Will the Council Undermine Tenant Protections?

There is a critical vote today that DC4D will follow closely. Chairman Mendelson has teamed up with Mayor Bowser to introduce emergency legislation extending the public health emergency but contains provisions that harm tenants. Instead of a clean extension of the moratoria on evictions and utility shutoffs, Mendelson’s bill significantly weakens them. This is a slap in the face to tenants and other DC residents who are struggling. Further details are available on Legal Aid DC’s blog.

Councilmembers Charles Allen, Janeese Lewis George, Brianne Nadeau, Elissa Silverman and Robert White are introducing an amendment to remove the harmful language and provide for a clean extension of the moratoria. Please take some time to thank these Councilmembers for protecting the public interest. Also, hold Mendelson accountable for his harmful actions, along with Councilmember Bonds, who chairs the Housing Committee. Our members who called her office encountered arguments from her staff rather than a willingness to listen.

The fact that Mendelson, Bonds and Bowser are threatening to undermine eviction protection is the best argument that the Council needs to pass comprehensive legislation to protect tenants from eviction, eliminate rental debt and compensate landlords. These are the core demands of the Cancel Rent coalition that we joined in April. Looking beyond the pandemic, we support expanding and strengthening Rent Control as called for by the Reclaim Rent Control coalition. If you’re interested in working on these issues, please email dcfordemocracy@gmail.com.