“Tenant Bill of Rights” Ballot Initiative Likely as Negotiations With City Council Fail to Produce a Compromise Agreement
TACOMA, WA – After six weeks of negotiations between city leaders and Tacoma for All representatives, it appears unlikely City Council will pass the strongest package of tenant protections. With the deadline looming to submit signatures on Initiative 2023-01, Tacoma for All leaders have announced they will recommend taking the Tenant Bill of Rights to the ballot in November. The Tacoma for All steering committee will make their recommendation at an upcoming Action Conference at 5 pm on Sunday, June 11, where attendees and coalition partners will vote on whether to submit the 7000 signatures gathered by Tacoma for All volunteers. They believe this will secure the initiative’s place on the November ballot.
Mayor Woodards, Deputy Mayor Walker, Councilmembers Hines and Ushka, and city staff met with Tacoma for All leaders in a series of meetings held at City Hall to explore negotiating an alternative to Initiative 2023-01, also known as the Tenant Bill of Rights. City leaders have offered additions to already proposed Rental Housing Code changes, but they do not go far enough to meet tenants needs. On the key issues of tenant relocation assistance, cold weather eviction protections, and protecting children from evictions during the school year, city leaders only offered more “research.”
“We’ve spoken with thousands of Tacoma voters in the last few months and the response to our initiative has been overwhelming. Tacoma voters want the bold, necessary and life-saving protections in our Tenant Bill of Rights,” said Campaign Manager Ty Moore. “With outside investors snapping up housing in Tacoma and driving rents higher and higher, more and more Tacoma residents are being priced out or falling into homelessness. It’s time for bold action to protect tenants.”
Moore said he believes that City Hall knows voters will back Initiative 2023-01 if given a clear choice. However, at a council meeting Tuesday, city leaders made clear they are considering a competing ballot initiative – a move that would be welcomed by landlord lobby groups like the Rental Housing Association. This possibility and others will be addressed democratically at the June 11 Action Conference prior to a coalition vote on whether to move forward with turning in signatures.
The Action Conference starts at 5 pm at Common Good, located at 611 Tacoma Ave S. The event will be preceded by “Hyped for Housing,” a family-friendly and upbeat event featuring a community meal and music, starting at 3 pm. All are welcome to attend.
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.