Today the City Council approved Council Bill 119784, introduced by Council Lorena Gonzalez to provide residential renters facing financial hardship with an additional defense against eviction for 6 months after the Mayor’s eviction moratorium ends.
The Mayor extended her moratorium — which is a stronger outright prohibition on evictions — to June 4, to align with the Governor’s policies. Today’s new — and temporary policy — adopted by the City Council is not a moratorium or ban on evictions, but rather another option tenants can use as a defense if a landlord attempts to evict them during the following six months. Think of it as a “ramp down” or “phasing out” of the protections for tenants during this extraordinary time.
What follows below is A LOT of words to explain my surprising “Yes” vote, but my decision ultimately boils down to one thing: COVID.
This law is a time-limited (6-month) option during this extraordinary public health and economic crisis for renters who also certify to a judge their financial hardship. Their rent is still due and the debt will accumulate if not paid. Fortunately, all levels of government are adding money to programs for eviction prevention and rental assistance, which should reduce the financial hardship and the need for the eviction defense.
Note: Because the legislation was introduced and approved as an “emergency” ordinance, it will become law only if Mayor Jenny Durkan signs it. (Under our City Charter, a typical Council bill becomes law unless the Mayor vetoes it. In other words, if the Mayor refuses to sign a typical Council bill, it becomes law anyway. Not so with an “emergency” ordinance, which requires not only 7 votes from Council instead of 5, but also an affirmative signature from the Mayor.) She is likely to sign it, despite similar reservations I had when voting Yes (explained below).
My office received many e-mails in favor of the proposal and many e-mails against it. To reconcile these opposite views, I conducted additional research and proposed amendments (see below). As with the moratorium on evictions during the coldest winter months adopted by the City Council this past February, this vote on CB 119784 was a difficult for me — not only because of the differing views of my own constituents, but also because the Council was again breaking new ground to go beyond what other cities have tested. While breaking new ground might sound exciting to some, I prefer a methodical approach that analyzes data along the way to make sure we are not overreaching in a way that creates unintended consequences or attracts expensive lawsuits that overturn our policy.
I proposed three amendments:
- Exempt Small Landlords (Failed): My amendment to exempt the smallest landlords (4 or fewer units) was rejected 8-1. I have heard from many smaller landlords in my district who are suffering their own financial hardships with mortgage payments, real estate taxes, property insurance, utility bills, and repairs. Unlike the City Council’s approval of my exemption for small landlords in February 2020 for the moratorium on evictions during the winter months, today my colleagues argued that COVID makes the situation extraordinary and today’s bill is temporary (just the 6 months in 2020; not every year).
- Require Tenants to Certify Financial Hardship (Passed!): One of the concerns with the original bill introduced by Council President Gonzalez is that renters might be able to pay rent, but choose not to pay rent. My amendment requires tenants to certify to a judge that they cannot afford it. “The tenant has submitted a declaration or self-certification asserting the tenant has suffered a financial hardship and is therefore unable to pay rent.”
- Receive Reports on the Law’s Implementation (Failed): While statistics were put forward by proponents of the legislation, when I asked to amend the proposal to require the city departments to report back to us on the data and effectiveness of the proposal, my colleagues voted 8-1 to reject my amendment. Their rationale was that this law will be for only 6 months and that the city government does not already collect data on evictions. Very disappointing!
The amendment accepted by my Council colleagues (for tenants to certify to a judge their financial hardship) combined with one-time, short-term nature of the ordinance during the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID public health and economic crisis led me to vote for the amended bill.
It’s important for me to emphasize that I absolutely oppose the irresponsible calls for a “rent strike.” For the Seattle Times article on that, CLICK HERE. Rent is still due. If you’re having trouble paying your residential rent, CLICK HERE and HERE. If your a housing provider (landlord), CLICK HERE.
For the press release from Council President Gonzalez, CLICK HERE.