>> THE TIME IS 9:31 A.M.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES .
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
THREE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, TED.
AND THANK YOU TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON SAID SHE
IS GOING TO BE 10 MINUTES LATE
TO THE MEETING AND SHE WILL
LIKELY JOIN THE MEETING SOON.
WE HAVE THREE DISCUSSIONS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
FIRST THE COMMITTEE WILL
DISCUSS AND VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE
PRESENTED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS THAT CHANGES THE
TIMELINE FOR PAYMENT PLANS,
REPAYING THE BACK RENT THAT
MEMBERS MAY OWE DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
ON MAY 11th, 2020, SHORTLY
AFTER THE PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY STARTED THE
COUNCILMEMBER PASSED A BILL TO
PAY OFF RENT A DENT IN
INSTALLMENTS.
HOWEVER THAT BILL SPREADS THE
INSTALLMENTS OVER SIX MONTHS,
WHICH COULD BE A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME NOW THAT THE
COVID EMERGENCY HAS LASTED OVER
TWO YEARS.
IT IS UNFORTUNATELY FAR FROM A
COMMON SITUATION THAT RENTERS
ARE VERY FAR BEHIND AND HAVE
UNFORTUNATELY ACCUMULATED A LOT
OF DEBT.
IN 2021 RENTAL ORGANIZERS HAD
BILL 5160 IN WASHINGTON STATE
EMMA WHICH INCLUDED A SIMILAR
PAYMENT PLAN FOR UNPAID BACK
RENT.
IN THAT CASE THE PAYMENT PLAN
WAS FOR PAYMENTS OF UP TO ONE
THIRD OF A MONTHS RENT EACH
MONTH EMMA WHICH CAN GO LONGER
THAN SIX MONTHS FOR RENTERS
MORE THAN TWO MONTHS BEHIND ON
RENT.
THE BILL WE ARE VOTING ON TODAY
ALIGNS THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
PAYMENT PLAN TIMELINE WITH THE
STATE TIMELINE, WHICH WILL HELP
AVOID CONFUSION.
THE STATE TIMELINE IS LEGALLY
THE TIMELINE THAT APPLIES
ANYWAY.
FOR MOST RENTERS AND LANDLORDS
THIS WILL NOT MAKE A BIG CHANGE.
THE ONE EXCEPTION BEING BACK
RENT ACCRUED IN THE SIX MONTHS
FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCY COVERED
BY THE CITY LAW, NOT THE STATE
LAW.
RENT FOR THOSE MONTHS WOULD BE
PAID OFF.
THIS IS A BILL TO CLARIFY THE
EXISTING LAWS THAT APPLY.
I BELIEVE WE CAN VOTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY AND WE WILL
HAVE A DISCUSSION TOO.
NEXT ON TODAY'S AGENDA OUR
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S RENTERS COMMISSION.
WE HAVE MANY VACANCIES BECAUSE
THE FORMER MEMBER FAILED TO
APPOINT MANY MEMBERS LAST YEAR.
THE COMMISSIONER HAS HELPED TO
FILL THOSE VACANCIES. HE
CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS AND MADE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR HOME TO APPOINT THIS
YEAR.
MAYOR HARRELL HAS APPROVED
THOSE RECOMMENDED APPOINTEES
AND THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS
AND VOTE ON THEM.
FINALLY, TODAY'S COMMITTEE WILL
TALK TO RENTERS AT THE
APARTMENTS IN CAPITOL HILL.
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WERE
INVITED TO TELL THEIR STORY
TODAY.
A LONGTIME OWNER OF THE
BUILDING PASSED AWAY AND THE
NEW OWNERS HAVE STATED THAT
THEY INTEND TO SELL THE
BUILDING.
THE TENANTS OF THE BUILDING
HAVE MADE IT THEIR HOME.
SEVERAL TENANTS HAVE LIVED
THERE FOR OVER A DECADE BECAUSE
THEY LIKE THE BUILDING, THE
COMMUNITY, AND THEY CAN AFFORD
THE RENT.
THEY ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED THE
BUILDING WILL BE SOLD TO A
DEVELOPER WHO WILL DEMOLISH THE
BUILDING AND DISPLACE THEM.
WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL LOW
INCOME RENTERS, INCLUDING
SENIORS, WHO ADDRESS
DISPLACEMENT.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY ARE
GETTING ORGANIZED.
THE TENANTS ARE GETTING
ORGANIZED AND THEY FORMED A
TENANTS ASSOCIATION SO THEY CAN
COME TOGETHER AND FIGHT TO SAVE
THEIR HOMES.
LAST YEAR A NEW HOPE COMMUNITY
INTERVIEWED FIGHTING ALONG
ACTIVISTS.
THEY WANTED STATE AND CITY
FUNDING TO SAVE THE TENANTS AT
SQUARE PLAZA, WHICH WAS
SIMILARLY ADDRESSED WHEN IT
WENT UP FOR SALE.
WE SUPPORT A SIMILAR NONPROFIT.
WE HAVE THE TENANTS HERE TODAY
TO TELL THEIR STORY.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE AGENDA
ITEMS WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
ONE PERSON SIGNED UP FOR THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD I'M
SEEING THEM LISTED AS NOT
PRESENT.
TED, CAN YOU CONFIRM?
IT IS DAVID HAYNES.
HE IS SHOWING UP AS NOT
PRESENT.
AM I RIGHT?
>> THAT'S WHAT I SEE ALSO.
THAT WOULD MEAN NOBODY FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
> SEEING AS OUR LOAN SPEAKER
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT
PRESENT I WILL GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR FIRST
AGENDA ITEM.
CB 120305.
MODIFYING ORDINANCE 126081,
CONCERNING REPAYMENT PLANS FOR
RENTAL ARREARS ACCRUED DURING
OR WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE
TERMINATION OF THE CIVIL
EMERGENCY DECLARED ON MARCH
3rd, 2020.
THE STAFF IS HERE TO PRESENT
ALSO.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AS YOU
ARE THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THE
BILL WOULD YOU LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THE LEGISLATION
BEFORE JEFF SPEAKS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE THE
REPORT AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
IT IS A MODEST AND TECHNICAL
CORRECTION, LIKE YOU JUST
DESCRIBED.
THE STATE HAS ALREADY PASSED
THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS IS BRINGING OUR CITIES
LAWS IN LINE WITH THE STATES.
I WILL SEE WHAT JEFF HAS TO SAY
AND THEN FOLLOW UP WITH ANY
MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
STAFF.
I AM ABLE TO SHARE IN JUST A
MOMENT.
I REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE SLIDE
THAT HAS SOMETHING VISUAL FOR
THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD BE
USEFUL.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL IS WELL
VERSED IN THIS TOPIC.
YOU CAN SEE THE CURRENT CITY
ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED.
ORDINANCE 126081.
ON THE RIGHT ARE THE PROVISIONS
THAT WOULD BE PROPOSED IN THIS
COUNSEL BILL.
I WILL JUST WALK THROUGH THE
FOUR WAYS THAT THERE ARE
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES MADE.
FIRST, AS COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
ALREADY DISCUSSED, THERE WAS A
SIX MONTH REPAYMENT PLAN
INITIALLY.
AT THAT POINT WE WERE ONLY A
COUPLE OF MONTHS INTO THE
PANDEMIC.
WE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WOULD BE
MULTIPLE YEARS OF RENT BEING
ACCRUED.
THIS WOULD CONFORM WITH THE ONE
THIRD THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN
DISCUSSED, AS WHAT THE STATE
PUT INTO PLACE.
FOR THE SECOND LINE YOU CAN SEE
THE TENANT IN THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION THAT WAS CURRENTLY
ADOPTED, THE TENANT CAN PROPOSE
AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD USE
THE LANGUAGE, A REASONABLE
SCHEDULE.
THAT MIRRORS WHAT IS SAID IN
THE STATE STATUTE.
IT WOULD HAVE A VARIETY OF
FACTORS POTENTIALLY.
IT IS MOSTLY A TECHNICAL
LANGUAGE DIFFERENCE.
THIRD, YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE
DISCUSSED.
THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE
REVISIONS THAT IS IN LINE WITH
WHAT THE STATE HAS PASSED.
THE STATE CODE IS THERE.
IT WAS INTENTIONAL OF COURSE.
THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE IS THE
FOURTH LINE.
THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE COMMITTEE.
WHAT THE STATE HAS ENACTED,
THIS ACTUALLY ISN'T WELL
REFLECTED ON THE SLIDE.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE, THE
STATE PLAN WOULD SUPERSEDE IT.
HE WOULD HAVE A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME WITH RENT CAPPED AT ONE
THIRD.
BUT THE RENT THAT WOULD BE
COVERED OR IS COVERED BY THE
STATE ORDINANCE, THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE CURRENT
EFFECTIVE LAW FOR THE CITY AS
WELL.
ONCE THE GOVERNOR ENDS THE
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY FOR
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY NO
RENT AFTER THAT TIME MUST BE
INCORPORATED INTO THE PAYMENT
PLAN.
THE PROPOSAL TODAY, 120305, IT
TIES TO THE MAYOR'S DECLARATION
OF CIVIL EMERGENCY, PLUS AN
ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS.
IF THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR
DID NOT RESCIND THE ORDERS AT
THE SAME TIME THERE WOULD BE
POTENTIALLY, FOR EXAMPLE IF
MAYOR HARRELL TOOK A MONTH
LONGER TO RESCIND THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY TENANTS WOULD HAVE
TWO MONTHS LONGER, BECAUSE OF
HOW THE BILL TIES TO THE CITY'S
ACTION.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE SIX
ADDITIONAL MONTHS AS WELL
BECAUSE THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION IS NOT ONLY THE END
OF THE CIVIL EMERGENCY BUT ALSO
SIX MONTHS AFTERWARDS.
IF THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR
WERE IN LOCKSTEP AND RESCINDED
THEIR ORDERS AT THE SAME TIME,
RENT COVERAGE FOR SIX MONTHS
AFTER THAT.
THE TERMINATION OF THOSE ORDERS
WOULD STILL BE CAPTURED UNDER
THE REPAYMENT PLAN IF COUNSEL
BILL 120305 WAS ADOPTED.
WITH THAT I TURN IT OVER TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR THAT
PRESENTATION.
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT.
THAT WAS A TECHNICAL
PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR YOUR WORK.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A TECHNICAL
CORRECTION TO THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE PASSED IN 2020.
WE PASSED IT TWO MONTHS AFTER
THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.
IN MAY OF 2020 THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED ORDINANCE 126081, WHICH
REQUIRED THE TENANTS WITH
UNPAID RENT FROM THE PANDEMIC
BE OFFERED A REPAYMENT PLAN
THAT LASTED 3 TO 6 MONTHS,
DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF
RENTAL DEBT OWED.
TODAY IS APRIL 15th, 2022.
IF THIS WERE 2020, IF WE WERE
IN APRIL OF 2020, THE PANDEMIC
WOULD HAVE STARTED LAST MONTH
AND WE WOULD HAVE PASSED THAT
BILL NEXT MONTH.
AT THAT TIME WE BELIEVED THE
PANDEMIC WOULD ONLY LAST TWO
WEEKS.
THEN WE BELIEVED IT WOULD LAST
TWO MONTHS.
WE DID NOT FOR SEE IT LASTING
TWO YEARS OR MORE.
AT THAT TIME EVERYTHING WAS
SHUT DOWN AND MANY PEOPLE'S
LINE OF WORK HAD FROZE.
AND WE KNEW THAT PEOPLE NEEDED
TIME TO ADDRESS THE DEBT
INCURRED DURING THAT CLOSURE,
THE INITIAL PART OF THE
PANDEMIC.
A YEAR LATER THE FOLLOWING
LEGISLATION, LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IN APRIL OF 2021, THE
STATE PASSED SIMILAR PAYMENT
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
THEY HAVE THE BENEFIT TO
UNDERSTAND THE PANDEMIC.
IT WAS GOING TO LAST MORE THAN
TWO WEEKS.
THE REASON I OFFER THIS MODEST
BILL AS A TECHNICAL CORRECTION
IS THE LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU
TODAY IS A MIRROR OF OUR STATES
LEGISLATION.
REQUIRING A REASONABLE
REPAYMENT PLAN FOR DEBT INCURRED
DURING THE COVID-19 STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE JEFF'S
OVERVIEW.
THANK YOU, CHAIR SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
TWO OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR
COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO SAY
ANYTHING?
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS?
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING AND I
BELIEVE WE HAVE HAD A GOOD
EXPLANATION OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU, JEFF.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
IF THERE ARE NO FOR THE
QUESTIONS FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WE WILL MOVE FOR
THE VOTE.
I WILL MOVE COUNSEL BILL
120305.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> GREAT.
SO THE BILL IS PASSED BY THE
COMMITTEE AND WILL GO AS A
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL ON TUESDAY NEXT WEEK.
AM I RIGHT?
>> THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
APRIL 26th.
>> WE WILL HAVE THE BILL ON THE
COUNCIL ON APRIL 26th.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA, WHICH ARE FOR
REAPPOINTMENT OF THE CITY
RENTAL COMMISSION.
WE WILL READ INTO THE RECORD.
APPOINTMENT 02180.
THE APPOINTMENT OF TIM GUY AS A
MEMBER FOR THE SEATTLE RENTERS'
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO
FEBRUARY 20th, 2023.
APPOINTMENT 02181.
02182, SARAH McDANIEL.
APPOINTMENT 02183, APPOINTMENT
OF KIM McGILLIVRAY.
APPOINTMENT 02184. WE ARE
JOINED TODAY BY THE FOUR NEW
APPOINTEES.
ALEXIS IS OVER FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
SHE WILL BE STAFFING THE
COMMISSION THIS YEAR.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
AND FOR PEOPLE BEING APPOINTED,
PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT
WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE
RENTERS COMMISSION.
LET'S HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ALEXIS.
I AM THE PEOPLE'S ACADEMY FOR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
COORDINATOR OF DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND AM STILL IN
THE PROCESS OF ON BOARDING AS
THE STAFF LIAISON FOR THE
RENTERS COMMISSION AND TAKING
OVER.
DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THE BIOS
NEXT?
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
>> GREAT.
FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT, ARIANNA
LAUREANO IS A HOUSING AND
RENTAL ACTIVIST WHO HAS BEEN
FIGHTING SINCE 2020 IN SEATTLE
TO PROGRESS TENANTS RATES IN
THE HOPES OF MAKING SEATTLE A
SAFER CITY FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
SARAH McDANIEL IS CURRENTLY
PURSUING A CONCURRENT MASTERS
IN URBAN PLANNING.
SARAH IS ALSO WORKING WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AS A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INTERN.
SHE MAJORED IN THE SCHOOL OF
INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS AND
SCIENCES.
DURING UNDERGRAD SARAH HELP
STUDENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS,
SUCH AS BEING THE COMMITTEE
CHAIR OF STUDENT SERVICES AND
VICE CHAIR OF THE CAMPUS
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
BEFORE ATTENDING SHE WENT TO
PIERCE COLLEGE TO GET HER AA
AND SERVE FOR TWO YEARS,
MANAGING A HIGHER EDUCATION
OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR YOUTH.
SARAH GREW UP IN BONNEY LAKE
WASHINGTON AND AFTERWARDS LIVED
IN A TRANSITIONAL HOME IN
PIERCE COUNTY THAT WAS RUN BY A
NONPROFIT.
THIS EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY
INFLUENCED HER CURRENT
EDUCATION PATH AND PASSION TO
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND
POLICIES THAT INFLUENCE WHERE
PEOPLE LIVE AND WHAT THEY HAVE
ACESS TO.
DURING HER LAST ACADEMIC YEAR
SARAH WAS PART OF A NONPROFIT
FELLOWSHIP WITH THE NONPROFIT
HOME SITE AND GOT TO COMPLETE A
PROJECT FOR THEM ON THEIR
UPCOMING HOUSING COOPERATIVE IN
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.
TIM GUY IS A CURRENT EMPLOYEE
OF U DUB MEDICINE.
PRIOR TO THAT TIM GREW UP IN
THE PART OF WASHINGTON STATE,
BEST REFERRED TO AS SOUTH OF
SOUTH OF TACOMA.
AFTER MOVING HERE WITH FAMILY
FROM OAHU HAWAII AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE 90s.
COMBINING THE FIRST PERSPECTIVE
AS A COUPLE LIVING ON THE
MAINLAND, THEY WERE IN THE
UNRELATED FIELD OF HEALTHCARE
IN THE U.S. WITH A VORACIOUS
APPETITE FOR THE WRITTEN WORD
THAT LED TO DEGREES IN THE
HUMANITIES.
TIM STRIVES TO BE THE CHANGE
THEY HOPE TO SEE AROUND THEM
WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON THEIR
PERSONAL SENSE OF SELF AS WELL.
KIM McGILLIVRAY WAS BORN AT
SWEDISH HOSPITAL ON FIRST HILL.
SHE WENT TO LOCAL PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND STATE UNIVERSITIES
BEFORE BUT BEGINNING HER CAREER
IN TELEVISION NEWS.
SHE MOVED TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
TO WORK FOR THE NBC OWNED
STATION, WRC.
WANTING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE THAN
JOURNALISM ALLOWS, KIM WENT TO
LAW SCHOOL. SHE COMBINED LAW
AND NEWS TO ANALYZE COURT
OPINIONS FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AS A REPORTER FOR THE
BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
NOW BLOOMBERG.
RETURNING TO SEATTLE IN 2000,
KIM WORKED FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS A WRITER AND
EDITOR AND WENT BACK TO SCHOOL
TO LEARN ABOUT NONPROFITS AND
GRANTS.
SHE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A DATA
ANALYST ON THE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE COMMITTEE, BACKED BY
THE GATES FOUNDATION.
CHARLES SMITH IS AN EDUCATOR IN
LOCAL HISTORY.
HE WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND
HOUSING, ATTEND COLLEGE, AND IS
NOW LIVING HIS BEST LIFE AS A
TEACHER TO SOME WONDERFUL EARLY
CHILDHOOD STUDENTS AT BEACON
HILL.
HE CURRENTLY LIVES IN CROWN
HILL, HAVING BABIES LIVED IN
THE FIRST HILL, CAPITOL HILL,
AND GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU, ALEXIS, FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND THE
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE RESPECTIVE
APPOINTEES.
WOULD THE APPOINTEES YOURSELVES
LIKE TO SPEAK? MAYBE I WILL
JUST CALL ON YOU, JUST BECAUSE
THIS IS ZOOM AND IT'S KIND OF
AWKWARD.
I WILL CALL ON YOU BY NAME AND
YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND
INTRODUCE YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD AND SAY A FEW WORDS
ABOUT WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SERVE ON THE COMMISSION.
BEFORE YOU SPEAK, TIM, I WANT
YOU TO KNOW FOR THE RECORD THAT
WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
TIM, GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS TIMOTHY GUY BUT TIM
IS JUST FINE.
I APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN
SEATTLE FOR SO LONG AS A RENTER
AND I SEE MYSELF CONTINUING TO
BE A RENTER FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
IN SEATTLE.
I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST GUESS THAT LIVING IN
DISTRICT WHO AND THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, I DON'T
ALWAYS KNOW IF WE HAVE MUCH OF
A VOICE OUT THERE SO I KIND OF
WANTED TO BRING THAT AND MY
EXPERIENCES LIVING IN THE CITY
FORWARD.
THAT'S MAINLY THE REASON I'M
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SARAH McDANIEL.
I USE SHE/HER.
THE BIO DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
I WAS NOT PREPARED TO HEAR ALL
OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR PREPARING THAT.
THE POINT THAT WAS INCLUDED
FROM THAT THAT I REALLY WANT TO
HIT ON IS MY EXPERIENCE WITH
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND BEING
A CURRENT STUDENT AT U DUB.
THOSE WERE TWO UNIQUE
EXPERIENCES THAT I THINK ARE
IMPORTANT AND I HOPE TO BRING
TO THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS A
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO LIVE.
THIS DISTRICT AREA AND ANY
UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT COME
WITH THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH.
CAN WE HAVE KIM?
>> ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A RENTER
MORE OF HER LIFE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE I SEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AS CRUCIAL.
IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR ANY CITY.
ESPECIALLY SEATTLE, WHERE
INCOMES FOR SUMMER TAKING OFF
AND FOR OTHERS ARE BOTTOMING
OUT.
I'M HOPING TO WORK ON THINGS
THAT WILL INCREASE THE
AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. PERHAPS INCOME BASED
HOUSING.
I THINK MY BACKGROUND AS AN
ATTORNEY GIVES ME SOME LENS
THROUGH WHICH TO VIEW THAT. AND
ALSO ONE OF THE EMPHASES THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON IS MAKING
SURE THE LAWS THE COUNCIL PASSES
HAVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS IN
THEM SO THAT RENTERS WHO ARE
FACED WITH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
DON'T DO THEN HAVE TO TAKE ON
THE FURTHER BURDEN OF FINDING
AN ATTORNEY OR ANOTHER PERSON
WHO CAN SPEAK FOR THEM AND HELP
THEM, BUT INSTEAD CAN POINT TO
AN ARTICLE IN THE LAW THAT
GIVES THEM THE AGENCY ALREADY.
ANYHOW, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
AND I'M EAGER TO START.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, KIM.
NOW WE HAVE CHAR.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS CHAR SMITH.
AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY LOVES
THIS CITY BUT HAS ALSO HAD A
LOT OF FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE
WITH IT BEING VERY DIFFICULT TO
LIVE HERE AND MOVE HERE.
PARTICULARLY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS
NOT HAVING A ROOF OVER THEIR
HEAD.
I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO BE
ABLE TO WORK WITH EVERYONE AND
I HOPE TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE
VOICES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED
OUTSIDE AND WORK OUTSIDEWILL
BE ELEVATED.
THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU HAVE
BEEN WILLING TO SERVE ON THE
COMMISSION HAS BEEN REALLY
ACTIVE IN ITS ADVOCACY FOR
RENTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND ALSO THANK YOU, CHAR, FOR
MENTIONING THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE RIGHT OF RENTERS
AND ALSO OUR HOMELESS
NEIGHBORS.
THERE IS A DIRECT CONNECTION.
OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A COMPLEXITY
OF REASONS WHY A GIVEN
INDIVIDUAL MIGHT END UP BEING
HOMELESS.
THE CONDUIT BETWEEN ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A RENTER,
AND FACING HOMELESSNESS, IS A
VERY STRONG, STATISTICALLY
PROVEN ONE.
WE HAVE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT
THUS FAR EVERYONE HUNDRED
DOLLAR INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE
RENT WE HAVE A 15% RISE IN
HOMELESSNESS.
THAT IS A CONNECTION THAT WAS
IN A STATISTICAL STUDY THAT
COVERED MANY CITIES ACROSS THE
NATION, INCLUDING SUBURBAN
AREAS.
I'M SURE IF YOU DID A STUDY
LIKE THAT JUST FOR SEATTLE YOU
WOULD PROBABLY FIND AN EVEN
STRONGER LINK BECAUSE THE RENTS
ARE SKYROCKETING.
THAT NOW COMBINED WITH THE NEW
INFLATION, ANOTHER RECESSION ON
THE HORIZON, WE ALREADY HAD THE
MISERY OF THE PANDEMIC AND LOSS
OF INCOME.
WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO
RENTERS HAVE JUST BORNE THE
BRUNT OF IT.
YOU ARE ALL COMING ON THE
COMMISSION, ONCE THE VOTE
HAPPENS, AT A TIME WHERE THE
CRISIS HAS OCCURRED.
BUT RENTERS REALLY WANT TO
FIGHT BACK.
I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR
YOU BUT I CAN SEE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON'S HAND UP SO I WILL GO
AHEAD AND CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO ALL OF YOU TO BE WILLING
TO GIVE YOUR TIME AND
PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERTISE TO
THIS COMMISSION.
IT'S ALL VOLUNTEER AND IT'S A
BIG RESPONSIBILITY.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON
SOMETHING THAT KIM SAID ABOUT
PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OR MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TO ME THAT MEANS RETAINING THE
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS
PROVIDED BY SMALL LANDLORDS.
WE LOST ABOUT 14% OF THE
REGISTRANTS IN THE RIO SURVEY,
WHICH BASICALLY LOOKS AT
PROPERTIES, INSPECTS PROPERTIES.
THAT IS WORRISOME TO ME.
IT MEANS PEOPLE ARE TAKING
THEIR UNITS OFF THE MARKET FOR
VARIOUS REASONS.
FIGURING OUT WAYS TO BALANCE
THE NEEDS OF RENTERS AND
ALLOWING THE SMALL LANDLORDS
WHO GENERALLY DON'T RENT AT
MARKET RATES FROM SELLING.
HELPING THEM STAY IN BUSINESS
SO THEY DON'T SELL SO THEIR
PROPERTIES ARE REDEVELOPED FOR
MARKET RATES, WHICH ARE
UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE.
I HOPE THAT WILL BE A
CONSIDERATION THAT YOU TAKE TO
YOUR WORK ON THE COMMISSION.
THANK YOU.
>> WOULD ANY OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO MAKE ANY
POINTS OR ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR THE RESPECTIVE
APPOINTEES?
I HAD A QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU.
WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY SEEN THE
CRISIS THAT WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT BEFORE.
IN TERMS OF YOUR WORK ON THE
RENTERS COMMISSION, ARE THERE
SPECIFIC POLICY AGENDA THAT YOU
ARE THINKING ABOUT?
I'M ASKING YOU NOT JUST IN
GENERAL BUT ALSO IN THE CONTEXT
OF A RENTERS COMMISSION THAT
HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND
OUTSPOKEN.
I REALLY STRONGLY APPRECIATE
THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL OF THE
POLICY VICTORIES THAT WE HAD
THROUGH MY OFFICE AND THROUGH
RENTER ORGANIZING WERE ACTUALLY
VERY STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE
RENTERS COMMISSION.
SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY
ORIGINATED THE RECOMMENDATION.
SOME OF THEM ORIGINATED FROM
THE RENTERS COMMISSION.
ALSO THE SIX-MONTH NOTICE FOR
RENTERS, BEFORE ANY RENTAL FEES
CAN HAPPEN.
THEY WOULD ENROLL IN THAT.
WHAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS DO
YOU BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE
FIGHTING FOR?
>> I WILL SPEAK UP.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING,
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE MORE
SPECIFIC ONCE WE HONE IN ON
PARTICULAR PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
ANTI-RETALIATION MEASURES AKIN
TO THOSE IN CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS.
THAT WILL SERVE AS A BASIS,
SWORD AND SHIELD FOR RENTERS IN
THE FUTURE.
AFTER WE HEARD FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION AND REALIZED HOW FEW
PEOPLE THEY HAVE IN THIS CITY
TO RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINTS OF
THE SPECTRUM OF PROBLEMS FACED
BY TENANTS.
IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THERE
NEED TO BE MORE SELF
ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTIONS FOR
RENTERS WHO DO SPEAK UP.
HELP MAY BE A WHILE IN COMING.
JUST IN NEED OF PERHAPS A
BIGGER STICK.
THAT'S WHAT I WILL BE
ADVOCATING FOR.
>> THANK YOU, KIM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I
COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THERE
SHALL BE VERY STRONG ANTI-
RETALIATORY LANGUAGE.
WE HAVE THAT LINKAGE FOR
WORKERS RIGHTS.
IT'S ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS
ENFORCEMENT SO WE NEED TO
ENFORCE THOSE.
ALSO FOR TENANTS THE STARTING
POINT IS HAVING HIS LAWS IN THE
BOOKS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THOSE LAWS ARE ENFORCED.
BECAUSE, YES, LANDLOCKED
INTIMIDATION AGAINST TENANTS
SPEAKING UP IS UNFORTUNATELY
NOT AN UNHEARD OF OCCURRENCE.
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
WOULD ANY OF THE OTHER
APPOINTEES LIKE TO ADD
ANYTHING?
CHAR, GO AHEAD.
>> SURE.
THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN THE EARLY
PROCESS. ONE THING THAT HAS
COME UP FOR ME AS A RENTER IN
SEATTLE IS KIND OF WHAT KIM
SPOKE TO.
THE ENFORCEMENT. BUT ALSO I
HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE MOM AND POP
LANDLORDS ARE BEING HELPED OUT.
CERTAINLY THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE
NOTICED IS THAT OUR LAWS SEEM
TO GIVE STRONG ENFORCEMENT FOR
LARGER ENTITIES, CORPORATE
ENTITIES, AND TEND TO GET A LOT
MORE RELAXED.
I WOULD SAY THEY ARE LENIENT
WHEN IT COMES TO SMALLER
OPERATIONS.
BASED ON RENTING FROM MOM AND
POP ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE CITY
I WOULD NOTE THAT IT IS THOSE
AREAS WHERE THE ENFORCEMENT IS
EITHER DIVERGENT OR DIFFERENT
BETWEEN LARGER RENTAL COMPANIES.
THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE THE
LATTER WILL OFTEN TIME TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF RENTERS AND
REALLY, REALLY NOT LIVE UP TO
THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW, WHILE
ADHERING TO THE LETTER OF IT.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE
TO HOPEFULLY SEE REVIEWED AND
LOOK AT.
>> DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING?
CHAR, YOU BROUGHT UP A VERY
IMPORTANT POINT.
DO YOU GO BY CHAR ?
>> YOU GOT IT.
>> I DEFTLY WANT TO RESPOND TO
THAT.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
TIM OR SARAH DO YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING?
>> IF I HAD TO BRING UP ANYTHING
I THINK ONE THING THAT STRIKES
ME, WE OFTEN USE THE TERM,
MARKET RATE, TO DISCUSS THE
PRICE OF RENT IN SEATTLE.
KEEPING UP WITH MARKET RATE,
WHICH IS NOT AFFORDABLE.
AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS
IN THE CITY I HAVE HAD TO
CONSTANTLY CHANGE EMPLOYMENT
BECAUSE I SAW MY RENT FROM 20
TWIN -- 2010, DOUBLE.
IF EVERYTHING ELSE IS IN
KEEPING UP WITH THE MARKET RATE
THEN HOW CAN RENT MANAGE TO DO
THAT?
LOOKING AT POLICIES REGARDING
THAT, THE MORATORIUM WE HAD ON
RENTAL INCREASE WAS A GOOD THING
IN THE PAST PANDEMIC.
OR DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WE
ARE STILL IN.
>> WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT RENT
CONTROL?
>> I THINK IT'S GREAT.
I HAVE A FEW RELATIVES ON THE
EAST COAST THAT HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF THAT.
THEY ARE MUCH MORE ECONOMICALLY
SECURE IN THEIR SITUATIONS
BECAUSE OF IT.
>> SARAH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD
ANYTHING?
>> KIND OF MY THOUGHTS, I
GUESS, FOR ADVOCATING FOR
COMMUNITY OWNED FORMS OF HOUSING
. THREW THE OFFICIALS,
AGENCIES, DEPARTMENTS, WHATEVER
, IF THEY COULD SUPPORT THAT
AND PROP IT UP.
I'M THINKING OF THE WEIRDNESS
THAT THE HOUSING COOPERATIVE IS
TRYING TO START.
HOW BANKS, EVEN LOCAL,
COMMUNITY FOCUSED BANKS ON THE
FACT THAT THERE ARE BLANKET AND
SHARED LOANS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
IF CITIES COULD DO ANYTHING TO
HELP.
THEY CAN MAKE MORE OF A CULTURE
TO SUPPORT THAT WERE PROPPED
THAT UP THEMSELVES.
AND ANY OTHER KIND OF SMALLER
LOAN AGENCIES IF PEOPLE WANTED
TO DO THAT WITH THEIR OWN BIG
HOUSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I GUESS I'M KIND OF THINKING
ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR THE
OWNERSHIP COMMUNITY IN HOUSING.
>> ALL OF YOU, I APPRECIATE THE
POINTS YOU BROUGHT UP.
THEY ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH
WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID IN TERMS
OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO KEEP
WORKING ON STRENGTHENING THE
RENTERS RIGHTS LAW IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS.
I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW THE KINDS
OF LAWS WE WERE ABLE TO INITIATE
THROUGH THE WORK OF RENTER
ORGANIZING, THROUGH MY OFFICE
AND THE UNION IS PART OF IT.
WE WON A WHOLE SERIES OF
VICTORIES LAST YEAR.
WE NEED TO WIN MORE THIS YEAR
AND THE CRISIS IS ACUTE FOR
HELPING PEOPLE.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT WE ARE DOING, INCLUDING
THE SIX-MONTH NOTICE, THE EMMA
ECONOMIC EVICTION ASSISTANCE,
THREE MONTHS RENT WHEN THEY END
UP DISPLACING A TENANT, YOU DO
AN EXORBITANT RENT INCREASE.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT WE
NEED TO THE OVERARCHING POLICY
OR CHANGES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY
MAKE A DECISIVE SHIFT IN THE
MISERY THAT RENTERS FACE AND
MANY OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THIS.
SARAH TALKED ABOUT THE CRISIS
FOR STUDENTS.
WORKING PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED
TO MOVE.
THEIR INCOME IS NOT KEEPING UP
WITH THE SKYROCKETING RENT.
ALL OF THIS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS
CITYWIDE RENT CONTROL.
I WOULD APPEAL TO YOU ALL, IF
YOU ALL COULD LOOK AT THE RENT
CONTROL LEGISLATION THAT MY
OFFICE HAS DRAFTED.
WE WOULD LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK.
JUST IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT THAT
BILL DOES IS IT WILL GO INTO
EFFECT AS SOON AS THE STATE
LIFTED ITS COMPLETELY UNJUST
MORE THAN 40-YEAR-OLD MAN ON
RENT CONTROL FOR CITIES TO PASS
RENT CONTROL.
IF THE BAND WERE LIFTED THEN
THE RENT CONTROL THAT WE ARE
RECOMMENDING IS EXTREMELY
STRONG.
BASICALLY IT SAYS THAT EVERY
RENTAL HOME, NO MATTER WHAT IT
IS, IF YOU'RE RENTING IN A
GROUP HOUSE OR CONDO, OR AS
SARAH MENTIONED, STUDENT
HOUSING.
IF YOUR A STUDENT AND YOU ARE
RENTING IN STUDENT HOUSING, IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF
RENTAL HOME IT IS.
YOU SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER
RENT CONTROL AND THERE SHOULD
BE VACANCY CONTROL.
MEANING IT SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO GO UP DRAMATICALLY
AGAIN AND IT SHOULD REMAIN
UNDER RENT CONTROL REGARDLESS
OF TENANTS MOVING IN AND OUT.
IT SHOULD BE CITYWIDE AND IT
SHOULD COVER ALL BUILDINGS,
REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE
BUILDINGS WERE BUILT.
AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE EXPERTISE ON
RENTERS RIGHTS, YOU KNOW THAT
IN OTHER CITIES WHERE THEY HAVE
RENT CONTROL THE CORPORATE TO
LANDLORD LOBBY ENDED UP
FIGHTING AGAINST IT AND THEY
HAVE INTRODUCED LOOPHOLES OF
VARIANCE KINDS THAT MAKES THE
RENT CONTROL FUNCTION NOT WELL.
THEY USE THOSE LOOPHOLES TO SAY
THAT IT DOESN'T WORK AND SAY IT
DOES NOT COVER ALL RENTERS SO
IT NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS EVEN
WITH THOSE WEAKNESSES, HAVING
RENT CONTROL IN THESE CRUCIAL
CITIES HAS PROVEN TO BE AN
ABSOLUTE LIFELINE FOR A LOT OF
WORKING PEOPLE.
WE NEED THAT IN SEATTLE BECAUSE
IT IS GETTING UNLIVABLE.
THE RENTS ARE UNAFFORDABLE.
I KNOW CHAR BROUGHT UP A VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT HOW
THERE IS THIS WHOLE IDEA
CREATED.
MOM AND POP LANDLORDS, WE
SHOULD BE PROTECTING MOM AND
POP LANDLORDS, AS IF THAT'S A
GOAL IN ITSELF.
THE GOAL IS TO MAKE LIFE
LIVABLE FOR THE VAST MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE.
BY THAT MEASURE NOBODY SHOULD
BE ALLOWED TO EXPLOIT ANYONE
ELSE.
WHETHER YOU ARE A SMALL
BUSINESS OR YOUR AMAZON, YOU
SHOULD NOT BE EXPLAINING HER
EMPLOYEES.
SIMILARLY WITH SMALL LANDLORDS
AND BIG LANDLORDS.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO
EXPLOIT RENTERS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, CHAR, THE
POINT YOU BROUGHT UP.
THE LAW SHOULD BE ENFORCED NO
MATTER WHICH LANDLORDS ARE
DOING IT.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
THERE ARE GOOD LANDLORDS.
BUT WE CANNOT HAVE LAWS THAT
RELY ON SOME PEOPLE DOING GOOD
THINGS, WHEREAS THE NORM FOR
RENTERS, BEING THAT THEY ARE
BEING EXPLOITED, I WOULD REALLY
RECOMMEND IF PEOPLE HAVE NOT
READ THE BOOK BY MATTHEW
DESMOND, IT IS CALLED EVICTED.
POVERTY IN THE AMERICAN CITY.
IT IS A BRILLIANT EXPOSITION OF
HOW THERE ARE SO MANY
LANDLORDS, INCLUDING SMALL
LANDLORDS, WHO WHETHER OR NOT
-- THEY END UP PLAYING THIS
ROLE IN THE RENTAL MARKET.
JUST ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING AND
EXPLOITING RENTERS.
THAT'S WHY THE LAWS HAVE TO BE
WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY, AND
ENFORCED IN SUCH A WAY THAT
THEY PROTECT RENTERS THAT ARE
BEING EXPLOITED.
FURTHERMORE THERE IS ALSO THE
PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF SLUMLORDS
AND BIG CORPORATIONS DIVIDE
THEMSELVES INTO SMALL LLCS
WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL COMPANY
MIGHT BE SMALL BUT OVERALL IT
IS ACTUALLY A MASSIVE
CORPORATION THAT IS EXPLOITING
RENTERS.
I THINK ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE
TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. MY
OFFICE HAS REPEATEDLY MADE
THOSE POINTS THAT WE NEED TO
KEEP THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
ONE LESS THING, UNLESS THERE
ARE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, IS
IN RESPONSE TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON SAID.
THERE IS THIS REPEATED
ASSERTION THAT IS BEING MADE BY
THE LANDLORD LOBBY THAT SMALL
LANDLORDS ARE LEAVING THE
HOUSING MARKET AND THE
IMPLICATION, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT
SAID EXPLICITLY, THE LANGUAGE
IS THAT RENTERS RIGHTS ARE
DRIVING SMALL LANDLORDS OUT OF
THE MARKET AND THAT'S WHY WE
NEED TO GIVE CONSIDERATION FOR
LANDLORDS.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE BUT I
WILL SAY IT AGAIN IN THIS
COMMITTEE.
THE DATA HAS BEEN TOTALLY
MISREPRESENTED TO MAKE THAT
CLAIM. FIRST, THE DATA THEY ARE
USING IS RENTAL INSPECTION
REGISTRATIONS, WHICH LANDLORDS
CULD SKIP DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO THERE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE A
REDUCTION IN SMALL LANDLORDS.
IT'S NOT CLEAR.
THE NUMBERS ARE NOT RELIABLE.
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF
SMALL LANDLORDS WERE SELLING
BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES ARE
GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
PROPERTY VALUES ARE
SKYROCKETING.
ALL LANDLORDS ARE SELLING
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO
COMPLY WITH THE LAW OR THEY ARE
SELLING BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES
HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF AND
THEY CAN CASH IN ON THEIR
PROPERTY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE
EXAMINED.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE DATA
DRIVEN, LET'S ACTUALLY BE DATA
DRIVEN.
WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A REALITY
CHECK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
RENTERS.
IT DOES NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE
WHOM YOU PAY YOUR RENT CHECK
TO.
IF A LANDLORD IS NOT WILLING TO
RESPECT THE RENTERS RIGHTS AND
SELLS A PROPERTY AS A RESULT,
THEY PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN A LANDLORD ANYWAY.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF YOU'RE A
LANDLORD WHO IS NOT EXPLAINING
THE RENTERS, YOUR TENANTS, THEN
THE LAWS DO NOT EVEN AFFECT
YOU.
RENT CONTROL WOULD NOT AFFECT
YOU AS A LANDLORD IF YOU'RE NOT
GOUGING YOUR TENANTS WITH HIGH
RENT.
IF YOU'RE GOOD LANDLORD THEN
YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY BE
SUPPORTING.
AND WE DO HAVE GOOD LANDLORDS
WHO DO SUPPORT RENTERS RIGHTS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE SPOKEN UP IN
PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL.
I'M HAPPY WITH THE APPOINTEES.
I CAN SEE COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
HAS RAISED HER HAND AGAIN.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU
ARE MUTED.
>> I HATE IT WHEN I DO THAT.
I WAS JUST SAYING THAT YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
IT IS IMPORTANT.
THE BEST DATA WE HAVE RIGHT NOW
UNFORTUNATELY IS THE 2018 STUDY
, WHICH INCLUDES INTERVIEWS
FROM LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
BOTH SIDES TALK ABOUT THEIR
STRUGGLES.
THE REASONS THAT MANY SMALL
LANDLORDS ARE STRUGGLING ARE
TALKED ABOUT THERE.
THE TOP REASONS.
IT'S NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY
CAN MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY
SELLING THEIR PROPERTIES.
THEY DO GO INTO SPECIFICS ABOUT
THE THINGS THEY ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT.
>> RIGHT.
OKAY.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE
VOTE. I WILL MOVE APPOINTMENT
02180, APPOINTMENT 02181, IS
0183, 02184.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ .
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> ALL APPOINTEES, YOUR
APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN
RECOMMENDED NOW BY THE
COMMITTEE AND WILL GO ON TO THE
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
I'M BEING TOLD AGAIN ON
TUESDAY, APRIL 26th.
IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE NEXT
WEEK RIGHT AWAY THEN WE WILL OF
COURSE LET YOU KNOW FOR THE
PRESENTERS AND APPOINTEES.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PANEL
LIKE THIS IN THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING SO YOU ARE NOT
EXPECTED TO ATTEND ON THE 26th.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR WORK ON
THE RENTERS COMMISSION.
PLEASE BE IN TOUCH WITH MY
OFFICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
WE HAVE OUR LAST ITEM TODAY
THAT WILL BE A HEARING FROM
RENTERS, THE TENANT OF THE
APARTMENTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
IN BEING AVAILABLE TO TALK TO
THE COMMITTEE AT SUCH SHORT
NOTICE AND I APOLOGIZE YOU HAD
TO WAIT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS
HAPPENING TO RENTERS ALL OVER
THE CITY.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN SAVE YOUR
HOMES.
AND OTHER RENTERS AROUND THE
CITY CAN BE INSPIRED BY YOUR
EXAMPLE.
AND LIKE YOU, WILL GET
ORGANIZED INTO RENTERS
ASSOCIATIONS.
PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.
>> I PERSONALLY THINK THAT LIZ
SHOULD GO FIRST.
SHE IS THE PERSON THAT LIT THE
FIRE FOR THE GROUP.
>> OKAY.
I CAN DO THAT.
I WAS JUST TEXTING WITH ANOTHER
TENANT WHO HOPES TO JOIN US.
HELLO.
MY NAME IS LIZ TYSON.
I HAVE WRITTEN A LITTLE
STATEMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US
HERE TODAY AND FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO LISTEN TO US.
I FEEL THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT
AND I APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN
YOU KNOW.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE
MADKIN APARTMENTS FOR SIX
YEARS.
WAS BORN IN CAPITOL HILL,
RAISED UP IN LAKE CITY AND
BACK.
IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
HAVING GROWN UP HERE AND BE IN
RENTED UNITS FOR MANY YEARS, I
HAVE SEEN CHANGES IN THE CITY,
INCLUDING HOW UNAFFORDABLE IT
HAS BECOME FOR ALL OF US.
I ALSO WORK FOR UW MADISON.
I HAVE WORKED FOR THEM FOR OVER
20 YEARS.
I MAKE MORE THAN I EVER THOUGHT
I WOULD MAKE.
I STILL QUALIFY FOR LOW INCOME
HOUSING BECAUSE THE AREA HAS
BECOME SO EXPENSIVE AND IT IS
VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND HOUSING.
THAT IS KIND OF THE SITUATION
WE WILL BE FINDING OURSELVES IN
IF WE DON'T GET HELP.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING
RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER,
AND THE CURRENT OWNERS.
I WAS VERY PROUD OF THE FACT HE
KEPT THE RENT BELOW MARKET RATE.
IT'S UNOBTAINABLE FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE. I HEAR FROM MY FRIENDS
WHO ARE RENTING THAT THEIR
RENTS WOULD GO UP EVERY YEAR
LIKE CLOCKWORK AND THEY WOULD
HAVE TO MOVE EVERY COUPLE OF
YEARS TO TRY TO FIND A PLACE
THAT WAS AFFORDABLE.
WHEREAS WE WOULD GO YEARS
BETWEEN INCREASES.
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY
HERE.
I'M A BIT OF AN INTROVERT.
I WASN'T AS CHUMMY WITH MY
NEIGHBORS UNTIL THE SITUATION
CALLED FOR IT.
BUT I'M FINDING OUT WE HAVE
CARING PEOPLE.
WE HAVE ARTISTS.
I HEARD THAT THERE WERE SOME
MUSICIANS THAT RECENTLY MOVED
OUT.
WE ARE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, YOU
MENTIONED THAT LANDLORDS ARE
STARTING TO SELL BECAUSE OF
THEIR LAND BEING WORTH A LOT.
SINCE THIS BUILDING WILL BE
SOLD MY FEAR IS THAT IT WILL BE
SOLD TO A PREDATORY DEVELOPER.
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER THE
MOST.
MONEY TALKS.
NOT ONLY IS THIS COMMUNITY OF
RENTERS WORTH SAVING BUT ALSO
THE BUILDING ITSELF. IT WAS
BUILT IN 1904.
I HAVE A REAL IRON MURPHY BED
FROM THAT TIME IN MY CLOSET
THAT WORKS.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING PIECE OF
ARCHITECTURE.
MY LOVE FOR THIS BUILDING AND
THIS AREA IS DEEP.
I BELONG TO THE CO-OP NEXT-DOOR.
I COULD WALK MOST PLACES I NEED
TO GO TO GET TO WORK.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO LOSE THIS
FOR MANY, MANY REASONS.
THANK YOU.
>> I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.
MY NAME IS JOEY.
THANKS, FIRST OF ALL, FOR
HEARING OUR STORY.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT AT THE
MADKIN APARTMENTS FOR MANY
YEARS.
MY FRIEND AND PREVIOUS ROOMMATE
DESCRIBED THE BUILDING TO ME
BEFORE I HAD SEEN IT AS A
CHARMING BUILDING WITH A LOT OF
CHARACTER, AND A QUIRKY WAY.
WHICH IS EVIDENT AS SOON AS YOU
WALK INTO THE BUILDING.
YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW ANY
HISTORY ABOUT THE BUILDING TO
FEEL THAT THE BUILDING HAS A
LOT OF HISTORY.
DARK WOOD FLOORS, A BANISTER
THAT COMPLEMENTS IT BY ITS DEEP
RED CARPET THAT LEADS UP THE
STAIRS TO MY APARTMENT WHERE
YOU WOULD FIND THINGS LIKE A
NONFUNCTIONING ICEBOX, THAT
SPEAKS BACK TO THE PRE-
REFRIGERATOR DAYS.
OR THERE IS A WAITER SHAFT THAT
LEADS DOWN TO OTHER APARTMENTS.
THERE IS A WALK-IN CLOSET OFF
OF THE LIVING ROOM WHERE YOU
FIND THESE PAINTED OVER
WINDOWS, THAT IF YOU OPENED
WOULD JUST FACE THE OTHER
PAINTED WINDOWS IN MY BATHROOM
OVER THIS NICE CLAWFOOT TUB.
IT'S REALLY UNIQUE. THE RENT IS
BETTER THAN ANYTHING YOU COULD
FIND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BOTH WHEN I MOVED IN AND
CURRENTLY.
WHEN I MOVED IN I HAD A NICE
VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN
RANGE FROM THE BEDROOM.
IT WAS THE PERFECT HOME.
ALSO I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY THE
COMMUNITY THAT IS IN THE
BUILDING.
PEOPLE STOPPED TO TALK TO ONE
ANOTHER IN THE HALLWAYS.
THEY HELP EACH OTHER OUT, THEY
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.
I REMEMBER COMING HOME ONE DAY
TO A POWER OUTAGE TO FIND HOUR-
LONG TERM RESIDENT, JACK,
WALKING THE HALLWAYS WITH A
FLASHLIGHT AND MAKING SURE
EVERYONE WAS SAFE.
MY NEIGHBOR, MARIANNE, I SAW
HER ACROSS MADISON JUST
CLEANING UP AROUND THE BUS STOP
JUST BECAUSE SHE CARES ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A SHARED LAUNDRY ROOM
THAT HAS SERVED AS A FREE ROOM
WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE THINGS LIKE
SMALL APPLIANCES, ART, AND
BOOKS.
FURNITURE. DURING THE PAST 14
WALKS TO AND FROM GOODWILL,
WHERE I HAVE WORKED ALL THIS
TIME, I HAVE WATCHED ONE HOUSE
AFTER ANOTHER GET KNOCKED DOWN
TO MAKE WAY FOR A TALL, HASTILY
BUILT SHIPPING CONTAINER
APARTMENT.
THE VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS THAT
I ONCE HAD IS NOW IN VIEW OF
NEWER AND SHINIER APARTMENTS
AND OFFICE BUILDINGS.
IN 2017 I TOOK A SIDE JOB, PET
SITTING THROUGH ROVER.
THAT IS CURRENTLY WHERE I'M AT.
THROUGH THE AND DENVER I HAVE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY
AROUND MANY BUILDINGS IN
CAPITOL HILL IN SEATTLE.
MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY THEY
TURN OUT TO FEEL LIKE A
REPLICATION OF THE LAST
SOULLESS BUILDING THAT I WAS
IN, WHERE YOU NEED A KEY FOB TO
GET IN.
I LIKE USING A BRASS KEY TO GET
INTO MY BUILDING, WHICH SEEMS
TO BE GOING AWAY THESE DAYS.
I FEEL VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE
SPENT THE TIME THAT I HAVE IN
THE BUILDING.
IT'S THE LONGEST I HAVE EVER
LIVED IN ONE PLACE.
IT HAS FELT MORE LIKE A HOME TO
ME THAN ANY OTHER PLACE I HAVE
LIVED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE
HOLDS FOR THE BUILDING OR WHERE
I MIGHT BE IN A YEAR OR TWO.
I FEEL THAT I OWE IT TO THE
BUILDING THAT I HAVE CALLED
HOME FOR THE PAST DECADE AND A
HALF TO DO ANYTHING THAT I CAN
TO HELP PROTECT IT FROM
BECOMING THE NEXT CASUALTY OF
HEDGE FUND AGREED AND A RAPIDLY
CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC.
I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD
DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT.
AS A QUICK SIDE NOTE, THE OWNER
WAS BORN 104 YEARS AGO TODAY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MR. MATT
KEMP.
I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
THANKS FOR LISTENING.
>> I WILL OPEN NEXT IF THAT'S
OKAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, FOR HEARING US OUT
TODAY.
I WROTE A SHORT STATEMENT.
MY NAME IS JUSTIN.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 18
YEARS.
I WILL HAVE LIVED IN THE MADKIN
APARTMENTS FOR 13 YEARS AS OF
THIS NOVEMBER.
IT'S RELATIVELY LOW RENT AND
HAS INFREQUENT RENT INCREASES.
I LIVE IN A BUILDING WITH MANY
OF MY FRIENDS AS NEIGHBORS AND
I HAVE BEEN FREELANCING AND
VIDEO POSTPRODUCTION FOR 10
YEARS.
MY INCOME TENDS TO VARY.
I DO THE MAJORITY OF MY WORK AT
HOME BUT BEING LOCATED HERE AT
HOME ALLOWS ME THE FLEXIBILITY
TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET ON-
SITE WORK WHEN NEEDED.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT MY
ROOMMATE MOVED OUT AS A
PRECAUTION, AS PEOPLE WERE
STARTING TO QUARANTINE AND
LOCKDOWN.
THANKFULLY MY RENT WAS LOW
ENOUGH AND I HAD ENOUGH INCOME
THAT I COULD TAKE ON THE EXTRA
COST.
I KNOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE
NOT AS LUCKY.
I WANT TO DO WHAT I CAN TO
PRESERVE THIS BUILDING.
NOT ONLY AS AN AFFORDABLE
LIVING OPTION THAT -- FAR TOO
MANY LUXURY APARTMENTS. BUT
ALSO AS A POSSIBLE CIVIL RIGHTS
HISTORIC LANDMARK, AS SUGGESTED
BY THE RAPID TRANSIT
ASSESSMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE
TODAY FOR MAKING TIME TO HEAR
FROM SOME OF YOUR VOTERS.
I ALSO AM A RESIDENT.
MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER.
THIS BUILDING SITS AT A REALLY
INCREDIBLE INTERSECTION. IT
SITS AT THE INTERSECTION OF
CAPITOL HILL AND THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT.
THAT CONNECTS IT TO AN
ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY. CIVIL
RIGHTS ISSUES, LABOR UNION WORK
, AND BLACK SEATTLE.
WHICH IS RAPIDLY VANISHING.
BUT IT ALSO SITS AT A VERY
INTERESTING INTERSECTION OF
HISTORY IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THIS
BUILDING.
WE HAVE HAD WRITERS, ARTISTS,
AMAZING PEOPLE.
WE HAVE A GRAMMY AWARD WINNING
MUSICIAN THAT LIVES IN OUR
BASEMENT.
HE LIVES HERE BECAUSE HE CANNOT
AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
IF THAT DOESN'T SAY SOMETHING
THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES.
MY STORY, QUICKLY, I WAS RAISED
IN POVERTY.
I EXPERIENCED A LOT OF HOUSING
INSTABILITY THROUGH MY WHOLE
CHILDHOOD.
I ALSO HAVE LIVED HERE THE
LONGEST OF ANY PLACE I HAVE
LIVED IN MY LIFE.
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 12 YEARS.
I MOVED HERE ALSO BECAUSE
FRIENDS WERE IN THE BUILDING.
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THAT HAS
BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL
RESOURCE. KNOWING THAT I HAD
FRIENDS WHO FELT LIKE FAMILY
JUST DOWN THE HALL.
WE COULD POD TOGETHER AND KEEP
OURSELVES SANE THROUGH THIS
INCREDIBLY WILD TIME THAT THE
CIVILIZATION IS LIVING THROUGH.
THE BUILDING ITSELF IS SUCH AN
OLD ONE WITH A LOT OF CHARACTER
AND SASS.
SOMEBODY THAT WAS IN OUR GROUP
AT THE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY
SAID, IF IT WAS POSSIBLE IT
FEELS LIKE THIS BUILDING LOVES
YOU BACK.
IT FEELS LIKE THIS BUILDING
HOLDS YOU.
I THINK THAT THIS BUILDING WAS
BUILT WITH A MISSION.
I THINK THAT IT STILL FULFILLS
THIS MISSION.
THAT MISSION IS OFFERING REAL
HOMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CITY.
NOT SHOEBOX SHIPPING CONTAINERS
THAT PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE IN.
BUT SPACES THAT PEOPLE CAN
ACTUALLY LIVE AND THRIVE IN.
WE CAN WORK FROM HOME, WE CAN
PURSUE HOBBIES, WE CAN HOST
GUESTS IN OUR HOME.
WE CAN, OSTENSIBLY, LIVE IN OUR
HOME AND HAVE FULL LIVES IN
THESE HOMES AND EXPERIENCE THE
BENEFITS OF STABILITY AND LONG-
TERM TENANCY.
AS ONE OF THE OTHER FOLKS WHO
WAS HERE EARLIER MENTIONED, AS
THE RENT HAS INCREASED, HAVING
TO MOVE EVERY YEAR, EVERY TWO
YEARS, YOU'LL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING
IN YOUR LIFE IF YOU ARE
CONSTANTLY DESTABILIZED.
THE SPACES IN THIS BUILDING
ALLOW PEOPLE TO RAISE FAMILIES,
PURSUE HOBBIES, HOST GUESTS.
AGAIN, RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE CITY.
THIS, TO ME, SPEAKS TO THE
DEEPEST POINT OF ALL OF THIS.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE
RICH OR FAMOUS TO SURVIVE IN
SEATTLE.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE
CONNECTED TO SOME ILLUSTRIOUS
HISTORY OR SOME MAGICAL POT OF
GOLD TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE A
FULL LIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
CITY THAT SUPPOSEDLY SUPPORTS
ARTISTS, CREATIVE, AND
PROGRESSIVES.
YET WE ARE BEING CHASED OUT
HAND OVER FOOT.
A LONG TIME AGO THERE WAS A
BILL THAT SAID, THE LAST PEOPLE
TO LEAVE SEATTLE PLEASE TURN
OUT THE LIGHTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THEM ON.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE LIGHTS
ON.
I WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN SEATTLE.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE LIKE US,
AND EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS,
SPEAKS TO THE HEART OF THE
PREVIOUS OWNER, SALLY, NOT
RAISING RENT.
AND THE BUILDING OWNER HIMSELF
CREATING HOMES HERE IN THE
HEART OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRULY PURSUE
FULL LIVES.
THANKS AGAIN, GUYS.
>> I GUESS I CAN GO NEXT.
WHEN LIZ WAS SPEAKING SHE
MENTIONED THAT OUR NEIGHBOR WAS
TRYING TO CONNECT, AND SHE
COULDN'T.
I PRETTY MUCH KNEW WHO SHE WAS
TALKING ABOUT SO I RAN DOWN THE
HALL TO SEE MARIANNE.
I THINK THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO
THE TYPE OF NEIGHBORS WE HAVE
HERE AT THE MADKIN APARTMENTS.
I HAVE SOME POINTS I WOULD LIKE
TO BRING UP.
SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS DID A
GREAT JOB.
BUT LIKE MY NEIGHBORS I AM
REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE
PROSPECT OF THIS BUILDING BEING
SOLD TO DEVELOPERS WILL DISRUPT
OUR LONG-STANDING HOME.
I HAVE PERSONALLY LIVED HERE
FOR JUST OVER A DECADE.
WHILE OUR BUILDING HAS NOT HAD
A LOT OF TURNOVER, EVERYONE HAS
BEEN HERE. WHEN I MOVED IN
PEOPLE HAD BEEN HERE A LOT
LONGER THAN I HAD.
DURING THAT TIME THAT I HAVE
BEEN HERE, I HAVE SEEN LONG-
STANDING INSTITUTIONS, BOTH
HOMES AND BUSINESSES, DESTROYED
AND REPLACED.
WHAT HAS REPLACED THEM?
IT HAS REALLY ERASED SOME OF
THE CULTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT I INITIALLY LOVED.
IT'S WHAT DREW ME HERE.
I HAVE CONCERNS. I'M SORRY, I'M
CONSULTING MY NOTES.
RECENTLY, WHEN HE GOT THE NOTICE
THAT THE BUILDING WAS POSSIBLY
GOING TO BE PUT ON THE MARKET,
I LOOKED AROUND AT WHAT OTHER
APARTMENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
WERE GOING FOR.
THEN I LOOKED OUTSIDE OF THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, AROUND THE CITY.
THE RENTS WERE NO LESS THAN
TRIPLE WHAT I CURRENTLY PAY.
IF I WERE TO BE DISPLACED OR MY
NEIGHBORS TO BE DISPLACED, I'M
AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO
THEM AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO
ME.
I THINK ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE
PUT IN THIS PLACE WOULD NOT BE
CONSTRUCTED WITH PEOPLE LIKE US
IN MIND.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY
BEFORE WE RELINQUISH?
>> YES.
I MARIANNE.
EXCUSE ME.
I'M ONE OF THE SENIORS IN THE
BUILDING.
I HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT 18 YEARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICE
AS I AGE HERE IS IT IS STILL
VERY VIBRANT.
I'M NOT KICKED OFF TO THE SIDE.
AS YOU CAN SEE MY NEIGHBORS
HEL ME AT EVERY PHASE THAT I
HAVE GONE THROUGH.
ACROSS THE STREET THERE WAS AN
ALZHEIMER'S MANSION ACROSS THE
STREET ON MADISON.
TODAY IT IS A PRESCHOOL.
THE DIFFERENCE OF HEARING
CHILDREN'S VOICES IS JUST
AMAZING.
IT'S THAT FEELING OF HEARING
PEOPLE PLAY, SMALL PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT I FEEL WHEN I'M IN
HERE.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHAT
HAPPENS.
THE LOVE ALL ACROSS.
PEOPLE ARE SO KIND TO ME.
THEY ARE SO HELPFUL.
I'M ON MY THIRD BACK SURGERY
AND I'M ON THE TOP FLOOR.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I WILL ALWAYS MAKE IT UP TO THE
THIRD FLOOR.
EVERYONE HELPS ME.
MY CATS GO WHERE THEY ARE, THEY
ARE IN LOVE WITH MY NEIGHBORS
BUT I CAN'T SAY WHO.
>> NO COMMENT.
>> I WAS RAISED WITH A SINGLE
MOM, MEXICAN DESCENT.
WE STARTED OUT IN HOUSING
PROJECTS. HIGH POINT, HOLLY
PARK.
WHAT I LEARNED IS YOU COULD
WAKE UP AND YOUR NEIGHBORS
WOULD BE EVICTED AND YOU WOULD
NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.
WHAT I LEARNED IS IF YOU LOVE
SOMEBODY, SAY IT NOW.
AND LET IT COME OUT NOW.
THAT'S KIND OF HOW I HAVE LIVED
MY LIFE.
I KNOW WHEN I LOVE SOMEBODY.
THIS PLACE, HAVING IT BE THE
BUILDING OWNER'S BIRTHDAY, MY
FIRST GRANDCHILD WAS BORN HERE
ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
IN JUNE, ALONG WITH POVERTY AND
A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO WITH
NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH, BEING
VIOLATED IN EVERY WAY. I TURNED
TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.
JUNE 7th.
I WILL HAVE 40 YEARS CLEAN AND
SOBER.
WHAT I DO, A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE
ODD PEOPLE COMING INTO MY
HOUSE.
I SPONSOR A LOT OF WONDERFUL
ODD PEOPLE.
INCREDIBLE ANGELS.
THAT IS MY SERVICE BACK TO THE
CITY.
I WAS BORN ON CHERRY, AT
PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL.
I KNOW THIS TOWN VERY WELL.
I WALK EVERYWHERE.
I SAY HELLO TO STRANGERS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT DURING THE
WINTER I'M GOING TO ASK PEOPLE
FOR BLANKETS, I'M GOING TO ASK
PEOPLE FOR COATS.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S PROBABLY
ILLEGAL FOR PEOPLE TO CAMP OUT
AT THE BUS STOP IT IS ALSO
WRONG FOR ME TO NOT BRING THEM
SOMETHING TO EAT OR ANOTHER
BLANKET OR A COAT OR A PAIR OF
SOCKS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE BRING ME THAT.
IT DOESN'T COME OUT OF MY
POCKET.
I'M RETIRED.
I LIVE ON A VERY LOW INCOME.
I'M DOING OKAY.
I LOVE THIS PLACE.
TO HAVE BOTH MY GRANDCHILDREN
BORN IN THIS BUILDING. ASIDE
FROM THAT, DURING ALCOHOLISM
AND DIVORCES AND ALL OF THAT I
DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO PROTECT
MYSELF OR STICK UP FOR MYSELF.
I LOST MY CHILDREN, MY DAUGHTER
, FOR EIGHT YEARS.
MY SON NEVER KNEW ME FOR 14
YEARS.
THIS BUILDING STABILIZED ME IN
SUCH A WAY, EVERYTHING RETURNED
TO ME.
MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HERE AND
FELT THEIR MOTHER AND HUG THEIR
MOTHER HERE.
AND I LEARNED THEIR PART, IT
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITH
THE INTERNET NOW, BUT LOSING
THEIR MOTHER.
AND UNDERSTANDING HUMANITY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? THESE PEOPLE
LINED UP.
THESE PEOPLE LINED UP HAVE HELD
ME TOGETHER IN SO MANY
SITUATIONS.
I DON'T EVER WANT TO DRINK OR
DRUG AGAIN IN MY LIFE BUT I
HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN SENT SOME
STURDY PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME FEEL
LOVED, VALUED.
THIS IS WHAT THE MADKIN
APARTMENTS COMES UP WITH.
IT'S SO HARD TO EXPLAIN.
I FEEL LIKE THIS SOLID PLACE
HAS EQUIPPED ME TO DO ALL OF
THE HUMANITARIAN WORK I DO WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT'S QUIET.
I COULDN'T TELL ANYBODY TO
DEMEAN SOMEONE ELSE'S EXISTENCE.
ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU HEAR US.
I HOPE YOU HEAR WHAT A MAGICAL
CARPET RIDE WE ARE ON.
WE ARE ALL BRAIDED INTO THIS
WONDERFUL MAGIC CARPET RIDE.
IT DOES MATTER. PART OF MY
GETTING SOBER IS GOING TO 23rd
AND CHERRY FOR MY MEETINGS.
WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK
SOBER PEOPLE.
THEY ARE BORN IN THE HOOD,
APPEAR.
AROUND HERE.
THEY KNEW WHEN THE LINES
STARTED.
THEY KNEW ABOUT THE FAKE
MORTGAGES AND ALL OF THAT.
TRYING TO STAY SOBER THROUGH
THIS.
I'M REALLY DIVERSE IN MY
SUPPORT SYSTEM.
>> I THINK WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
YOU HEARING US AND FOR ANY
ASSISTANCE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO
HELP SAVE OUR HOMES.
>> THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO HEAR
REAL STORIES. JUST REAL PEOPLE.
TWO THINGS I WANT TO SAY.
I ALSO WANT TO CALL ON TED, WHO
WAS AT YOUR MEETING ON
WEDNESDAY.
REPRESENTING MY OFFICE.
FIRST OF ALL, MARIANNE,
CONGRATULATIONS FOR 40 YEARS.
THAT IS A REAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I KNOW THAT THE MORE THIS GAP
IN YOUR SOCIETY IMPOSES CRISIS
AFTER CRISIS ON OR REWORKING
PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING
TO COPE.
THAT, COMBINED WITH THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC, PEOPLE ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING.
YOUR STORY IS THAT IT CAN BE
DONE AND YOU CAN BE SOBER FOR
DECADES.
THAT IS REALLY A STRONG MESSAGE.
I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR SHARING
THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST AS
EASILY HAVE NOT MENTIONED THAT.
I'M VERY GLAD YOU SAID THAT
BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL
REALLY REACH THE HEARTS OF A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO
STRUGGLING.
MAYBE SOME OF THEM ARE NOT ABLE
TO TALK ABOUT IT OPENLY YET.
THAT GIVES THEM THE COURAGE.
I THINK SHARING IT IN A
COMMUNITY ACTUALLY HELPS TO
HEAL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PEOPLE
INTO YOUR LIFE TO HELP YOU DO
THAT.
YOUR POINT WAS WELL TAKEN ABOUT
HOW DURING ALL OF THAT CRISIS,
AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PAIN
OF LOSING YOUR CHILDREN, EVEN
FOR A SHORT WHILE.
I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY,
TRULY FEEL COMPASSION FOR HOW
YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF
THIS.
BUT THE POINT THAT YOUR FELLOW
TENANTS FOR THE HELP THAT YOU
NEEDED IN THOSE REALLY, REALLY
CRUCIAL MOMENTS, I THINK ALL OF
THIS IS JUST REMARKABLE.
THE FACT THAT YOU ALL, MANY OF
YOU HAVE LIVED THERE FOR OVER A
DECADE.
YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY SAID IT.
IT'S ALMOST UNHEARD OF.
THE THING THAT I WAS REMINDED
OF IMMEDIATELY WAS WE HAD A
PRESS CONFERENCE LAST SEPTEMBER
TO UNVEIL OUR RENT CONTROL
LEGISLATION, WHICH I URGE YOU
ALL TO LOOK AT AS WELL.
WE HAD A SPEAKER WHO WAS A
DOCTORAL STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
HE SAID, EVER SINCE I MOVED TO
SEATTLE I HAVE MOVED EVERY
YEAR.
LIKE CLOCKWORK, I HAVE MOVED
EVERY YEAR.
ALSO THE FACT THAT RENTERS ARE
FORCED TO MOVE SO FREQUENTLY,
IT ACTUALLY ALLOWS THE SYSTEM
TO PUT US EVEN FURTHER TO A
RACE TO THE BOTTOM.
WHEN WE ARE ALL ISOLATED AND
ATOMIZED WE CANNOT FIGHT BACK.
IT'S ONLY WHEN YOU COME
TOGETHER, AS YOU ALL HAVE AS
TENANTS, AS ORGANIZED TENANTS
OR ORGANIZED WORKERS, LIKE
STARBUCKS AND AMAZON WORKERS,
IT'S ONLY WHEN WE COME TOGETHER
AND PUSHBACK AGAINST THE
ISOLATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
ACHIEVE SOMETHING.
OTHERWISE THE SYSTEM JUST
GRINDS YOU DOWN.
THAT IS ITSELF A TESTAMENT TO
WHY WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE
SAVING YOUR TENANCY IN THIS
BUILDING.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU, FROM MY
OFFICE, AS YOU KNOW, WE WOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE ON YOUR SIDE.
WE WOULD REALLY FIGHT TO MAKE
SURE THAT A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION CAN BUY THE
BUILDING. YOU'RE ALL SETTING UP
YOUR TENANT UNION OR
ORGANIZATION IS THE FIRST STEP
FOR THAT.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
WITH A QUESTION OR COMMENT AND
THEN, TED, YOU SHOULD ALSO
SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED AT THE
MEETING.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR TALKING
ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
IT'S HEARTWARMING TO HEAR.
IT REMINDS ME OF THAT SHOW.
I'M GOING TO DATE MYSELF NOW.
TALES OF THE CITY.
ALL OF THE ODDBALLS IN THAT
HOUSE. I STILL REMEMBER THE
STORY.
A BUILDING AND A COMMUNITY
WORTH SAVING.
TO MARIANNE, CONGRATULATIONS.
I'VE ONLY GOT 18 MONTHS SOBER.
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
IS.
MAYBE YOU TOUCHED ON IT BUT I
DIDN'T HEAR IT.
HAS ANYBODY TALKED TO THE OWNER
OR THE MANAGER TO FIND OUT WHY
THEY ARE SELLING IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH.
I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
SAYING WHAT I DO KNOW.
IT IS NOW OWNED BY MY THREE
AUNTS.
I DO RESPECT THEIR DECISIONS.
I WANTED TO TRY TO BE
RESPECTFUL OF THAT.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT THEY HAVE
DECIDED TO SELL.
SORRY.
NO DEEPER INSIGHT.
>> ASKING, WHY, IS MAYBE THE
FIRST WAY TO FIGURE IT OUT.
THANKS.
>> TED, GO AHEAD.
>> DETAILS RELATED TO THE.
THE PREVIOUS OWNER, WHO WAS
ACTING AS THE LANDLORD, PASSED
AWAY.
THE HEIRS DO NOT INTEND TO PLAY
THAT ROLE.
THAT'S THE THING THAT HAPPENED
THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SITUATION
RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THE POINTS THAT CAME UP
YOUR WERE THE POINTS THAT WERE
ALSO DISCUSSED AT THE EXCELLENT
MEETING ORGANIZED BY THE
TENANTS UNION ON WEDNESDAY,
WHICH I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND.
I'M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT
BECAUSE IT IS REALLY OPPRESSIVE
HOW THIS IS ORGANIZED INTO A
TENANTS ASSOCIATION.
THERE IS NO WAY TO FIGHT IF YOU
DO NOT FIRST GET ORGANIZED.
THAT HAPPENED REALLY FAST.
I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN IT
HAPPEN THIS FAST.
IT'S A REAL TESTAMENT TO HOW
PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN THIS
BUILDING FOR SO LONG, AND HAVE
A COMMUNITY.
WHICH ALSO, AS COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT MENTIONED, WHEN RENTS
ARE NOT RAISED THROUGH THE ROOF
AND PEOPLE ARE NOT EVICTED BY
RENT INCREASES.
THEY CAN FORM A COMMUNITY.
CONTROLLING RENT IS GOOD FOR
ALL OF SOCIETY.
THAT IS IN DANGER NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
MENTIONED, DISCUSSED AT THE
MEETING, WAS FINDING A
NONPROFIT.
THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM
LEHIGH AT THE MEETING.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT NONPROFIT
HOUSING PROVIDERS LIKE THAT.
IF THERE IS AN ORGANIZED EFFORT
TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE STATE OR
CITY TO FUND SOMETHING, IT'S
POSSIBLE TO SAVE THIS SORT OF
HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE THERE.
IF THAT HAPPENS THEN THE RENT
WILL NOT BE RAISED THROUGH THE
ROOF, WHICH IS GOING TO BE
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL.
THE RENTERS HERE TODAY FORMED
AN ASSOCIATION TO ADVOCATE FOR
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, TED.
WE WILL OF COURSE BE IN TOUCH
WITH ALL OF THE TENANTS.
MY OFFICE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH
YOU ALL.
THE BEST THING WOULD BE IF THE
BUILDING IS BOUGHT, THERE IS AN
ABILITY FOR A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION TO BUY THE
BUILDING SO THAT THE RENTS CAN
REMAIN AFFORDABLE.
IN TERMS OF THE QUESTION OF WHY
THE CURRENT OWNERS ARE SELLING,
I DON'T KNOW EITHER.
WE DON'T KNOW.
I'M SURE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE FACT THAT, RIGHT NOW,
IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIME TO GET
A HUGE VALUE ON THE LAND.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE LIVES OF
THE TENANTS OF THE BUILDING TO
BE UPENDED BECAUSE SOME PERSON
NEEDS TO MAKE THEIR PERSONAL
DECISION.
WHICH IS WHY MY OFFICE IS ALSO
A VERY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR AN
EXPANSION OF SOCIAL HOUSING.
TAXING BIG BUSINESS AND THE
WEALTHY TO CREATE THE FUNDS TO
BUILD A PUBLICLY OWNED HOUSING
THAT IS AFFORDABLE, BECAUSE IT
IS PUBLICLY OWNED.
ALSO WE NEED RENT CONTROL AS
WELL.
WE BOTH RENT CONTROL TO BE SURE
THAT RENTAL HOMES THAT ARE
OWNED BY PRIVATE CORPORATIONS
EXPLOIT RENTERS. DLORDS DON'T
IT CANNOT BE THE WHIM OF SOME
PRIVATE OWNER EITHER.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE
DEVELOPING A TENANTS
ASSOCIATION IS IMPORTANT.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED
IN THE FIGHT FOR TENANTS AT
BAKER.
IT'S A BIG COMPLEX WITH OVER
500 TENANTS THAT IS OWNED BY A
NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT HAS
FUNDING.
THE CONDITIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY
DEPLORABLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, TENANT
ORGANIZING IS GOING TO BE
CRUCIAL NO MATTER WHO YOUR
OWNER IS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE
ORGANIZED FOR DIFFERENT KINDS
OF RIGHTS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE FIGHTING TO
MAINTAIN THE TENANCY THERE.
BUT HOW MUCH RENT GOES UP, WHAT
THE CONDITIONS ARE, ALL OF THAT
NEEDS TO BE IN THE TENANTS'
HANDS.
YOU NEED TO GET TOGETHER
REGARDLESS IS MY POINT.
WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU
ALL.
WE WILL ALSO, I'M SURE THE
TENANTS UNION IS WATCHING.
THE SEATTLE RENTERS ASSOCIATION
IS ALSO WATCHING.
THE RENT COMMISSION IS
WATCHING.
WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU ALL ON
THIS.
FOR NOW I WANTED TO THANK YOU
ALL AGAIN FOR SPEAKING SO
ELOQUENTLY TO THIS COMMITTEE.
WE WILL BE SHARING WHAT YOU
HAVE SAID, THE STORIES YOU HAVE
SHARED ON MY COUNSEL OFFICE
SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.
WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
OKAY?
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY POINTS
FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS, WHICH
I DON'T SEE, I WILL WISH
EVERYONE A GOOD DAY AND A GOOD
WEEKEND AND ADJOURN THE
MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THINK YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THANK YOU.