GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
>> THIS IS THE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED MEETING OF HUMAN
SERVICES EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
AND RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
THE TIME IS 2:10 PM AND WE ARE
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE -- I HOPE WE WILL BE JOINED
BY OTHERS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
COMMITTEE MEETING REGARDLESS.
WE HAVE JUST COME FROM A VERY
EXCITING PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE
SENIORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HAVE SPOKEN CLEARLY ABOUT WHY
THEY WANT THE CENTER AND SENIOR
CENTER TO BE HELD FOR PUBLIC
USE IN PERFECT PERPETUITY IN
THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE WILL HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE
IN A FEW MINUTES.
THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR
EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM PROPERTY
TO NONPROFITS CURRENTLY
OPERATING OUT OF THE BUILDING.
THE NONPROFITS HAVE HAD A
MUTUAL AND OFFSETTING BENEFIT
LEASES.
THAT MEANS THEY USE THE
PROPERTY RENT FREE TO PROVIDE
AN INVALUABLE SERVICE TO THE
CITY PROVIDING CRUCIAL
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SPACE.
TRANSFERRING FORMAL OWNERSHIP
CHANGES NOTHING IN TERMS OF THE
COMMUNITY BENEFITS DELIVERED BY
THESE PROPERTIES.
HOWEVER, IT WILL MAKE SURE THAT
THESE SPACES WILL BE SPACED FOR
SOCIAL AND PUBLIC USE INTO
PERPETUITY AND THEY WILL NOT BE
UP FOR GRAB BY FOR-PROFIT
DEVELOPERS.>> MOST IMMEDIATELY
$1.455 MILLION WAS GRANTED AND
THIS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO COLLECT
BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
UNACCEPTABLY DELAYED
TRANSFERRING THE PROPERTY
OWNERSHIP FOR THE PAST SEVEN
YEARS.
NOW IF THE STATE LEGISLATOR
DOES NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE THE
MONEY THEY WILL LOSE THE GRANT
AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR
OWN.
AS OF NOW, THAT RE-
APPROPRIATION, REASSIGNING THAT
$1.5 MILLION FOR USE IS IN THE
HOUSE CAPITAL BUDGET WHICH IS
GOOD.
IT IS NOT IN THE SENATE BUDGET
YET.
UNLESS A SPECIAL SESSION IS
CALLED COME THE STATE BUDGET
WILL BE FINALIZED BY THE END OF
THIS WEEK.
THAT IS WHY IT IS URGENT THAT
WE MAKE SURE THE STATE
LEGISLATURE ENSURES THAT THE
$1.5 MILLION ARE THERE FOR USE
BY THEM REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE
OWNERSHIP IS TRANSFERRED.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL BE
SPEAKING TODAY ABOUT HOW THEY
HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS IN THE
PAST SEVEN YEARS THROUGH THREE
MALE ORIOLE ADMINISTRATIONS.
LAST NOVEMBER THE CITY COUNCIL
SET A DEADLINE FOR THE END OF
MARCH TO COMPLETE THE
TRANSFERS.
THAT DEADLINE HAS ALSO NOW
PAST.
LATER IN THE MEETING WE WILL
TALK TO THE DIRECTORS
COMMISSION, THE CHAIRS OF THE
COMMISSION WILL DISCUSS THEIR
WORK PLAN FOR 2019 AND THE
COMMISSIONS WORKGROUP WILL
PRESENT ON 2 OF THEIR MOST
RECENT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS,
RENT CONTROL AND EXTENDING THE
NOTICE TO TENANTS FOR RENT
INCREASES TO 180 DAYS.
THESE ISSUES ARE INTERCONNECTED
BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING IN A CITY
THAT IS VERY QUICKLY BECOMING A
PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY AND
BIG BUSINESS, ORDINARY PEOPLE
ARE HAVING TO STRUGGLE FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL SPACES.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE BOTH THESE
DISCUSSIONS TODAY.
BEFORE WE START THE DISCUSSION
DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> ACTUALLY WE DO.
15 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP.
I AM APPEALING TO EVERYBODY TO
STICK TO ONE MINUTE EACH.
THAT WAY WE CAN HEAR EVERYBODY
FOR 1 MINUTE.
AND THEN WE CAN BEGIN OUR
DISCUSSION.
PART OF THAT DISCUSSION IS ALSO
OUR NEXT STEPS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AFTER
TODAY?
>> I WILL CALL THE NAMES IN
ORDER OF SIGNING AND I WILL
CALL SEVERAL NAMES EACH TIME SO
THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE
COMING UP NEXT SO YOU CAN LINE
UP AT THE MICROPHONE AND AND
KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO
MICROPHONES.
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED AS
THE NEXT SPEAKER YOU CAN GO TO
THE OTHER MICROPHONE AND BE
READY SO WE DON'T SPEND TOO
MUCH TIME BACK AND FORTH IN
SPEAKERS.
>> OUR FIRST THREE SPEAKERS ARE
RUBY HOLLAND, MARGARET RASHAN
AND THE HONORABLE MICHAEL
FULLER.
>> PLEASE LOOK AT THE TIMER
HERE.
>> YOU NEED TO CREATE AN ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT PLAN FOR EVERY
HOMEOWNER AND EVERY URBAN
VILLAGE IN SEATTLE OR MAKE
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SHARE IN THE
DENSITY CRISIS.
ANYTHING LESS IS A JOKE AND IS
SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS.
A LAND GRAB.
THE OVERTLY DISCRIMINATORY MHA
IS TAKING PRIME PROPERTY OUT OF
THE SENIORS, ASIANS HISPANICS
AND BLACK AND PLACE IT INTO THE
HANDS OF GREEDY DEVELOPERS.
IF YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO
WALK AWAY FROM OUR PROPERTY
WHILE THE REST OF SEATTLE GOES
ON WITH THEIR LIVES AS IF
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, THAT'S
WRONG.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
TO SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR
SELL THEIR LAND AND RETURN TO
RENT FROM THE VERY PEOPLE THEY
SOLD TO IS AN INSULT AND
APPALLING.
SEATTLE CITIZENS REJECTED THE
MHA BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE VALUE
OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
I ASK EVERY HOMEOWNER, RENTER,
BUSINESS OWNER AND PRO BONO
ATTORNEY TO STAND WITH US IN
SOLIDARITY AS WE FIGHT THIS
GORGE TO PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO
OWN PROPERTY AND TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE.
WE NEED TO TELL DURKAN AND HER
RACED THIS MACHINE THAT WE
VALUE THE DIVERSITY AND REJECT
THE VISION OF AN ALL-WHITE
SEATTLE.
IF YOU WANT OUR PROPERTY, YOU
WILL HAVE TO FIGHT ME FOR.
CALL OFF THE PITBULLS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AFTER SIX MONTHS OF A TRUST
PASS.
I WENT INTO MY ARCHIVES AND
BROUGHT UP THIS CENTRAL
CONNECTOR, JULY, SEPTEMBER OR
JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
THAT IS SOME TIME AGO AND I
STILL HAVE IT.
IT IS A NICE LEAD.
IT IS A PROGRAM OF WHAT THEY
HAVE GOING ON.
WHAT I SEEN BEING PRODUCED IS
TELLING BLACK PEOPLE IN 2019
THAT THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH
TO LEAD.
THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO
HOLD ONTO SOMETHING THAT THEIR
CHILDREN WALKED THROUGH THERE.
THEY HAD FUNERALS IN SOME OF
THOSE PLACES, RE-PASSES, ALL
KINDS OF THINGS.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THOSE
WENT ON IN THOSE TWO BUILDINGS
AND NOW YOU TURN AROUND AND
THIS IS 2019 AND A NEW BREED OF
INSTITUTIONALIZED SLAVERY AND
THE WORST BLACK MASSACRE ON IS
THAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH.
I WAS JUST COMING UP ON DOCTOR
KING WAS BEING MURDERED.
NOW IN FULL GROWN.
YOU STILL ARE PERPETRATING
FRAUD ON US.
I SAY NO MORE.
NO MORE.
>> THE HONORABLE MICHAEL FULLER
IS NEXT AND CASSANDRA SMITH AND
JIM WILL FALL.
I AM APOLOGIZING IF I DON'T SAY
YOUR NAMES CORRECTLY.
>> SO, AS I CONTINUE IN PRAYER,
I CAN'T HELP IT BECAUSE I WAS
IN A COMA FOR MONTHS.
IT TOOK ME TWO YEARS TO LEARN
HOW TO EAT, TALK AND WALK
THROUGH THE GRACE OF MY GOD.
I CAN'T HELP IT THAT I HAVE
BRAIN DAMAGE AND I CAN'T HELP
IT, I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT MY
TWO NEUROLOGIST TOLD ME THAT
PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF ME BECAUSE I HAVE
BRAIN DAMAGE.
400 YEARS ENSLAVEMENT AS OF
AUGUST 2019.
NOW, MARTIN LUTHER KING DIED.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
TO WHAT?
YOU GET IN WHERE YOU FIT IN.
THAT VIOLATES THE FIRST 10
AMENDMENTS OF THE BILL OF
RIGHTS AGAINST OUR OWN. 2996
DEATHS, 2997 STATIONS AND 343
FIREFIGHTERS AND 19 HIJACKING
DESS AND THEN YOU TALK ABOUT
ONE AMERICA? IT IS A WAR ON
AMERICA.
THAT VIOLATES TITLE 18 CHAPTER
73 ABDUCTION OF JUSTICE AND
TITLE 18 U.S. CODE CHAPTER 2441
WAR CRIMES.
YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR ME.
YOU ARE IN THE BLACK LIVES OF
MATTER COMMUNITY.
BLACK LIVES MATTER BUT THIS IS
NOT THE CHANGES OR THE DREAM.
BLACK LIVES MATTERS CANNOT
BELIEVE IN THIS.
THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT TO
MAKE THESE.
>> YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ME.
>> YOU NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD
AND YOU LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
>> OKAY.
SARAH JEAN SINGLE FREE AND THEN
JOHN PAULSON.
>>
>> MY NAME IS CASSONDRA SMITH.
I AM A PRODUCT OF SEATTLE.
I GREW UP ACROSS THE STREET
FROM GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE BLESSED
TO TRAVEL IN AND OUT OF SEATTLE
MOST OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE WATCHED THE DECLINE OF
MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND
CHINATOWN WHERE I ALSO GREW UP.
I'M WATCHING THESE COMMUNITIES
DISPERSED.
MARY DURKAN WERE STANDING HERE,
WHAT IS YOUR EXCHANGE?>>
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK
BEFORE YOU TAKE BECAUSE YOU
NEED TO CONSIDER, WHERE WOULD
YOU PLACE THE SEASON EXCUSE
ME'S SENIOR CITIZENS IF YOU
TOOK?
WHERE WOULD THEY GO?
WHAT WOULD THEY DO?
THE SAME WAY BACK IN THE EARLY
PART OF THE 90s, 91 AND 92,
THEY WENT TO ASK PEOPLE FOR
THEIR HOMES DUE TO IGNORANCE
THEY SOLD THEIR HOMES.
NOT KNOWING UNTIL 2019 IS STILL
THE SAME.
YOU ARE TAKING AND TAKING.
I AM ASKING EVERYONE, PLEASE
SIGN AND STAND UP FOR WHAT
MATTERS.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH JANE
SIEGFRIED.
I AM HERE AS A REGULAR USER OF
THIS CENTRAL.
THIS IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY,
THE GATHERING PLACES FOR
SENIORS TO SOCIALIZE AND TO
MAINTAIN ATTRITION AS WE AGE IN
OUR HOMES.
SENIOR CENTERS ARE ESSENTIAL.
WE KNOW THAT SENIORS WHO
ISOLATE LIVE SHORTER LIVES.
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO
DETERIORATE AND DIE YEARS
EARLIER THAN SENIORS WITH
ACTIVE SOCIAL LIVES.
SEATTLE HAS UNDERFUNDED AND
NEGLECTED SENIOR CENTERS.
GIVEN OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE AS IT
AMENDS TWO YEARS OF RACISM,
THIS DELAY IS INEXCUSABLE.
WE ASK THE MAYOR TO TRANSFER
THE CENTRAL AND GREENWOOD
CENTER NOW WITHOUT DELAY.
THANK YOU.
>>
>> MY NAME IS JIM WAKEFIELD.
I AM THE CEO OF SOUND
GENERATIONS.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAD THE
FORESIGHT TO PASS A RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE MAYOR TRANSFER
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY
OF BERBER PLACE AND THE SENIOR
CENTER TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS
BY THE END OF MARCH.
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO HER IN
ACTION I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CITY COUNCIL TAKING THE LEAD
AND ENSURING THE PROPERTY IS
TRANSFERRED.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE MINDY ALEE, LORI
LACKEY -- AM I SAYING THAT
RIGHT, AND JOHN BARBER.
>> MY NAME IS JOAN PAULSON.
I COME TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION FOR ALL THREE
ORGANIZATIONS TO BE APPROVED.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY MAYOR IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE SINCE THE
LATE 60s OR EARLY 70s WHO HAS
MOVED AHEAD ON THESE THREE
PROJECTS.
I DON'T EXPECT A LOT OUT OF OUR
CURRENT MAYOR IN REGARDS TO
THAT EITHER.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SOCIAL
ECONOMIC JUSTICE THAT NEEDS TO
BE REMEDIED.
IT NEEDS TO BE PUT FORWARD.
I RECOMMEND THAT YOUR COMMITTEE
MOVE THIS WEEK, IF AT ALL
POSSIBLE TO MOVE THIS THREE
PROJECTS TOGETHER AND TRANSFER
OF OWNERSHIP.
THE MAYOR HAS NOT FULFILLED HER
OBLIGATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
I AM MINDY LEE. I HAVE NEVER
BEEN TO THE SENIOR CENTER.
WHAT I'M SEEING HERE TODAY IS
COMMUNITY.
IT IS AMAZING.
AND AS MUCH AS PEOPLE NEED FOOD
AND A FAMILY AND A PLACE TO
LIVE, THEY NEED COMMUNITY.
IT IS ANOTHER PART OF PEOPLE'S
LIVES THAT KEEPS THEM HEALTHY,
CONNECTED, VITAL.
DON'T LET THE MAYOR SELL THIS
PROPERTY BECAUSE IT HAS A GOOD
VIEW.
THESE PEOPLE NEED THAT
PROPERTY.>> NO MORE DELAYS.
>> MY NAME IS LORI LUCKY.
I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CITIZEN FOR
4 YEARS.
I AM A RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR
AND I GO TO THE SENIOR CENTER
MOSTLY FOR LINE DANCING AND
MEALS.
ALSO FOR SOCIAL GROUPS THERE
AND THE WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
FROM THE MOMENT YOU ENTER THE
FRONT DOOR.
I THINK THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE
OVERALL MEMBERSHIP THIS IS ONE
OF THE MOST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CENTERS IN SEATTLE.
THIS IS SENIORS WHO GREW UP
UNDER JIM CROW AND
DISCRIMINATION.
THEY DID A WORK THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO DO.
THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DO IT
BECAUSE THEY WERE PRIVILEGED.
THESE PEOPLE DESERVE THEIR
SENIOR CENTER.
THEY DESERVE THIS VIEW HAD TO
HAVE A NICE PLACE TO GO AND SEE
EACH OTHER.
THEY REPRESENT THE
INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY JUST LIKE
THE NORTHWEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MUSEUM DOES OF AFRICAN-
AMERICANS AND BLACK.
IT IS A SOCIAL HISTORY IN THEIR
MIND.
IT IS THE PROUD CITIZENS
REPRESENTED.
THEY ARE MOST DESERVING.
IF THE MAYOR CHOOSES NOT TO
GIVE OVER OUR CONTROL OF THE
SENATOR AND OUR DIRECTOR I WILL
CONSIDER THAT SHE IS JUST A
PART OF WHAT WE THINK OF AS THE
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM.
THANK YOU.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
WE WILL DO SOME MORE CHANTING.
>> AFTER JOHN BARBER WE HAVE
SHARON AND MADISON NICHOLS.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN BARBER.
I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO ENABLE THE
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER TO
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT
HAS HAD ITS DREAM OF THIS FOR
SO MANY YEARS.
MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1971.
WE KNEW AT THAT TIME THAT THERE
WAS A GROUP ORGANIZED LOOKING
FOR HOME.
WE WERE THERE IN 1972 WHEN
THERE WAS A STATEWIDE BOND
ISSUE.
THEY HAD A FACILITIES BOND
ISSUE.
IT PASSED BY A VOTE OF 700,000
TO 500,000 VOTERS IN
WASHINGTON.
WE VOTED TO TAX OURSELVES TO
HAVE THIS KIND OF COMMUNITY
FACILITY.
THESE BOND ISSUE MONIES HELPED
PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
SINCE THE BEING AT THE CENTER
WE HAVE MADE MANY FRIENDSHIPS.
WE HAVE ENJOYED THE HEALTH
BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMS THEY
ARE.
IT KEEPS US TOGETHER AS A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO KEEP
THIS FACILITY OPERATING AS A
SENIOR CENTER.>> NO MORE DELAYS.
>> HELLO.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE
COMMUNITY.
I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 35
YEARS.
I WAS A SINGLE PARENT AND STILL
THERE.
I AM THERE WITH MY MOTHER AND I
AM TAKING CARE OF HER AT THIS
TIME.
I AM A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF
THE SENIOR SERVICES WHERE I
PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN KEEPING
THE CENTER THERE.
I FOUGHT FOR THAT AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
I AM ALSO THE FORMER PRESIDENT
OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL WHERE
I FOUGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO
REMAIN THE SAME TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS AND MAKE THE PARK.
WE MADE THE PARK SO WE COULD
LIVE IN AND WORK IN.
WE MADE ALL OF THAT.
WE SUPPORTED THAT, WE GOT THE
MONEY TO DO THAT SO WE COULD BE
ABLE TO ENJOY IT.
WE ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO AT
THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE
MEETING MOVED OUT.
I HAVE WORKED HARD. I WAS ALSO
ON THE CENTRAL DISTRICT COUNCIL
WITH MR. MARKET SKELLY WHO HAS
BEEN MY MENTOR.
HE HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO FIGHT
FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I STAND HERE TODAY TO FIGHT FOR
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
I WILL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT A
FIGHT.
I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE
THAT CENTER.
I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE
STORY ABOUT MYSELF.
I WAS STRUCK WITH ARTHRITIS
ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
I WAS NOT WORKING.
I WENT TO CENTER AND I HAD
ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THAT
CENTER.
I WENT THERE AND I WENT TO THE
SLIDERS EVERY FRIDAY.
I COULD HARDLY WALK.
I BEGAN TO WALK AGAIN.
I WENT TO THE SLIDERS EVERY
WEEKEND.
NOW YOU SEE ME I CAN DO
ANYTHING.
THAT IS BECAUSE THAT COMMUNITY
LIFTED ME UP ON A DAILY BASIS
AND WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF.
THANK YOU.
>> NO MORE DELAY. HELLO.
MY NAME IS MADISON McCOMB.
--
>> BEFORE MADISON GOES, AFTER
HER WE HAVE PASTOR RICK
LANKFORD THEN NANCY CRAFTON AND
THE REVEREND WANTED TO SAY A
FEW WORDS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS MADISON McCOMBS.
I AM A STUDENT AT SEATTLE
PACIFIC UNIVERSITY.
I AM COMMENTING ON ITEM NUMBER
3. I WANT TO COMMENT THAT
EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT TODAY I AM ALSO
SUPPORTING AS WELL.
I BELIEVE THAT RENT CONTROL AND
EXTENDING RENT INCREASE NOTICES
ARE POLICIES THAT WILL HELP
MAKE SEATTLE A MORE EQUITABLE
PLACE TO LIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT CLASS
STATUSES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE POLICIES
WILL SUPPORT AND INCREASE
ABILITY FOR THE MOST
VULNERABLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR,
WOMEN AND FEMALE HEAD OF
HOUSEHOLDS, THESE ARE THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE POLICIES NEED TO
BE PUT IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR
MINDS AND PUT FIRST.
POLICIES LIKE THESE NEED TO BE
PRIORITIZED AND OVERALL IF WE
PRIORITIZE THE MOST VULNERABLE
PEOPLE IT WILL MAKE SEATTLE A
BETTER PLACE FOR US TO LIVE FOR
ALL OF US.
WITH THAT IN MIND I REITERATE
THAT I AM REPRESENTING SEATTLE
AND MYSELF AND MULTIPLE OTHER
INDIVIDUALS IN SUPPORTING THE
POLICIES OF RENT CONTROL AND
EXTENDING RENT INCREASE NOTICE.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM THE MINISTER OF THE ST.
MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.
I INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO
RESPOND WITH ME.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT DO
WE WANT?
>> CENTRAL AREA COMMUNITY?
>> WHAT DO WE WANT IT?
>> I SAID WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
WHEN WE WANT IT?
>> NOW.
>> WHEN WE WANT IT?
>> WHO MUST ACT ON THIS THE
MAYOR.
>> ONE MORE TIME.
>> THE MAYOR.
>> MAKE IT CLEAR.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT AND WHEN DO
WE WANT IT?
>> WHO MUST ACT?
>> THANK YOU.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
OKAY.
MY NORM NAME IS NORMA ROBINSON.
I WANT TO SAY TO STOP HIDING
BEHIND LOW INCOME AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN THEY
WANT TO TAKE PROPERTY FROM
SENIOR CITIZENS AND OWNERS.
WHAT IS LOW INCOME AND WHAT IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHO CAN AFFORD A VIEW LIKE THIS
SENIOR CENTER HAS?
IF SHE CAN TELL ME WHO CAN
AFFORD THAT, THANK YOU.>> NO
ONE.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
OKAY.
THAT'S HOLD UP THE RED PLACARDS
EVERY TIME WE CHANT.
>> MY NAME IS NANCY GRATTON.
I AM DISMAYED THAT THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL IS NOT HERE TODAY.
LET ME CALM DOWN.
>> MY GODMOTHER HAS BEEN A
MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE SENIOR
CENTER FOR 51 YEARS.
SHE IS A BRIDGE PLAYER.
SHE WAS A BRIDGE PLAYER.
SHE IS 98 YEARS OLD.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS HER
SAFE PLACE.
SHE LOVED TO GO THERE.
I AM PERPLEXED THAT THE CITY
HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER
SENIOR CENTERS BUT THEY SEEM TO
BE EAGER TO TURN THIS BUILDING
OVER.
I LOVE THE SENIOR CENTER.
I ACTUALLY ATTENDED THE
DIABETES WORKSHOP AND I'M NOT
DIABETIC.
I JUST LOVE -- I TRIED DOING
THE SLIDE BUT I'LL SLIDE WELL.
BUT I DO GO UP THERE AND JOIN
THE SENIORS FOR LUNCH.
I LOVE BEING AROUND SENIORS.
I'M A SENIOR.
I LOVE BEING AROUND THE SENIORS
AT THE CENTER.
THEY ARE 80 AND 90 YEARS OLD.
THAT IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THEIR
LIFE.
TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM IS
TOTALLY DISRESPECTFUL.
SO, IT IS A PLACE WHERE SENIORS
CAN PARTAKE IN ANY OF THE MANY
ACTIVITIES.
THEY LOVE IT.
I AM GOING TO STEP DOWN NOW AND
SAY NOT THIS TIME.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR LAST SPEAKER
AND THEN I WILL ASK THE
PRESENTERS TO COME TO THE TABLE
AFTER SHE FINISHES SPEAKING.
>> THIS IS AN AUSPICIOUS DATE
TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT IN THE
WORLD.
THERE IS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO
DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE
BECAUSE WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE
HERE.
WE ARE THE DESCENDENTS OF THE
STOLEN ONES.
WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. THIS
IS HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN IN
AMERICA.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE.
WE SPEAK IN THIS RIGHT TODAY.
I AM SPEAKING FOR THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY WHO HAS USED
THIS MORE THAN ONCE.
I HAVE GROWN TO BE A SENIOR.
>> I AM GROWN.
ISN'T THAT A BLESSING?
>> IT IS A BLESSING TO GROW TO
BE A SENIOR.
ALL RIGHT.
ISN'T THAT FABULOUS.
AND WE ARE ALL WELL AND THE
SENIOR CENTER HELPED KEEP
PEOPLE WELL.
THE MAYOR, THERE IS NO EXCUSE.
REALLY AND TRULY, YOU CAN'T
BEHIND EXCUSE ME HIDE BEHIND
ANYTHING ELSE.
LET'S JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.
JUST REALLY SHOW THAT YOU HAVE
SOME RESPECT AND YOU BELIEVE
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THE
JOB.
BLACK PEOPLE HELPED BUILD THIS
COUNTRY.
WE KNOW WE CAN KEEP THE SENIOR
CENTER.
ALL WE NEED IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE WANT YOU TO PUT A CRACK IN
THE DOOR AND WE WILL COME ON
IN.
JANE BROWN SAID, WE WILL GET IT
FOR OURSELVES.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO SPOKE.
WE HAVE CENTRAL STAFF AND THE
POLICY ANALYST WHO WILL BE
JOINING US.
THEN WHILE YOU ARE COMING I
WANT TO CLARIFY, I THINK WE
HAVE MORE PEOPLE, RIGHT?
WE HAVE MICHAEL ANDREW. WHO IS
THAT?
>> ANDREW.
>> I WANTED TO SAY, A LOT OF
THE POLITICIANS HERE DON'T LIKE
THIS KIND OF A MEETING.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HERE IN
BIG NUMBERS AND CHANTING AND
DEMANDING THEIR RIGHTS.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT IS EXACTLY
THE KIND OF THING THAT GIVES ME
THE MOST PLEASURE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING
WHAT CITY HALL OUGHT TO BE.
IT IS CITY HALL.
IT BELONGS TO EVERYBODY IN THE
CITY.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HERE.
>> FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO CONDUCT THE MEETING IN
A CERTAIN WAY.
I NEED EACH PERSON TO GIVE ME A
ONE SENTENCE INTRODUCTION AND
THEN WE WILL HAVE CENTRAL STAFF
INTRODUCE SOME POINTS AND THAT
IT IS A FREE-FLOWING
DISCUSSION.
PLEASE FEEL FREE.
>> DIANE FERGUSON, CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER; ANDREA CAUPAIN,
BYRD BARR PLACE; MIKE ANDREW,
PUGET SOUND ADVOCATES FOR
RETIREMENT ACTION (PSARA); JEFF
SIMMS, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE.
JEFF, CAN YOU KICK US OFF?
>> OF COURSE.
THE DEFINITION OF THE LEASE,
THAT IS MUTUAL AND OFFSETTING
BENEFITS.
THE TENANT HOLDER PAYS A
PORTION OF THE LEASE BY
PROVIDING A SERVICE. SOME
AGENCIES DO MAKE CASH PAYMENTS
THAT TYPICALLY WOULD NOT BE
ANYWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT
OFFERED IN SERVICES.
GOING BACK SEVEN YEARS, THE
COUNCIL IN 2012 PASSED A SLIDE
IN WHICH IT ASKED TO EXPLORE THE
STATUS AND LOOK FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS ON ACTIONS TO
TAKE.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOUND THE
STATUS QUO SITUATION WAS NOT
SUSTAINABLE DUE TO INCREASING
COST FOR MAINTENANCE.
THE REPORT AND RESPONSE
PROVIDED THE RECOMMENDED OF THE
SALE TO THE PROPERTY AFTER THE
SENIOR CENTER DEMONSTRATED THE
ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE
PROPERTY.
IN 2016 THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
DATA AND AN EXAMINATION AND
DETERMINED IT WAS NOT SUITABLE
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MORE RECENTLY THE CENTER STONE
RECEIVED IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET
FROM THE STATE TO GRANT THROUGH
THE BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND
THE PROGRAM, A REIMBURSEMENT
PROGRAM.
25% OF RENOVATIONS OR
MAINTENANCE CAN BE REIMBURSED
AFTER THE FUNDS ARE EXPENDED.
IT WAS REAPPROPRIATED IN 2017
TO 2019 IN THE APPROPRIATION
FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET MEETING
THOSE FUNDS WOULD EXPIRE ON
JUNE 30 OF THIS YEAR.
AT THIS TIME THOSE FUNDS ARE
REAPPROPRIATED.
IN 2017 A CONTRACTOR
RECOMMENDED THAT TRANSFER OF
THESE PROPERTIES AND THE
GREENWOOD SENIOR CENTER.
FIND NOTING, THE CANCEL PAST
RESERVATION 31856 AND A BUDGET
DISCUSSION IN WHICH THE CANCEL
RESOLVED TO COLLABORATE WITH
THE EXECUTIVE TO COMPLETE THE
TRANSFER OF THE CITY-OWNED
PROPERTIES.
AS YOU KNOW THERE WAS A
DEADLINE SET OF MARCH OF THIS
YEAR TO TRANSFER THOSE
PROPERTIES.
AT THIS TIME THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
HAS DRAFTED CRITERIA OUTLINING
THE WAY THEY WOULD ASSESS WHEN
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO
TRANSFER PROPERTY WITH SUCH A
LEASE.
THESE WERE PURPOSELY DRAFTED TO
APPLY TO ALL SIX PROPERTIES,
NOT JUST THE THREE THAT ARE
MOST NOTABLY INDICATING
PROPERTY TRANSFER.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS ON
THIS CRITERIA AND EDITS WERE
MADE.
THOSE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN
SUBMITTED FROM WHAT I
UNDERSTAND.
WE EXPECT THE FINAL CRITERIA
SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE
COUNCIL CLOSE TO MAY 1. IT MAY
BE MAY 2. 2019, THAT WOULD
OUTLINE FINAL CRITERIA USED TO
DETERMINE IT IS APPROPRIATE TO
TRANSFER THE PROPERTY AND THEN
BEGIN TO ENGAGE IN NEGOTIATION
FOR PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENTS.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME.
YOU WILL STAY HERE SO IF WE
HAVE QUESTIONS WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO NOTE THEM.
I'M WONDERING IF DIANE AND
ANDREA WANTED TO GO NEXT AND
DESCRIBE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF
WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
ALSO, I'M GLAD JEFF MENTIONED
THE CRITERIA. HOW DO THESE FALL
INTO OUR DISCUSSION OF AN
AGREEMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY
MADE YEARS AGO AND THE
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TRYING TO DO
THIS FOR 7 YEARS.
>> FOR THE SENIOR CENTER, I CAN
SPEAK.
THE ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUATION
CRITERIA THAT WAS PRESENTED TO
US AT AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM
MEETING WENT FAR BEYOND WHAT
WAS NECESSARY IN TERMS OF WHAT
THE REFERENDUM NOTED AS TO HOW
PROPERTY COULD BE SOLD OR
TRANSFERRED.
IT WANTED US FOR ONE THING, IT
ADDED A NEW CRITERIA THAT WAS
NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL
REFERENDUM IN WHICH THE STATE
AND THE PEOPLE VOTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE CENTRAL AREA
SENIOR CENTER SITE AND THE
GREENWOOD SITE COULD BE SOLD.
THAT WAS THEY WANTED US TO LOOK
AT AND OFFERED TO THEM A
DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY PLAN AS
TO HOW WE WOULD DEVELOP THE
PROPERTY.
SO THE MINUTE THAT I SAW THAT I
IMMEDIATELY WROTE BACK TO THE
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM AND SAID
THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS
A PART OF THE ORIGINAL
REFERENDUM.
IT WAS NOT PART OF THE 1975
CONTRACT THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE
MAYOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHERE
THE PROPERTY WAS THEN
TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AFTER THE LEVY WAS
SUCCESSFUL.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS IT WAS A CAN
OF WORMS.
THE CRITERIA WAS THAT IF WE
WANTED TO STAY ON THE PROPERTY
WE NEEDED TO PRESENT TO THEM A
DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WHICH WE KNOW IS A CAN
OF WORMS AND MY RESPONSE TO
THEM WAS THIS IS NOT PART OF
WHAT THE RESOLUTION SAID THAT
WAS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
ON NOVEMBER 18.
IT IS ALSO NOT PART OF THE
REFERENDUM REQUIREMENT AND WE
úKNOW IT IS A VERY LOADED
QUESTION AND SOMETHING THAT WE
COULD NEVER SATISFY AND IN OUR
WORK AT THE SENIOR CENTER, ONE
THING THAT WE HAD TO DO WAS
MEET WITH THE VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS AND WE MET WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND DID A
STUDY OURSELVES AS WELL AS THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING.
THE FIRST THING THEY NOTED AND
WROTE IN THEIR REPORT WAS
BECAUSE WE ARE ON A STEEP SLOPE
ON THE 31st AVENUE SIDE IT
COULD NEVER BE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE
SO MUCH MONEY TO FIRM UP THAT
SLOPE THAT BEFORE YOU DID THAT
TO BUILD HOUSING IT COULD NEVER
BE AFFORDABLE.
WE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEDIA AND
PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT THAT I
WOULD SUGGEST EVERYBODY
UTILIZE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A
COPY OF REDACTED INFORMATION
WHERE THE MAYOR AND HER TEAM
MET ON DECEMBER 7 OF 2018 AND
DRAFTED THE CRITERIA OF
ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUATION FOR
THE NOVEMBER 18 AND WILL BE
PROPERTIES.
AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME THE
EVALUATION CRITERIA ALSO
SUGGESTED THAT AT THE CENTRAL
AREA SENIOR SITE IT WOULD BE A
WONDERFUL SITE TO BUILD 10
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES.
SO WE ARE JUST REAL CONCERNED.
WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE THINK THAT IT IS NOT HONEST
AND DISINGENUOUS TO WHAT THE
RESOLUTION WAS THAT WAS PASSED
BY THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
>> MAN HAS TO ONE FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION AND WE WILL OPEN IT UP
FOR DISCUSSION.
YOU MENTIONED AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE THE REFERENDUM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING
THIS AND PEOPLE ARE ALSO
WATCHING IT ON LINE.
THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM
ONLINE THROUGH THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL.
CAN YOU TELL US WHEN THE
REFERENDUM WAS PASSED, WHAT DID
IT SAY AND YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT REFERENDUM WHICH
MEANS VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN.
>> YES.
I DO HAVE IT.
WE QUOTED IT IN OUR PIECE.
IN OUR MEMO THAT WE SENT TO THE
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM ON MARCH
26.
REFERENDUM 29 IT SAID THE
TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY AND
FACILITIES TO NONPROFIT
CORPORATIONS, PUBLIC BODIES MAY
TRANSFER WITHOUT CONSIDERATION
REAL PROPERTY AND FACILITIES
ACQUIRED CONSTRUCTED OR
OTHERWISE IMPROVED UNDER THE
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
FACILITIES 1972 BOND ISSUE TO
NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS
ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE
INDIVIDUALS WITH SOCIAL AND
HEALTH SERVICES IN EXCHANGE FOR
THE PROMISE TO CONTINUALLY
OPERATE THEIR SERVICES
BENEFITING THE PUBLIC ON SITE.
THAT SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS IN
THIS SECTION.
FURTHERMORE IT IS A NONPROFIT
CORPORATION SHOULD USE THE REAL
PROPERTY AND FACILITIES FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE
FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AS THE
APARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
DEEMS.
ADULT JUVENILE CORRECTIONS AND
ATTENTION, CHILD CARE, DRUG
ABUSE AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT,
MENTAL HEALTH, AND VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION.
THE DEED TRANSFERRING THE
PROPERTY IN SUBSECTION 1 OF
THIS SECTION MUST PROVIDE FOR
IMMEDIATE REVERSION BACK TO THE
PUBLIC BODY OF THE NONPROFIT
CORPORATION IF THE NONPROFIT
CORPORATION CEASES TO USE THE
PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE
DESCRIBED IN THE SUBSEQUENT ONE
OF THIS SECTION.
PRIOR IS AT TRANSFER ALLOWED
WITH NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION,
I.E.
WRITTEN PROMISE TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE THE PUBLIC, THE DEED MUST
PROVIDE FOR IMMEDIATE REVERSION
BACK TO THE PUBLIC BODY IF THE
NONPROFIT CORPORATION CEASES TO
USE THE PROPERTY FOR THE
PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTION 1. THAT IS ACTUALLY
WHAT THE REFERENDUM CALLED FOR.
IN THE CASE OF THE SENIOR
CENTER OF THE PURCHASE PRICE IN
1975, IF WE CAN IMAGINE, WAS
$300,000.
THE MONEY FOR THAT PROPERTY,
185,000 OF IT CAME FROM THE
REFERENDUM ITSELF WHICH WAS
VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE.
SUNRISE WHICH WAS A JEWISH
CONVALESCENT NURSING HOME BUILT
IN 1955 WANTED THE SENIORS THERE
TO OPERATE PROGRAMS AND HAVE
THE FACILITY SO MUCH SO THAT
THEY GAVE $100,000 TOWARD THE
EFFORT OF THE $300,000 AND THE
MEMBERS ITSELF COLLECTED
ANOTHER 15,000 TO MAKE UP THE
300,000 THAT PURCHASED THE
BUILDING.
THE CITY DID HAVE TO UNDER THE
GUISE OF THE MAYOR WHO WAS PRO-
ADVOCATE FOR THE SENIOR CENTER,
HE WENT TO THE CITY AND GOT
MONEY PAST IN THE AMOUNT OF
ABOUT $87,000 TO REMODEL THE
FACILITY SO IT COULD BE USED
FOR SENIOR CENTER.
WHAT THE REFERENDUM CLEARLY
SHOWS IS THAT PROPERTY CAN BE
TRANSFERRED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY
DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES AND
FEASIBILITY STUDIES.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND
CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT IS IN ORDER FOR THE
TRANSFER TO OCCUR.
SO SECONDARILY, THE OTHER MOST
IMPORTANT THING OF THAT IS THAT
IF YOU CEASE TO NOT BE
NONPROFIT AND TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICES THAT IT WOULD REVERT
BACK TO THE PUBLIC ENTITY WHICH
IN THIS CASE WOULD BE THE CITY
OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL DO A LITTLE BIT OF
THE HISTORY WALK.
OUR BUILDING IS 111 YEARS OLD.
THE CAMP HAS BEEN IN THAT
BUILDING SINCE 1977.
IT WAS EXCESS PROPERTY SEVEN
YEARS AGO.
WE EXPRESSED OWNERSHIP.
WE HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE CITY'S. THESE
NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND NOW MAYOR
DURKIN'S ADMINISTRATION.
DURING THESE TIMES WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH SEVERAL ROUNDS TO PROVE
TO THE CITY THAT WE HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO MANAGE THIS
PROPERTY.
WE WANT TO OWN THE PROPERTY SO
WE CAN RETROFIT THE BUILDING TO
MAKE IT SAFER IN THE EVENT OF
AN EARTHQUAKE.
WE WANT TO BRING THE FACILITY
UP TO ADA STANDARDS AND
MODERNIZE THE FACILITY TO
PROVIDE A HIGHER QUALITY OF
SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVING OWNERSHIP WILL ALLOW US
TO USE THE AUTHORITY AND
ABILITY TO RAISE CAPITAL TO
INVEST IN THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH
THIS.
SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE A
LEGISLATION OF $1.5 MILLION FOR
RENOVATION.
WE DON'T CONTROL THE PROPERTY
SO WE CAN GET THE MONEY.
THE FUNDS EXPIRE JUNE OF THIS
YEAR.
WE HAVE A REQUEST TO EXTEND THE
BECAUSE OF THE DELAY.
IT DOES INCLUDE AN AMENDMENT
EXTENDING FUNDING FOR 2 YEARS
IT HAS NOT BEEN PASSED.
NOTHING IS GUARANTEED.
WE ALSO HAVE FUNDERS WHO NEED A
GUARANTEE THAT THE PROPERTY
WILL BE IN OUR LONG-TERM CARE
BEFORE THEY WILL INVEST.
ESSENTIALLY, THREE DIFFERENT
ADMINISTRATIONS OVER SEVEN
YEARS HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS TO
US REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF
THIS PROPERTY AND THE SENIOR
CENTER.
WITH EACH ADMINISTRATION
CONDUCTING SOME LEVEL OF
ASSESSMENT AND THEN AGREED WITH
THEIR OWN INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
EVERY TIME THAT THESE TWO
PROPERTIES SHOULD BE
TRANSFERRED TO US.
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN
COMMITTED AS VERBALLY AND IN
WRITING.
IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT WE
MEET CRITERIA FOR TRANSFER.
THEY EVEN SAID THEY ARE
CONFIDENT IN THEIR
ORGANIZATIONS ABILITIES TO
MANAGE THE PROPERTY.
>> SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIONS
HAVE SAID THAT?
>> YES.
>> MOST RECENTLY THIS WAS
INITIATED IN 2017.
THREE PROPERTIES INCLUDING US
IN THE SENIOR CENTER WERE
SLATED TO BE COMPLETED BY 2018.
THIS ROUND OF TRANSFERS STALLED
WHEN THE CITY LAUNCHED ANOTHER
REVIEW.
THIS MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS CREATED
AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM
BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES TO HAVE ADDITIONAL
CRITERIA FOR TRANSFER.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS TO
REVIEW THIS NEW CRITERIA WHICH
ASK FOR ANOTHER LAYER OF
DOCUMENTATION ON OPERATIONS,
FINANCIAL VIABILITY, TECHNICAL
CAPACITY AND ABILITY TO
MAINTAIN THE FACILITY.
PRIOR TO THE RESIGNATION OF THE
FORMER MAYOR IT WAS TO BE
TRANSFERRED BY 2018.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IN
ADDITION TO THE BENEFIT TO
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE
CITY ALSO STOOD TO GAIN FROM
THESE TRANSFERS AS A LARGE
INVESTMENT WOULD BE MADE IN
SEISMIC RENOVATIONS.
TRANSFERRING PROPERTY WOULD
REMOVE THE FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE BASIC
MAINTENANCE AND ALLOW US TO
RAISE FUNDS.
IN THE FALL OF 2018 CITY
COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION
31856 CALLING FOR THE MAYOR TO
TRANSFER THIS PROPERTY TO
COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS NO
LATER THAN MAY 31.
NOW WE KEEPING TOTAL FORMAL
LATERAL OF INTENT IS THE NEXT
STEP.
THE PROCESS KEEPS DRAGGING ON.
WE HAVE NO FORMAL LETTER TODAY.
THERE IS A GOALPOST THAT KEEPS
GETTING MOVED ON US.
>> YES.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
>> WE SHOULD GET INTO SOME OF
THE POINTS THAT HAVE COME UP.
I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A CHANCE
-- THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY.
WE DON'T OFTEN GET TO PULL THIS
OFF.
WE HAVE SO MANY MEMBERS WHO ARE
ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITY
TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
HEAR FROM -- WHY -- CAN YOU
SHARE WITH US WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US AND ESPECIALLY
HOW THE PRESERVATION OR NOT
PRESERVATION OF THESE TWO SPACES
AFFECTS BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND WHY WE CARE ABOUT THIS.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MANY
ARE RETIRED. WHY SHOULD WE CARE
ABOUT THIS?
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN WELL STATED
BY DIANE AND ANDREA, THE FACTS
OF THE RECORD AND TO HEAR THAT
AN INSTITUTION OF THIS
MAGNITUDE AND THIS LONG OF
EXISTENCE IS ONE A MONTH-TO-
MONTH LEASE IS RIDICULOUS.
>> IT IS AN INSULT.
>> THIS IS LIKE SHARECROPPING.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IN A CAPITAL
SOCIETY WITH A MONTH-TO-MONTH
LEASE.
THERE IS NO WAY TO LEVERAGE
THAT ASSET TO GROW.
THAT IS ALL FOUNDATION OF WHAT
WE SEE HAPPENING AROUND US.
THE PREDATORY DEVELOPERS ARE
LEVERAGING AND OVER LEVERAGING.
THEY CRASHED THE ECONOMY BY
DOING THAT.
IT IS JUST -- A REAL SHAME THAT
WE WOULD EVEN HEAR IT STATED
THAT WE HAVE AN INSTITUTION
THAT IS WORKING FOR THE SOCIAL
GOOD EVERY DAY AND HAS BEEN FOR
OVER 40 YEARS AND IT IS ON A
MONTH-TO-MONTH LEASE.
SO, AND AT THE SAME -- ON THE
OTHER SIDE WE HEAR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT AND ALL THESE
THINGS EACH DAY.
WE JUST WANT TO HAVE THESE
ISSUES RESOLVED EXPEDITIOUSLY.
WE KNOW NEW RULES KEEP COMING
INTO PLAY.
NEW DELAYS, AS YOU HAVE HEARD
MANY TIMES, NO MORE DELAYS.
WE WANT TO TAKE WHAT WE
CURRENTLY HAVE AND PLAN FOR A
FUTURE THAT INCLUDES US.
WE NEED ACTION, NOT JUST
RHETORIC.
WE NEED TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
WE HAVE HEARD AND WE KNOW THERE
ARE OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND
ASSETS THAT NEED TO BE
PROTECTED.
THEY ARE IN THE PUBLIC REALM.
THEY NEED TO BE FOR THE HIGHEST
AND BEST PUBLIC USE, NOT
EXPLOITIVE FOR SOMEBODY WHO
JUST FLIPPED THE PROPERTY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CAPITAL
IS COMING FROM.
IT COULD BE ANY COUNTRY.
WE KNOW ARE COMPUTED HE HAS
BEEN HERE ROOTED IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT FOR 104 YEARS AND HAS
MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE CITY.
THIS IS JUST A BASIC MATTER OF
DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR OUR
ELDERS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND
OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
>> NO MORE DELAYS.
>> AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, PUGET
SOUND ADVOCATES FOR RETIREMENT
IS A SENIOR ORGANIZATION.
IN WHATEVER WE DO, WE START
FROM THE PREMISE THAT SENIORS
HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE.
NOT JUST EXIST OR SUBSIST BUT
AFTER PUTTING IN 40 SOME YEARS
WORKING, BUILDING THE CITY,
MAKING THE CITY RUN, SENIORS
HAVE A RIGHT TO RETIRE IN AT
LEAST MODEST COMFORT AND
SECURITY.
PART OF THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE PUBLIC SPACES TO COME
TOGETHER WITH OTHER SENIORS,
WITH THEIR FAMILY, SOCIALIZE,
HAVE A NICE MEAL, PLAY CARDS IF
THEY WANT TO, LEARN TO PLAY THE
GUITAR IF THEY WANT TO, OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS PUT ON A
NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AT
SENIOR CENTERS ALL OVER THE
PUGET SOUND AREA INCLUDING THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
THIS CENTER AND ONES LIKE IT
ARE ABSOLUTELY VITAL FOR
SENIORS BECAUSE MANY STUDIES
SHOW THAT ONE OF THE LEADING
KILLERS OF SENIORS IS SOCIAL
ISOLATION.
THE TESTIMONY THAT YOU HEARD
BEFORE FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE
WHO USE THIS SENIOR CENTER IS
MORE POWERFUL THAN ANYTHING
THAT I COULD SAY IN TERMS OF
STATISTICS OR STUDIES.
THIS IS A VITAL PART OF THE
COMMUNITY.
PARTICULARLY FOR THE CENTRAL
AREA, WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
GROWN UP IN THAT COMMUNITY HAVE
SEEN THEIR COMMUNITY ERODED
AWAY BY GENTRIFICATION.
IT WOULD BE NOT ONLY BAD POLICY
BUT ACTUALLY AN ACT OF CRUELTY
TO SENIORS TO DO AWAY WITH THE
CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER.
THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT
THE GENTLEMAN SAID AND WHAT
OTHERS HAVE SAID.
THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND
DEATH.
WITH THE COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE
ASKING ACTUALLY DEMANDING THIS
GENOCIDAL BEHAVIOR. EVERYTHING
THAT EXISTS NEEDS A SPACE TO
EXIST.
ONCE YOU TAKE AWAY THAT SPACE
YOU SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AN
EXPECTATION FOR WHATEVER WAS
THERE TO EXIST ANYMORE.
THAT MEANS THAT IF THAT IS OUR
COMMUNITY, OUR SENIORS, OUR
LIVES, THERE IS A PLAN FOR IT
NOT TO EXIST.
WE KNOW YOU KEEP MOVING PEOPLE
AND SPREADING THEM OUT.
YOU REALLY OKAY AND UPROOT
THEM.
THERE IS RESEARCH FROM THE
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION THAT SHOWS THAT THIS
TYPE OF DISPLACEMENT HAS
SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF
INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES SOAK IN THE FACE OF
THAT, THERE SHOULD BE NO DELAY
IN MAKING SURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS WELL AND
STABILIZE.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT IS ON YESTERDAY
, BURT BARR, MYSELF AND THE
GREENWOOD FINNEY RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM THE
INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM ABOUT
OUR NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO MYSELF.
A REQUIREMENT WAS TO PROJECT
FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS WHAT OUR
COST AND EXPENSES WOULD BE.
MY RESPONSE TO THEM WAS IF YOU
GIVE US THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE
CAN PROJECT TO THE NEXT 15.
I'M STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE
THAT.
I'VE NOT RECEIVED THAT YET.
IN THIS LETTER YESTERDAY THE
LAST PARAGRAPH SAYS THE
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY BY THE
CITY WILL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT
GIVEN THE CITY'S CURRENT
HOUSING AFFORDABILIY
CHALLENGES, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST TO REQUIRE THAT ANY
PLAN, REDEVELOPMENT OF THE
PROPERTY AND MORE PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
E EXPECT TO REQUIRE A DURABLE
COVENANT ALLOWING THE CITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN MAJOR
REDEVELOPMENT SO THE
DEVELOPMENT CAN AFFORD HOUSING.
THE ISSUE IS THAT WE ARE IN A
RESIDENTIAL AREA THAT IS OWNED
RESIDENTIALLY.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE
ZONING. WE ALSO HAVE A MILLION-
DOLLAR VIEW THAT ALL OF US CAN
BENEFIT FROM.
WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WILL NOT BE BUILT ON THAT
PROPERTY BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
IT IS DISINGENUOUS AND NON-
AUTHENTIC AND INSULTING TO
SUGGEST THAT OF ALL THE
PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
THAT THIS PROPERTY IS NEEDED TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A
RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THAT IS
THE BEST BENEFIT FOR COMMUNITY
CENTER AND THE SENIOR CENTER
WHERE EVERYBODY CAN COME TO ON
A DAILY BASE AND PARTICIPATE.
IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, IT WAS
NEVER A REQUIREMENT OF THE
REFERENDA MONDAY THAT THE CITY
RECEIVED FOR THE PROPERTY.
THEY SAID THE BUILDING COULD BE
TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME TO THE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AS LONG
AS THEY CONTINUE TO OFFER
MUTUAL OFFSETTING BENEFITS.
SO CENTRAL AREA SENIOR CENTER
PUBLICLY AND WE WILL STATE THIS
IN WRITING TO THE CITY, WE DO
NOT FEEL THAT DEVELOPMENT
FEASIBILITY IS SOMETHING THAT
THE CITY SHOULD REQUIRE OF US
HAVE A CONDITION OF OWNING AND
HAVING THE PROPERTY TRANSFERRED
TO US BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS NOT
AUTHENTIC AND GENUINE PLUS
LEGALLY, THE IN THE MONEY THE
CITY RECEIVED IT WAS NOT A
REQUIREMENT.
>> RIGHT.
>> I WANT TO SAY ONE THING. I
ALSO WANT TO LET EVERYBODY IN
HERE KNOW THAT MY STAFF IS
DISTRIBUTING THE SHEETS TO ALL
OF YOU.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU FILL
THAT IN.
WE WANT TO TAKE PICTURES OF
THESE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE FOR
OUR FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THAT -- AS
GLORIOUS AS OUR ORGANIZING HAS
BEEN FOR TODAY, I THINK WE
SHOULD REALLY BE HAPPY ABOUT
OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT, WE -- IT
WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
THE FIGHT WILL HAVE TO GO ONE.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE WILL
WIN BUT WE WILL HAVE TO KEEP
FIGHTING.
MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID
THIS.
I AM REALLY GLAD THAT YOU
QUOTED FROM THE LETTER.
THIS LETTER HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON
BEHALF OF [ INAUDIBLE ] SIGNED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT IS A CITY OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT AND THEY DO TALK
ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
TO CONCLUDE. DIANE, YOU STATED
SOME VERY IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT
WHY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS
ACTUALLY NOT FEASIBLE ON A
SPECIFIC PROPERTY ALL OF THE
SENIOR CENTER.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I
THINK THAT LOGIC APPLIES TO ART
BAR PLACE ALSO.
I REALLY THINK THAT AS WE KNOW,
LET'S STATE IT LIKE IT IS, WHAT
IS HAPPENING IS THAT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE NEEDS OF SENIORS
AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY THEN
THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE A
SOCIAL SPACE FOR SENIORS
AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> IT IS A FALSE CHOICE.
THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT NEED
THE SENIOR CENTER ARE ALSO THE
ONES THAT ARE GETTING PUSHED
OUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I REALLY
THINK THAT WE SHOULD -- OUR
OTHER -- WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR
RESPONSE SHOULD BE?
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THAT?
>> WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION
THAT NEEDS TO STOP PUTTING THE
ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF A SMALL
FEW AHEAD OF THE WELL-BEING OF
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.>> OUR
SENIOR CENTER PROVIDES
STABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY
AND SAFETY TO OVER 18,000
HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY IN THE CITY
. THAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE
CITY, THE RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY, WE ARE OWED A RETURN ON
THAT INVESTMENT BY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
IDEA OF THE CITY TRYING TO PIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGAINST
SOCIAL SPACES.
SENIORS OBVIOUSLY NEED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL.
EVEN IF YOU RETIRE AS AN X
UNION MEMBER YOU WERE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD UNION JOB
AND TO RETIRE WITH A DEFINED
BENEFITS PENSION YOU ARE STILL
ONLY MAKING A PORTION OF WHAT
YOU MADE WHEN YOU WERE WORKING.
EVEN FOR OUR MEMBERS, OUR
RETIRED UNION MEMBERS AND
BOEING MACHINISTS, THEY RETIRED
WITH GOOD PENSIONS ALTHOUGH
THEY CAN NO LONGER DO THAT, THE
ONES WHO WERE ABLE TO ARE
FINDING IT MORE AND MORE
DIFFICULT TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN
SEATTLE.
SO WE NEED BOTH.
WE NEED BOTH THE SOCIAL SPACES
FOR SENIORS TO GATHER AND TO
BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND
WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
WE NEED AFFORDABLE
TRANSPORTATION.
WE NEED GOOD MEDICAL SERVICES
AND WE NEED ACCESS TO FOOD.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS LIVE IN
FOOD DESERTS WHERE THEY DON'T
HAVE --
>> I WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR I'M
NOT SAYING THAT -- I DON'T
SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE WORK WITH MEMBERS EVERY DAY
TRYING TO FIND HOUSING, SHARED
HOUSING, CO-OPS WITH EACH
OTHER.
WE KNOW -- THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE
TO CALL OUT.
A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T LIKE TO
BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THINGS.
WHAT IS SPECIFIC IS THAT THE
SITE WE ARE ON CAN NEVER BE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE IT
IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO BUILD ON
THAT SITE.
SO WE WOULD BE CO-OPTED -- WE
WOULD BE DIS-AND GENUINE TO TRY
TO PRETEND THAT WE COULD
ACHIEVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
ACHIEVABLE.
WE ARE REALIST.
WE KNOW THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WILL NOT BE BUILT ON THAT
PROPERTY BY THE MAYOR.
IT COULD BE BUILT BY AMAZON OR
GOOGLE OR SOMEONE WITH A LOT OF
MONEY BUT THEN IT CEASES TO BE
AFFORDABLE AND COMMUNITY.
SO IT IS NOT OUR PLACE, IT IS
NOT TO THE INTEREST OF OUR
MEMBERS TO TAKE AWAY A SOCIAL
SPACE AND WE KNOW THAT IT IS A
DISINGENUOUS THING.
IT IS A GREAT TALKING POINT.
IF WE RAN AROUND AND SAID THIS
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE
DON'T BOTTOMED DOWN AND GO, A
QUARTER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CAN BE BUILT HERE BUT NOT HERE
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SENIORS
THINKING THAT OH, THEY WILL PUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THIS
PROPERTY AND THAT I'LL GET THE
LIVE HILL AND HAVE MY COMMUNITY
CENTER, IT WILL NOT BE BUILT
FOR YOU.
YOU WILL NOT BE LIVING IN ANY
HOUSING THAT CAN BUILD ON THAT
PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS TOO
EXPENSIVE AND WE CANNOT AFFORD
IT.
SO LET'S KEEP IT A COMMUNITY
SPACE.
LET'S HONOR THE PEOPLE THAT
CAME BEFORE US WHO WORKED HARD
FOR THAT SPACE AND I THINK THAT
WE CAN ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
HOMELESSNESS AND WE NEED TO
HAVE THE WILL TO DO THAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.
MANY OF OUR ELDERS WHO GO TO
THE CENTERS ARE HOMEOWNERS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE FACING PRESSURE OF
BEING DISPLACED FROM THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THEY
ALREADY HAVE.
IF THIS IS THE PRIMARY CONCERN
THEN WE NEED A ROBUST
MITIGATION STRATEGY AS THE
ZONING, THE HUB ZONES HAVE THIS
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ABLE
TO STAY AND GROW AND AGE IN
PLACE AS WELL AND HAVE A PATH
FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE AND HOLD ONTO
THE PROPERTY.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A
DEFERRED TAX STRATEGY.
AT THE TIME THAT THEY PASSED
ALL OF THAT, ALL THAT IT IS
GOING TO BECOME AN UNDUE
BURDEN.
THIS IS THE CASE.
WE KNOW IT HAS BEEN ALREADY
PROVEN UNFEASIBLE AT THAT SITE
SO LET'S START FOCUSING ON
WHERE IT IS FEASIBLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY TO HAVE MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE
LIBERTY BANK BUILDINGS AND THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS OWN THE
PROPERTIES AND CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP IF THAT IS
OUR PRIMARY CONCERN.
WE SHARE THAT CONCERN.
WE DON'T WANT TO CONFLICT THE
ISSUES AND CONFUSE PEOPLE.
>> RIGHT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THAT IS THE MAIN THING IN
TERMS OF -- WE ARE COMING
TOWARD HER CLOTHES TOWARD THIS
DISCUSSION BUT NOT TO THE END
OF OUR FIGHT TO WIN THIS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE
WILL NEED TO DO AS A COMMUNITY
AND A MOVEMENT IS TO, AS OUR
SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, REJECT THIS
FALSE -- IT IS THE SAME
COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS BOTH.
IN FACT, WE ARE LOSING BOTH.
WE ARE WORKING FAMILIES LOSING
SOCIAL SPACES AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BECAUSE THE CITY IS A
PLACE WHERE ONLY WEALTHY PEOPLE
CAN LIVE.
THAT HAS MEANT MASSIVE
DISPLACEMENTS IN OUR BLACK
HOUSEHOLD.
I AGREE WITH DIANE THAT THIS IS
A DISINGENUOUS PLOY BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO SAY THAT WE
ARE NOT GOING TO TRANSFER THIS
PROPERTY UNTIL YOU SHOW US
EVIDENCE THAT YOU CAN BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
OUR MOVEMENT -- WE SHOULD NOT
FALL INTO THE TRAP OF IF YOU
WANT TO SAVE THE CENTRAL -- YOU
ARE AGAINST FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
REJECT THAT.
THEY ARE TRYING TO REDUCE THE
LEGITIMACY OF OUR DEMAND BY
SAYING YOU ARE AGAINST
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE SHOULD TURN BACK AND TELL
THE MAYOR, IF YOU CARE ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO MUCH, ARE
YOU GOING TO SUPPORT THE RENT
CONTROL ORDINANCE?
IF YOU SUPPORT THAT WHY DID YOU
AND THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL
REPEALED THE AMAZON TAX WHICH
WOULD HAVE MADE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THEY ARE TAXING BIG BUSINESS.
OUR HOME OWNERS ARE OVERTAXED
THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY IS AWARE AND SIGNS
THAT THING THAT I HELD UP.
I CAN'T FIND IT NOW.
MAKE SURE YOU FILL THAT OUT.
AND, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A
PLAN TO GO UP TO THE SEVENTH
FLOOR AND DEMANDED THAT THE
MAYOR LISTEN.
I CANNOT.
WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM TO
DISCUSS RENT CONTROL.
I WANT TO SAY ONE THING BEFORE
WE DISPERSED.
ARE WE AGREED THAT THIS WAS
ONLY STEP 1 AND WE NEED TO
CONTINUE THE FIGHT?
>>
>> OUR NEXT STEP HAS TO BE EVEN
BIGGER.
WE NEED TO GET HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE TO COME OUT WITH US.
WE SHOULD AIM -- I DON'T HAVE A
DATE AND TIME.
WE NEED TO COORDINATE AND FIND
OUT WHAT WORKS.
I THINK OUR GOAL SHOULD BE
NEXT, IN A FEW WEEKS HAVE A BIG
RALLY THAT BRINGS HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE AT CITY HALL OR IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WILL PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE
ON THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WE
SHOULD ALSO HAVE A LETTER
WRITING CAMPAIGN.
WE SHOULD SEND EMAILS TO ALL
THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE
MAYOR WHERE WE, I AM HAPPY FOR
MY OFFICE TO SHARE DRAFT IF
THAT HELPS.
THE MAIN POINT TO MAKE IS WHAT
OUR SPEAKERS HAVE SAID IS THAT
WE REJECT THIS FALSE DICHOTOMY
BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
SOCIAL SPACES.
IF YOU CALL THAT TO CARE ABOUT
EITHER YOU WOULD BE SUPPORTING
US.
WHAT WE NEED IS THE IMMEDIATE
TRANSFER WITHOUT THE LADIES OF
THESE PROPERTIES INTO COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP AND WE NEED TO TAX
BIG BUSINESS TO FIND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND WE NEED RENT
CONTROL AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE
THAT OUR MOVEMENT TO SAVE THE
PROPERTY BRINGS RENTERS BESIDE
US.
WE ARE STRUGGLING AGAINST
DISPLACEMENT.
LET'S MAKE SURE OUR NEXT STEP
IS EVEN BIGGER THAN TODAY.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE
EVERYBODY FOR SUCH A PHENOMENAL
ACTION THAT WE DID TODAY.>> I
THINK ALL OF US ARE GRATEFUL
AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
HOSTING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE
AS WELL AS THIS COMMITTEE
MEETING.
I WOULD ACTUALLY GO A STEP
FURTHER AND SAY THAT IN THE
RESOLUTION IF THE MAYOR DID NOT
ACT BY MARCH 31 THE CITY
COUNCIL WOULD ACT.
I THINK PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS TO HELP THE CITY COUNCIL
FRAME THEIR OWN THINKING ABOUT
WHAT KIND OF ACTION SHOULD BE
TAKEN.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE ACTION
THAT THEY WOULD FRAME WITH OUR
SYSTEMS AND OUR ADVOCACY WOULD
NEED TO DO AN ORDINANCE THAT
REQUIRED DASHA ROLE AS A
SOLUTION IS SOFT AND SAYS WE
WANT YOU TO DO THIS AND JUST
LIKE ANYTHING THE MAYOR OR
ANYONE CAN SAY I'LL TAKE THAT
INTO CONSIDERATION AND HAVE A
LOT OF CRITERIA AND EVALUATION
PROCESS THAT YOU'LL NEVER
ACHIEVE IN FIVE YEARS.
I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE IT
STRONGER AND OUR ACTION SHOULD
BE TO ACQUIRE AND WORK WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL TO PASS AN
ORDINANCE THAT CAN OVERRIDE
WHAT THE MAYOR CAN DO BECAUSE
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING PERMANENT
AND SOMETHING YOU WOULD HAVE TO
ACT UPON.
I KNOW THAT OUR MEMBERS WOULD
BE EXCITED TO WORK IN A JOINT
PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL THE
MLB'S, PARTICULARLY BERT BAR SO
THAT COULD BE A REALITY AND SO
THAT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WERE
NOT HAVING THE SAME
CONVERSATION BUT BY THE END OF
DECEMBER 31, WE WILL HAVE THAT
AND WE WILL HAVE HAD FIRE
STATIONS SO THAT CAN BE A
REALITY.
>> IN FACT, THE MEETING THAT WE
HAD MONDAY, I SAID ABSOLUTELY
WE WILL BE WORKING AND JEFF IS
MAKING NOTES AS WE SPEAK.
MY OFFICE WILL BE WORKING ON
BRINGING THAT ORDINANCE
FORWARD.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT
THAT.
WE WILL DO THAT WORK THERE IS
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THE QUESTION WILL BE, HOW WILL
WE GET THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO DO THE RIGHT THING?
IS NOT JUST THE MAYOR.
LET'S NOT MAKE IT JUST ABOUT
THE MAYOR.
MOST OF THE POLITICIANS IN CITY
HALL WILL BE DOING WHAT THE BIG
DEVELOPERS WANT.
IT WILL NOT BE -- I DON'T WANT
PEOPLE TO THINK IT'S GOING TO
BE EASY. WE DON'T NECESSARILY
WIN.
WE NEED THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE
SURE IT IS DRAFTED AND WE WILL
NEED MASS ACTIONS LIKE TODAY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
LISTENING.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE
DONE THIS MANY TIMES AND WE
HAVE WON VICTORIES.
WE START WITH ME BEING THE ONLY
COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE TABLE AND
THEN WE END UP WITH NINE VOTES.
WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN.
WE HAVE DONE THAT AGAIN AND
AGAIN.
THE ONLY WAY WE HAVE DONE THAT
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE
POLITICIANS HERE, THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT WE
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT FIGHTING OUR
FIGHT.>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
IF MANY OF YOU ARE LEAVING --
NO MORE DELAYS.
>> THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO GO
UP -- THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO
GO UPSTAIRS, PLEASE MEET MY
STAFF MEMBER AT THE DOOR AND
THEY WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>
>> I KNOW WE ARE DELAYED.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
I APOLOGIZE.
AS MADISON SAID THESE ISSUES
ARE RELATED.
SO CAN WE START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS FOR THE RECORD
AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
>>
>> BEVERLY AARONS, DAVID
MOONEY, MICHAEL PADILLA OCAMPO,
DEVIN SILVERNAIL AND JESSICA
WESTGREN, SRC RENTER
PROTECTIONS WORK GROUP.
>> THE DELAY SEEMS LIKE THEY
HAVE WAITED FAR LONGER THAN
WAY.
>> SO PLEASE, IT IS IN YOUR
HANDS.
>> SO WE HAVE QUITE A ROBUST
WORK PLAN FOR 2019.
A LOT OF IT IS COMING OVER FROM
2018 BECAUSE THE ACTION ITEMS
WE HAVE CHOSEN ARE GOING TO
TAKE LONGER THAN ONE YEAR TO
SOLVE.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS
AMBITIOUS WORKPLAN WE CREATED
SEVERAL GROUPS.
RENT STABILIZATION AND RENT
CONTROL, HOUSING SUPPLY, RENTAL
PROTECTIONS AND OUTREACH
STRATEGIES.
CHRISTIANA AND I ARE ON
DIFFERENT WORKGROUPS.
WE CAN SPEAK TO THE PLANS THAT
THEY ARE DOING.
FOR HOUSING SUPPLY WE HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT HOW TO INCREASE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS
SEATTLE AS A WHOLE.
SOME KEY TICKET ITEMS ARE THE
LAWTON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
THAT CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR
WHAT WE DO IF WE EVER GET
ANOTHER LAND OPPORTUNITY LIKE
THIS AGAIN.
WE HAVE WORKED ON MANDATORY
HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY AND
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING
THROUGH ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS AND DETACHED ACCESSORY
DWELLING OR BACKYARD COTTAGES
AND MOTHER-IN-LAW UNITS.
BEYOND THAT WE WILL EXPLORE
OTHER OPTIONS FOR INCREASING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS THEY ARE
BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
THAT WORKGROUP WILL ALWAYS HAVE
SOMETHING TO DO AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.
WE HAVE NOT OF KNAUF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ANYWHERE.
THAT IS THE HOUSING SUPPLY
GROUP AND WHAT THEY ARE UP TO.
>> RENT STABILIZATION AND RENT
CONTROL, AS YOU SAW FROM SOME
LETTERS THAT WE SENT WE ARE
LOOKING TO ADDRESS THIS THROUGH
180 DAY NOTICE.
THAT HAS THE RENT INCREASE TIED
TO INFLATION AND WAGE INCREASES.
WE ALSO HAVE A LETTER ON THAT
THAT WENT OUT.
ESSENTIALLY IT HAD A STRATEGY
THAT WE ARE CALLING FOR CITY
COUNCIL AND THE MEMBER TO
SUPPORT AN ORDINANCE PUTTING
RENT CONTROL EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY ONCE RENT CONTROL
IS LIFTED.
THE PROTECTION GROUP IS
DIFFERENT FROM THAT.
WE LOOK AT OTHER PROTECTIONS.
THIS YEAR WE WILL BE LOOKING AT
WHAT PROTECTIONS WE CAN DO TO
HELP IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS STAY
HOUSE AND GET HOUSED IN GENERAL
AND ALSO AVOID DISPLACEMENT.
HOW TO SUPPORT UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANT RENTERS.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS GROUP
TO LOOK AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
EXISTING PROTECTION LAWS.
WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.
WHY THEY ARE WORKING, THEY NEED
TO BE FIXED THAT WAY.
RENTAL SCREENING CRITERIA NEEDS
TO BE IMPROVED.
THEY CAN WORK AT AMAZON OR
COFFEE SHOP OR LIVE ON A
SUBSIDY.
ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE MY
COCHAIR JUST MENTIONED AMENDING
THE RENT INCREASE LAW BECAUSE
THE 30 DAY NOTICE AND 60 DAY
NOTICE IS ONE THAT IS PUNITIVE.
THE RENTERS PROTECTIONS GROUP
LIKES TO HEAR FEEDBACK FROM
RENTERS IN THE CITY AND FIND
OUT WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING
AND MEET AS A GROUP AND DISCUSS
FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS HOW WE
COULD TACKLE THAT SITUATION AND
MAKE IT A MORE LEGALLY SAFE
PLACE FOR RENTERS TO BE.
>> IN ADDITION TO STRATEGIES WE
ALSO WANT TO FIND WAYS TO HAVE
ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS TO HAVE
THE ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AS WELL AS SOME VOUCHERS. AND
AFFORDABILITY PORTAL SO THAT
PEOPLE HAVE A CENTRALIZED
LOCATION TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON
THAT AND ASSISTANCE FOR OTHER
AREAS ESPECIALLY I WOULD LIKE
TO SAY THIS IS REALLY A HUGE
PASSION OF MINE AS WE GET TO
THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PIECES. I
WORKED IN DIRECT SERVICE FOR
ALMOST 6 YEARS.
A LOT OF US HAVE WORKED IN
THESE SPACES.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE
THAT A LOT OF THESE THINGS MAY
SOUND LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO
DO THIS OR THEY MIGHT BE PIE IN
THE SKY.
I HAVE SEEN THIS TANGIBLY IN MY
FAMILY AND PROFESSIONALLY WITH
CLIENTS THAT I SERVED IN
PREVIOUS AREAS.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS.
WE CAN GET THE NARRATIVES OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ALL THE
GROUND, ONE OF THE BIGGEST
ISSUES THAT I SAW WORKING IN
SOCIAL SERVICES, THERE WERE
THINGS HAPPENING AND DECISIONS
BEING MADE AT HIGHER LEVELS.
FOR US, WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY, THOSE NARRATIVES
WERE NOT AS AMPLIFIED.
>> THE OUTREACH IS IMPORTANT.
WE CAN MAKE PROTECTIONS FOR
RENTERS.
IF THEY AREN'T -- IF LANDLORDS
ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE
DOESN'T CREATE A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP. THAT IS A
RELATIONSHIP THAT NEEDS TO BE
-- EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW WHO
COULD DO WHAT WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT A PROPERTY
MANAGER AND AT TENANT.
I DON'T THINK A LOT OF TENANTS
KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD LOOK TO
AS DCI.
THAT IS NOT AN INTUITIVE
THOUGHT PROCESS.
I CAN ANSWER WHERE YOU SHOULD
GO AND WHO YOU SHOULD TALK TO
BUT I HAVE HAD TO LEARN ALL
THOSE THINGS THROUGH MY JOB AND
ADVOCACY.
ALL THE RENTER PROTECTIONS ARE
BASED UPON SELF REPORTING.
ATTENDANT HAVE TO SAY MY
LANDLORD IS BREAKING THIS CODE
OR I AM DUE RELOCATION
ASSISTANCE.
IF THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEN
HOW DO THEY GET WHAT THEIR
NEED.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF MAKING THE
LAWS OF NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY
ARE?
THE OUTREACH GROUP HAS AN
IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN ALL
OF THIS.
THEY ARE THE GLUE.>> OKAY.
THE LAST PART.
WE TALKED ABOUT LOWERING
BARRIERS FOR THE HOMELESS AND
RAPID REHOUSING.
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF STORIES.
THESE ARE FROM WORKING
EVERYWHERE FROM PERMANENT
SUPPORT TO A HOUSING NAVIGATOR
AT HARBORVIEW.
WORKING THROUGH THE COORDINATED
ENTRY SYSTEM TRYING TO WORK
WITH THAT SYSTEM AND RAPID
REHOUSING HAS ALWAYS HAD SOME
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO THE
STABILITY OF HOUSING.
ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE GOING TO
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THAT
INTERSECTIONAL SPACE WE HAVE
RACE AND GENDER AND
AFFORDABILITY AS WELL AS
CLASSIC IMPACTS AND I SPOKE
EARLIER TODAY WITH THE
DISABILITY COMMISSION ABOUT
ALSO THE INTERSECTION ANALOGY
OF DISABILITY AS WELL.
PEOPLE HAVE A FIXED INCOME AND
PEOPLE WHO NEED UNIVERSAL
DESIGN AND PEOPLE WHO NEED
PERHAPS A MORE STREAMLINED OR
INTUITIVE STRUCTURE TO GETTING
INTO HOUSING THAT JUST DOES NOT
EXIST IN MANY OF THE NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS.
IT IS THE CONVOLUTION OF THE
SYSTEMS IS PART OF WHAT HAS LED
TO SOME PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE
TO FIND AFFORDABLE OR STABLE
HOUSING.
ALSO HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND
RESOURCES FOR LOW INCOME
SENIORS WHO IDENTIFY AS LB G.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT SENIORS MAY
HAVE BEEN IN THEIR APARTMENTS
10, 15, 20 YEARS WHEN YOU
DIDN'T USE CRAIGSLIST TO LOOK
FOR APARTMENTS.
ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY GET THIS
$250 RENTAL RATE INCREASE AND
THEY COME INTO MY OFFICE AND
SAY HOW DO I LOOK FOR AN
APARTMENT.
IT IS BEST THEY NEED PEOPLE TO
HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE INTERNET
. NOT JUST CALL AND GET AN
APPOINTMENT AND THAT APARTMENT
IS STILL WAITING FOR YOU.
I AM PROUD TO LIVE IN A
SANCTUARY CITY.
I FIND THAT TO BE A BIT
DISINGENUOUS WHEN IT IS VERY
HARD TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TAKING CARE OF AND MAKING SURE
PEOPLE DON'T GET THIS PLACE.
WE DON'T HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO BE HERE.
IF PEOPLE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A
DECADE AND CAN'T FIND HOUSING,
HOW DO NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE
FOR SANCTUARY GOING TO FIND
HOUSING QUICK
>> LANGUAGE BARRIERS ARE HUGE.
FINDING -- NEEDING YOUR SOCIAL
SECURITY CARD AND HOW TO FILL
OUT AN APPLICATION, ALL OF THAT
ENDS UP BEING A HUGE BURDEN
WHEN PEOPLE NEED A ROOF OVER
THEIR HEADS.
>> CAN YOU ALSO SPECIFICALLY
TALK ABOUT THE UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS AND HOW THIS IMPACTS
THEM FOR ALL THE PAPERS WORK
THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE?
>> NO PLACE WOULD BE ABLE TO
ACCEPT AN UNDOCUMENTED TENANT.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO RUN A
CREDIT CHECK.
I EVEN HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE
MOVED FROM GERMANY TO WORK FOR
MICROSOFT AND THEY DON'T HAVE
AMERICAN CREDIT SO IF WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE TO COME TO
HAVE A HIGH WAGE JOB AND NOW
THEY ARE COMING FOR SANCTUARY.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE HAVE
SET UP IN THE SYSTEM WHERE YOU
HAD TO GET ALL THE CORRECT
DOCUMENTS.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
DO YOU STAY IN THE HOTEL WHILE
YOU'RE DOING THAT?
THESE ARE LARGE COST.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH ADVOCATES
OUT THERE ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH
THIS PAPERWORK SO THAT THEY CAN
GET INTO THE SAFE HOUSING.
WHAT YOU RUN INTO THEN IS
PEOPLE LIVING IN UNSAFE
HOUSING, PLACES WHERE THE CODES
ARE NOT UP BECAUSE THEY GOT A
ROOF OVER THE HEAD, THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO REPORT THE FACT THAT
THE DOORKNOB DOESN'T WORK OR
THE REFRIGERATOR IS DEAD
BECAUSE THEN THEY LOSE THAT
HOUSING.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE LEGITIMATE
DOCUMENTATION TO GET INTO
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE MORE
REGULATED.
>> I KNOW THAT IN MY FAMILY, ME
AND MY PARTNER ARE DISABLED.
WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN WHERE
WE ARE IN DISTRICT 5, UP NORTH.
WHAT -- WHERE THE URGENCY IS,
GOING TO WHAT WE JUST SAW IN THE
COLLECTIVE ACTION IS THAT YOU
KNOW THE LIGHT RAIL IS COMING.
A LIGHT RAIL IS COMING DOWN THE
STREET FROM MY HOUSE.
THEY ARE TEARING DOWN THE MALL
WHICH IS ALREADY GETTING RID OF
SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT I
HAVE COME TO RELY ON TO DO
THINGS LIKE BUY CLOTHING OR
FURNITURE OR ENTERTAINMENT,
THERE IS ALSO NOTHING TO HELP
ME AND MY PARTNER FEELS SAFE OR
SECURE IN OUR HOUSING AGAINST
DISPLACEMENT.
IT'S ONE OF THE LAST PLACES
THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO LIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THIS THAT --
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
I ALSO CHALLENGE PEOPLE WHO ARE
LISTENING TO THIS TO ALSO BE
MINDFUL PERHAPS OF WHERE THE
BIAS MAY TAKE THEM.
BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND,
ALTHOUGH DISABLED, WE TRY TO
WORK HARD TO MAINTAIN HOUSING
AND CREATE A FAMILY AND WE SEE
EVERYTHING BUILDING UP AROUND
US IN A WAY THAT MAKES US
CONCERNED AROUND WHAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN TO OUR LEASE THIS
SUMMER.
THAT IS NO WAY TO LIVE.
YOU ARE ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT
SCARCITY AND TRYING TO MAKE
RENT AND NOW YOU HAVE TO WONDER
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME
UP WITH 7000 DOLLARS THAT THEY
SAY THE AVERAGES FOR MOVE-IN
FEES.
THAT IS NO WAY TO LIVE.
IN SEATTLE WE NEED TO CARRY ON
WE NEED TO LEAD WITH RACE AND
EQUITY.
IF WE WANT TO BE A SANCTUARY
CITY IN THE FULL EMBODIMENT OF
THAT WE NEED TO DO THE THING OF
WHAT THAT MEANS.
SO I'M HOPING THAT AS COCHAIR
WITH OUR AMAZING COMMISSION
THAT WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING
PHILOSOPHY AND WE ARE HOLDING
ACCOUNTABLE TO ACTION.>> YES.
WE WENT ACTION, NOT RHETORIC.
>> YES.
>> SOME OF THOSE LEASES CAN BE
72 PAGES LONG WHEN YOU LOOK AT
ADDENDUM'S.
YOU GET YOURSELF ON CONTRACT.
YOU DON'T READ IT.
YOU JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU
READ IT.
I THINK YOU SHOULD PROBABLY
READ EVERYTHING BUT WITH YOUR
LEASE YOU SHOULD NOT JUST
BREEZE THROUGH 72 PAGES BECAUSE
OF A LANGUAGE BARRIER OR A
DISABILITY THAT MIGHT HINDER
YOU FROM DOING THAT.
THIS CAN HELP YOU DO THAT?
>> IT IS PUT ON THE TENANT WHO
IS ALSO PROBABLY WORKING 40
HOURS A WEEK AT A MINIMUM WAGE
JOB.
IT IS A LOT TO ASK.
>> RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
THAT IS THE WORK PLAN.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE TWO
LETTERS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO TWO DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS
CAME TOGETHER ON THESE.
THE FIRST LETTER IS THE PASSING
RENT CONTROL WHICH IS THE RENT
STABILIZATION GROUP THEY WORKED
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TENANT
PRODUCTION LAW GROUP.
OUR TWO PEERS OVER THERE WORKED
VERY HARD ON -- THERE IS YOUR
PRESENTATION.
WHICH ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
GO OVER THE PRESENTATION?
>> BEFORE YOU GET STARTED I
WANT TO SAY IT WAS ACTUALLY --
IT WAS INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL THAT
WE, IN OUR OFFICE AND WITH A
LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE WERE AND SOCIALIST, WE WERE
TALKING -- MOST OF THEM ARE
RENTERS AND STRUGGLING TO PAY
THEIR RENT.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WOULD
IT BE IF WE PUSHED FOR, WE
BUILT A MOVEMENT FOR RENT
CONTROL.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
THIS IS A STARTING POINT TO GET
THE STATE BAN LIFTED.
WHAT IF WE ACTUALLY BUILT A
MOVEMENT IN SEATTLE TO WIN A
LAW THAT SAYS WHEN RENT CONTROL
FREE OF LOOPHOLES BUT THAT WILL
GO INTO EFFECT WHEN IT WAS
LIFTED BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO
BE CONFRONTED WITH THAT AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
SO FOR US IT WAS JUST
INCREDIBLY AMAZING TO SEE THE
ROGERS COMMISSION RECOMMENDING
THE EXACT SAME THING.
IT REALLY MADE US FEEL LIKE WE
ARE NOT ALONE.
SOCIALISTS ARE CLEARLY IN TUNE
WITH WHAT MANY OF US ARE
THINKING AND THE RENTERS
COMMISSION BRINGS IN A LOT OF
THE EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE
FEELING AND I HAVE TO SAY SINCE
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WE DID ON
MONDAY THE RENTERS COMMISSION
WAS PART OF, CLEARLY, FOLLOWING
THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU
VOTED ON AS A COMMISSION.
SINCE THEN OUR EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN THAT DUE TO OUR
EXPERIENCE, TO FIND THAT MOST
RENTERS ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT
THIS IDEA.
IN FACT, THEY SAY WHERE DO I
SIGN UP FOR THIS?
MOST OF THE TIME WHEN MY OFFICE
SHARES PETITIONS FOR PEOPLE TO
SIGN ON AN ISSUE WE GET A LOT
OF PEOPLE SIGNING IT.
MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE WILL
JUST SIGN IT AND NOT WRITE
COMMENTS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SHARE SOON
WITH THE RENTERS COMMISSION AND
WITH THE PUBLIC THE INCREDIBLE
COMMENTS THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING
ABOUT WHY THEY WANT RENT
CONTROL AND WHY THEY'RE WILLING
TO FIGHT FOR IT.
I REALLY WANTED TO THANK AND
CONGRATULATE THE RENTERS
COMMISSION FOR SHOWING THAT
LEADERSHIP AND ALSO NOW YOU CAN
HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> WE HAVE AN EXCITING
COLLECTION OF PEOPLE IN OLYMPIA
WHO ARE STARTING THIS
CONVERSATION AS WELL.
THAT ADDS MORE EXCITEMENT FOR
ME.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ANOTHER GREAT THING IS THAT
IT IS NOT JUST SEATTLE.
WE ARE THE CITY THAT GETS TO
TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
HOPEFULLY, OTHER CITIES WILL
SEE US AS AN EXAMPLE.
IF WE CAN PASS RENT CONTROL
HERE, PROACTIVE RENT CONTROL
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE
CAN GO INTO PLACES LIKE YAKIMA,
AUBURN, KENT, SMALLER CITIES
THAT ARE FEELING THIS BOARD
BURDEN AS WELL.
THEY CAN TAKE UP THAT MANTLE OF
RENT CONTROL.
AND I WANTED TO ACTUALLY,
BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS, I WANT
TO KNOW WHAT YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT, FROM MY DAY JOB WE DO
RENTERS RIGHTS WORK.
WE USED TO DO SURVEYS.
98% OF THE RENTERS WE TALKED TO
WERE IN FAVOR OF RENT CONTROL.
THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER WHEN IT
COMES TO ORGANIZING.
YOU DON'T HAVE NUMBERS LIKE
THAT.
THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND GET
TO THIS.
THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION WE
PUT TOGETHER THAT EXPLAINS OUR
REASONING BEHIND RENT CONTROL
AND THE PRODUCTIVE RENT CONTROL
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN I SAY THAT IT IS EXACTLY
WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, ALONG
THAT IS PASSED NOW THAT WILL BE
ON THE BOOKS SO WE CAN USE THAT
TIME TO PLAN FOR MEANINGFUL
RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WHEN
THE EXCUSE ME ALONG, WHEN THE
STATE BAN IS LIFTED.
SO OBVIOUSLY, WHY RENT CONTROL?
WELL, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE SAW A HUGE CONTINGENT OF
PEOPLE EARLIER TODAY FOR A VERY
SIMILAR THING.
WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE --
PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
THEY HAVE FOR GENERATIONS
WANTED TO STAY IN THEIR
COMMUNITY.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
SEATTLE HAS PREDICTABLE AND
AFFORDABLE RENT.
IT IS A NO-BRAINER WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT IT.
IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PHOTO
WE HAVE THE KENTON APARTMENTS
WHICH IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
JUST ONE OF THE MANY BUILDINGS
AROUND THE CITY THAT HAS FACED
RENT INCREASES THAT HAVE LED TO
A LOT OF PEOPLE BEING WORRIED
ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND SOME
HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISPLACED.
SOME HAVE RECEIVED A 70% RENT
INCREASES.
THAT IS NOT AFFORDABLE OR
PREDICTABLE.
>> PLEASE SHARE WHERE THAT IS
LOCATED.
>> THE KENTON APARTMENT
BUILDING IS ON CAPITOL HILL.
OBVIOUSLY IN 2019 IT IS A PLACE
WHERE WE THINK HAS COME AND
GONE WHEN IT COMES TO
DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABILITY
IN SEATTLE.
THEY WERE PEOPLE LIVING IN LONG-
TERM BUILDINGS WHERE THEIR
LANDLORD, THEY HAD A PRIVATE
LANDLORD THAT THEY HAD A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH.
THEY KEPT THE RENT BELOW MARKET
RATE.
RECENTLY THE LANDLORD DECIDED
TO SELL THE BUILDING TO
CORPORATE DEVELOPERS AND THEY
DID WHAT CORPORATE DEVELOPERS
DO AND THEY RAISED THE RENT TO
FIT WITH THE MARKET.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE KENTON
BUILDING, THEY HAVE WON A LOT
OF VICTORIES THROUGH ORGAN
ADVISING WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO DO.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH
BACK THAT RENT INCREASE.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIMITED.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT
THE PREVIOUS LANDLORD WAS RENT
CONTROLLING HIMSELF.
A LOT OF SMALL LANDLORD THAT
YOU TALK TO ARE DOING.
KENTON IS A REALLY GOOD
EXAMPLE.
IT'S JUST NOT ON CAPITOL HILL,
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT IN THE
SOUTH END, IN THE NORTH END, IT
IS EVERYWHERE IN SEATTLE.
WHY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A
STATEMENT ON RENT CONTROL.
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE
70s CITIES WERE PASSING RENT
CONTROL LAWS.
SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, BOSTON
HAD RENT CONTROL AS WELL.
THEN YOU LOOK NORTH, QUCBEC AND
MONTRCAL HAD RENT CONTROL IN
1979.
VANCOUVER AND BRITISH COLUMBIA
HAS FORMER RENT CONTROL.
IN 1981 AFTER PUSH TENANTS
ORGANIZED.
THEY WANTED RENT CONTROL IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
THE LANDLORDS DID A GOOD JOB OF
LOBBYING AND THEY GOT THAT
PAST.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING
AGAINST ALMOST 4 DECADES OF
ALLOWING RANCE TO GO UP WILLY-
NILLY.
IN MY JOB I TELL RENTERS THAT
IT IS AN ILLUSTRATION BUT IT IS
TRUE THAT IN 30 DAYS YOUR RENT
CAN GO UP BY LESS THAN 10% BUT
IN 60 DAYS YOUR LANDLORD CAN
RAISE YOUR RENT BY $1 MILLION.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY LEGAL.
IF YOU LOOK, OUR RENTS HAVE
BEEN UNPREDICTABLE IN SEATTLE.
SINCE 2008 OUR RENTS HAVE
JUMPED UP OVER -- 62%. THAT IS
JUST AN ILLUSTRATION.
THESE RENT INCREASES WILL BE
HAPPENING YEAR OVER YEAR
WITHOUT ANY KIND OF BALANCE.
I KNOW I AM LUCKY TO LIVE IN A
BUILDING WITH A LANDLORD WHO
RENT CONTROLS HIMSELF.
HE RAISES THE RENT EVERY YEAR
BY $25.
PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH GOT A
$600 RENT INCREASE OVER THE
COURSE OF 2 SEPARATE RENT
INCREASES OVER THE COURSE OF
ONE YEAR.
$600.
AND THAT SHOWS THAT JUMP.
EVERY 30 DAYS YOU CAN GET A
RENT INCREASE OF 9% OR LESS.
EVERY 60 DAYS YOU CAN GET A
RENT INCREASE OF 10 OR MORE.
THAT IS ESPECIALLY HARD ON THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
IF YOU ARE A RENTER AND YOU ARE
A SINGLE PARENT, IF YOU ARE A
FAMILY, IF YOU ARE A SENIOR, 60
DAYS IS JUST NOT ENOUGH.>> LET
ME GO TO THE NEXT LIGHT.
>> THE RENTERS COMMISSION SEES
THAT SEATTLE COULD BE A
CATALYST.
WE COULD BE THE CITY TO START
THIS.
IF WE WERE TO PASS A PROACTIVE
RENT CONTROL LAW NOW THIS WOULD
SEND A MESSAGE TO OLYMPIA THAT
THERE IS A NEED AND A WANT FOR
THIS.
IN THE LARGEST CITY IN THE
STATE.
WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS WILL
HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT LIKE
SIMILAR MALLS HAVE.
I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT WE
WOULD HAVE MORE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE TO HELP US
ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN DO THIS AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE, LIKE WE HAD
SAID IN OUR PRESENTATION I'M
SORRY IN OUR LETTER, THIS IS
GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL
LEGITIMIZE THE FIGHT ACROSS THE
STATE.
>> YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM ECONOMIST TO
OUR EVENTUAL CAPITALIST AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE RENT CONTROL JUST SIMPLY
DOESN'T WORK.
IT IS ECONOMICS 101.
YOU KNOW, IN SOME SENSES, THEY
ARE RIGHT.
IT IS AN ECONOMICS CLASS.
IT IS PROBABLY NOT ON THE LEVEL
OF 101.
OTHER CITIES HAVE THE SAME
PROBLEMS WITH RENT CONTROL.
THEN THERE ARE CITIES THAT HAVE
A GREAT LAW.
IN THIS BACKGROUND HAVE
MONTRCAL, THE GOLD STANDARD FOR
RENTERS IN NORTH AMERICA.
WHAT THEY HAVE IS RENT
STABILIZATION WITH VACANCY
CONTROL.
THEY TAKE AWAY THE LOOPHOLES
AND FOR THEM, WE WILL SEE YOU
LATER ON, THE RENT HAS STAYED
PRETTY STABLE.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE SEE WHAT ABOUT SAN
FRANCISCO?
WHAT ABOUT NEW YORK?
WHAT ABOUT ANOTHER CITY THAT
HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH RENT
CONTROL?
MYSELF, I AM LUCKY THAT I USED
TO WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO AS A
TENANT RIGHTS COUNSELOR AND AN
ORGANIZER AND I CAN TELL YOU
THAT SAN FRANCISCO, THE LAW IS
NOT PERFECT.
BELOW IS FULL OF LOOPHOLES.
THEY WERE THERE. THEY WERE PUT
THERE INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE
THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO ENACT
THAT DURING THAT BIG WAVE.
THEN ALSO, BECAUSE THESE
CAVEATS WERE REQUIRED FOR
LANDLORDS TO BUY IN.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, NO BUILDING
BUILT AFTER JUNE 1979 WILL HAVE
RENT CONTROL.
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES DON'T HAVE
RENT CONTROL.
MOTHER LAW UNITS DON'T HAVE
RENT CONTROL.
VACANT UNITS DO NOT HAVE RENT
CONTROL.
LANDLORDS CAN USE CALLED THE
AFFECT, OTHER FORMS OF EVICTION
TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR
HOMES AND THEN RAISE THE RENT
BY TRIPLE DIGITS.
WHAT'S COMMON IN SAN FRANCISCO
IS AN ILLEGAL BUYOUT WHERE A
LANDLORD GIVES A VERY SMALL
AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FORCE THEM
TO MOVE AND THEN THE RENT GOES
UP BY 400 OR 500 MAYBE EVEN
$1000.
THEN THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED
A RENT BOARD APPROVED PASS-
THROUGH.
THOSE ARE ALLOWED BY THE RENT
BOARD.
THEY HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY
THEM FOR LANDLORDS TO DO
REPAIRS ON THEIR PROPERTY SO
THEY CAN RAISE THE RENT ON THAT
PROPERTY TO DO REPAIRS AND
BUNDLE THOSE.
SO YOU SEE PLACES IN SAN
FRANCISCO, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT
CITY, MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN
BUILDINGS THAT AREN'T
NECESSARILY APARTMENT
BUILDINGS.
THERE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T FALL
UNDER THAT.
THEN IF YOU ARE ON RENT CONTROL
AND YOU ARE IN THE UNIT, THAT
UNIT IS THEN UP FOR GRABS.
>> I THINK YOU ARE COMING TO
THAT NEXT BUT I WANT TO SAY
THAT YOU USED THE TERM VACANCY
DECONTROL, SO I'M HOPING YOU
COULD EXPLAIN THAT FOR OUR
VIEWERS AND ALSO, WHEN YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO WE
WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE
WEAKENING OF RENT CONTROL, IF
YOU COULD GET INTO THAT.
AS YOU SAID, WE ARE GOING TO
HEAR A LOT OF THIS AND WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DASHED THE
ONLY WAY WE CAN WIN THIS IS TO
ARM THOUSANDS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A ROBUST
RENT CONTROL BALL IT WORKS
GREAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO VACANCY CONTROL IS SIMPLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT SAN FRANCISCO,
THE RENT CONTROL DOESN'T APPLY
TO VACANT UNITS AT ALL.
ONCE THERE IS NOBODY LIVING IN
THAT UNIT YOU CAN RAISE THE
PRICE BY AS MUCH IS WHAT YOU
WANT.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF VACANCY
CONTROL WHICH APPLIES TO VACANT
UNITS AND COST, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE TOO
COMPLICATED TO GET INTO IN THIS
MEETING.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND PEOPLE
DO IS LOOK AT THE WORK THAT
GROUPS LIKE TENANTS TOGETHER
AND OTHERS, ALL THESE PLACES
THAT ARE WORKING TO REPEAL
THIS, THEY ARE DOING IT FOR A
REASON.
IT IS LIMITING THE LOCAL
CONTROL OF RENT CONTROL IN SAN
FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES WHERE
THEY WANT MORE ROBUST
PROTECTIONS BUT THEY ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO.
WE LOOK AT A PLACE, THERE IS A
PLACE WHERE THERE IS ALLOWANCE
FOR THAT.
IT IS QUCBEC.
THEY HAVE HAD RENT CONTROL ON
THE BOOKS WITH NO -- NONE OF
THOSE CAVEATS SINCE 1979.
THEY HAVE ALSO LIKE SEATTLE
SEEN A BIG BOOM.
THEY HAVE -- BETWEEN 2008 AND
2017 THEY ADDED 100,000 PEOPLE.
NOT AS MUCH IS US BUT THEY HAD
A HUGE BOOM ALSO IN TECH. THEY
BROUGHT IN PEOPLE WITH HIGHER
INCOMES.
IT IS A CITY THAT WHEN WE WERE
DOING THE STUDIES WE FOUND AS
MICHAEL IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT,
180 DAYS THAT WE SAW THAT WAS
DOING THIS REALLY GREAT WORK
FOR RENTERS.
IT IS KIND OF LIKE THE BIZARRO
SEATTLE.
WHEN YOU TALK TO A RENTER THEY
TALK ABOUT HOW EASY IT IS TO
RENT THERE AND HOW MUCH REASON
EXCUSE ME FREEDOM THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY HAVE.
A GREAT EXAMPLE IS ON THE NEXT
SLIDE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RENT HAS
GONE UP MUCH LESS THAN HOURS IN
THE SAME DECADE THAT WE
MENTIONED.
BETWEEN 2008 AND 2017 THERE
RENT WENT UP $100 ACROSS ALL
HOUSING TYPES.
THERE ARE PLACES LIKE THE
ROWHOUSES IN MONTRCAL THAT ARE
HIGHER RENT PER MONTH THAN
THAT.
BY ALL SOURCES COMBINED IT IS
ONLY GOING UP BY 9% ON AVERAGE.
THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT
RENT CONTROL POLICY. THEY DON'T
HAVE ANY LOOPHOLES OR CAVEATS
THAT SAY YOU HAVE RENT CONTROL
BUT THEN YOU CAN ALSO ASK FOR A
LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.
>> THE ECONOMY HAS NOT GONE
DEFUNCT?
>> NO.
>> IT IS NOT TANKING.
SURPRISINGLY, IT IS A VERY
VIBRANT CITY.
IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU
WILL TALK TO PEOPLE WHO SIT ON
THE DEVELOPER SIDE OF THIS AND
THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE
WILL STOP BUILDING IF RENT
CONTROL HAPPENS.
IN SAN FRANCISCO THEY ARE STILL
BUILDING.
WE ARE BUILDING A LOT MORE THAN
EVERYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU GO TO SAN FRANCISCO AND
MIDMARKET TO THE FILLMORE, THAT
IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT WHERE GENERATIONS OF
BLACK FOLKS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED
FOR CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU GO TO MONTRCAL YOU SEE
DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING THERE.
IT DOESN'T KILL THE ECONOMY
LIKE PEOPLE SAY.
RENTERS, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO
LIVE IN SEATTLE NOW BUT STILL
HAVE TO COMMUTE FROM KENT OR
AUBURN OR ANYWHERE ELSE, THEY
ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN
PLACE WITH RENT CONTROL.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING LONG
COMMUTES AND PEOPLE BEING
FORCED OUT OF THE CITY, THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THE CITY
GREAT AND RUN, THE WORKERS AND
THE TEACHERS AND THE NURSES AND
BARISTAS, RETAIL WORKERS, THESE
PEOPLE GET TO STAY IN THE CITY
THAT THEY LOVE AND THE CITY
THAT THEY PUT ROOTS IN.
IF YOU LOOK AT MONTRCAL AGAIN,
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT WORRY.
EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE CAN
TALK ABOUT A STORY OF WHEN
CHRISTIANA BROUGHT IT UP,
WORRYING ABOUT ONCE A LIGHT
RAIL COMES INTO NORTH GATE.
THAT IS A LEGITIMATE FEAR FOR
RENTERS.
I HAVE TALKED TO RENTERS WHO DO
NOT TALK ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
THEY DO NOT WORRY ABOUT RENT
INCREASE.
THEY DASHED IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE
TALKED TO, THEY LOVE THEIR
LANDLORDS.
THEY HAVE DINNER WITH THEM.
THEY WORK WITH THEM, THEY PAINT
THE HOUSE TOGETHER WITH THEM.
I GO IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT
WORLD.
>> CAN YOU ALSO SHARE FROM YOUR
KNOWLEDGE OF MONTRCAL WHAT --
WE KNOW THE OTHER MYTHS ABOUT
RENT CONTROL AND THE DEMONIZING
THAT THE QUALITY OF THE HOMES
DETERIORATES WHEN YOU HAVE
STRONG RENT CONTROL.
WHAT DO THE RENTERS THINK ABOUT
THE QUALITY OF THE RENTAL HOMES
THERE?
>> I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO
VENTURE INTO QUITE A FEW OF
THOSE HOMES.
THEY ARE LIKE SOME OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL BROWNSTONES THAT YOU
CAN IMAGINE.
THAT IS THE INTERESTING THING
AS WELL.
A LOT OF TIMES IN SEATTLE, I
HAVE TALKED TO LANDLORDS THAT
THEY ARE ALREADY EFFECTIVELY
CONTROLLING THEIR OWN RENTS.
THEY STABILIZE THEIR OWN RENTS.
IT IS NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN
THAT.
THE WORST AND MOST APPALLING
CONDITIONS THAT I HAVE SEEN
WITH MY OWN EYES IN SEATTLE
WHEN ORGANIZING TENANTS WAS
WITH BIG CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENTS.
IT IS RARELY WITH SMALL
LANDLORDS.
EVERYONE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO
AND EVERY UNIT THAT I HAVE BEEN
IN IN MONTRCAL WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS VERY REMINISCENT OF THE
OLDER BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE
HERE IN SEATTLE AND THEY ARE
WELL KEPT UP.
THERE IS THAT FEAR AND THAT IS
A FEAR THAT EXISTED IN SAN
FRANCISCO AS WELL WITH THE
ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH
MAINTENANCE AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
IF YOU RISE WITH INFLATION THAT
GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO KEEP
UP WITH THOSE REPAIRS.
IT DOESN'T SAY YOU ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO MAKE ANY MORE MONEY.
WE LIVE IN A CAPITALIST SOCIETY
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE
DRIVING FORCE AND THOSE CITIES
ARE NOT CRASHING ECONOMICALLY.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WE CAN SAY.
IT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE
ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW.
FOR MANY OF THE LANDLORDS WHO
ARE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLING
THEMSELVES THE ONLY CHANGE WILL
BE FOR THE BIGGER LANDLORDS WHO
ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE A 25% PROFIT MARGIN.
>> RIGHT.
>> THEY WANT TO EXPLOIT THEIR
RENTERS.
WE ALREADY HAD PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE TELL US THEY ARE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE AND
THEY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.
I WANTED TO MENTION ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE SEE IN SEATTLE IS
SO MANY EXAMPLES, MY OFFICE HAS
TENANTS CALLING US EVERY WEEK
TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR
APARTMENTS, WHICH ARE VERY
EXPENSIVE WITH EXPENSIVE RENTS
HAVE MOLD INFESTATIONS,
ELEVATORS THAT DON'T WORK,
STAIRS THAT ARE BROKEN AND WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT DISABLED
PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH REAL
MOBILITY HINDRANCES BECAUSE
THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT FIXED.
WE ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES
AND UNDOCUMENTED MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY, AS YOU CORRECTLY
NOTED THEY END UP ACCEPTING
SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS BECAUSE
THEY ARE AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT
HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE FORM OF
RETALIATION.
>> OURS IS ONLY 90 DAYS RIGHT
NOW SO --
>> THAT MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT
-- IS NOT GOOD LANDLORDS THAT
ARE AFRAID OF PROTECTIONS.
IT IS -- IT'S PEOPLE, PREDATORY
LANDLORDS.
IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT WE MIGHT
NOT NAME THAT HAVE A LAW NAMED
AFTER THEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY
THEY TREATED TENANTS.
>> YES.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LAWS.
>> THE LARGER THIRD PARTY
CORPORATE MANAGEMENT IS WHO I
BELIEVE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
RIGHT NOW.
THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK AT YOUR
APARTMENT AND SAY OH, YOU HAVE
LIVED HERE SEVEN YEARS YOU ARE
$200 ON THE MARKET SO WE WILL
RAISE YOU $200.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SOFTWARE,
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE
AWARE OF.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THESE
RELEASING SOFTWARE'S THAT
CORPORATE PROPERTY MANAGERS
USE.
YOU PUMP OUT NUMBERS.
YOU GET A PRINT OUT DAILY OF
WHAT YOUR RENT SHOULD BE ON
YOUR APARTMENTS BASED ON WHAT
THEIR ALGORITHM SAYS.
THERE IS NO HUMAN NEST TO THESE
RENT CONTROLS OR INCREASES THAT
ARE COMING OUT.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T MIND
WAITING 60 DAYS.
IF YOU HAVE EVER TOURED AN
APARTMENT ON TUESDAY AND THEY
SAY IT IS 2100 AND THEN YOU
TOURED ON WEDNESDAY MAY SAY IT
IS 23 HUNDRED IT THEY ARE LIKE
E USING YIELD OPTIMIZATION
SOFTWARE.
THAT IS TAKING THE HUMAN ASPECT
OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP AND
TURNS IT INTO AN AGGRESSIVE
ALGORITHM THAT PROMISES LARGE
RETURNS TO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANIES.
>> IS IT OVERINFLATED THAT ARE
USED?
>> YES.
IF YOU LOOK AT AN APARTMENT YOU
PUT IN MORE THAN ONE
APPLICATION.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND
THE APARTMENT OF YOUR DREAMS IF
IT'S IN YOUR BUDGET THE FIRST
TIME YOU GO LOOKING, LUCKY YOU.
MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT SEVERAL,
FIVE TO 10.
SO EVERY TIME SOMEONE LOOKS AT
THAT APARTMENT THE SOFTWARE SO
THERE IS INTEREST IN THIS
APARTMENT SO WHETHER IT'S AN IN
MAIL OR APARTMENT OR TOUR THAT
INFLATES THE SOFTWARE'S
VALUATION OF WHAT THAT
APARTMENT SHOULD BE.
SO IF EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE
LOOKED AT A ONE-BEDROOM
APARTMENT IN ONE BUILDING IT
WOULD ASSUME THAT ALL 6 OF US
WOULD BE POTENTIAL RENTERS AND
ADD EVEN MORE VALUE TO THE COST
TO RENT AS OPPOSED TO MOM-AND-
POP LANDLORD SAYING, DEVON HAS
BEEN HERE FOR A DECADE.
I HAVEN'T RAISED HIS RENT.
I HAVE BIG REPAIRS, HOW DOES
150 SOUND.
THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT A PERSON.
IT JUST RAISES RENT.
WHEN YOU WORK IN THE CORPORATE
PROPERTY MANAGE YOU CREATE THE
MARKET.
MONTHLY YOU CALL APARTMENTS
THAT ARE SIMILAR IN STYLE TO
YOURS AND YOU FIND OUT WHAT
THEY RENT THEIR HOMES FOR AND
WHAT THEIR VACANCY IS.
99% OCCUPIED AND YOU RENT ONE
BEDROOMS FOR 2400.
WE HAVE BEEN WHEN RENTING OURS
FOR 2200 SO WE SHOULD INCREASE
OURS.
YOU CREATE THE INFLATION.
IF EVERYBODY CALLED THAT HAVE
THE SAME PRODUCT, THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO CONTROL THE PRICE THAT
WAY.
MARKET SURVEYS, IF THEY ARE
GOING TO DO THEM, I FEEL LIKE
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT
THEM.
THAT IS ALSO CONTROLLING THE
MARKET AND FINDING OUT -- YOU
CAN CHARGE THAT MUCH?
I KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH.
I RAISED TO 25, HE WILL RAISE
TO 26 AND IT WOULD JUST KEEP
GOING.
>> THAT IS A SCARY THING.
THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH
ON THIS.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT IS TAKEN OUT
OF IT.
NOT FOR GOOD LANDLORDS BUT FOR
BAD LANDLORDS THAT PEOPLE,
CORPORATE LANDLORDS OR OTHERS
DON'T SEE PEOPLE AS PEOPLE.
THEY SEE DOLLAR SIGNS.
WHAT IT REALLY ENDS UP BEING IS
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO MISS OUT
ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR
STAFF.
MAYBE THEY LEAVE SEATTLE AND GO
TO TACOMA OR EVERETT.
THEY GO TO PORTLAND, THERE IS
ALSO A REALLY GOOD CHANCE THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO END UP ON THE
STREET.
81% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON
HOUSE RIGHT NOW IN SEATTLE WERE
PREVIOUSLY HOUSED IN KING
COUNTY.
THAT IS HUGE.
THAT IS -- WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
THIS IS ONE WAY TO HELP SOLVE
IT.
WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.
WE WANT TO BRING THE
CONVERSATION BACK TO PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU TALK TO A RENTER IN
MONTRCAL THAT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE LANDLORD HAS
TO COMPETE OVER THEM.
IT IS NOT US AND 30 OTHER
PEOPLE APPLYING TO A UNIT.
OR, PEOPLE WILL BE EVICTED,
WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THAT
LATER.
THEY WERE ECONOMICALLY EVICTED
BEFORE AND ENDED UP ON THE
STREETS.
THAT IS WHY WE WANT RENT
CONTROL IN SEATTLE.
WE WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO
HUMANITY.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
LIVE IN THE CITY, EVERY KIND OF
PERSON.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE A CHILD THE
CHARLES DICKENS NOVEL.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS HUGE
DISPARITY HAD PEOPLE LIVING ON
THE STREET.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HOUSE
EVERYBODY EQUITABLY.
THAT IS REALLY WHAT THIS IS
COMING BACK TO.
>> OKAY.
SO MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT
SUGGESTION, GOING OFF THAT, WE
HAVE OUR RECOMMENDATION TO
INCREASE THE RENT NOTICE TO 180
DAYS.
JUST STARTING OFF WITH THIS
SOME FACTS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW, AS WE HAVE HEARD
FROM DEVON, SEATTLE RENTS HAVE
INCREASED IN THE LAST SIX YEARS
57%.
IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THEY'VE
GONE UP 62%.
IT IS AN UPWARD TREND AND
PEOPLE ARE GETTING PRICED OUT.
AGAIN, THE INCREASES ARE NOT
JUST $20 OR $30, THEY ARE IN
THE HUNDREDS.
SO, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN TERMS OF WHAT THE
NOTICE PERIOD IS.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
THERE IS HB 1440 THAT IS AT THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK RIGHT NOW.
THAT WILL INCREASE NOTICE TO 60
DAYS IN THE STATE.
FOR ANY RENT INCREASE.
THAT IS GREAT.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT BUT
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS
WE STILL BELIEVE THAT 30 DAYS,
60 DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE BELIEVE THAT 180 DAYS IS
WHAT PEOPLE NEED.
>> PARTICULARLY HERE WHERE THE
RENT IS SO HIGH.
IT IS A CRISIS.
WE NEED TO BEHAVE LIKE IT IS
LIKE CRISIS.
>> CURRENTLY UNTIL THIS BILL IS
SIGNED, FOR RENT INCREASES OF
LESS THAN 10% THERE IS NO MORE
THAN A 30 DAY NOTICE.
10% OR MORE THEY GET A MINIMUM
OF 60 DAYS NOTICE.
OUR QUESTION TO THAT IS IS THAT
ENOUGH TIME TO EITHER MOVE,
FIND A NEW PLACE OR INCREASE
YOUR INCOME? AS WE HAVE SEEN
THERE IS A LOT OF BARRIERS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME SUPPORT FOR
RENTERS IN TERMS OF FINDING NEW
PLACES TO LIVE BUT THERE IS
STILL A BARRIER OF, WHAT WE
TALKED ABOUT, JUST FIGHTING. WE
CAN GO TO THE NEXT LINE.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> OUR CURRENT RENT HIKE
NOTIFICATION LAWS, WE BELIEVE
IT WILL BE MARGINALIZED AND
LEAVE PEOPLE HONORABLE.
30 DAYS IS TOUGH TO FIND A
HOUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE
SO MANY PEOPLE MOVING IN.
SEATTLE IS A PLACE WHERE A LOT
OF PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.
THAT IS A GREAT THING.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOUGH THAT
WE ARE NOT MOVING PEOPLE OUT
AND DISPLACING PEOPLE IN ORDER
TO GROW. THE CURRENT STATE OF
OUR NOTIFICATION LAWS IN SOME
WAYS IT INCENTIVIZES LANDLORDS
TO ECONOMICALLY EVICT SOME
TENANTS AND THAT IS WHERE THEY
INCREASE THE RENT KNOWING THAT
SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
AFFORD IT.
THEY CAN BRING IN SOMEONE ELSE
WHO CAN AFFORD THE HIGHER RENT.
>> GENERALLY, WHAT DO WE DESERVE
?
>> PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN? THEY
CAUSE DAMAGE TO HOMES.
THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE, DISABLED
PEOPLE WHO AND UP NEEDING
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR
HOUSING.
>> YES.
I THINK JUST ANYONE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD THE RENT.
IF YOU CAN'T -- IF YOU CAN RENT
AT A HIGHER RENT TO SOMEONE WHO
CAN AFFORD THAT THEN THAT IS
REALLY A SAD SITUATION THAT WE
ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
THEN FOLLOWING UP WITH THE NEXT
POINT, SOME PEOPLE SAY THERE
ARE MONTH-TO-MONTH OPTIONS IN
CASE SOMEBODY WANTS TO TAKE AN
EXTRA MONTH TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE TO WORK
TO FIGURE OUT THEIR RENT
INCREASE AMOUNT.
REALLY, THOSE MONTH-TO-MONTH
OPTIONS ARE NOT AFFORDABLE DUE
TO THE PREMIUM FEES.
THOSE ARE ADDED ON TOP OF
MONTHLY RENT.
THAT WOULD MEAN THAT NOW
SOMEONE IS PAYING WHAT THEY
WERE PAYING BEFORE AND THERE IS
ALSO --
>> IF I WERE TO GIVE YOU A
RENTAL RACE EXCUSE ME RATE
INCREASE NUMBER I WOULD SAY
HEY, YOUR RENT IS GOING UP 2400
OR YOU CAN GO MONTH-TO-MONTH
WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL $250.
SO NOW YOU'RE PAYING $2650 FOR
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CHANCE
TO LIVE.
IT CAN GO $50 UP TO $500.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS
EVEN A PREMIUM FEE.
THE REASON THOSE ARE USUALLY
INCLUDED IS BECAUSE IT IS SEEN
AS RISKY FOR A LOT OF LARGER
BUILDINGS TO HAVE LEASES EXPIRE
WHENEVER WHICH IS WHAT MONTH-TO-
MONTH IS.
SO THEY CHARGE THIS MONTH TO
MONTH FEE FOR THE RISK FACTOR.
WE ARE IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS
DECEMBER OR JULY YOU HAVE A
LINE OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO MOVE
IN.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROTECTIONS
ON THOSE.
YOU CAN CHARGE WHATEVER YOU
WANT.
PENALIZING PEOPLE.>> AS IN THE
SEATTLE TIMES ABOUT A WEEK AGO
WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH PEOPLE
NOT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBSIDIES,
SECTION 8 AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE SEEN
THIS WHERE SOMEONE JUST GETS IN
ON A VOUCHER, WHATEVER VOUCHER
IT IS.
THERE IS ALREADY A BIAS AGAINST
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBSIDIES
VOUCHERS THEN THEY SAY WE ARE
RAISING THE RENT. IT HAS TO
INCREASE.
OVER YOUR VOUCHER LIMIT.
WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS
THAT IT IS NOT SO MUCH OF
FINDING SOMEONE WHO WILL TAKE
YOUR VOUCHER BUT THEN GOING
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HAVING
THAT APARTMENT DEPENDING ON
WHICH VOUCHER YOU HAVE, HAVE IT
INSPECTED AND APPROVED AND SOME
OF THEM YOU MIGHT NEED TO MAKE
REPAIRS OR CHANGES TO GET
THINGS APPROVED BY THE VOUCHER
GOING TO THE LANDLORD.
IT TAKES LONGER THAN 60 DAYS.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS AS WELL
ON THE SIDE OF SOME OF THESE
VOUCHER PROGRAMS WHERE THEY
HAVE DEADLINES AND LIMITS THAT
IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ADVOCACY
ISSUE.
PERHAPS WE CAN REDUCE SOME OF
THAT, SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO
FINDING HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
EDUCATION AROUND WHO HAS RENTAL
SUBSIDIES AND HOW IT IS ILLEGAL
TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEM.
>> THE COST OF LIVING ON SOCIAL
SECURITY, THAT IS 2.8%.
WE ARE NOT HEARING THAT RENTS
ARE GOING UP 2.8%.
THAT IS EVEN AFTER SEVERAL
YEARS WHERE THERE WAS NO COST-
OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IF I
REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
>> YES.
IT IS TOUGH.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIDE RIGHT
NOW, SEATTLE RESIDENTS PAY AN
AVERAGE RENT OF $1731.
TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE,
SOMEONE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE
RIGHT NOW WORKING 40 HOURS A
WEEK EARNING $15 AN HOUR, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO PAY 72% OF THEIR
INCOME TO REMAIN HOUSE.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANYTHING
OTHER THAN READ.>> ANY
ECONOMIST WILL TELL YOU NOT TO
SPEND MORE THAN 30% OF YOUR
INCOME ON HOUSING.
THEY ARE NOT LIVING AS $15 AN
HOUR MINIMUM WAGE JOBS.
>> THIS IS WHAT YOU LEARNED IN
SCHOOL, HOW BAD UNIONS ARE IN
RENT CONTROL.
LIKE OF THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO
CALL OFF WORK TO FIND
APARTMENTS WHICH AFFECTS MOST
OF THOSE.
THERE IS NO PAID TIME OFF.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY THE
INCREASE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
30 ACES FOR WEEKENDS, NOT
ENOUGH TIME TO FIND AN
APARTMENT, MOVE, PACK AND GET
YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT LEFT.
THIS IMPACTS BUSINESSES AND
YOUR ABILITY TO PAY FOR YOUR
NEW APARTMENT.
>> 60 DAYS, THAT NOTICE IS ALSO
NOT ENOUGH.
>> HE CAN'T BE.
I'VE GONE TO LOOK FOR
APARTMENTS AND BEEN 12th IN LINE
WHEN I AM AN HOUR AND A HALF
EARLY.
THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE
FIRST PERSON IN LINE.
THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.
THESE ARE FOR APARTMENTS WITH
SQUEAKY DOORS AND PEELING
LINOLEUM AND YOU SAY I HOPE
THEY WILL TAKE MY APPLICATION
AFTER I WAITED IN LINE FOR 2
HOURS.
YOU DO THAT OVER AND OVER UNTIL
SOMEBODY CALLS.
THE PERSON BEHIND YOU MIGHT
BEING TWO INCOMES, WORKING AT
AMAZON.
WE FOOL AND WE FIGHT FOR
SCRAPS.
>> WITHOUT RENT CONTROL PEOPLE
ARE LEAVING THE CITY.
PEOPLE WANT TO TRY TO STAY
WHERE THEY HAVE ROOTS.
MAYBE YOU TAKE THAT FIRST 30
DAYS TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK IN
SEATTLE AND THEN YOU CAN'T AND
YOU TRY TO MAKE IT AND THEN YOU
GO OUT FURTHER AND YOU KEEP
GOING.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
DISPLACED REALLY A LONG WAY.
THIS 180 DAYS WOULD GIVE THEM
TIME TO CONTINUE LOOKING TO BE
ABLE TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT THEY HELPED BUILD.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
SYSTEMIC NATURE CAN COME HERE.
I HAD A CLIENT WHO WAS WORKING
FULL-TIME.
HE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSEOF A
RENT INCREASE.
HE LIVED IN HIS CAR.
HE WAS WORKING FULL TIME MAKING
$60,000 A YEAR.
THEY WERE LIVING IN THEIR CARS
SO THEY HAD MOVING VIOLATIONS
AND FIND THAT IMPACTED THEIR
CREDIT SCORE AND REPORT.
WE DID FIND A LANDLORD THAT WAS
CONSIDERING RENTING TO THEM BUT
BECAUSE OF THE CREDIT ISSUES
THEY WANTED FIRST, LAST, THE
FULL AMOUNT OF RENT FOR DEPOSIT
I TOLD CLIENTS YOU ONLY HAVE 20
TO 15 DAYS SO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE THAT ON BOARD.
FOR THAT PACKAGE IT WAS $8500.
NOW THIS IS A PERSON THAT, IT
WAS BECAUSE OF A RENT INCREASE.
THEY WERE WORKING FULL-TIME.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY STIGMATIZED
STUFF THAT WE HAVE FOR HOMELESS
PEOPLE.
THEY ENDED UP, THE ONLY OPTION
THEY HAD AT THE END WAS TO GO
INTO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
IT WAS UNNECESSARY.
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO, EXCEPT
THE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS
THAT HAS $8500 READY TO GO.
>> NO.
I THINK 45% OF AMERICANS DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BANK TO
PAY FOR $400 UNEXPECTED
EXPENSE.
>> THAT IS A FAR CRY FROM
ANYTHING LIKE $8500.
>> THE REASON I ENJOY THE 180
DAY PROPOSITION IS THAT THIS IS
LOCAL.
IT DOESN'T INVOLVE US WAITING
ON THE STATE TO DO SOMETHING.
IT IS IMPACTFUL FOR EVERYBODY
IN OUR CITY CURRENTLY.
>> THE CITY HAS NOT ADDRESSED
NOTIFICATIONS IN 20 YEARS.
WE HAVE A GRAPHIC UP THERE
SHOWING WHAT SOME OTHER CITIES
IN THE REGION HAVE DONE.
TACOMA RECENTLY UPDATED THEIRS
TO BE 60 DAY NOTIFICATION.
PORTLAND HAS 90 DAYS.
VANCOUVER'S 90 DAYS AND
MONTRCAL IS 180 DAYS.
WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND
WHAT SOME OTHER CITIES HAVE
DONE IS NOT SOMETHING
IMPOSSIBLE.
IT IS WHAT PEOPLE NEED.
AGAIN, I THINK WE MENTIONED IT
BUT WHO CAN INCREASE THEIR
INCOME BY HUNDRED DOLLARS A
MONTH IN 30 DAYS?
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
EASY TO DO.
>> I'M SORRY.
I WAS JUST GOING TO CAUTION
THAT WE ARE OVERTIME FOR THE
MEETING.
>> OKAY.
>> IN CLOSING, AT 10% INCREASE
FOR THE AVERAGE TENANT IN
SEATTLE IS $2000 PER YEAR.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE TIME TO
RESPOND TO THAT.
>> I DO WANT TO THROW IN ABOUT
180 DAYS IN MONTRCAL, SOME SAVVY
LANDLORDS WILL PROBABLY TELL
YOU THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY
180 DAYS THERE.
THEY HAVE A VERY COMPLICATED
SYSTEM.
FOR A FIXED TERM LEASE IT IS
BETWEEN 3 AND 6 MONTHS, THEY
ALSO DO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE RENT
CONTROL, EVERY TENANT GETS THE
RENT INCREASE NOTICE AT THE
SAME TIME EVERY YEAR.
SO EFFECTIVELY EVEN IF YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY NOTICE YOU KNOW
IT IS COMING IN JULY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID WE DASHED
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS
WE SAW THERE WAS BETWEEN 3 AND
6 MONTHS BUT WITH THE CRAY ISIS
THE WAY IT IS WE JUST SAID NO,
180 DAYS, NO CAVEATS, THAT IS
WHAT WE NEED.
>> HOW LONG HAS MONTRCAL HAD
THIS?
>> IT WAS TIED TO THE RENT
CONTROL LAW.
BUT MAKE CREATED THE OFFICE IT
WAS 1979.
>> YOU WILL HEAR SOME PUSHBACK
ON INCREASING THE NOTICE DAYS
MEAN THAT LANDLORDS DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO BRING UP MONEY
FOR RESPECT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY SAY IT WOULD
MAKE ME NERVOUS TO READ FROM AN
APARTMENT BUILDING THAT CAN'T
REPLACE THE REFRIGERATOR
WITHOUT RAISING MY RENT.
IT IS GOOD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
STANDING TO DO A YEARLY
INSPECTION.
YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN YOUR
BUSINESS.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY SIX
MONTHS SHOULD NOT BE OVERLY
PREDICTIVE OF YOUR BUDGET.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
YOU KNOW THE LAST TIME YOU HAD
TO DO THE ROOF.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY LEAKS YOU HAD
TO REPAIR THE YEAR BEFORE AND
WHAT YOU SHOULD BUDGET FOR THIS
YEAR.
I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH
THE SIX MONTHS BEING SO MUCH
TIME THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
MAKE REPAIRS ON THE BUILDING.
I CONSIDER THAT TO BE A POOR
FORM OF BUSINESS AND IT WOULD
MAKE ME A NERVOUS TENNIS.
>> FROM A BASIC BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION SENT YOU SHOULD
KNOW YOUR APPRECIATION VALUE OF
YOUR INVESTMENT IN SIX MONTHS.
I WOULD KEEP THE EMPATHY OF THE
FACT THAT THERE ARE HUMANS AND
FAMILY LIVING IN THAT
APARTMENT.
I WOULD ALSO PERHAPS, IF IT'S
GOING TO TAKE SERVICES OR
EDUCATION AVAILABLE FOR
LANDLORDS TO KNOW HOW TO
FORECAST WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE RENT
TO GIVE THIS NOTICE, THAT IS A
GOOD COMPROMISE.
I THINK AS A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER MYSELF, I WOULD BE VERY
CONCERNED IF SOMEONE SAID THAT
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO
FORECAST APPRECIATION OF VALUES
IN SIX MONTHS.
>> VERY GOOD POINT.
>> WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH ONE
SLIDE.
JUST TO SAY THAT [ INAUDIBLE ]
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
COMMISSION NOT JUST COMING HERE
BUT TAKING YOUR WORK SO
SERIOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, [ INAUDIBLE ] I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
WHO ARE WATCHING SHOULD ALSO GO
TO MY COUNSEL OFFICE WEBSITE TO
LOOK AT SOME OF -- THERE IS A
ONE PAGE IN THERE THAT WE PUT
TOGETHER AND RENT CONTROL,
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS GO INTO
WHAT WE WERE MENTIONING ABOUT
THE ECONOMISTS AND OTHERS ABOUT
RENT CONTROL AND THEY CLAIM IT
DOESN'T WORK.
WE KNOW IT WORKS.
THE MAIN THING BEING WE NEED A
RENT CONTROL LAW THAT IS FREE
OF LOOPHOLES.
THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT WE NEED
TO FIGHT FOR.
ONE OTHER THING TO MENTION IS
THAT ONE LOOPHOLE THAT WE DON'T
WANT IS A RENT INCREASE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING
NO MORE THAN THE INFLATION RATE.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS LAW
WOULD BE AS SOON AS THE STATE
BAN COULD BE LIFTED.
WHO IS COVERED, THIS IS PART OF
THE LOOPHOLE IN CALIFORNIA, WE
WENT ALL RESIDENTIAL RENTAL
HOMES TO BE COVERED, SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES, A CONDOMINIUM
THAT IS BEING RENTED OR AN
APARTMENT BUILDING, NO
EXCEPTIONS SHOULD BE MADE ON
WHAT KIND OF SPACE IT IS.
THEN QUICKLY ALL KINDS OF
OPPORTUNITIES COME UP.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT
FOR IT.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO
WIN EVERY COUNCILMEMBERS STRONG
SUPPORT UNLESS WE BUILD A
MOVEMENT AND THEN THEY MIGHT
SUPPORT RENT CONTROL.
THEN THEY WILL SUPPORT IT.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING WITH
THE ROGERS COMMISSION.
I BELIEVE I SPEAK FOR THE
COMMISSION AS A WHOLE WHEN I
SAY THAT WE ENCOURAGE
COUNCILMEMBERS AT OUR MAYOR AND
CITY DEPARTMENTS TO ENGAGE WITH
US AS WELL. AS ANYTHING THEY
DECIDE IMPACTS THE LIVES OF
RENTERS.
WE WANT TO TALK AND FIGURE
THINGS OUT TOGETHER.
>> I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO HAVE
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSION
AND UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS YOU
ARE RECOMMENDING THESE
POLICIES.
>> BEFORE WE GO, I WANTED TO
MAKE NOTE THAT THERE WERE
COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE PART
OF OUR WORK GROUP WHO DID THIS
WORK THAT WERE UNABLE TO COME
TODAY.
I WANTED IT TO BE DONE THAT
THEY DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
WORK AND SHOULD GET CREDIT.
BEVERLY AND DAVID DID A LOT OF
WORK.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO
HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE NEXT
TIME WE TALK WITH YOU AND
HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL BE AT
THE TABLE.
>> MAKE WE EXCUSE ME MAKE SURE
WE BUILD A BIG ENOUGH CAMPAIGN.
THANK YOU FOR LEADING ON THIS.
THAT LEADERSHIP MATTERS.
WE NEED A STARTING POINT.
AND PLEASE CONVEY
CONGRATULATIONS FROM EVERYBODY
IN MY OFFICE TO THE
COMMISSIONERS WHO WORKED ON
THIS.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION GINA
OWENS WHO IS ONE OF THE NEWEST
COMMISSIONERS.
SHE MAY NOT HAVE -- SHE HAS
BEEN FIGHTING FOR RENTERS FOR
MANY YEARS.
I AM ENCOURAGED AT THE WORK YOU
ALL ARE DOING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR THE WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE.
I WAS MAKING NOTES BECAUSE I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
ESPECIALLY THE INFLATION AND
INFLATED RENT THAT THEY USED
FROM THE SOFTWARE.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO YOUR OFFICE
MORE ABOUT THAT IF YOU WOULD
LIKE.
>> I SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT HOW
THAT IS A PROBLEMATIC THING AND
IT SHOULD BE MADE ILLEGAL.
>>>> JUST ONE THING, THE LAST
THING, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS.
OBVIOUSLY RENT CONTROL IS WHAT
MADE THE NEWS.
WE ARE ACTUALLY -- [ INAUDIBLE ]
IT WON'T BE A MATTER OF
CHANGING THE NUMBER, WRITING
THE LEGISLATION IS SIMPLE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT
FOR THAT.
WE HOPE THAT AS WE BROADEN THE
CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN THAT WE CAN
BRING IN TWO OTHER THINGS.
WE ALSO WANT THE ECONOMIC
EVICTION ASSISTANT. IF YOUR
RENT GOES UP BY 10% OR MORE AND
YOU ARE ANYWHERE AT OR BELOW
80% OF [ INAUDIBLE ] THEN YOUR
LANDLORD OWES YOU THREE MONTHS
OF RENT.
>> THE 180 DAY COVERS ALL TYPES
OF LEASES SO FIXED TERM LEASES,
MONTH-TO-MONTH, WE DIDN'T WANT
TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE
YOUR LANDLORD SAYS YOU GO MONTH-
TO-MONTH.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO COVER
ALL RENTALS>> THANK YOU FOR
MENTIONING THAT.
WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
NEXT TIME WE DO THIS WE WILL
HAVE A FULL CHAMBER AND ALL
ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE HERE.
>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MEETING ADJOURNED.
>>