMILY, INCLUDING FOOD,
CLOTHING, HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE
EL ET CETERA.
I DON'T WANT A SEE ANYONE ELSE
AFFECTED BY ISSUES MADE BY
CHOICES BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED
ON MONEY THAT SEEMS SO MUCH
MORE APPEALING THAN HEALTH,
CHOICES MADE BECAUSE THOSE IN
POWER PRIORITIZE WEALTH.
SO IT IS SAID WHEN WE FIGHT WE
WIN.
>> I AM A JUNIOR AT INGEGRAM
HIGH SCHOOL AND I SPEAK AS A
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN
SUPPORT OF THE CLIMATE STRIKE
WHEN WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE
THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT AND
ADVOCATE FOR RENT CONTROL.
I KNOW THESE ISSUES MAY SEEM
UNRELATED TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ON THEM
BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT CLIMATE JUSTICE AND
HOUSING JUSTICE ARE DIRECTLY
LINKED.
THIS SUPPORT MEANS THE CITY
COUNCIL HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE
DANGER THAT CLIMATE CRISIS
POSES TO OUR FUTURES.
THAT DANGER IS TANGIBLE AND
REAL AND IT IS HERE IN OUR OWN
CITY.
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS EVERY
SUMMER SEATTLE HAS BEEN
ENGULFED IN SMOKE.
WE KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS
TO COVER YOUR MOUTH EVERY TIME
YOU GO OUTSIDE.
IN A CITY WITH ONE OF THE
HIGHEST RATES OF HOMELESSNESS
IN THE COUNTRY, THE MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE HOMELESS
ARE PUT AT HIGHER RISK BY
FORCED TO REMAIN IN DANGEROUS
AIR QUALITY.
A NUMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS DIED BECAUSE OF THIS
AIR QUALITY.
SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE THE
CASE IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ABLE TO
REMAIN INSIDE.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE
EXAMPLES THOTHREATS THE CLIMATE
CRISIS POSES TO US, ESPECIALLY
THOSE ON THE VOTES TO.
THE DANGER OF THE CLIMATE
CRISIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
OUR CITY COUNCIL MUST
PRIORITIZE THE LIVES OF ITS
CITIZENS.
WE NEED RENT CONTROL NOW.
IT IS A CRUCIAL STEP FORWARD IN
THE FIGHT ARE CLIMATE JUSTICE.
SOMETHING THE CITY COUNCIL HAS
ALREADY STATED ITS SUPPORT OF.
PASSING RENT CONTROL WOULD
CITY, ALLOWING FOR EVERYONE TO
HAVE A EH AND AFFORDABLE HOME.
IT WOULD SAVE LIVES.
IT IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
IT IS A RIGHT AND A NECESSITY.
WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WHEN DO WE WANT TO?
>> NOW.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE ] .
>> PUBLIC TESTIMONY NOW.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE ELOQUENT
REMARKS.
I WANTED TO SAY TWO THINGS, WE
USUAL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE PUBLIC
COMMENT BUT SINCE IT IS 6:40
P.M.
AT THIS MOMENT AND WE WANT IT
GET TO THE LEGISLATION ITSELF,
WE THOUGHT ONE MINUTE IS
APPROPRIATE AND ONE MINUTE IS
NEVER ENOUGH BUT I WOULD APPEAL
TO EVERYONE TO KEEP THEIR
COMMENTS TO ONE MINUTE SO WE
COULD HEAR FROM EVERYBODY AND
CONTINUE WITH THE MEETING
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND
WORK TO GET BACK TO.
APOLOGIZES TO THE VENAS ME
ELDERS WHO CAME HERE TONIGHT.
WE REALIZE THE INTERPRETATION
EQUIPMENT HAD TECHNICAL
PROBLEMS BUT IF YOU AS
VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ARE HERE TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC
TESTIMONY WE HAVE A PERSON WHO
CAN TRANSLATE YOUR COMMENTS FOR
THE REST OF THE PUBLIC.
I AM GOING TO CALL OUT THREE OR
FOUR NAMES AT A TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT IF YOU LINE UP
HERE SO WE DON'T WASTE TIME.
OUR FIRST THREE SPEAKERS ARE
JULISSA, KIM, AND VELMA.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I AM WITH THE TENANTS UNION AND
I AM THE SOUTH KING COUNTY
ORGANIZER.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
DISPLACEMENT.
>> CAN YOU HOLD THE MICROPHONE?
>> HERE?
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
DISPLACEMENT.
SEEMS TO ME A REOCCURRING THEME
IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND BEYOND.
MY MOTHER WAS DISPLACED FROM
HER HOMELAND AND WE ENDED UP IN
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF SEATTLE
WHERE I GREW UP AND THE
COMMUNITY WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND
IT WAS DIVERSE, IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMUNITIES AND THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AND SOON AFTER
WE CREATED SUCH A BEAUTIFUL
DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE DISPLACED AND ALONG
WITH MOSTLY ALL THE PEOPLE OF
COLOR, MAKES ME NERVOUS, SO I
AM JUST -- I GET CALLS FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS OF
BEING DISPLACED AND HOMELESS
EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED
INCREASES IN RENT AND NOW AS
OUR STUDENTS HAVE SAID, PEOPLE
OF COLOR ARE BEING PUSHED TO
KENT, FEDERAL WAY WHERE THEY
HAVE LESS RENTAL PROTECTION, WE
DO NOT HAVE A SPACE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE WHERE PEOPLE OF
COLOR ARE INCLUSIVE BECAUSE IF
WE WANT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF
POVERTY WE NEED TO START WITH
RENT CONTROL.
THANK YOU.
.
>> MY NAME IS KIM.
HEAR ME?
>> SPEAK CLOSER TO THE
MICROPHONE, PLEASE, KIM.
>> MY NAME IS KIM.
I AM THE -- I AM SEATTLE
RESIDENT, I COME HERE WITH A
GROUP OF VIETNAMESE SENIORS
HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME
IDEAS, SOME THOUGHT, SOME
THINKING.
FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE
SHADOW APARTMENT TENANTS.
THEY FIGHT REALLY HARD WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT SO WE
WOULD FOLLOW.
WE FIGHT.
WE WILL WIN.
YES.
AND ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY, OUR GROUP HERE, SOME OF
THEM, LIKE MYSELF STILL WORKING
AND SOME OF THEM ALREADY
RETIRED.
THE RETIRED, THEY HAVE A VERY
FIXED INCOME AND IT IS REALLY
HARD FOR THEM.
THEY GET A FIXED INCOME BUT
RENT AND EVERYTHING GETTING
HIGHER AND HIGHER EVERY YEAR SO
IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
I MYSELF GO INTO -- I CAN'T GO
-- I CAN'T BE RETIRED SOON BUT
I DON'T WANT TO THIS HAPPENING
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO A
PLACE THAT I CAN AFFORD OR I
CANNOT AFFORD BECAUSE OF THE
RENT, IT IS GETTING HIGHER AND
HIGHER EVERY YEAR SO WE NEED --
WHAT WE NEED, RENT CONTROL.
WHAT WE WANT?
NOW.
THANK YOU.
.
>> NEXT IS VELMA.
SHAWN.
AND THEN DOVE, JOHN AND EMMA
GENE.
>> OKAY.
HI.
I AM A SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
WHEN ME AND MY FAMILY CAME HERE
IN 2013 WE ENDED UP HOMELESS.
I COMMUTE TWO HOURS EACH WAY
EVERY SINGLE DAY WHERE HELP
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY
WITH DISCOUNTS, FOOD ACCESS,
HEALTHCARE NAVIGATION AND
HOUSING.
I CAN SAY AS SOMEONE WHO DOES
THIS WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE
ROOT OF SO MANY PROBLEMS IS THE
HIGH COST OF RENT.
PEOPLE ARE COMING TO ME TO FIND
FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
RENT AND BUYING GROCERIES.
WE MUST PRIORITIZE.
THE WAY THE CITY COUNCIL
CHOOSES TO ACT ON RENT CONTROL
SHOWS WHO YOU REALLY CARE
ABOUT.
I URGE YOU TO STAND WITH US IN
THE FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL.
.
>> MY NAME IS SHAWN.
I AM 59-YEARS-OLD.
AFFORDABLE RENT IS NOT A
LUXURY.
AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT WHO WAS
BORN HERE I REMEMBER GETTING
OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, I AM 59,
AND I WAS ABLE TO AFFORD MY
FIRST PLACE.
COST $175 A MONTH.
IT WAS ONE BEDROOM.
IT HAD A VIEW OF LAKE UNION.
MY HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
AS A HOMEOWNER I LOOKED FORWARD
TO CONSTRUCTING AN AFFORD
APARTMENT ABOVE OUR GARAGE.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET
RENT CONTROL NOW.
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THIS TO
SOLVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU.
.
>> NEXT IS DOVE.
>> I AM ANTHONY, GREETINGS AND
SALUTATIONS.
MOST NOBLE TAXPAYING CITIZENS.
>> I AM SORRY.
WE HAVE TO GO BY ORDER.
>> I AM SORRY.
>> SORRY.
IS DOVE HERE?
DOVE JOHN?
IF DOVE IS NOT HERE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EMMA GENE,
THEN WE HAVE RAGING GRANNIES.
BENJAMIN, KERRY.
>> ROHNERT PARK HAD ITS ANNUAL
FAMILY PICTURE.
I AM THERE WITH MY RENT CONTROL
PETITIONS.
I MET TWO FRIENDS WHO PROVIDED
LIVE MUSIC FOR THE PICNIC AND
THEY DIDN'T EVEN CHARGE.
ONE OF THEM WERE EMOTIONAL.
HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO CRYING.
WHY?
BECAUSE HE HAS TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE.
HOW IS HE GOING TO GET JOBS IN
MUSIC, IN PERFORMING IF HE IS
NOT IN SEATTLE?
BUT HIS RENT IS TAKING
EVERYTHING.
HE ONLY HAS PENNIES LEFT.
THAT IS NOT FAIR.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THIS.
OKAY?
ASSISTED LIVING.
I GO EVERY DAY BECAUSE MY SON'S
PROFESSOR IS THERE.
I MAKE HIM WALK.
TALK TO ONE OF THE YOUNG CARE
GIVERS.
HE LIVES IN AUBURN.
HOW MUCH OF HIS PAY CHECK IS
LEFT IF HE DRIVES TO AUBURN AND
BACK EVERY DAY?
NOTHING.
HE WILL JUST HAVE PENNIES.
HOW CAN HE HAVE A LIFE?
DO I HAVE TO STOP?
I WENT TO THE DOOR KNOCKING
EVENT AND I AM GOING HOME AND
YOU KNOW THERE IS A HUGE
BAKERY, THE HUGE BAKERY, AND A
FELLOW CAME UP TO ME, SECURITY
PERSON, VERY UPSET.
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WAS ABOUT
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THERE IS NOBODY LEFT.
THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR CITY WORK
FOR US.
AND WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO
PUT OUR SHOULDER AND PUT OUR
BACK IN IT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
.
>> I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THERE
IS FREE CHILD CARE.
MY STAFF MEMBERS WILL HELP YOU.
. [SINGING]
.
>> THANK YOU, RAGING GRANNIES.
ISN'T BENJAMIN BEFORE YOU?
>> OKAY.
>> BENJAMIN FIRST AND THEN
KERRY AND THEN LABELLA.
>> HELLO.
I AM BENJAMIN.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO OUR
HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
FOR HAVING THE INSIGHT AND
SURGE COURAGE TO PUT THIS
WHOLE THING TOGETHER.
I AM A VIETNAM VETERAN AND A
SENIOR CITIZEN.
MANY PEOPLE IN MY BUILDING ARE
ELDERLY AND ON FIXED INCOME AND
WITH THE HELP OF MANAGEMENT THE
SITUATION WILL SOON BE OUT OF
THEIR CONTROL.
ECONOMIC EVICTION.
WE NEED RENT CONTROL TO PREVENT
ECONOMIC EVICTION.
THANK YOU.
.
>> I AM KERRY THOMPSON.
I AM 78-YEARS-OLD.
DISABLED.
A WIDOW AND HAVE LIVED THAT
BRIGHTEN APARTMENTS FOR THE
PAST 13 YEARS.
MY INCOME IS $1,775 A MONTH.
AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE MAKING
MY RENT NOW WITHOUT ANY RAISES.
I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT RELOCATION
HELP FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE
FORCED TO MOVE OUT, OUR
BUILDING IS MADE UP OF 125 ONE,
TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS
WITH 225 PEOPLE.
WHEN I MOVED IN 13 YEARS AGO IT
WAS ADVERTISED AS LOW INCOME
SENIOR HOUSING BUT THAT IS NO
LONGER TRUE.
WE HAVE MULTIGENERATIONAL,
MULTIINCOME FAMILY BUILDING NOW
WITH MY UNIT, HOUSING OF THREE
OR FOUR OR MORE GENERATIONS.
I FEEL I AM GETTING AN ECONOMIC
EVICTION BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD
THE RAISE IN RENT.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK TO ONE OF MY
STAFF MEMBERS?
LET'S MAKE SURE WE STAY IN
TOUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LABELLA.
>> HELLO.
I AM ALSO FROM THE BRIGHTEN
APARTMENTS IN THE RAINIER
VALLEY.
I HAVE BEEN -- MY CONCERN IS
COST OF HIGH RENT.
I HAVE BEEN -- WE WERE -- THE
BUILDING IS A -- I HAVE BEEN
THERE 15 YEARS.
ALMOST 16 YEARS.
WE ARE -- WE CONSIDER OURSELF A
COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
NOBODY GOES UNATTENDED.
IF WE DON'T SEE SOMEONE WE
CHECK ON THEM.
WE ARE ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY AND
I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO MOVE
BECAUSE OF THE COST OF RENT.
WE ARE ON A LIMITED INCOME.
WE ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND
YOU THINK ABOUT IF WE MOVE, WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO STAY IN
OUR HOMES, WITH OUR FAMILY
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE
CONSIDER THEM TO BE IN THE
RAINIER VALLEY AND WE WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE RENT CONTROL
BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT,
THOUGH, AS SOMEONE STATED, THEY
HAVEN'T PUT A CAP ON THE RENT
AND ALL ABOUT THE ONES WHO IS
MAKING THE MONEY.
WE WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO
THEM, WHERE WE ARE, THEY WILL
BE.
AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND WHERE
WE ARE COMING FROM IF THEY GET
TO BE THAT AGE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME AND
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAKINGS I AM
ALL FOR IT, WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> NOW.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE]
>> KERRY AND LABELLA, CAN YOU
MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOUR CONTACT
INFORMATION TO ADAM SO WE CAN
BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU?
KAREN.
>> I AM IN A.
>> ONE SECOND.
AFTER KAREN DONNA, AND MARGARET
AND THAN DAN.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM 59-YEARS-OLD.
I AM A SINGLE PARENT FULL TIME
WORKING AND I AM A RESIDENT OF
THE BRIGHTEN APARTMENTS WITH
THESE OTHER PEOPLE.
I USE ONE WHOLE PAY CHECK OF
THE MONTH FOR MY RENT.
I DO NOT USE CABLE, I DON'T GO
ON VACATIONS AND I HAVE TROUBLE
MAKING ENDS MEET.
IS THAT RIGHT?
AND SOMETHING ON MY MIND IS
THAT I HOPE WHEN WE HAVE RENT
CONTROL THAT FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDED BUILDINGS WILL ALSO,
THOSE PROGRAMS WILL ALSO BE
CONTROLLED BY -- RENT
CONTROLLED.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK.
>> MY NAME IS DONNA.
THEY KNOW ME AS DONNA JEAN AT
THE BRIGHTEN.
I AM ALSO A RESIDENT THERE.
BEEN THERE 11 YEARS.
THE MAJORITY OF US THAT LIVE
THERE ARE ON FIXED INCOME.
WE CANNOT INCREASE ANYTHING
UNLESS WE GO TO WORK.
I AM 67 AND I STILL HAVE TO
WORK.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS IS
THAT THE RENT IS GOING TO OUT
GROW US AND SO WE ARE TAKING
SOME STEPS TO MAKE A NOISE TO
LET PEOPLE KNOW AS FAR AS WHAT
OUR ISSUES ARE.
AND THAT BEING THE MAIN THING,
RENT CONTROL.
THE INCREASE IN RENT AND WE ARE
UNDER A LIMITED INCOME.
WE ARE IN A PRIVATE OWNED
BUILDING SO WE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT HOW THIS RENT CONTROL IS
GOING AFFECT PEOPLE THAT OWN
BUILDINGS PRIVATELIES, LLCs.
YOU COME TO THE BRIGHTEN YOU
MIGHT HEAR IT CALL THE BRIGHTEN
CAMPUS, THE BRIGHTEN SENIOR
CENTER.
AND SIMPLY LLC BRIGHTEN.
AND SO WE ARE IN A DILEMMA
BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH THE
MANAGEMENT DIRECTLY AND WE ARE
TRYING TO OPEN UP
COMMUNICATIONS TO LET THEM KNOW
THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR
SITUATION THERE.
AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
VOICE HERE AND THERE TO LET
PEOPLE KNOW IN OUR MANAGEMENT
TO KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY, VERY
MUCH SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING FOR
OUR RIGHT TO HAVE RENT CONTROL.
>> PLEASE WRAP UP.
>> YES.
YES.
MY BOTTOM LINE IS, I'D LIKE TO
SAY THAT -- UM, WE ARE VERY
MUCH INTERESTED TO BE A PART OF
THIS WHOLE SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
SPOKE FROM THE BRIGHTEN
APARTMENTS.
MAKE SURE YOU SHARE YOUR
CONTACT INFORMATION WITH ADAM
OR JONATHAN AND MAKE SURE WE
ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC ISSUES YOU
ARE FACING IMMEDIATELY ASK
ABSOLUTELY WE NEED YOU TO BE
PART OF THE RENT CONTROL
MOVEMENT.
NEXT WE HAVE MARGARET AND THEN
DAN AND THEN -- I AM SORRY, I
CAN'T READ THIS NAME.
HINDA.
IF THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR NAME
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND THEN
EMILY.
>> I AM KNOWN AROUND HERE
BECAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED
IN SEATTLE SO I COME TO TALK TO
YOU ON A SERIOUS NOTE ABOUT
POVERTY AND COMMUNITY TRAUMA.
THERE IS A LAWSUIT IN DELAWARE,
AGAINST THE MAYOR AND ALL THOSE
THAT GOVERN THE CITY OF
WILMINGTON IN REGARDS TO THE
GENTRIFICATIO AND THE MASS
INCARCERATION AGAINST BLACK
PEOPLE HERE IN AMERICA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN
CONTROL THE RENT WHEN WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE
RENT, LET ALONE LIVE ABOVE
GROUND IN A DECENT ENVIRONMENT.
I AM INCLUDING ANYBODY IN
PUBLIC HOUSING THAT KNOWS WHAT
ANDREW LOFTEN IS FIXATED TO DO
THROUGH PUBLIC HOUSING.
TO DISCRIMINATE.
I MAY BE IN THE BOOK OF RECORDS
FOR FILING I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY COMPLAINTS IN THE CIVIL
RIGHTS OFFICE BECAUSE ANYTIME
YOU FILE A HUD COMPLAINT TO
GOES DIRECTLY TO MARIO SITTING
UP THERE.
SHE IS DOING THE WRONG THING.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO STAND UP
AND GET EVERYTHING OUT THAT IS
NOT RIGHT, THAT IS COMING
AGAINST US.
THIS IS 2019.
NOT 1919 AND WE SHOULD HAVE
LEARNED FROM THE MISTAKES THAT
AMERICA HAS DONE AGAINST US.
YOU SEE THIS CANE?
YOU WILL SEE THE ROD OF QUEEN
PEARL TODAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] .
>> AFTER DAN IS THAT NAME THAT
I CAN'T READ BECAUSE IT IS SORT
OF SCRATCHED OUT.
HINDA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF THAT IS NOT YOUR NAME, IF
YOU WANT TO LOOK IF IT IS YOUR
NAME, FEEL FREE TO COME UP HERE
AND READ IT.
>> HELLO.
I AM DAN.
I AM A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE
AND I LIVEIND SEATTLE FOR FOUR
YEARS.
MY VALEDICTORIAN A CORPORATION.
MY PROPERTY PROPERTY CHANGED
HANDS TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR.
I KNOW MY RENT IS GOING TO GO
UP AND I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE FACING $400 INCREASES
OR MORE.
AND YEAH, I THINK I SHOULD HAVE
A SAY.
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN
WHETHER OR NOT THEY GET TO KEEP
THEIR HOME.
MY COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL IS NOT
HERE.
I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR BRUCE, YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T
HIDE.
WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND
BUILD OUR MOVEMENT BIGGER AND
STRONGER BECAUSE WE NEED RENT
CONTROL, ALL RIGHT?
>> I AM EMILY AND I AM A MEMBER
OF SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.
I WAS INSPIRED TO SEE THOSE
THREE YOUNG PEOPLE GET UP HERE.
MY MESSAGE IS TO THE
COUNSELMEMBERS WHO CHOSE NOT TO
BE HERE.
HOW DARE YOU GOVERNOR OVER A
CITY UNDER A HOUSING CRISIS AND
REFUSE TO SHOW YOUR FACES HERE
TONIGHT?
THEY THINK THEY CAN IGNORE OUR
MOVEMENT BUT NO.
THE FIGHT WILL TAKE ALL OF US
AND IT WILL INSPIRE A NATIONAL
RENT CONTROL.
WE WILL NEED BE LOUD AND
PERSISTENCE AND FIGHT AGAINST
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES UNTIL THE
VERY END.
SENIORS, SCHOOL STUDENTS,
WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESS, ALL
ARE HARMED BY THE
UNAFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IN
SEATTLE AND ALL SHOULD JOIN IN
OUR FIGHT FOR RENT CONTROL.
YOU WRONGLY ASSUME THE RENT
CONTROL MOVEMENT IS THE LAST
STOP.
WE ARE AWARE CAPITALISM IS
UNABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
WORKING PEOPLE.
I HAVE PROUD WE HAVE KSHAMA
SAWANT HERE TONIGHT.
HOUSING IS A RACE ISSUE, A
WOMEN'S ISSUE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUE.
IT IS A YOU ISSUE.
JOIN THIS FIGHT BECAUSE WHEN WE
FIGHT --
>> WE WIN.
.
>> I AM HINDA.
I JUST WANT TO REPEAT WHAT THE
GRANNIES SAID.
LIFT THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL.
WE JUST GOT TO WORK HARD FOR
THAT.
I WANTED TO BRING UP ANOTHER
THING, THAT ALL YOU HERE,
EVERYWHERE, IS WE NEED GROWTH.
WE MUST GROW THE ECONOMY.
AND I WANT TO LINK IT BACK TO
CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE ECONOMIC
GROWTH BRINGS GLOBAL WARMING
AND NOBODY TALKS ABOUT THAT
EXCEPT THIS YOUNG PERSON TODAY
AT THE U.N. GRETA THUNBERG AND
SHE IS ONLY 16 AND I THINK WE
NEED TO THINK OF THE BIG
PICTURE BECAUSE THE SYSTEM THAT
WE LIVE IN, THAT IS CALLED
CAPITALISM, IT CANNOT SURVIVE
WITHOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
THAT IS WHY YOU HEAR IT
EVERYWHERE.
GROW THE ECONOMY AND REMEMBER,
THAT IS WHY WE ARE DEALING WITH
A CLIMATE CRISIS THAT IS
UNBELIEVABLE IT IS LINKED.
SO IN YOUR MIND YOU HAVE TO
FIND A WAY TO LINK THAT WITH
RISING RENTS AND THE LACK OF
RENT CONTROL AND HOW ARE WE
GOING TO CHANGE THAT?
>> WE ARE FROM AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES AND OUR LOCAL --
SEATTLE NEEDS RENT CONTROL.
THE UNION REPRESENTS THE
EMPLOYEES OF THE SEAT VA
MEDICAL CENTER ON BEACON HILL,
RAPID LOSS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN SEATTLE IS IMPORTANT
TO OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
IT AFFECTS THE VETERANS WE
SERVE.
THEREFORE WE FULLY SUPPORT
EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND UNIVERSAL RENT
CONTROL POLICIES FREE OF
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
. [CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE]
.
>> YEAH.
I AM HONORABLE MICHAEL.
YEAH, WE GOT TO HAVE RENT
CONTROL.
I AM THINKING ORGANIZED CRIME
CONTROL OCTOBER 15, 1970 THAT
WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT RICHARD
NIXON AND 1954 SIGNED BY
PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
AND OCTOBER 3, 1965, SIGNED BY
PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON.
PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN
STATED HOW MANY TIMES DOES A
PERSON HAVE TO BE HIT OVER THE
HEAD -- AUGUST 16, 1967, MARTIN
LUTHER KING'S SPEECH, AUGUST
16, 2019, WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE?
.
>> I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS A
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION.
I AM A SEAT PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHER.
I AM AN ESSENTIAL EDUCATION
TEACHER.
AND THE STUDENTS IN HOUSING,
THERE ARE 4,000 STUDENTS.
THIS DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE
STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES WHO
VENT UNAFFORDABLE OR STUDENTS
WHO ARE FORCED TO TRANSFER
AFTER THEIR ABILITY TO STAY IN
THE SCHOOL.
THIS IS DISRUPTIVE AND CAUSING
DISPLACEMENT FOR THE STUDENT.
THE SEATTLE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION PASSED A RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF THIS DRAFT
LEGISLATION.
OUR UNION AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE
FOCUSED ON EQUITY AND IF WE
CAN'T PUSH FORWARD THIS
LEGISLATION AND PASS RENT
CONTROL, THEN WE ARE NOT
PROVIDING EQUITY TO EVERY
STUDENT IN EVERY SCHOOL EVERY
DAY.
. [CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE]
.
>> GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS,
MOST NOBLE AND BEAUTIFUL
TAXPAYING CITIZENS OF SEATTLE.
THERE ARE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES
WHO MADE $11 BILLION LAST YEAR
AND DIDN'T PAY TAXES ON IT.
YOU DIDN'T GET 3 MONTHS PAID
VACATION.
YOU DIDN'T GET $50 FULL
COVERAGE HEALTHCARE.
BUT YOUR LOVE IS SO
OVERWHELMING.
THE CLOUDS ARE LIKE YOU, THEY
ARE SATURATED WITH WATER.
YOUR HEARTS ARE SATURATED WITH
LOVE.
AND IT OVERWHELMS ME EVERY DAY
THAT I WAKE UP IN THIS CITY.
IF I COULD PUT THE SPIRIT OF
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE IN A
BOTTLE I WILL PUT COCA-COLA OUT
OF BUSINESS.
I LOVE YOU MISS KSHAMA SAWANT
AND I LOVE JENNY DURKAN.
I AM GOING TO SUE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR NOT SENDING 92EE
SEATTLE WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU
AND PLEASE GET YOUR FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS TO JOIN THE FIGHT TO
BRING US RENT CONTROL.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM ADAM.
MY UNION, THE UAW LOCAL
REPRESENTS OVER 5,000 GRADUATE
STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
WE ARE PROUD TO STAND HERE WITH
ALL OF YOU TO DECLARE THAT IT
IS TIME FOR RENT CONTROL IN
SEATTLE.
82% OF OUR UNION MEMBERS ARE
RENT BURDENED.
PAYING HALF OF THEIR WAGES TO
THEIR LANDLORD.
SOME ARE SCRAPING BY BECAUSE
THE RENT TAKES SO MUCH OF OUR
CHECK.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
SO OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS I
HAVE BEEN GATHERING SIGNATURES
THE PETITION, TALKING TO PEOPLE
ABOUT RENT CONTROL AND IT IS
CLEAR THAT WE ARE READY TO
FIGHT FOR THE CITY WE NEED.
WHEN WE FIGHT --
>> WE WIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] .
>> MY NAME IS LEA.
I AM A RENTER AND A GRADUATE
STUDENT AT UW.
AS A COMPUTER SCIENTIST I MAKE
MORE THAN MOST GRADUATE
STUDENTS AT UW AND I STILL PAY
37% OF MY INCOME IN RENT WITH A
ROOMMATE.
DESPITE BEING RENT BURDENED I
AM CONSIDERED WELL OFF COMPARED
TO MANY.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
IN THE CITY WHO DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO ANY HOUSING.
RENT CONTROL CANNOT COME SOON
ENOUGH.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PAID FOR BY
TAXING BIG BUSINESS CANNOT COME
SOON ENOUGH.
WHEN WE FIGHT --
>> WE WIN.
[CHEERSAND APPLAUSE ] .
>> AFTER BROOK WE WILL HAVE
NANCY AND THEN RENEE AND THEN
EMERSON AND THEN OUR FINAL
SPEAKER IS RICHARD.
>> I AM BROOKE AND I AM A
PERSON OF COLOR LIVING IN
CAPITOL HILL, WHICH IS RARE
THESE DAYS.
ECONOMIC EVICTION IS SOMETHING
THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL
IDENTITIES, WE HEARD ABOUT THAT
TODAY AND THAT IS BECAUSE
CAPITALISM AFFECTS ALL OF US.
CAPITOL HILL IS A CLEAR
NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT AND FOR SO
MANY OF US, LIKE COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, WE HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT
OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
HOLD OUR FAMILIES, OUR
COMMUNITIES, WHERE YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES WE HAVE BEEN PUSHED
OUT OF OUR FAMILIES AND SO THIS
IS RETRAUMATIZING FOR SO MANY
OF US.
MY PATH IS SIMILAR.
I LIVED IN CAPITOL HILL FOR
FOUR YEARS.
AND A FEW MONTHS AGO MY
BUILDING WAS PURCHASED BY A
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND
OUR RENTS WERE RAISED 69%.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO ORGANIZE
TOGETHER AND WE WERE ABLE TO
WIN RENT CONTROL, NO MORE THAN
10%.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WHEN WE
FIGHT WE DO WIN.
IT IS POSSIBLE AND WE STILL
NEED RENT CONTROL BECAUSE THIS
IS NOT WHERE WE ARE STOPPING.
WE NEED COMMUNITY CONTROL OF
LAND.
WE NEED COMMUNITY CONTROL OF
THE CITY.
AND RENT CONTROL IS WHAT MAKES
THAT POSSIBLE.
WHEN WE FIGHT --
>> WE WIN.
[CHEERSAND APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM NANCY.
I ROAD THE BUS HERE AND I HAVE
A NORMAL JOB BUT I AM A
LANDLORD.
I PROVIDE HOUSING FOR MY ONE
BUILDING.
I WORK WITH MY TENANTS.
I KEEP MY PLACE CLEAN.
I WORK THERE EVERY MONTH.
THEY CALL ME IF SOMETHING IS
WRONG, I GO THERE AND FIX IT.
I HAVE TENANTS WHO LIVED THERE
A LONG TIME.
I TOLD ONE SHE SHOULD STAY RENT
FREE FOR A MONTH AND I WORK
WITH THEM.
I DON'T SUPPORT RENT CONTROL, I
HAVE SEEN IT IN A LOT OF AREAS
AND STATES WHERE IT HASN'T BEEN
EFFECTIVE.
THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM THAN
JUST RENT CONTROL LIKE YOU
DISCUSSED TODAY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY 2
CENTS.
I KNOW I AM IN THE MINORITY
HERE AND I SUPPORT MY TENANTS.
I KNOW THEIR BIRTHDAYS, I KNOW
THEIR KIDS WHEN THEY GO A
SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
NANCY, COULD I ASK YOU TO
CONNECT WITH JONATHAN THERE SO
WE CAN KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
THIS IS THE DRAFT LEGISLATION
BECAUSE WE NEED TO HEAR MORE
FROM SMALL LANDLORDS AND WE
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
>> NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM
EITHER.
>> I KNOW.
BUT OUR COLLECTIVE STARTING
POINT HAS TO BE THAT ALL PEOPLE
DESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WE HAVE RENEE AND THEN
EMERSON AND THEN RICHARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
STARTING THIS.
LIKE SO MANY OTHER WONDERFUL
THINGS YOU START FOR THE GOOD
OF HUMANITY AND THIS IS A MUCH
NEEDED CAUSE.
I WANTS TO SAY TO THE
LANDLORDS, THERE ARE REALLY
GOOD LANDLORDS THAT AREN'T IN
THIS FOR PROFIT AND TO THOSE I
SAY THANK YOU.
AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS
TRYING TO PUSH OUT THE SMALL
LANDLORDS, NOR IS IT GOING TO
MAKE THE RENT LOWER THAN YOUR
MORTGAGE.
THERE IS A FEW THINGS THAT WILL
BE ADDRESSED.
IT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, I HEAR
STORY -- I LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
33 YEARS.
I LOVE THIS CITY LIKE EVERYONE
ELSE.
AND MY GOODNESS, HAVE I SEEN
THE CHANGES.
IT IS DEVASTATING.
IT IS SAD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T --
IT AFFECTS ALL HUMANITY.
THIS ISN'T JUST MOVE TO A
DIFFERENT CITY.
I HEAR STORY AFTER STORY AFTER
STORY LIKE A FEW HERE TONIGHT
LIKE HOW RENTS ARE CONTINUALLY
BEING BROUGHT UP 300-DOLLARS AT
A TIME, $500.
DEVELOPERS COMING IN WIPING OUT
PEOPLE AND WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE
GOING TO LIVE.
I AM SO SAD THAT THERE ARE SO
MANY OF MY FRIENDS THAT DON'T
LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
I SUPPORT THE RENT CONTROL AND
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE JUMPING
ON BOARD AND WE NEED THIS RENT
CONTROL IN THE STATE.
NOT JUST IN THE CITY.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE ] FERS.
>> MY NAME AND EMERSON.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION FOR RENT CONTROL
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS
PUTTING FORWARD AND ALSO SO
EXCITED TO STAND WITH EVERYONE
IN THIS ROOM AND THE 12,000
OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE DEMANDING
AFFORDABILITY IN SEATTLE.
I LIVED IN WASHINGTON MY WHOLE
LIFE.
I LIVED IN SEATTLE 16 YEARS NOW
AND I MOVED EVERY SINGLE YEAR
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
ECONOMICALLY EVICTED AND I KNOW
I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN
THIS ROOM WHO HAD THAT
EXPERIENCE.
WORKING PEOPLE, BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES ARE AT THE
FOREFRONT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS
AND IT IS FUNNY TO ME, WE HEAR
FROM CORPORATE DEVELOPERS AND
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THE
PLATITUDES THEY HAVE ABOUT
SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS AND
NOW WHEN A POLICY IS BEING PUT
FORWARD, WHERE ARE THEY?
THAT OES TO SHOW THIS WILL BE
A RELENTLESS FIGHT WON BY THE
MOVEMENT.
NOT BACK ROOM DEALS, NOT
COMPROMISES MADE WITH
DEVELOPERS AND BIG BUSINESS.
IT WILL BE ONE BY US AND BY THE
12,000 OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE
WILL GET INVOLVED IN THIS.
I AM SO EXCITED TO WIN RENT
CONTROL WITH ALL OF YOU.
.
>> LAST TWO SPEAKERS, RICHARD
AND JAMES AND THEN WE WILL MOVE
INTO COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS RICHARD.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME AS -- I
CAME BECAUSE I LIKE TO BE
POPULAR AND I WANTED TO GREET
ALL YOU PEOPLE AS ONE OF THE
RICH LANDLORDS.
I AM A FAT OLD WHITE GUY DOING
THIS FOR 37 YEARS.
I-- I AGREE WITH ONE THING,
RENTS ARE WAY TOO HIGH.
I AM SCARED FOR MY TENANTS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
ANYPLACE LEFT FOR A MIDDLE
CLASS PERSON TO LIVE IN THIS
TOWN BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD
IT.
MUCH LESS EVEN FOR WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE.
37 YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A DUPLEX
BECAUSE THE LANDLORD WAS GOING
TO SELL IT.
I BROUGHT IT, I COULDN'T AFFORD
A MORTGAGE SO I GOT FINANCING.
I WAS LUCKY.
I WAS MIDDLE CLASS.
THINGS CHANGED SINCE THEN.
REAGAN GOT ELECTED AND THE
HIGHEST TAXES FOR TAXPAYERS USE
-- THAT IS EXACTLY IT.
THE TAX RATE ON THE RICHEST
PEOPLE DROPPED.
THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS BEEN
EVAPORATING.
THE AVERAGE WAGES HAVE NOT
MOVED SINCE THE 1970s.
HIGH RENT IS ONLY A SYMPTOM OF
A BIGGER PROBLEM.
THE DEMISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS.
I BECAME MIDDLE CLASS, WE MUST
TAX THE RICH.
THIS IS THE ONLY THE MOST
CONVENIENT NAIL HEAD WE COULD
HIT WITH THE HAMMER.
RENT CONTROL IS ONLY A SMALL
AMOUNT OF THIS.
WE NEED TAX CAPITAL GAINS.
I SOLD A BUILDING LAST YEAR, I
GOT -- UNDER THIS INCOME TAX,
MY TAX ON THE BUILDING I SOLD
WOULD BE $16,800.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
PTHE CITY.
THAT IS GREAT.
MY TAX FROM THE FEDS IS
$150,000.
WE NEED TO TAX THE RICH
SERIOUSLY.
.
>> JAMES AND THEN OUR FINAL
SPEAKER IS CHRIS AND THEN WE
HAVE TO GET INTO THE COMMITTEE.
>> I LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOMEBODY
WHO I MET TWO HOURS AGO ON THE
STREET CORNER.
I MENTIONED I WAS COMING TO
CITY HALL FOR RENT CONTROL AND
HE DECIDED TO TURN OUT AS WELL.
THIS IS JAMES EVERYONE.
>> BEING THAT I HAVE TROUBLE
ABROAD AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE
STREETS OF MANY PLACES, I
UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SIMPLE
NEED FOR HUMAN RELATIONS.
AND THE WAY WE TREAT ONE
ANOTHER STANDS TO BE THE
GOVERNING OF THE ROYAL LAW.
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF.
WHEN YOU GO FOR A COUPLE OF
SUGAR OR MILK TO MAKE A MEAL
FOR SOMEONE YOU HAVE NO ONE TO
LOOK FORWARD TO BECAUSE THEY
ARE TRYING TO MAKE RENT DUE.
THEY ARE TRYING TO ACCESS
AVENUES OF CHARITIES WHICH ARE
BEING EXHAUSTED BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE BEING PUT ON THE VOTES TO
FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
SOME CAN'T, SOME DON'T WANT TO.
BUT BEING THAT I AM CURRENTLY
ON THE STREETS AND I ACTUALLY
SEE A LOT OF THINGS MOST PEOPLE
DON'T, I DON'T SHED LIGHT ON
THOSE THAT DON'T WANT BUT I
EXPRESS KNOWLEDGE TO PEOPLE ON
HOW TO BETTER THEIR SITUATION.
ONE THING I STRIVE FOR SINCE I
HAVE BEEN HOMELESS IN
CALIFORNIA AND AS WELL AS HERE,
I WANT A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
I WANT PEOPLE I CAN SAY GOOD
MORNING NEIGHBOR, HOW DID YOU
SLEEP, HOW DID YOU DO WHEN WE
WERE AT HOME WITH OUR LOVED
ONES.
I ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
THAT, NO MATTER WHERE I GO,
EVEN THOUGH I AM ON THE STREETS
RIGHT NOW I LOOK FOR A PLACE TO
CALL HOME.
I RATHER SEE PEOPLE NOT
STRUGGLING TO MAKE RENT.
THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE ARE
SHELTER, FOOD, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
DEAD PRESIDENTS DON'T FEEL
ANYTHING.
THEY HAVE DONE THEIR TERM.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE, WRAP UP.
[CHEERSAND APPLAUSE ] .
>> GOOD EVENING.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, MY NAME
IS CHRIS.
I AM A DISABLED PERSON.
I AM HERE OUT OF DISOPERATION
TO MEAD FOR RENT CONTROL.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM
GOING TO STAY AT THE END OF THE
WEEK.
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS I HAVE
SHARED A THREE BATHROOM DUPLEX.
THE COST OF THE DUPLEX IS $500
MORE THAN WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN
AND I PAY $1,025 FOR MY ROOM.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MONTH
WHERES I HAD TO BORROW MONTHS
TO PREVENT -- IN ORDER TO KEEP
-- IN ORDER TO KEEP MY HOUSING.
I EVEN HAD TO DROP OUT OF MY
TEACHING PROGRAM BECAUSE I HAD
TO WORK MORE HOURS TO PAY FOR
MY RENT.
I TRIED TO APPLY FOR A STUDIO
BUT I WAS TOLD I DON'T MAKE THE
MINIMUM OF $26,000 A YEAR TO
QUALIFY FOR THOSE STUDIOS SO I
WAS SENT TO SEVERAL OTHER
BUILDINGS.
I TRIED THREE OF THEM AND ALL
OF THEM SAID THEY HAD SEVERAL
APPLICATIONS IN FRONT OF ME.
THERE IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS BECAUSE PROPERTY
MANAGERS, LANDLORDS AND
DEVELOPERS ARE MORE CONCERNED
WITH VALUE AND THOUSANDS OF
UNITS GO EMPTY AND THOUSANDS
ARE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
WE ARE ALL ONE PAY CHECK AWAY
FROM LOSING EVERYTHING.
DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY
OR HOW MUCH EDUCATION YOU HAVE,
THIS CITY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT
US.
AS WAVES OF PEOPLE COME IN AND
DRIVE UP THE COST OF LIVING,
THE CULTURE OF THE CITY CHANGED
IN FAVOR OF PROFIT AND FORCING
OUT THE COMMUNITIES AND THE
CULTURES THAT MAKE LIVING IN
SEATTLE SO DESIRABLE.
THIS HAS TO END AND RENT
CONTROL CAN STOP DEVELOPERS AND
LANDLORDS FROM PRICING US OUT
OF OUR HOMES.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERSAND APPLAUSE ] .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE, MAKE SURE YOU SHARE
YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH
MY OFFICE SO WE CAN ADDRESS
EVEN THE SPECIFIC SITUATION YOU
ARE FACING AND SIMILARLY, THOSE
WHO ARE RENTERS OR YOU KNOW
SOMEBODY WHO IS A RENTER AND
FACING A DIFFICULT SITUATION,
CONNECT WITH MY OFFICE SO WE
KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
YOU IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING
TONIGHT'S COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE
NO ALLUSION THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO SOLVE THIS DEEP CRISIS
THAT OUR REGION IS IN BUT
FIGHTING THOSE INDIVIDUAL
BATTLES HELPS, YOU KNOW, INJECT
MOMENTUM INTO A LARGER FIGHT
FOR RENT CONTROL.
SO EACH OF YOUR SITUATIONS, YOU
KNOW, WINNING A VICTORY MATTERS
TO US GREATLY.
SO PLEASE BE IN TOUCH.
I ALSO WANTED TO INVITE SMALL
LANDLORDS WHO ARE HERE OR ARE
WATCHING THIS ON SEATTLE
CHANNEL TO ALSO REACH OUT TO MY
OFFICE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR
YOUR CONCERNS AND MAKE SURE THE
LEGISLATION AS IT GETS BETTER
WITH COMMUNITY INPUT, ALSO
INCLUDES THE CONCERNS OF SMALL
LANDLORDS AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO
ARE NOT SMALL LANDLORDS WHO ARE
NOT EXPLOIDING TENANT AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE -- EXPLOITING
TENANTS AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE A POLICY THAT
WORKS.
SOMEBODY SAID IT IS NOT GOOD
ENOUGH -- I MEAN, BROOKE --
THEY WON A VICTORY AGAINST A
RENT INCREASE BUT IT WAS 10%, I
AGREE, 10% IS TOO HIGH BECAUSE
A SIMPLE WAY YOU CAN MEASURE
THAT IS WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOUR WAGES WENT UP BY 10% IN A
MONTH, RIGHT?
HOW CAN YOU RENT GO UP THAT
MUCH?
AND THEN I AGREE THAT WE NEED
-- YOU KNOW, RENT CONTROL HAS
TO BE PART OF A PEV POLICY
PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES A MAJOR
EXPANSION OF PUBLICLY OWNED
SOCIAL HOUSING BY TAXING THE
WEALTHIEST.
I AGREE WITH RICHARD WHO SAID
TAX THE RICH.
WE HAVE TO WIN ALL THESE
POLICIES BECAUSE OUR CITY IS
REALLY LOPSIDED.
SO WEALTHY ON THE ONE HAND AND
ON THE OTHER HAND SO MANY ARE
SUFFERING SO THAT HAS TO END
AND RENT CONTROL HAS TO BE PART
OF IT AND APOLOGIZES TO THOSE
WHO WANTED TO SPEAK MORE.
WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
TED, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION
AND WE WANT TO INVITE ALL THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE HERE
AT THE TABLE, PLEASE, JOIN US.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SCHEDULED
TO BE HERE.
.
>> YOU CAN SIT ON THIS SIDE.
IT'S FINE.
.
>> COULD WE HAVE JUST VERY
BRIEF ONE SUBSTANCE
INTRODUCTIONS.
>> SENIOR PASTOR AT BETHANY
NATIONAL CHRIST.
>> TENET UNION OF WASHINGTON.
>> DEVON, CO-CHAIR OF THE
RENTERS COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT
WILL COVER THE HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE DRAFT LEGISLATION.
TED IS GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH
LINE AND HAVE COMMENTS FOR EACH
SLIDE AND THEN WE WANT OUR
GUESTS HERE TO EXPAND ON EACH
OF THE SLIDES AND MAKE WHATEVER
POINTS YOU WANT TO MAKE.
>> THE FIRST QUESTION IS, WHO
IS COVERED BY RENT CONTROL?
MANY CITIES HAVE RENT CONTROL
THAT IS LIMITED TO HOUSING
BUILD BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE.
IN THIS BILL ALL THE HOUSING IN
THE CITY WOULD BE COVERED BY
RENT CONTROL.
>> WHY WE ARE INSISTING ON
THIS.
>> YOU HEAR CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
IS THAT IT LIMITS DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS A HUGE ARGUMENT AGAINST
RENT CONTROL.
LAST YEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY DID A
STUDY THAT IN ADDITION TO OTHER
THINGS SAID THAT IS USUALLY,
THAT QUOTE IS USUALLY NOT
BACKED UP BY REAL RESEARCH OR
EVIDENCE.
I THINK THAT IS A HUGE THING TO
MENTION HERE.
YOU KNOW, WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR
IT TO COVER EVERYBODY.
BECAUSE THAT BOOGIE MAN OF RENT
CONTROL DOESN'T EXIST ITSELF.
THE THING THAT IS THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM IS THE THINGS THAT ARE
BUILT INTO IT TO UNDERMINE IT
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE ASKING
FOR A UNIVERSAL RENT CONTROL
PACKAGE.
>> ONE THING PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY
TO US, WHY IS IT YOU ARE
PUSHING FOR RENT CONTROL.
RENT CONTROL EQUATES TO -- IT
IS PUTTING PEOPLE MORE ON THE
STREETS.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN YOU
GATE RENT INCREASE THEY DON'T
HAVE THE MEANS OR THE EXTRA
INCOME TO PAY THAT EXTRA RENT.
RENT CONTROL WOULD CAP SOME OF
THE OUTRAGEOUS, LOT OF THE
LANDLORDS -- THE LATEST I HEARD
IN CAPITOL HILL WAS 6,000 A
MONTH.
THAT IS LANDLORD WANTS TO
CHARGE.
THESE ARE REAL NUMBERS.
AND THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
WE GET RENT CONTROL BECAUSE WE
NEED THAT CAP.
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE.
>> I WANTED TO CLARIFY, WHEN WE
SAY ALL RENTAL HOUSING CITY
WIDE WOULD BE COVERED, THOSE
WHO HAVE THIS -- THERE IS A --
THERE IS THIS HAND OUT, YOU CAN
LOOK AT, A DOUBLE SIDED HAND
OUT.
AND UNDER THE SECTION WHERE WE
SAY NO CORPORATE LOOPHOLES,
UNIVERSAL RENT CONTROL, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT BOTH ALL KINDS OF
RENTAL HOMES, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER IT IS AN APARTMENT OR A
ROOM IN A SINGLE FAMILY HOME,
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF
RENTAL PLACE IT IS, THE
UNIVERSAL RENT CONTROL LAW
SHOULD COVER YOU AND ALSO THE
OTHER POINT I THINK THAT WE
WANT TO INCLUDE HERE IS
REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF
CONSTRUCTION, ALL RENTAL HOMES
WOULD BE COVERED.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT ALSO
WHAT WE OBSERVED IN SAN
FRANCISCO BECAUSE OF -- IF YOU
WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, PLEASE
DO.
>> I ORGANIZED IN SAN
FRANCISCO, WORKED WITH TENANTS
IN SAN FRANCISCO, I LIVED IN
SAN FRANCISCO IN AN APARTMENT
THAT WASN'T RENT CONTROL.
MOST OF THE APARTMENTS IN SAN
FRANCISCO AREN'T COVERED IN
RENT CONTROL.
IF YOUR BUILDING WAS BUILT
BEFORE 1979 YOU DON'T HAVE RENT
CONTROL OR AFTER JUNE 1979.
SO IF IT IS BUILT IN THE LAST
40 YEARS, TOUGH LUCK.
UNTIL RECENTLY IN NEW YORK, IT
WAS 1974.
IT WAS EVEN LONGER.
SO BASICALLY THEY HAD IT SET UP
FOR MORE AND MORE TIME, AS TIME
WENT ON WE HAD LESS AND LESS
STOCK.
SO NOT EXEMPTING BUILDINGS
BASED UPON AGE WILL ADD STOCK
ALL THE TIME FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
>> EXACTLY.
IN MY ECONOMIC 101 BOOK, ONE
THING -- YOU KNOW, THE TEXT
BOOK, TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF
WHAT STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT, ONE
OF THE LITTLE BOXES, WHY UNIONS
ARE BAD.
YOU KNOW?
I REMEMBER READING THAT.
THE OTHER BOX WAS WHY RENT
CONTROL DOESN'T WALK.
YOU KNOW, NEW YORK RENT CONTROL
IS SO EVIL BECAUSE RICH PEOPLE,
SHE HAS A MASSIVE RENT CONTROL
APARTMENT IN NEW YORK CITY, IN
MANHATTAN, AND IT IS RICH
PEOPLE LIKE THEM, THAT IS WHY
IF YOU ARE ORDINARY PERSON YOU
SHOULD NOT SUPPORT IT.
THE LOOPHOLES, BY THE REAL
ESTATE LOBBY, MEANT THE STOCK
OF HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING THAT
WAS COVERED BY RENT CONTROL LAW
KEPT DWINDLING BECAUSE OF
LOOPHOLES AND THAT ENDED UP
MEANING IT BECAME A RARE
COMMODITY.
AND RATHER THAN CREATING UNITY
AMONG RENTERS WITH A STRONG
RENT CONTROL LAW IT DIVIDED
RENTSERS BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAD
RENT CONTROL UNITS OR THOSE --
OR MY AUNT WHO HAS RENT CONTROL
UNIT AND SHE IS MOVING TO
ASSISTED LIVING AND I GET TO
MOVE IN.
AN UNDERHANDED MARKET.
EVERYBODY BY LAW YOU GET RENT
CONTROL.
THESE ARE LIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW
THE LOOPHOLES UNDERMINE RENT
CONTROL LAWS.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE MAKING SURE
OUR LEGISLATION HAS UNIVERSAL
RENT CONTROL LAW.
I STRESS ON THE WORD DRAFT
BECAUSE WE -- IN ORDER TO WIN
WHAT WE HAVE HERE WE WILL NEED
HAVE A SERIOUS FIGHT.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE
MOVEMENTS WERE SUCCESSFUL
BECAUSETHEY BUILD A UNITED
MOVEMENT.
THAT IS THE MOVEMENT WE WILL
NEED.
>> SO THE LEGISLATION DEFINES
MAXIMUM RENT INCREASE AND RENTS
CANNOT BE RAISED MORE THAN THE
MAXIMUM RENT INCREASE IN EVERY
GIVEN YEAR.
RENTS CANNOT RISE MORE THAN THE
MAXIMUM AND THE MAXIMUM IS THE
INFLATION OF WAGES.
IF WAGES GO UP, RENTS CAN GO UP
THE SAME AMOUNT BUT RENTS CAN'T
GO UP FASTER THAN WAGES.
THE SEATTLE INFLATION LAST YEAR
WAS 3.4%, AND THAT IS THMOST
RENTS COULD BE INCREASED THAT
YEAR.
BETWEEN 2010 AND 2018 THE
AVERAGE RENT WENT UP 69%.
INFLATION WAS 20.3%.
>> WORKING AT THE TENANTS UNION
WE GET CALLS EVERY DAY ABOUT
RENT INCREASES.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THE
LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS WANT
US TO KNOW, IT DOESN'T WORK.
ACTUALLY, IT DOES.
AND I THINK THEY GOTTEN TO THE
POINT WHERE THERE ARE SOME GOOD
LANDLORDS.
I MET THEM.
THERE ARE SOME LANDLORDS WHO
SAY RENT CONTROL IS NOT GOING
TO WORK.
WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK
FOR THEM BUT IT WILL WORK FOR
THOSE FIGHTING FOR RENT
CONTROL.
I THINK THE MISCONCESSION OF
LANDLORDS AND DEVELOPERS, WHAT
THEY ARE SAYING IS THEY
DICTATED A LOT OF OUR HOUSING
POLICIES.
THIS IS A FACT, AFRICAN-
AMERICAN 10ERANTS THE FIRST
ONES, THE HIGHEST RATING OF
EVICTIONS IN OUR STATE RIGHT
NOW.
HOUSING RIGHT NOW IS
DISCRIMINATORY.
IT'S NOT FAIR.
WHEN LANDLORDS SAY PLEASE, WHEN
A LANDLORD SAYS SOMETHING TO
ME, I AM GOING TO SAY SOMETHING
BACK.
I DON'T HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
COMPASSION FOR THEM.
THOSE WHO ARE COMING AGAINST
US.
THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE FIGHT FOR THIS.
THIS WILL HELP US AND HELP MORE
PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS.
.
>> TONIGHT I MET A WOMAN,
NANCY, A LANDLORD FROM BALLARD.
I GAVE HER A HUG.
IT WAS WONDERFUL.
PART OF IT IS WE ARE WORKING
TOGETHER ON THIS TO FIGURE OUT
A WAY FOR RENT CONTROL.
SHE SAID SHE WAS AGAINST IT
BECAUSE PART OF IT IS AS A
SMALL LANDLORD, YOU KNOW, IT IS
TOUGH FOR HER.
COSTS ARE RISING AND PART OF IT
THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
SHARE WITH HER WAS THAT SHE IS
PROBABLY ONE OF US.
AS A PERSON OF FAITH AND
SOMEBODY SEEING OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DISPROPORTIONATELY
CONTINUE TO HAVE RENTS RISE.
69%, NO WONDER THE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING
DISPLACED.
NO ONE CAN AFFORD THIS.
I CAN'T AFFORD THIS.
AND I AM TRYING TO HAVE THE
COMMUNITIES INTO BE TOGETHER.
I AM THANKFUL TO KSHAMA SAWANT
FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER AND
THE BIG WIN.
I ALSO KNOW HAVING WORKED WITH
LARRY HE IS WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THERE IS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN KING COUNTY AND THAT
IS HUGE.
SO MANY TIMES WE HAVE LUXURY
APARTMENTS THAT NO ONE CAN
AFFORD BUT HE IS TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE NEIGHBORS CAN BE
IN THE HOMES HE WILL HAVE BUILT
IN KING COUNTY.
PART OF IT IS WORKING TOGETHER.
IT IS A MOVEMENT.
PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE
SURE YES, IF INFLATION GOES UP
2%, RENT MAKES SENSE TO GO UP
2% BUT NO MORE.
BASICALLY THE KEY PART IS WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE STAY
IN THEIR HOMES, NOT ON THE
STREETS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE
HOMELESS.
WE WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN IN THE
IN THE IN HOMES, NOT MORE
HOMELESS.
>> THE IDEA OF RENT CONTROL, WE
CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF IT IN
APRIL BUT THE COMMISSION HAS
BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO
YEARS.
STARTED WITH THE FORMER
COMMISSIONER WHO PUSHED HARD
AND DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND
LOOKED AT A LOT OF PLACES
AROUND THE COUNTY TO SEE HOW
THEY HANDLE IT.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT CAN'T
BE HERE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO
SHOUT OUT TO, YOU KNOW, FOLKS
WHO WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO
HELP BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS IS
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
HOUSING SHOULDN'T BE A
PRIVILEGE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST THE FEW
WHO HAVE THE MOST MONEY.
IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY.
THAT IS WHY IT IS GREAT TO HAVE
THIS TIED TO INFLATION BECAUSE
YOU ALSO HAVE IT TIED TO
SOMETHING.
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT SAID,
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOUR
RAISE WENT UP BY 10%.
MAYBE IT DID GO UP 3.4.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS
PART OF THE PROVISIONS.
THANK YOU.
.
>> TO ADD, I GOT AN E-MAIL FROM
A SMALL LANDLORD LAST WEEK WHO
ASKED THAT -- WHO WAS
ORIGINALLY VERY WORRIED ABOUT
RENT CONTROL.
ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE WORKED WITH
HIS TENANT AND DIDN'T RAISE THE
RENTS A LOT.
WHEN HE FOUND OUT RATES COULD
BE RAISED AS MUCH AS INFLATION,
HE WAS LESS WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
SO FOR LANDLORDS, THERE ARE
SMALL LANDLORDS THAT DO KEEP
THE RENTS LOW AND NOT GOUGE
TENANTS.
FOR THEM THE REALITY IS THEY
ARE DOING THIS ANYWAY.
>> YEAH.
GREAT.
>> THIS LEGISLATION MAKES IT
CLEAR THAT THE RENT CONTROL IS
TIED TO THE APARTMENT, NOT TIED
TO THE PERSON.
EVEN IF SOMEBODY MOVES OUT THE
RENT CONTROL STAYS IN PLACE.
>> TALKING VACANCY CONTROL.
IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT TALKED
ABOUT THE CORPORATE LOOPHOLES
IN NEW YORK UNTIL THE PEOPLE
WON UNIVERSAL RENT CONTROL.
IT PLAGUED SAN FRANCISCO AND
NEW YORK.
I CAN TELL YOU IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVED IN IN
SAN FRANCISCO, IT WAS A LOW TO
MIDDLE INCOME QUEER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAD NEIGHBORS HAD A 400% RENT
INCREASE ONE YEAR.
IT WAS BECAUSE OF THINGS LIKE
THIS, RIGHT, SO IF YOU -- THAT
HOUSE WAS BELOW MARKET RATE.
PEOPLE MOVED OUT AND THEY REDID
THE LEASE AND THERE WERE VACANT
UNITS AND THEY RAISED THE
RENTS.
ANOTHER THING ABOUT NEW YORK
THAT IS GREAT TO LOOP IN AND
TIE IN TO HOUSING UNITS IS OUT
THERE, A UNIT COULD BE PHASED
OUT OF RENT CONTROL IF A PERSON
MADE TOO MUCH MONEY PRIOR TO
THE REFORMS THAT HAPPENED THIS
YEAR WHICH MAKES IT IMPORTANT
TO TIE IT TO A UNIT AS OPPOSED
TO A PERSON.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE MAKING
$120,000 A YEAR AND THEN THEY
MOVE OUT BUT WHAT IF THE PERSON
WHO IS MAKING $40,000 MOVES IN
AFTERWARDS SO IT IS GOOD TO
KEEP THAT CONTINUITY.
>> TO ADD TO WHAT WAS SAID, IN
CALIFORNIA THERE WAS A
STATEWIDE LAW PASSED IN 1995,
THE DESTRUCTIVE LAW, HAWKINS
ACT, IT WAS NAMED FOR A
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR AND
REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
1995, IT INCLUDED -- INTRODUCED
MANY LOOPHOLES INTO THE RENT
CONTROL LAWS THAT THE CITIES
THAT HAD RENT CONTROL LAW, BUT
CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, THE
ACT ENDED UP -- WEAKENING THE
EXISTING RENT CONTROL LAWS AND
ONE OF THE LOOPHOLES WAS
VACANCY DECONTROL.
IF A TENANT MOVES OUT THEN THE
LANDLORD IS ALLOWED TO JACK UP
THE RENTS TO MARKET RATE BEFORE
THE NEW TENANT MOVES IN.
IT MEANS YOU CAN'T KEEP UNIT
HOMES RENT CONTROL.
LIKE ALLOWING A LOOPHOLE TO BE
WRITTEN INTO THE LAW, MEANS YOU
ARE WRITING IN THE DEMISE OF
THE LAW.
THE REASON WE CALL THEM
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES IS BECAUSE
IT IS THE CORPORATE REAL ESTATE
LOBBY THAT PUSHED FOR LOOPHOLES
AND THAT IS WHOM WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO FIGHT IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE OUR RENT CONTROL LAW
IS NOT PLAGUED LIKE THIS.
THE CITY OF BOSTON, WHICH --
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE
EXPERIENCED RENT CONTROL LAWS
WEAKENED AND ELIMINATED IN THE
1990s.
THE APARTMENT RATES DOUBLED
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THAT
FOLLOWED.
SO THESE ARE NOT SPECKULESES.
WE HAVE SEEN THESE THINGS
HAPPEN IN OTHER PLACES.
AVOIDING THE MISTAKES LIKE THIS
DEPENDS ON THE STRENGTH OF THE
MOVEMENT.
>> FOR THE VACANCY CONTROL,
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IF YOU HEARD DURING THE PUBLIC
COMMENT, MY NEIGHBOR AND
FRIEND, THEY MOVED SEVEN TIMES
EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
IMAGINE WHAT PROFIT THAT
LANDLORD JUST TOOK.
I THINK THAT IS THE KEY.
IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE RENT
CONTROL WE HAVE TO HAVE VACANCY
CONTROL.
LOT OF US ARE MOVING A LOT
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE
RENT.
THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND
SOMETHING LOWER.
AND THEN THE MINUTE THEY MOVE
OUT SOMEBODY HIKES IT UP.
>> SO THE NEXT PORTION HERE IS
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE BILL.
SOME PEOPLE'S LEASES, THE
LANDLORD PAYS THE UTILITIES,
OTHER TIMES THE TENANT PAYS THE
UTILITIES AND SO THIS RENT
CONTROL LAW SAYS ANYTIME YOU
SWITCH FROM THE LANDLORD PAYING
TO THE TENANT OR BACK THAT
AMOUNT NEEDS TO BE ADDED OR
SUBTRACTED FROM THE MAXIMUM
RENT AND THAT WAYS UTILITY PLUS
THE RENT STAYS THE SAME EITHER
WAY.
SO JUST SOMETHING.
YEAH.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, THE SLIDES
WE ARE GOING OVER, ALL THAT
LANGUAGE IS INCORPORATED IN THE
DRAFT LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW.
>> ANYTIME A BUILDING IS
DEMOLISHED OR RENOVATED, THE
WAY THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW,
ANY AFFORDABLE UNITS NEED TO BE
REPLACED AT THE SAME
AFFORDABILITY LEVEL.
TO GIVEN A EXAMPLE, AN OLDER
BUILDING, IF THAT BUILDING IS
DEMOLISHED AND A BIG BUILDING
IS BUILT WITH 100 HOUSING
UNITS, 10 UNITS NEED TO BE TIED
TO THE OLD RENT BUT THEN RENT
BUT THEN THE OTHER NEW HOMES
AFTER -- THEY CAN SET WHATEVER
THEY WANT FOR THE NEW UNIT ANDS
FROM THAT POINT ON ANY RENT
INCREASES ARE TIED TO
INFLATION.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE OUR
MANDATORY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAM ON STEROIDS.
THAT IS GREAT.
CURRENTLY WE ONLY ARE ASKING
FOR UP TO 9% OF NEW HOUSING TO
BE BUILT WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A PERSON,
I LIVED ON CAPITOL HILL SINCE
2007, AND I HAVE SEEN
AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS BEING TORN
DOWN AND REPLACED.
THE IDEA OF HAVING ONE -- LIKE
THIS REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WOULD
BE GREAT BECAUSE IT COULD KEEP
PEOPLE IN PLACE, WHICH IS
SOMETHING THE MAYOR HAS SAID
SHE WANTS.
SO COULD BE SOMETHING GREAT TO
SUPPORT AS WELL.
>> WHEN YOU KNOW OUTSIDE AND
LOOK IN DOWNTOWN, EVERY TIME
YOU SEE A CRANE SOMEBODY IS
MAKING MONEY.
WHEN THEY ARE BUILDING THESE
LUXURY APARTMENTS, WHO CAN
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THERE, 6,000
A MONTH.
EVEN THE PEOPLE WITH MICROSOFT
AND AMAZON, SOME OF THEM WON'T
RENT THERE.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
I HAVE TWO LANDLORD FRIENDS, WE
ALWAYS DISCUSS THIS.
THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD
PEOPLE YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT
THING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LANDLORDS WHO
DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING.
I AM FOR BUILDING MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHAT DOES AFFORDABILITY MEAN?
SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T MEAN
AFFORDABLE.
3500 FOR A STUDIO.
THAT IS NOT AFFORDABLE.
AND I THINK WITH RENT CONTROL
IT WON'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM OF
OURS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
BUT IT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE A
LOT OF THESE INCREASES AND
PEOPLE NOT GOING ON THE STREET.
THE TENANT'S UNION IS
PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM GOING TO
THE STREET.
WE GO AFTER LANDLORDS WHO DOES
UNJUST PRACTICES.
IF I SOUND ANGRY AT A LANDLORD,
FORGIVE ME.
.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO -- THAT IS
OKAY.
VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I AM CONCERNED EVERYBODY IS --
IT IS 8:00 P.M.
AND PEOPLE NEED GO SO I FEEL
OBLIGATION TO END THE MEETING
SOON SO WE DON'T LOSE PEOPLE.
>> SO TO REPEAT THE QUESTION
INTO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE
RECORD.
PERSON FROM THE AUDIENCE RAISED
THAT IF THERE IS ONE
REPLACEMENT, THE UNITS THAT --
THE REPLACEMENT UNITS NEED TO
BE THE SAME SORT OF UNIT
DEMOLISHED.
TWO REPLACE TWO BATHROOMS WITH
STUDIOS.
FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO READ
THE DETAIL THERE ARE COPIES AND
WE WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE
ONLINE.
THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN INTO THE
BILL, TE REPLACEMENT IS
MEASURED BY SQUARE FOOT.
SO AND IT IS PROPORTIONATE TO
THE SIZE OF THE UNIT.
>> GOOD.
ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
>> I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT UP, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT
EMERGENCIES, EXEMPTIONS,
UNFORESEEN THINGS, HURRICANES,
THAT SORT OF THING.
EVERY CITY THAT HAS RENT
CONTROL HAS SOME SORT OF
PROCESS OR PROCEDURE TO -- FOR
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT SORT OF
SITUATION.
>> GIVEN A EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WHY SHOULD THIS BE RELEVANT TO
RENT CONTROL?
>> SAY SMALL LANDLORD OWNS ONE
BUILDING.
AND A -- THERE IS A HURRICANE
AND A TREE IN THE YARD FALLS IN
THE YARD AND CRUSHES THE ROOF
AND THEY DON'T OWN A LOT OF
UNITS SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO REPAIR THE ROOF AND
THEY FEEL STUCK.
WHO GETS -- WHO IS EMPOWERED TO
DECIDE WHAT TO DO ABOUT A
SITUATION LIKE THAT.
MANY CITIES HAVE A RENT CONTROL
BOARD.
THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN IN TO
THIS BILL, THERE IS A RENT
CONTROL BOARD TO LOOK AT
EMERGENCIES AND TO GRANT
EXCEPTIONS.
THEY ONLY CAN GRANT EXCEPTIONS
FOR UNFORESEEABLE MAJOR THINGS
LIKE A HURRICANE DROPS A TREE
ON THE ROOF, NOT FOR ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE.
YOU KNOW, THAT COMES FROM -- OR
NOT MAINTENANCE FROM NEGLECT.
THERE IS ALSO A CHECK FOR
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
IF YOU HAVE A GIANT REAL ESTATE
COMPANY THAT HAS A THOUSAND
UNITS, THEY HAVE OVER THE
COURSE OF THE BUSINESS THE
RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THAT ONE
TREE FOR THAT ONE UNIT BUT IF
YOU HAVE THE SMALL LANDLORD
THAT IS A SITUATION THAT THIS
IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS.
AND ALSO IN THE BILL IT
MENTIONS THAT THE FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP WITH THE TENANT ALSO
NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION.
THAT IS THE SCENARIO THE RENT
CONTROL BOARD IS FOR.
MAYBE I WILL READ THE THREE
SLIDES TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY GO
TOGETHER.
RENT CONTROL BOARD, IT IS --
EACH CITY HAS A DIFFERENT RENT
CONTROL BOARD STRUCTURE.
IN THIS BILL IT IS DESIGNED
LIKE THE RENT CONTROL BOARD IN
QUEBEC AND SEATTLE'S DESIGN
REVIEW BOARD WHERE WITH EACH
DISTRICT WOULD HAVE ITS OWN
LOCAL DISTRICT RENT CONTROL
BOARD THAT WOULD TAKE UP ISSUES
IN THAT AREA.
EACH DISTRICT -- AND THE
DISTRICT RENT CONTROL BOARDS
WOULD COME TOGETHER TO THE CITY
WIDE ONE.
EACH BOARD WOULD BE MADE UP OF
FIVE RENTERS WHO RENT, LIVE IN
THE DISTRICT, AND ONE LANDLORD
OR BUILDING MANAGER WHO OWNS OR
MANAGES A BUILDING IN THAT
DISTRICT.
TO BEGIN WITH, THE -- THE
BOARDS ARE APPOINTED BY THE
DISTRICT COUNSEL MEMBER FOR
THAT DISTRICT.
AND THEN THAT APPOINTMENT IS
CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
AS A WHOLE.
BUT STARTING IN FOUR YEARS TO
GIVE TIME TO PUT THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, TO
HAVE THOSE RENT CONTROL BOARDS
BE ELECTED.
>> DO WE HAVE OTHER CITIES THAT
HAVE ELECTED RENT CONTROL
BOARDS?
>> I DIDN'T FIND THEM.
>> BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.
>> AND THEY ARE ELECTED BY
VOTERS?
>> YEP.
>> OKAY.
>> THE BILL HAS ENFORCEMENT
SECTION WHICH IS ALSO AN AREA
THAT SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND
DEVELOPED OVER TIME.
IT IS -- IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY
BASED ON THE THE ENFORCEMENT
PROVISION THAT ARE SOLIDER IN
THE RENTER RIGHTS LAWS.
SO THE SAME RENTER RIGHTS LAWS
THAT GOVERNOR THE OTHER TENANT
PROTECTIONS ARE THE SAME ONES
USED HERE.
WHICH MAY BE SOMETHING TO
REVISIT AS A WHOLE GOING
FORWARD.
AND WITHIN THAT -- SO THERE IS
NORMAL PENALTIES FOR BREAKING A
TENET PROTECTION LAW BUT THE
TENANT NEEDS TO BE MADE WHOLE.
MAKING THE TENANT WHOLE MEANS
EXTRA RENT THAT WAS CHARGED
BEYOND WHAT IS ALLOWED, TRIPLE
THAT, NEEDS TO BE PAID BACK
PLUS 12% WHICH IS THE SAME AS
WHAT SEATTLE DOES FOR WAGE
THEFT.
PAYING BACK THREE TIMES WHAT IS
STOLEN PLUS INTEREST.
AS WELL AS COVERING DAMAGES
DONE BY OVERCHARGING RENT.
>> THE OLS REFERS TO THE CITY
OF CITY OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS WHICH ADMINISTERS THE
LAWS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR WAGE
THEFT.
CAN YOU GIVE EXAMPLES OF
COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN HELD
ACCOUNTABLE ON WAGE THEFT AND
HAD TO PAY A PENALTY AND ALSO
IN ADDITION TO THAT, CAN YOU
ALSO EXPLAIN THE RATIONAL
BEHIND WHY IS IT THAT OUR DRAFT
LEGISLATION DOESN'T JUST SAY IF
A LANDLORD IS CAUGHT, THEY JUST
HAVE TO GIVE THE RENT BACK
WHATEVER RENT IS OWED, WHY ARE
-- WHY IS THERE A PENALTY OF
TRIPLE DAMAGES AND SO ON.
>> SO IF IT WAS JUST PAYING
BACK THE EXTRA RENT IT WOULD
CREATE AN INCENTIVE FOR
LANDLORDS WHO WANT TO GOWN
THEIR TENANTS TO CHARGE TOO
MUCH RENT ALL THE TIME AND
WORSE THING THATSHIPS THEY HAVE
TO GIVE IT BACK.
BY PAYING BACK TRIPLE BACK WHAT
IS TAKEN THAN IT MEANS THAT IF
THEY ARE CAUGHT THEY LOSE MONEY
WHICH MAKES AN INCENTIVE TO
FOLLOW THE RENT CONTROL LAWS.
AND I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF
COMPANIES.
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT A
SETTLEMENT FOR WORKERS JUST A
COUPLE DAYS AGO BUT I FORGET
WHAT IT WAS FOR.
>> OKAY.
YEAH.
THE NAME OF THE COMPANY ESCAPES
ME BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF
GETTING PENALTIES FROM A
COMPANY THAT WAS ENGAGING IN
WAGE THEFT.
IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON
ENFORCEMENT.
>> I THINK ONE THING WE ARE
SEEING IS, THESE ARE GOOD
POLICIES.
ENFORCING THEM IS A BIG THING.
IF YOU BRING THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD FOR RENT CONTROL, THE
THING IS, WE HAVE TO PUT A
MECHANISM IN PLACE ABOUT
ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE A LOT OF
LANDLORDS ARE GETTING AWAY AND
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SECURITY
DEPOSIT THEFT.
THAT IS BIG IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
SO THIS IS GOOD.
TENANTS UNIONS HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR RENT CONTROL SINCE
THE 80s.
SO THIS IS FINALLY A DREAM COME
TRUE FOR THE TENANT'S UNION.
WE BELIEVE HOUSING SHOULD BE A
RIGHT, A HUMAN RIGHT.
>> THE PACKAGE ISN'T OVERLY
COMPLICATED.
WE CAN EASILY TALK ABOUT, IT IS
NOT SUPER CONVOLUTED.
ALSO, HAVING THAT REAL
INCENTIVE FOR THE LANDLORDS TO
FOLLOW THE RULES, BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, AS A RENTER AND ADVOCATE
FOR RENTERS, I AM NOT HERE TO
PUT A LANDLORD OUT OF BUSINESS,
RIGHT, I AM NOT HERE TO PUNISH
A GOOD LANDLORD.
BUT BAD LANDLORDS SHOULD BE
PUNISHED.
A WOMAN SAID SHE CARES ABOUT
HER TENANT AND WORK WITH HER
TENANT AND THAT IS WHAT SMALL
LANDLORDS DO.
THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.
IT IS GREAT TO HAVE THE
HARDSHIP THING BUILT IN BECAUSE
SOMETIMES THAT WILL HAPPEN.
IF YOU HAVE A LARGE LANDLORD
LIKE MINE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN
GET AWAY WITH THAT BUT THAT
PERSON CAN'T SO THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN THERE AND
SOMETHING THAT CAN HAVE THOSE
FOLKS COME ON OUR SIDE TOO.
>> YEP.
>> SO TO FLAG SOME ISSUES FOR
FOLLOW UP DISCUSSIONS, ONE IS
PROVIDING -- DISCUSSING AND
PROVIDING OPTIONS FOR SMALL
LANDLORDS WHO MAKE SPECIAL
ALLOWANCES FOR TENANTS.
THAT SHOULD BE BUILT IN.
AND THE OTHER POINT TO FLAG IS
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS,
WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT
ENFORCES RENTER RIGHTS, THERE
IS ALREADY MANY TENANT RIGHTS
THAT EXISTS THAT ARE BEING
BROKEN AND IT WOULD BE VALUABLE
TO HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION
ABOUT THOSE ENFORCEMENT
PROVISIONS.
>> RIGHT.
YEAH.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE OTHER
ELEMENTS THAT WILL COME UP WITH
MORE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
LOOK AT THE DRAFT LEGISLATION.
I WANTED TO MAKE A FEW
CONCLUDING POINTS.
DID YOU HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE?
>> THIS IS A SLIDE IF
CONCLUDING POINTS BUT SHOWS THE
BLACK LINE AT THE TOP IS
WHATANCH WHATANCH WHAT AVERAGE
RENT IN SEATTLE WAS.
>> WE SHOULD NOTE THAT ALL THAT
MONEY THAT WE ALL PAID IN RENT,
THAT WENT TO MAKE A LOT OF
PROFITS FOR A LOT OF VERY RICH
PEOPLE, SO IT IS -- WE SHOULD
NOT BE APOLOGETIC ABOUT
FIGHTING FOR RENT CONTROL
BECAUSE THIS IS THE CORRECT
THING TO DO.
ONE QUESTION THAT HASN'T COME
UP THAT I WANTED TO ASK BEFORE
WE BRING THIS DISCUSSION TO A
CLOSE AND ANNOUNCE OUR NEXT
STEPS, A COMMON THING THAT WE
OFTEN HEAR IS THAT IF YOU PASS
RENT CONTROL EVEN A WEAK RENT
CONTROL LIKE THE ONE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS STRONG,
THEN IT WOULD LOWER THE QUALITY
OF AVAILABLE HOUSING BECAUSE
ANY TYPE OF RENT CONTROL TAKES
AWAY THE INCENTIVE OF LANDLORDS
TO MAINTAIN HOMES AND DO YOU
SEE EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT THAT
HAPPENS?
>> SO I AM GOING TO TELL YOU
THAT LANDLORDS, THEY HAVE
MEETINGS ON THIS STUFF ABOUT
STOPPING RENT CONTROL.
THE THING IS, THEY ARE A
BUSINESS.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE SO
THAT IS A MYTH.
IT IS NOT TRUE.
THE THING IS, THEY WILL ALWAYS
BE IN BUSINESS.
THEY FIND THINGS TO COME AT THE
TENANTS TO CHARGE THE TENANTS
EVEN MORE.
IF THERE WAS NO TENANTS THEY
WOULD NOT BE RICH.
I WANT US TO COMPREHEND.
A LOT OF LANDLORDS, THERE IS
TACTICS THEY USE, WE WON'T HAVE
ENOUGH PLACES TO STAY.
THEY ARE OUT TO MAKE MONEY.
THEY WILL KEEP BUILDING AND
BUILDING, AND THIS POLICY WILL
CAP THEM WHERE THEY CAN'T RAISE
$6,000.
IT WILL STAY AT WHAT WE MAKE.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE 91,000 TO MAKE
MIDDLE CLASS IN SEATTLE.
>> WOULD IT AFFECT THE NUMBER
OF RENTAL HOMES THAT ARE BUILT,
THE OTHER QUESTION, THE OTHER
POINT, IT WILL REDUCE THE
QUALITY, MEANING THE RENTAL
HOMES WILL NOT BE MAINTAINED
VERY WELL.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?
>> IT IS A TACTIC THEY USE.
WHO WANTS TO RENT OUT CRAPPY --
THERE ARE SLUMLORDS IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
THE THING IS, THE QUALITY OF
THE PLACE, THAT IS WHY I THINK
SEATTLE IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE
WE HAVE AN INSPECTION, WE HAVE
THIS INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT
GOES IN PLACES LIKE THAT.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
LISTEN, RIGHT NOW YOU WILL HEAR
ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT RENT
CONTROL DOES NOT WORK.
IT IS BALONEY.
WE HAVE HEARD IT.
THEY HAD MEETINGS ABOUT THIS.
HOW DO WE SQUEEZE MORE MONEY
OUT OF THE TENANTS.
THAT IS WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT.
>> I WOULD SAY THERE IS A
COUPLE THINGS, THE LANDLORD
LOBBY, THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD PR
PEOPLE.
THEY CAN SPIN THINGS HOWEVER
THEY WANT IT.
I MEAN, IN TERMS OF IT LIMITING
SUPPLY, AGAIN, 2018 UC BERKELEY
RESEARCH STUDY SAYS THAT IS NOT
TRUE, MOST OF THE TIME.
YOU CAN LOOK AT MANHATTAN, YOU
KNOW, THE DENSEST CITY IN THE
COUNTRY OR SAN FRANCISCO.
THE SECOND DENSEST CITY IN THE
COUNTRY.
BOTH HAVE RENT CONTROL.
I CAN TELL YOU LOOK, THEY ARE
BUILDING.
WE JUST HAVE A SKEWED
PERCEPTION IN SEATTLE.
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BUILD
TO GET US OUT OF THIS CRISIS,
WE WOULDN'T BE WINNING AND WE
WOULD HAVE CHEAPER RENTS OR
RENTS WOULDN'T HAVE SPIKED.
YOU KNOW, ADDITIONALLY, IF IT
WERE TRUE, THEY ARE NEVER GOING
TO DO IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT
GOING TO HELP THE INVESTORS.
WOULD YOU WANT TO BUILD
YOURSELF OUT OF MAKING MONEY?
PROBABLY NOT.
IN TERMS OF -- WITH LANDLORDS,
I AGREE WITH THAT, YOU KNOW,
AGAIN, IT IS THE BIG ONES WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE
RUTHLESS.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY WE WANT
TO GET SMALL LANDLORDS ON OUR
SIDE.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPH,
THE AVERAGE RENT IN SEATTLE IS
STILL 1400.
THAT IS NOT CHEAP CHANGE.
OKAY?
THAT IS NOT.
BUT NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE
GRAPH.
WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW, IT IS
OVER 21, 22, WHATEVER.
THAT IS ABSURD.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THAT IS WHY
WE ARE ASKING FOR RENT CONTROL.
WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
POSSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE.
BUT STILL, THE AVERAGE RENT IN
SEATTLE IS OUTRAGEOUS.
THAT IS WHY I AM GLAD YOU ARE
HERE.
WHAT DO WE NEED NOW?
>> RENT CONTROL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALSO, TIES INTO THE HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT WERE HERE
FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE, DURING THE
NEW DEAL IN THE 1930s, GROUPS
OF PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AND
SAID IT WOULD KILL THE ECONOMY.
THEY ARE DOING THAT NOW.
THE NEW DEAL DIDN'T KILL THE
ECONOMY AND THEY TRYING THE
SAME TACTICS WITH RENT CONTROL.
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?
>> I APPRECIATE YOU TYING THIS
TO THE QUESTION OF THE GREEN
NEW DEAL AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW SEATTLE DOES NOT HAVE
RENT CONTROL AND SLUMLORDS ARE
THRIVING.
THERE ARE SO MANY TENANTS WE
HEAR FROM, WE HEAR FROM NEW
TENANTS EVERY DAY WHO SAY THAT
THEY ARE BEING EXPLOITED BY
THEIR LANDLORD AND THESE ARE
NOT THE KIND OF SMALL AND
CARING LANDLORDS WHO CARE ABOUT
THEIR TENANTS BUT THESE ARE
LANDLORDS WHO HAVE -- MAY LOOK
SMALL ON PAPER BUT WHEN YOU
TRACE THE FINANCIALS, THE LINE
THEY FOLLOW WHERE THEIR BIG
CORPORATION IS DIVIDED IN TO
SMALLER CORPORATIONS, YOU HAVE
TO GO BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE AND
TRACE THE FINANCIALS, THEY ARE
BIG CORPORATIONS.
CARL HAGELIN IS ONE PERSON BUT
IT IS A CORPORATION.
ADD TO WHAT THE PANELISTS WERE
SAYING, WE BELIEVE IT IS THE
SAME AS MINIMUM WAGE.
WHAT THE WAGES ARE ARE NOT SO
MUCH A FUNCTION OF SUPPLY AND
DEMAND.
YES, IT PLAYS A ROLE BUT THAT
IS A MINOR COMPONENT.
THE MAJOR FACTOR THAT
DETERMINES WHAT WAGES WORKERS
GET, ESPECIALLY THE LOWEST PAID
WORKERS IS THE BALANCE OF POWER
BETWEEN BOSSES AND WORKERS.
SIMILARLY, WHAT RENTS PEOPLE
END UP PAYING, WHAT CONDITIONS
RENTERS HAVE TO FACE AND HOW
MUCH THEY CAN HOLD THEIR
CORPORATE LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE
ALL THAT DEPENDS ON THE BALANCE
OF POWER AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS
A DEEP IMBALANCE.
YOU STILL SEE VERY, VERY BADLY
MAINTAINED HOMES.
WE HAVE SEEN MOW SEW MANY HOMES
MOLD INFESTED AND ROACH
INFESTED.
THIS REQUIRES A FIGHT.
I WANT TO GIVE -- THROW THIS
OUT THERE, IF YOU ARE LISTENING
TO THIS AND IF YOU ARE A TENANT
WHO IS FORCED TO LIVE IN A
RENTAL HOME WITH ALL THESE
PROBLEMS AND YOUR LANDLORD HAS
NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEMS,
PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
EXISTING LAWS ARE ENFORCED.
WE HAVE WON MANY RENTERS RIGHTS
VICTORIES IN THE LAST FIVE, SIX
YEARS BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE ENFORCED.
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO
CONTACT US TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
STAYING HERE BUT IT IS 8:23
P.M.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO WIN RENT
CONTROL TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOVEMEN TO WIN.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A SOBER
ASSESSMENT.
TONIGHT WAS A HUGE VICTORY FOR
US AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE
THAT.
[CHEERSANDAPPLAUSE]
>> WE SHOULD ALSO BE SOBER
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES TO
CONTINUE BUILDING THIS
MOVEMENT.
TODAY I WAS THE ONLY CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS AT THIS
TABLE.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BUILD A
HUGE MOMENTUM TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR VOICES ARE HEARD IN CITY
HALL AND NOT THOSE OF THE
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND I AGREE
THAT WE NEED MAKE SURE WE ALSO
OUTREACH TO SMALL LANDLORDS AS
WELL.
WE SHOULD OUTREACH TO MANY
FAITH LEADERS WHO WILL SUPPORT
OUR STRUGGLE AND ALSO
HOMEOWNERS.
TODAY WE HAD HOMEOWNERS
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF RENT
CONTROL.
LET'S DO OUTREACH TO SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS, LANDLORDS,
SMALL LANDLORDS, HOMEOWNERS, IN
ADDITION TO RENTERS SO WE
BAILED UNITED MOVEMENT.
NEXT STEPS, IMMEDIATELY THAT WE
NEED TO GO TO, I HOPE YOU WILL
JOIN ME AT, OCTOBER 3, MAKE
SURE YOU GET THIS, OCTOBER 3,
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET.
FROM NOW UNTIL THANKSGIVING THE
CITY COUNCIL WILL BE FOCUSED ON
THE CITY BUDGET.
AND EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT WE
HAVE WON UNHEARD OF VICTORIES
BECAUSE PEOPLE GOT ORGANIZED SO
I WOULD URGE YOU TO JOIN US ON
OCTOBER 3 AT THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
VERY IMPORTANTLY ALSO COME TO
THE PEOPLE' BUDGET TOWN HALL
OCTOBER 8. IT TAKES TIME BUT
MOVEMENT BUILDING REQUIRES
TIME.
I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US THERE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP ON THE
RENT CONTROL PETITION, PLEASE
DO SO.
TODAY'S INCREDIBLE TURN OUT IS
THE RESULT OF THE FACT THAT WE
COLLECTED 12,000 SIGNATURES AND
EVERYBODY HERE HAS DONE AN
INCREDIBLE JOB COLLECTING THE
SIGNATURES.
I AM GRATEFUL TO EVERYBODY.
LET'S ADJOURN THE MEETING AND
KEEP FIGHTING BECAUSE WHEN WE
FIGHT --