>>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING
TO EVERYBODY. THIS IS THE
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS FRIDAY,
JANUARY 6, 2023. THE TIME IS
9:33 A.M. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> 3 PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, TED. WELCOME,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SAID THEY
WOULD BE UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY
AND HAVE BEEN EXCUSED. TODAY
WILL BE A SHORT COMMITTEE
MEETING. WE HAVE TWO POINTS ON
THE AGENDA, BOTH OF WHICH ARE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
RENTERS COMMISSION. THE SEATTLE
RENTERS COMMISSION HAS PLAYED
A TREMENDOUS ROLE ADVOCATING
FOR RENTERS RIGHTS SINCE ITS
INCEPTION. THEY HAVE MADE
SEVERAL IMPORTANT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW
LEGISLATION WHICH HAVE PASSED
INTO LAW. AND MY OFFICE , NOT
ONLY AS THE CURRENT CHAIR OF
THE RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE
AND ALSO AS A COUNCIL OFFICE
THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO
WRITING A RENTERS BILL OF
RIGHTS HAS HAD A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE WITH THE MEMBERS OF
THE RENTERS COMMISSION WHO ARE
CLEARLY COMMITTED TO MAKING
THE LIVES OF RENTERS BETTER,
ESPECIALLY IN THIS CITY WHERE
HOUSING IS SO UNAFFORDABLE.
THEY RECOMMENDED 180 DAYS
NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASE, SIX
MONTHS NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASE
AND SUPPORTED RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE
ECONOMICALLY EVICTED BY RENT
INCREASES. THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM, AND THEY HAVE ALSO
BEEN ADVOCATING FOR RENT
CONTROL. AS PEOPLE WHO ARE
LISTENING WILL KNOW, WE WON
THE SIX MONTH NOTICE FOR RENT
INCREASES AND ECONOMIC
ASSISTANCE ORDINANCE FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY EVICTED BY
RENT INCREASES. THE RECENTLY
RECOMMENDED -- THEY RECENTLY
RECOMMENDED PROHIBITING RENTAL
CHECKS FROM HOUSING INDUSTRIES
WHICH IS LEGISLATION MY OFFICE
SUPPORTS AND HOPES TO PASS THIS
YEAR IN ADDITION TO OTHER BILLS
FOR RENTERS RIGHTS. THIS YEAR,
I ALSO INTEND FOR THIS
COMMITTEE TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION,
STOPPING GOT INCREASES AT
LEGISLATION AND CORPORATE
LOOPHOLES. WE ARE ALSO
PREPARING LEGISLATION TO CAP
LATE FEES WHICH I BELIEVE WILL
BE THE NEXT BILL COMING BEFORE
THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE HEARING
FROM THE NOMINEES OF THE
RENTERS COMMISSION, WE WILL
HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT . HOW MANY
DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT?
>> THERE ARE THREE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, ONE IN
CHAMBERS AND 2 REMOTE.
>> OKAY. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES EACH. TED WILL READ OUT
THE NAMES OF THE SPEAKERS. WE
WILL START WITH IN PERSON, THEN
GO TO ONLINE. FOR PEOPLE
SPEAKING REMOTELY, WHEN YOUR
NAME IS CALLED, YOU WILL BE
PROMPTED TO UNMUTE YOUR SELF.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, PLEASE HIT
STAR SIX ON YOUR PHONE TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF AND BEGIN.
THESE CALL THE SPEAKERS.
>> FIRST SPEAKER IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN.
>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ].
MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN . I
STAY HERE WITH MY RED SIGN AND
MY YELLOW DAVID STARR BECAUSE
I AM JEWISH. I CAN DO IT.
NOBODY HAS A PROBLEM. BUT
PROBLEM WHAT AS WE HAVE HERE,
THE BIG RENT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS
A NIGHTMARE. I GOT A LITTLE BIT
CONFUSED BECAUSE I GO TO THIS
COMMITTEE MANY TIME AND TRY TO
UNDERSTAND, WHY YOU ALWAYS
SUPPORT APPOINTMENTS AS CHIEF,
DIRTY CROOK FOR RENTER
COMMITTEE? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
PRICE ALMOST DOUBLED FOR THE
PAST SIX YEAR. SO HOW WE CAN
CHANGE IT? [ SPEAKING
NON-ENGLISH ] LOW INCOME IS
NOT LOW IN SEATTLE. IS THIS
WHAT YOU'RE DOING? SO I AM
TOTALLY CONFUSED. TO LOOK LIKE
YOU, YOU WERE EXAMPLE OF
APPROVE MY TRESPASSERS. WHY?
BECAUSE I AM A JEW? NOBODY IN
AMERICA -- YOU TALK ABOUT
PEOPLE OR DENYING PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN? OR THE
PEOPLE -- YOUR -- COMRADE HAS
COME TO THIS PLACE ALWAYS
BROKEN RULE IN LAW I'VE NEVER
BROKEN RULE FOR ONE SECOND.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED.
SO I RIGHT NOW SPEAK TO THIS
750,000 SLAVE AND ZOMBIE. YOU
KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN? CLEAN
THIS CHAMBER TOTALLY. GO OUT,
ANOTHER FOR 2. [ INAUDIBLE ]
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOO MANY
PROBLEM, TOO MANY PROBLEM AND
I AM CLASSIC EXAMPLE. HOW
PEOPLE LIKE YOU, IMMIGRANT LIKE
ME, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN?
ACTING LIKE A NAZI, EXACTLY
WHAT YOU ARE. SO PLEASE, STAND
UP, AMERICA. STANDUP, CLEANSE
THIS CHAMBER TOTALLY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GAIL. FOLLOWED BY MEGAN
MURPHY.
>> GOOD MORNING. HOWARD GAIL,
DISTRICT 7, SPEAKING ABOUT THE
NOW RAMPANT VIEWS BY CORPORATE
PROPERTY OWNERS OF SEATTLE LAWS
THAT ALLOW FOR THE LEGAL AND
RUNS AROUND JUST CAUSE EVICTION
AND LIMIT TO RENTAL ADDICTIONS.
OVER THIS LAST YEAR, MASSIVE
DEVELOPER PROPERTY OWNERS LIKE
CADENCE REALTY WHICH FAMOUSLY
DISPLACED SECTION 8 TENANTS
FROM THE CHATEAU ON CAPITOL
HILL HAVE DISCOVERED A WAY TO
FUNCTIONALLY EVICT PEOPLE AND
RAISE RENTS WAY BEYOND THE
LIMITS OF SEATTLE LAW WITHOUT
HAVING TO PAY THE FULL BURDEN
OF TENANT RELOCATION SYSTEMS OR
PROVIDE THE 180 DAY NOTICE. A
PROPERTY OWNER SIMPLY CLAIMS
THEY ARE DOING RENOVATIONS THAT
COST OVER $6000 AND THE REQUIRE
THE TENANT TO VACATE THE
PROPERTY FOR 3 DAYS OR MORE.
IN MY BUILDING WITH 48
APARTMENTS, CADENCE REALTY IS
SIMPLY REPLACING CABINETS,
FIXTURES AND APPLIANCES IN THE
KITCHEN AND BATHROOM. NONE OF
THESE CHANGES ARE REQUIRED FOR
CODE COMPLIANCE OR SAFETY. SO
TO FORCE PEOPLE OUT WITHOUT
PAYING RELOCATION FEES
WHATSOEVER, AND THEN RAISING
RENTS BY 70%. 70%. AS AN ADDED
BONUS FOR CADENCE, THE TENANTS
WHO MEET THE GUIDANCE, THE
CITY MUST PAY ONE HALF OF THE
PAY. THIS IS A FLAGRANT ABUSE
OF CITY CODE, IT WILL CONVERT
48 UNITS INTO UNAFFORDABLE
UNITS DISPLACING FAMILIES.
CADENCE IS DOING THIS IN MANY
DOZENS OF BUILDINGS ALL ACROSS
THE CITY. WITH SDCI HAPPILY
ISSUING PERMITS BECAUSE SDCI
FEARS LEGAL ACTION FROM THE
DEVELOPERS WHEREAS THEY FEEL NO
THREAT FROM DISEMPOWERED
TENANTS OR CITIES ELECTED
OFFICIALS. HOW CAN THE COUNCIL
CLAIM THEY ARE FIGHTING
HOMELESSNESS WHEN THE CITY
REGULARLY ISSUES PERMITS FOR AN
END RUN AROUND THE MAJOR TENANT
LAWS THAT WE HAVE THAT WILL
SIMPLY PRODUCE MORE HOMELESS
PEOPLE? THANK YOU.
>> FINAL REMOTE SPEAKER IS
MEGAN MURPHY. WE HAVE ONE MORE
SPEAKER IN CHAMBERS AFTER MEGAN
MURPHY. MEGAN, GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING. I WOULD MUCH
RATHER BE TALKING ABOUT HOW
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION
MEETING WANTING TO SUE THE
MAYOR FOR VIOLATING THE RIGHTS
OF THE PEOPLE. INSTEAD, I HAVE
TO TALK ABOUT BEING STOPPED BY
A FORMER CEO IN TOWN WITH A LOT
OF MONEY. I WAS THE NANNY FOR
THE WEIGHTS FAMILY WHO OWNED
GATEWAY COMPUTERS IN 1999. AND
I TURNED THEM DOWN FOR THE
POSITION, YOU KNOW? LIVING WITH
THEM MORE AND GETTING A LOT OF
MONEY FROM THEM FOR GRADUATE
SCHOOL AND A CAR. I AM A
SOCIALIST. YOU KNOW, I TURNED
THEM DOWN IN 1999. I LOST
CUSTODY OF MY SON IN 2011 . I
DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER
ACTIVISTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE
BEING STOCKED. BUT I FEEL LIKE
THIS HAS UNDERTONES OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT. AND BECAUSE OF MY
LACK OF ECONOMIC -- I AM ON
DISABILITY FOR ANXIETY -- LACK
OF ECONOMIC POWER AND TIES,
THESE PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
TO SEND PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE
THEM TO MY AA MEETING . IT IS
DOING ME PERSONAL DAMAGE AND
PSYCHOLOGICALLY HARASSING ME. I
LOST CUSTODY OF MY SON IN 2011
IT IS I WENT TO POLICE. THE
POLICE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. I
SAID, DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS? I
FEEL LIKE I AM BEING STOCKED.
THEY SAID I'M HAVING A
PSYCHOTIC BREAK. THEY TOOK MY
SON. 90 DAYS LATER I LOST MY
SON. THAT'S BEEN 12 YEARS. NOW
IT SEEMS LIKE THE CEO OF
MICROSOFT IS STALKING ME. WOULD
YOU BELIEVE BASED ON MY
SOCIALIST BELIEFS, I AM READING
ABOUT MONSANTO AND IT FEELS
LIKE I AM HAVING MONSANTO
SPRAYED ALL OVER MY LIFE? I
SUPPORT JULIAN ASSANGE. I
BELIEVE THAT CARBON CAPTURE IS
THE POLITICAL FRONT TO
PROLONGED FOSSIL FUEL. SO, YOU
KNOW, ENERGY DOESN'T REALLY
IMPRESS ME AT ALL. SO I'M JUST
-- I WANT IT TO STOP. I DEMAND
ANY STOCKING STOPS. ANYONE WHO
WANTS TO FOLLOW ME NEEDS TO ASK
ME IN PERSON, TANGIBLY IN A
HUMANE WAY. THIS IS CAUSING ME
GREAT PERSONAL DAMAGE TO MY
LIFE. IT HAS COST ME 12 YEARS
WITH MY SON. IT IS EXTREMELY
PSYCHOLOGICALLY HARASSMENT. AND
I ALMOST BELIEVE I AM BEING
GHASTLY INSTEAD OF BEING REAL.
>> I'M SORRY, MEGAN, WE ARE OUT
OF TIME.
>> -- FROM THEIR CLOUD. I AM ON
A LOWER LEVEL WHEN IN REALITY
WE ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL AND I
DEMAND TO BE COMMUNICATED WITH
IN A HUMANE WAY AND NOT A
PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSIVE WAY.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR FINAL SPEAKER IN
CHAMBERS IS -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> I DON'T MEAN IN THE MILITARY
SENSE, SPIRITUALLY. -- DOESN'T
CHANGE. I PROMISE YOU. I
PROMISE YOU MY MOTHER'S EYES.
EVERYTHING I EVER LOVED [
INAUDIBLE ] I GOT ANY
RESOURCES THAT I CAN TO DO SO.
I PROMISE YOU I WILL . [
INAUDIBLE ] -- OBSERVATION.
TIRED OF BEING -- WHEN I'M ONE
OF THE MOST SMARTEST, EDUCATED
YOUNG MEN IN AMERICA, IN THE
CITY. TALK ABOUT THAT LAST
NIGHT, ALL OF OUR PEOPLE. SO,
[ INAUDIBLE ] CHAMBER, [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> THAT'S THE FINAL SPEAKER FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD'S
>> I WILL READ THE APPOINTMENT
INTO THE RECORD. WE WILL HEAR
FROM THE APPOINTEES.
APPOINTMENT 02434, APPOINTMENT
OF DAN GODFREY AS MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION FOR
A TERM FROM FEBRUARY 28, 2024,
AND APPOINTMENT OF ATIF OSMANI
FOR A TERM TO FEBRUARY 28,
2024. DAN GODFREY AND ATIF
OSMANI, THANK YOU FOR
VOLUNTEERING FOR THE COMMISSION
AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE AS A RENTER IN THE
CITY, THE COMMITTEE, OTHER
CITIES, AND WHY YOU WANT TO
HELP OUT THE RENTERS
COMMISSION. PLEASE ALSO
INCLUDE WHAT YOU ARE HOPING THE
RENTERS COMMISSION CAN
ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR. SO, DAN,
DID YOU WANT TO GO FIRST?
>> HI THERE, MY NAME IS DAN
GODFREY. I HAVE BEEN A RENTER
IN THE SEATTLE AREA SINCE 2015.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION
FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO. I AM
THE GETTING GAUGED MEMBER. I AM
A SOCIAL WORKER. I WORK WITH
HOMELESS FOLKS IN THE CAPITOL
HILL AREA. I HAVE RENTED ALL
OVER THE CITY. ON THE
COMMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO
INCREASE OUR PRODUCTIVITY AND
BE MORE ENGAGED WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL AND GOINGS-ON IN THE
CITY, PUSHING FOR RENTER
FRIENDLY LEGISLATION AND
ADVOCACY. YOU KNOW, BOTH
OPERATING WITHIN THE TENANTS OF
THE FREE MARKET AND
POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE
RIGHT POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
PUSHING FOR MORE RENTER
FRIENDLY POLICY . I REALLY
ENJOYED MY TIME THERE SO FAR. I
THINK I HAVE MORE TO ADD. I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE TAKING THE
TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. ATIF?
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
ATIF OSMANI. I MOVED TO
SEATTLE IN 2021. SO, I STUDIED
PUBLIC POLICY AND HEALTH
POLICY. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
SUB SPECIALIZATION THAT I'VE
BEEN INTERESTED IN. HOUSING IS
A HUGE PART OF THAT. YOU KNOW,
MY EXPERIENCE RENTING IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HAS BEEN AN
INTERESTING ONE. WHEN I FIRST
MOVED HERE I ACTUALLY WAS IN A
HOUSING AGREEMENT WHERE I WAS
RUNNING AN AIRBNB ALONG WITH MY
PARTNER AND GOT A SUBSIDIZED
ROOM ALONG WITH DOING OUR
FULL-TIME JOBS. AND WE ARE NOT
DOING THAT SITUATION ANYMORE.
BUT WHILE I HAVE BEEN IN THE
CITY, I, ONE, WOULD LOVE TO
ADVOCATE FOR AN EXPANSION OF
RENTERS RIGHTS IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE CAN GET OUT
OF THEIR LEASE GIVEN OTHER
CIRCUMSTANCES , WHAT IS THE
REPRESENTATION THAT RENTERS
HAVE FOR HOAs THAT MIGHT BE
MAKING DECISIONS THAT IMPACT
THEIR LIVES? AND ALSO, WORKING
WITH CITY MEMBERS TO IDEALLY
CREATE LEGISLATION THAT WILL A
ALLOWED PEOPLE TO AFFORD THEIR
HOUSING, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE HAVE THE PROTECTIONS
NECESSARY TO LIVE MEANINGFUL,
HEALTHY LIVES. SO, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME.
>> TED FROM COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S OFFICE. ON THE PHONE
PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, THE
AIRBNB STORY, I THINK IT'S A
VALUABLE ONE FOR PEOPLE TO
HEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT
THEY OWNED THE AIRBNB. THE
LANDLORD OWNED THE AIRBNB. SO
IN ORDER TO GET SUBSIDIZED
RENT, THEY MANAGED THE AIRBNB
FOR THE LANDLORD WHICH SHOWS,
YOU KNOW, IN THE BUILDING,
WHICH SHOWS HOW, IN MY MIND, IT
JUST SHOWS HOW RENTERS REALLY
HAVE TO SCRAMBLE EVERY DAY IN
ORDER TO AFFORD -- IN ORDER TO
AFFORD RENT. THAT'S A REALLY
STRONG EXAMPLE OF WHY RENT
CONTROL IS NEEDED.
>> THANK YOU, DAVE. THANK YOU
ATIF AND DAN FOR INTRODUCING
YOURSELVES. CAN YOU BOTH WEIGH
IN ON HOW YOU THINK -- YOU KNOW
, LIKE WHAT THE COUNTRY THINKS
YOU THINK YOU NEED TO CHANGE IN
SEATTLE? WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
TO MAKE RENTERS LIVES BETTER?
SORT OF THE CONCRETE IDEAS
THAT YOU THINK NEED TO BE PUT
IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT
BETTER? AND ALSO, HOW DO YOU
THINK THE RENTERS COMMISSION
SHOULD GO ABOUT DOING ITS
WORK? YOU KNOW? FOR EXAMPLE,
HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THE RENTERS
COMMISSION CAN HAVE THE
POLITICAL INFLUENCE THAT THEY
NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO
ADVOCATE OR SUCCESSFULLY
ADVOCATE FOR PROGRESSIVE
CHANGES FOR RENTERS? DO EITHER
OF YOU WANT TO RESPOND?
>> YEAH. I CAN START, DAN.
SO, AS I WAS SPEAKING OUT
EARLIER, NUMBER ONE, I
DEFINITELY BELIEVE WE SHOULD
A, ALLOW RENTERS TO HAVE A VOTE
IN HOAs THAT ARE MAKING
DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR LIVES,
AND THE PRIOR SITUATION THAT I
HAD MENTIONED, THE REASON I
HAD TO LEAVE MY HOUSING
SITUATION WAS BECAUSE THE WAY
HAD, AT SOME POINT, MADE THE
DECISION THAT THEY WEREN'T
GOING TO ALLOW FOR SHORT-TERM
RENTALS WHICH THEN MADE OUR
HOUSING CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, WE
WERE RUNNING THE AIRBNB, AGAIN,
TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE WEREN'T
GETTING THE PROFITS FROM THAT.
THAT MADE THAT AGREEMENT VOID.
AND SO, THAT IS ONE THING I
WOULD LOVE FOR THE RENTERS
COMMISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR. AND
ALSO, I WOULD LOVE TO, IF IN
OUR RENTERS BILL OF RIGHTS, WE
WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THE REASONS
FOR WHEN A PERSON CAN LEAVE
THEIR LEASE. WE KNOW WITH THE
CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION WE
HAVE ALREADY SEEN MANY TECH
LAYOFFS PEOPLE'S EMPLOYMENT
STATUSES WILL PROBABLY BE
CHANGING UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE
COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR. AND
RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU
WERE IN A LEASE YOU CAN'T
AFFORD, THERE'S NOT REALLY A
MEANINGFUL WAY TO GET OUT OF
THAT. THEN THIS FORCES PEOPLE
INTO FINANCIAL SITUATIONS OF
INSTABILITY WHICH LEADS TO
HOMELESSNESS . IN CERTAIN
CASES, UNLESS YOU HAVE A
CUSHION, AND WHAT ABOUT
SCENARIOS WHERE YOU HAVE A
DEATH IN THE FAMILY OR THINGS
OF THAT NATURE? WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING CODIFIED INTO LAW THAT
WILL ALLOW SOMEONE TO SAY, HEY,
I HAVE THIS CIRCUMSTANCE THAT
WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL BUT IS
VERY MUCH AFFECTING MY LIFE.
AND I WOULD LOVE IF WE COULD
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CODIFY
THOSE SORTS OF SCENARIOS INTO
LAW. BUT ALSO, I KNOW THAT,
UNFORTUNATELY, RENT CONTROL IS
A MORE DIFFICULT ISSUE TO
LEGISLATE FOR. BUT IDEALLY,
SOME SORT OF RENTAL CAP WOULD
BE AWESOME. AND IN TERMS OF
HOW THE RENTERS COMMISSION
COULD HAVE MORE INFLUENCE, I
WOULD LOVE TO GROW OUR SOCIAL
PRESENCE JUST SO A, WE CAN GET
A LOT MORE PUBLIC COMMENT,
RIGHT? WHEREAS MAKING OUR
DECISIONS AND TRYING TO CREATE
POLICY OR RATHER ADVOCATE FOR
POLICY, THAT MAKES SENSE FOR
THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE. THAT
WAY, ALSO, OUR WORK CAN SEEM
LIKE MORE OF A CONVERSATION
RATHER THAN US TALKING ABOUT
OUR ISSUES IN THE COMMISSION IF
THAT MAKES SENSE. THEN ALSO, I
THINK IF WE HAD A GREATER
PUBLIC PRESENCE, THAT WOULD
JUST ALLOW US TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHATEVER ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING
ARE JUST MORE IN LINE WITH THE
PEOPLE WHO VOTE IN THE CITY.
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY RESPOND TO
CHANGES THAT WERE SEEN , SAY,
IN THE STUDENT RENT POPULATION
OR JUST HAVE A GREATER SENSE
OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE
GOING ON. DAN, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU.
>> THANKS, ATIF. SOME OF THE
THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT,
OBVIOUSLY, RENT CONTROL WOULD
BE A TREMENDOUS BURDEN TO
RENTERS. I BELIEVE THE
COMMISSION IS VERY INTERESTED
IN THAT. BUT THAT'S A VERY
AMBITIOUS -- WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT TRYING TO IMPROVE
REPRESENTATION OF A.D.A.
QUALIFIED HOUSING TO BE
PROPORTIONAL TO THE GENERAL
POPULATION AT LARGE. WE HAVE
HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE SDCI AND
ACCOUNTABILITY NOT QUITE
MEETING THE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME
RENTERS ACROSS THE CITY AND
RENTAL ABUSE BY LANDLORDS. WE
ARE KIND OF EXPLORING DOING
RESEARCH ON RENTAL HOUSING
SUPPLY AND LOW INCOME RENTAL
SUPPLY AS WELL AS DENSITY AND
WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR LIKE
STRATEGIC INCREASES IN THOSE
VOLUMES, YOU KNOW, TO INCREASE
RENT FOR RENTERS AND MAKE THE
RENTAL MARKET EASIER TO ENTER
AND NAVIGATE . AND I THINK WE
CAN REALLY IMPROVE THE
PUBLICITY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING
AS AN ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
GROUP. YOU KNOW? WITH NO BUDGET
, AND THE CAPACITY THAT WE DO
HAVE, I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT
BETTER ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE CAN DO MORE COLLABORATIONS
WITH OTHER COMMISSIONS AND
NONPROFITS IN THE CITY. AND I
THINK WE COULD BETTER EDUCATE
RENTERS ON WHAT THEIR RIGHTS
ARE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE
LOOKING AROUND ON FACEBOOK
MARKETPLACE AND CRAIGSLIST,
LIKE JUST THE THINGS , THE
REQUIREMENTS LISTED BY
LANDLORDS ALONE ARE IN
VIOLATION OF SEATTLE LAW FOR
RENTAL PROTECTION. SO I THINK
THERE ARE A LOT OF TANGIBLE
STEPS WE COULD TAKE TO HAVE AN
IMPACT IN THE CITY.
>> SORRY, DAN, COULD YOU SAY
THE LAST THING AGAIN? I'M
SORRY, WHAT SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS
OF RENTAL LAW BY LANDLORDS WERE
YOU REFERRING TO? WERE YOU
SAYING GENERALLY ABUSE BY
LANDLORDS -- THE LAW?
>> YEAH. LIKE THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR, LIKE , FOR BACKGROUND
CHECKS THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTED
BY THE RENTAL ACT . LIKE,
INCOME LIMITS, CRIMINAL
HISTORY, ET CETERA, LIKE THEY
ARE VERY SPECIFIC CRIMES THAT
RENTERS CAN BE PREVENTED FROM
GETTING HOUSING AS A RESULT OF.
IT'S NOT A SUPER BROAD LIST.
WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE PACKET
THAT RENTERS GET WHEN THEY GO
TO A LEASE SIGNING. IF THEY GET
THE PACKET, IT'S QUITE
EXTENSIVE. BUT IT IS KIND OF
TOO LATE IN A LOT OF THOSE
SITUATIONS. YOU KNOW, I THINK
WE SHOULD BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AND OTHER FORUMS LIKE
PRESENTING THE INFORMATION THAT
RENTERS NEED ABOUT WHAT THEIR
RIGHTS ARE AND WHEN A LANDLORD
CAN ENTER YOUR UNIT AND WHAT
THE SDCI CAN DO FOR YOU AND,
YOU KNOW, WHAT HOUSING
RESOURCES COULD LOOK LIKE.
RENTERS NEED TO BE INFORMED. I
THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT
THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE DOING.
>> YEAH. THANKS FOR CLARIFYING
THAT. SO YEAH . FIRST OF ALL, I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
CONCRETE POINTS THAT BOTH DAN
AND ATIF HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY GO
OVER SOME OF THE IDEAS. YOU
KNOW? WE, I HOPE YOU KNOW AS
INCOMING, HOPEFULLY, WHEN
SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE CITY
COUNCIL, INCOMING RENTERS OF
THE COMMISSION, YOU KNOW HOW
DEEPLY COMMITTED MY OFFICE IS
AND HAS BEEN , YOU KNOW, FOR
OVER NINE YEARS NOW FOR RENTERS
RIGHTS AND THE NUMBER OF
DECREES WE HAVE WON INCLUDING
THE ONE I MENTIONED EARLIER,
THE SIX-MONTH NOTICE AND ALSO
THE THREE MONTHS ECONOMIC --
THREE MONTHS RENT OF ECONOMIC
ASSISTANCE, THE WINTER EVICTION
MORATORIUM, THE BAN ON
EVICTIONS OF CHILDREN AND
PUBLIC-SCHOOL WORKERS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR, ALL OF THESE
HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT. AND AT
THE SAME TIME, I AM REALLY
GRATIFIED, ACTUALLY, AS AN
OFFICE THAT FIGHTS FOR RENTERS
RIGHTS. THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS IN MY OFFICE AND I,
WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATIFIED THAT
BOTH OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT
RENT CONTROL WITHOUT ME
PROMPTING THAT INFORMATION. I
WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT RENT
CONTROL ANYWAY, BUT I'M REALLY
GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP
YOURSELF. I WANT TO SAY A FEW
THINGS ABOUT RENT CONTROL IN A
SECOND BUT JUST ON YOUR
CONCRETE POINTS, FIRSTLY, BOTH
ATIF AND DAN, BOTH OF YOU HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE
-- THE GREATER NEED FOR THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION TO
HAVE MORE OF A PUBLIC PRESENCE.
SPECIFICALLY, THE PUBLIC
PRESENCE COULD HELP IN BETTER
PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF RENTAL
LAW. DAN IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
BUT THE EXISTING LAW, ENFORCING
THE EXISTING LAW, I THINK WE
NEED A LOT OF CHANGES ON THE
CITY FRONT IN THE SENSE OF HOW
THE LAW IS BEING ENFORCED, AND
DO WE NEED A GREATER BUDGET,
YOU KNOW? IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTION
HAS THE STAFF THAT THEY NEED IN
ORDER TO ENFORCE THE LAW? AND
TO JUST SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC,
OUR OFFICE IS DISCUSSING THIS,
YOU KNOW, AMONGST OURSELVES. WE
WANT TO GO DOWN MORE DEEPLY
INTO HOW THE LAW IS ENFORCED.
BUT THE OTHER PART OF ENFORCING
THE LAW IS RENTERS KNOWING WHAT
THE LAW IS, WHAT THE LAW IS --
AND WHAT RIGHTS THEY HAVE. YOU
ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THE
COMMISSION CAN PLAY AN EVEN
BIGGER ROLE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN
PLAYING. I JUST WANT TO SHARE
WITH YOU THAT MY OFFICE AND I
PERSONALLY WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED IN HELPING YOU DO
THAT AND ALSO, LET'S SEE IF WE
CAN CONNECT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE TENANTS UNION AND
INDIVIDUAL RENTERS WHO WANT TO
FIGHT. MAYBE WE CAN DO A PUBLIC
MEETING IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET
AS MANY RENTERS AS POSSIBLE TO
ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS AND MAKE
SURE THE INFORMATION GOES TO
THEM. THE OTHER POINTS YOU
BROUGHT UP THAT ATIF TALKED
ABOUT , VOTES FOR TENANTS IN
HOAs. THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
IDEA. I AM REALLY THANKFUL THAT
YOU SHARED IT. I WOULD URGE
THAT IF THE RENTERS COMMISSION
IS DISCUSSING THAT, IF YOU CAN
INCLUDE THE POLICY ANALYST FOR
MY OFFICE, IF WE CAN DISCUSS
THIS TOGETHER AND SEE IF THAT
IS LEGALLY POSSIBLE, THEN THAT
IS SOMETHING I WOULD PERSONALLY
BE INTERESTED IN. I THINK
THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
POINT. IN FACT, IT BRINGS UP
THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF, IN
THE RENTAL -- IN THE HOUSING
INDUSTRY, IN THE HOUSING
MARKET, A BIG PART OF WHY
RENTERS ARE AT SUCH A
RECEIVING END OF JUST A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION AND HOW --
WHY IT IS SO SKEWED BETWEEN
LANDLORDS AND RENTERS, TENANTS
DON'T HAVE THE VOICE THEY NEED.
SO I THINK THIS IS AN
INTERESTING POINT. I ALSO
REALLY AGREE WITH -- I THINK
DAN BROUGHT THIS UP. INCREASING
A.D.A. QUALIFIED HOUSING,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE CLEAR.
TO BE CLEAR, IT NEEDS TO BE
AFFORDABLE, A.D.A. AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WITH THE GENERAL
POPULATION, ABSOLUTELY, THAT
SHOULD ALREADY BE THE CASE. BUT
YES, THAT IS SOMETHING ALSO
VERY SPECIFICALLY MY OFFICE
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PUSHING
FORWARD SO I WOULD REALLY BE
EXCITED TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER
WITH THE RENTERS COMMISSION AND
SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SURE, YOU
KNOW, LEGALLY MAKE THAT
REQUIREMENT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. ON THE CIVIL
BREAKING OF THE RENTAL LEASE,
YOU BROUGHT UP THIS IMPORTANT
POINT, YOU KNOW, YEAH,
ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE -- WHEN
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOBS AND WHEN
WE HEAD INTO THE RECESSION,
THAT IS GOING TO BE A SPECIFIC
CONCERN . I AM NOT SURE HOW WE
CAN DO THIS. I WAS BRIEFLY
GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT
THIS. AND I THINK WE RUN INTO
COMPLICATIONS WITH CONTRACT
LAW. THEY SHOULD STILL NOT
GIVE UP. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK ALL OF THE IDEAS
THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD ARE
ELEMENTS THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE
IN THE RENTERS BILL OF RIGHTS .
AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT MY
OFFICE SHARES WITH YOU ARE
RENTERS BILL OF RIGHTS, MANY OF
WHICH, WE HAVE A BIG-TICKET
ITEM THERE, RENT CONTROL.
BECAUSE WITHOUT RENT CONTROL
THERE IS LIMITED EFFICACY OF
EVERY OTHER VICTORY WE WIN .
BUT WE WANT TO ADD THE THINGS
RENTERS NEED TO ASK THAT YOU
JUST BROUGHT UP. AND THEN, LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, ON RENT CONTROL,
YEAH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL THAT WE FIGHT TO WIN
RENT CONTROL. AND THIS YEAR, WE
SHOULD BE DOING THIS BECAUSE IT
IS VERY CLEAR HOW WELCOME RENT
CONTROL WILL BE FOR ORDINARY
PEOPLE. I MEAN, THERE IS NO
SUSPENSE ABOUT WHAT RENTERS
FEEL ABOUT RENT CONTROL AND
BECOMING THE MAJORITY RENTERS
CITY, I THINK THAT IS THE BASIC
REQUIREMENT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE
IN THE LAW. AND JUST TO SHARE
WITH DAN AND ATIF AND ALSO
MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, IN 2019, MY
OFFICE BROUGHT FORWARD A DRAFT
LEGISLATION FOR RENT CONTROL.
IT'S A VERY STRONG LEGISLATION.
IT IS NECESSARY THAT IT SHOULD
BE STRONG. BECAUSE IT IS THE
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES THEMSELVES
THAT THEN MAKE RENT CONTROL LAW
LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THE SAME
CORPORATE LANDLORDS WHO -- WHO
USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO INSERT
THOSE LOOPHOLES IN THE LAW WILL
THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY, YOU
KNOW, RENT CONTROL DOESN'T WORK
SO WE HAVE TO AVOID THAT KIND
OF CONTROL BUT THAT WILL ONLY
HAPPEN THROUGH BUILDING A
STRONG MOVEMENT. AND TO THIS
END IN 2019, AS I SAID, MY
OFFICE BROUGHT FORWARD
LEGISLATION. AT THAT TIME, WE
ALSO WITH THROUGHOUT THE CITY
COLLECTING PETITION SIGNATURES.
IT WAS VERY STRONG SUPPORT. AT
THAT TIME WE GOT 15,000
SIGNATURES. WE WILL BE DOING
THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS
IS SUCH A LONG ONE. I HAVE NO
DOUBT IN MY MIND THERE WILL
ONCE AGAIN BE STRONG SUPPORT .
IF ANYTHING, IT IS PROBABLY
STRONGER. IF YOU DEVELOP A
STATISTICAL POLL, SOMEBODY
WANTED TO DO THAT, I AM QUITE
CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD BE VERY
STRONG SUPPORT, PROBABLY
STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE IN
OUR LIFETIMES. SO I WILL MAKE
SURE THAT WE WILL SHARE FROM
OUR OFFICE, DRAFT LEGISLATION,
MAYBE WE HAVE ALREADY SHARED
BUT YOU IN THE COMING NEW
MEMBERS WILL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
ACCESS TO THAT AS WELL AND JUST
ONE SPECIFIC THING I WILL
MENTION IN RENT CONTROL, ONE
OF THE MAIN LOOPHOLES THAT WE
HAVE TO AVOID IS WHAT IS CALLED
VACANCY DECONTROL. I'M SURE DAN
AND ATIF KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT BASICALLY MEANING WHEN A
TENANT MOVES OUT OF A RENTAL
UNIT IN A HOME THEN VACANCY
DECONTROL'S THAT APARTMENT OR
THE APARTMENT THAT RENTAL HOME
IS NO LONGER UNDER RENT
CONTROL. BUT THAT BASICALLY
JUST COMPLETELY WRITES [
INAUDIBLE ] INTO THE LAW ITSELF
SO ABSOLUTELY WE HAVE TO HOLD
THE LINE ON THAT AND SO IN
OTHER WORDS WE NEED VACANCY
CONTROL SO THE LAW THAT THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE ADOPTED
FROM OUR OFFICE HAS VACANCY
CONTROL IT ALSO SAYS THAT ALL
BUILDINGS ALL RENTAL UNITS WILL
BE UNDER RENT CONTROL BECAUSE
THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THE
CORPORATE LANDLORD INDUSTRY
PUTS IN A LOOPHOLE I SOME RENT
CONTROL UNITS -- SOME ARE NOT
AND THEY CAN DO AND DIVIDE OR
CONQUER BY DIVIDING THE
INTEREST OF RENTERS , YOU KNOW,
RENTERS WHO ARE IN RENTAL
CONTROLLED HOMES AND THOSE WHO
ARE NOT ANSWERED OR PITTING
THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER. WE
DON'T WANT THAT EITHER SO
THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE
DRAFTED AND WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED IN TALKING TO YOU
BOTH AND ALSO OTHER MEMBERS OF
RENTERS COMMISSION MORE SO THIS
YEAR AND AS I SAID , MY
INTEREST IN OUR OFFICE IS THAT
WE BRING FORWARD THAT
LEGISLATION THAT THIS COMMITTEE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ADDITION
TO THE OTHER BILLS THAT WE CAN
BRING AND MAY BE EARLIER THAN
RENT CONTROL SO THAT'S WHAT I
HAD TO SHARE IN RESPONSE TO THE
USEFUL POINTS THAT WERE BROUGHT
UP BY BOTH . I WILL ASK
COMMITTEE MEMBERS IF YOU HAVE
THINGS TO ADD?
>> NO, THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO
THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR
EXISTING SERVICE AND YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING
AND LOOK FORWARD TO BOTH OF YOU
RAISING THESE ISSUES AND AS
THE CHAIR SAID, HELP DEVELOP
POLICY IDEAS FOR THE CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO
OTHER COMMENTS , AND I DON'T
SEE ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK , SO
IN THAT CASE, I THINK THERE
WOULDN'T BE ANY OPPOSITION TO
VOTE. SO IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE COMMITTEE WILL
VOTE ON BOTH APPOINTMENTS IN A
SINGLE VOTE. I SEE NO
OBJECTIONS COMING FORTH. SO I
MOVE APPOINTMENTS 02434 AND
02435.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE SECOND,
COUNCIL MEMBERS, TED, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE OF THE
APPOINTMENT.
>> HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL??
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMAN OR NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. APPOINTMENT 02434 AND
02435 HAVE PASSED IN COMMITTEE.
AND THEY WILL BE VOTED ON BY
THE FULL CITY COUNCIL ON
JANUARY 17th. DAN AND ATIF,
YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO BE THERE
ON THE 17th. YOU KNOW, DON'T
WORRY ABOUT HAVING TO COME.
AGAIN, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE VOTED,
WILL BE APPROVED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
VOLUNTEERING FOR THE RENTERS
COMMISSION AND REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
BOTH AND YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS OF
THE LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. SO THOSE TWO
APPOINTMENTS WERE THE ONLY
TOPICS FOR THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING TODAY. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE
ORDER? SEEING NONE , MEETING
IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU.