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REGULAR MEETING February 25, 2019
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston went on, So, again, another plus in our favor. We took
<br /> something that was a problem and,through working together, we have raised our awareness about
<br /> the need to address that. That is where that working group is going to be really important. So, I
<br /> appreciate, again, for you putting that in. Some thoughts on the working group, we have mostly,
<br /> as it's written,folks from the City and things like that,I would like to consider having a community
<br /> voice on that working group as well. There has been discussion about organizing a tenant's rights
<br /> organization City-wide and maybe have a tenant on there and also maybe having someone
<br /> representing landlords in that working group. That monitoring is going to be critically important.
<br /> I'll get to metrics in a second. The appeal process was something that was suggested.We are going
<br /> to have situations. As much as we train, we are never going to have everything perfect and people
<br /> are not going to agree. We are going to have to have some sort of appeal process. The State Law,
<br /> as I understand it, is what we are leaning on for that. That is not acceptable. You have ten (10)
<br /> days,basically, and you have to file a lawsuit against the City. It's way too cumbersome for things
<br /> that can be resolved.Maybe that working group becomes a place where people bring their concerns
<br /> and have a quick turnaround appeal process. I don't know. But, I think we need to talk about that.
<br /> Our City government needs to address that anyway within the regular Code hearing process. We
<br /> have to have a way for people to not agree with the decision made in the hearing and get some sort
<br /> of quick look at it to see what we can do to work it out. So,please, think about that.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston continued, With regard to metrics, one (1) of the
<br /> concerns was losing good investors. I don't like the language good or bad landlords. It's easy to
<br /> say but it, whatever, we'll work on that. I'm concerned about the loss of low-cost rentals.
<br /> Somebody, thank you for being brave enough to stand up, after all the wonderful testimony and
<br /> talk about that because I think that is the issue you were getting at. What happens? What if there
<br /> is a situation and what if it does go up? What if somebody is in a situation and we can't find them
<br /> a place, where do they go? I loved what somebody said earlier, they said we have to ask ourselves
<br /> what kind of City do we want to be? I think we want to be the type of City that is diverse,inclusive,
<br /> we make space and we are intentional about making sure that whatever policies we put in place,
<br /> we do not push out the lowest tiers of income and the people that have the least and need the most.
<br /> We have to be diligent and that needs to be part of our metrics and capture that somehow. What is
<br /> the average rental cost going on? How is that changing over time? So that we don't wait until two
<br /> (2) years from now and be like, Bang, where did all the poor people go? You know what I'm
<br /> saying? So, we have to watch that over time.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston went on, Also, in terms of metrics, I mentioned earlier,
<br /> I would like to see the number of families after three (3) months, six (6) months, a year, recorded
<br /> and maybe even somewhere very visible as a celebration on our website. The number of families
<br /> that have been moved to safe and affordable housing by relocation or remediation. We need to
<br /> celebrate that and let people know this is working. That's how we will be able to really address
<br /> these issues. Also, metrics, I mentioned the Racial Wealth Divide Report. There are ten (10)
<br /> essential questions in there. We commissioned that report to make clear that we realize there is a
<br /> big divide. There is a problem. Housing is one(1) way that people, well, I love what she said. She
<br /> said housing is health care. That is beautiful. We have to start thinking about it in that way. There
<br /> are a couple questions. They give us ten (10) questions. Two (2) questions, I think, we should
<br /> definitely look at is will this policy increase access for people of color and poor people? That goes
<br /> back to if we are losing the lowest tiers of folks because they have to move out because they can't
<br /> find a space. Also, is this having a positive impact on equity? Same type of thing.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston continued, Finally, with metrics, I mentioned the
<br /> working group and bringing the community voice to that, so that's good. Alright, so,one(1)thing,
<br /> the reason I take my time with this is because I feel like sometimes we pass legislation to address
<br /> a particular really important issue like making sure everybody is in safe and affordable housing.
<br /> We feel good about ourselves and go home and pat ourselves on the back, but, I don't know how
<br /> many of you have ever been in that situation and there may very well be some here, but, we have
<br /> to make sure that somebody asks is this effective? Ok? Because we've tried to get at this issue of
<br /> chronic problem properties. We've passed legislation in the past. Chronic nuisance, landlord
<br /> registration, now, we are doing RSVP and the truth is, it hasn't worked in the past. I have a lot
<br /> more hope for this particular legislation,but the City can only do so much. That is the real truth of
<br /> it. Code Enforcement has certain tools,just like the Police. Like, we want to call the Police about
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