Video uploaded by Todd Boyle
Should rent control be part of a bold and comprehensive set of solutions to the dire affordable housing shortage in Seattle?
On July 20th, Councilmember Nick Licata and Kshama Sawant debated in favor of rent control. The anti-rent control position was presented by Washington State Representative Matt Manweller and Growth and Development Lobbyist Roger Valdez. The debate was moderated by former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck.
With average rents in Seattle’s neighborhoods ranging from $1,063 – $1,871 per month and 47% of tenants “rent burdened,” more and more people are recognizing that the market has failed to deliver on affordable housing.
At the same time, big developers and corporate landlords are saying louder than ever that rent control is a failure.
Which is correct? Does rent control work? Will it solve Seattle’s affordable housing crisis? Is it even possible in Seattle?
If you support rent control, suffer from skyrocketing rents, or simply want answers to how we can solve our affordable housing crisis, please watch this exciting debate.
This Rent Control Debate has been Endorsed By:
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), Entre Hermanos, Gender Justice League, IBEW Local 46, LGBTQ Allyship, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), Martin Luther King County Labor Council, NAACP, Seattle/King County Chapter, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA), Puget Sound Sage, Real Change, Seattle Displacement Coalition, Seattle Gay News, Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE), Socialist Alternative, Tenants Union of Washington State, Washington CAN, Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, 15 Now
If you have questions, please contact Adam Ziemkowski in Kshama Sawant’s office: [email protected]; 206-684-8016