In September of 2019, during the heat of a fierce re-election campaign, Councilmember Kshama Sawant rolled out a proposal for residential rent control in Seattle — despite the fact that it’s clearly prohibited under state law. Today, facing the prospect of a recall election, Sawant trotted it out again.
Continue readingCategory: housing
Three new tenant-rights bills under consideration by Council
In the last week, three new tenant-rights bills that would limit evictions have been introduced into the Council legislative process: two by Councilmember Sawant, and one jointly by Councilmembers Lewis and Morales.
Continue readingIs the MHA program working?
Earlier this month, the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing issued its annual report on the MHA program, which requires developers to contribute to the city’s efforts to build more affordable housing. Now that the program has been running for a few years, it’s an apt time to look at how it’s doing.
Continue readingLewis, Sawant propose right to counsel for tenants facing eviction
Tomorrow morning the City Council will take up a bill proposed by Councilmembers Lewis and Sawant that would provide free legal representation to all tenants in Seattle facing eviction.
Continue readingKing County judge rules in favor of city on tenant protection ordinances
Today King County Superior Court Judge Johanna Bender issued a ruling almost entirely upholding three tenant protection ordinances passed by the City Council last year.
Continue readingJustCare program faces fiscal cliff next month, scrambles for new funding
The JustCare program, which takes a compassionate and constructive approach to bringing off the streets 130 of downtown Seattle’s homeless individuals causing the greatest issues, is set to run out of money next month. That has left organizers and some local officials scrambling to find additional funds to keep the program running through September.
Continue readingCity, state get win in court on eviction moratoria
This morning, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge J. Richard Creatura published a ruling in favor of the City of Seattle and the State of Washington, and denying a request for a preliminary injunction blocking the city and state moratoria on residential evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue readingNew lawsuit challenges Seattle eviction bans, rent-installment-plan mandate
On Friday, the Rental Housing Association and a number of landlords filed suit in King County Superior Court to challenge the City of Seattle’s two eviction-ban ordinances and its ordinance requiring that tenants be offered an installment plan and up to a year to repay back-rent.
Continue readingLandlords file legal challenge to eviction moratorium
Yesterday a group of landlords filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court to challenge the temporary bans on evictions enacted by Governor Inslee and Mayor Durkan, the extension of Durkan’s ban passed by the City Council, and the Council’s ordinance requiring landlords to allow tenants to repay back rent in installments.
Continue readingFort Lawton lawsuit might be over soon
When we last looked in on Elizabeth Campbell’s legal attempt to derail the redevelopment of the old Fort Lawton army base as affordable housing, her attorney was running for the closest exit. Then COVID happened, and the court system ground to a halt. But today Campbell and the other parties in the case filed a joint status update with the court — and it’s clear that the City of Seattle has run out of patience.
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