City of Tacoma Prepares Competing Tenant Rights Ordinance, Opens Negotiations

TACOMA, WA – Mayor Woodards, Deputy Mayor Walker, and Councilmember Hines and city staff met with Tacoma for All leaders on Tuesday, April 25 at City Hall to explore negotiating an alternative version of Initiative 2023-01, also known as the Tenant Bill of Rights, which is on track to appear on the November ballot. The city leaders made it clear that they intend to introduce an alternative ordinance before the campaign’s June 16th deadline to turn in signatures. The city leaders also declined to rule out the possibility of putting a competing ordinance on the November ballot if a compromise was not reached. Campaign leaders have scheduled a follow up meeting with city leaders for May 15.

“Despite sharp opposition from landlord lobbyists like Jim Henderson, we’ve built a powerful movement that is transforming the policy debate in City Hall, but the fate of tenant rights in Tacoma hangs in the balance,” Campaign Manager Ty Moore told supporters. “The next six weeks will be critical, and now is the time to throw everything we have into this fight.”

Following the meeting Tacoma for All representatives sent a letter to the Mayor and Council Members making clear that Tacoma for All “would welcome the City Council to simply pass the Tenant Bill of Rights, which has the backing of dozens of community leaders and organizations, the Pierce County Central Labor Council, and thousands of Tacoma voters who have signed in support,” and stating they are open to negotiating minor changes to reach an agreed compromise.

However, Moore also made clear “after talking with thousands of Tacoma voters in recent months, we are more confident than ever that a big majority will support our Tenant Bill of Rights in November. This is clearly the view in City Hall as well. In that light, unless their alternative includes the lion’s share of tenant protections in Initiative 2023-01, it is essentially a gift to the landlord lobby and increases the risk that Tacoma tenants will be deprived of the strong protections they desperately need.”

The campaign’s next public meeting is scheduled for May 13 and will include a full report on negotiations up to that point with city leaders. In addition, the campaign has announced an Action Conference on June 11 where the campaign will report on any offers received from city leaders, and where campaign supporters and coalition representatives will democratically decide whether to accept a compromise or to turn in signatures for Initiative 2023-01, the Tenant Bill of Rights.

Tacoma for All is a grassroots and volunteer-led coalition that seeks sustainable and affordable housing and is preparing to bring a citizen’s initiative, the Tenant Bill of Rights, to Tacoma voters on the November ballot. More information: www.Tacoma4All.org.