There are many very good bills but there two key bills I believe we absolutely need to understand and prepare to implement:

5600 - this is the tenant protection bill and changes life for tenants across Washington State - in very good ways.  The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance will hold a webinar on on 5600 May 22 at 1:30.  I will send the invitation out when I receive it.

1406 - this bill authorizes the governing body of a county or city to impose a local sales tax, credited against the state sales tax, for affordable or supportive housing.  The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance will hold a webinar on organizing for local implementation of 1406 on June 6 at noon.  I will send out the invitation when I receive it.  

Thanks to all of you who called, emailed, visited, testified on bills this Session.  

I think we should advocate for a Proactive Homeless & Housing Plan in each local jurisdiction and unincorporated Pierce County.  I don't see any other way to be serious about ending homelessness across the county.  These do not have to be expensive or even expansive plans but rather clear policy statements and concrete steps each jurisdiction will take to end homelessness within their jurisdiction.  I'm hoping the Continuum of Care new Strategic Plan will include this.   

Duke Paulson, CEO of the Tacoma Rescue Mission gave what I thought was an excellent three minute talk on the project.  http://cityoftacoma.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=3643   Public comment begins at 14:10 on the video.  

When I prepared my email comments, I realized that I didn't know what the main emergency shelter providers thought about this proposal.  I talked with Gerrit Nyland, CCS and I settled on supporting the 50 beds and also noting the need to maintain the Stability Site.  I'm not sure what we do about situations such as these - as a Coalition we've said we can't take a position - but as advocates I think we need to know what our common principles and positions are.  Perhaps this is something we need to talk more about.

And then, in a stunning but perfectly legal addition to the published Agenda, the Council re-visited last week's action on the apartments next to the downtown library (Res. 40316) and changed the results - in a complicated procedure from which Council Member Ibsen abstained, the Council re-opened their decision and gave the owner the 8 year Multi-Family Property Tax Exemption they had requested.  Council Member Beale consistently voted no but made it clear that he was not completely opposed to the 8 year (no affordable housing units) exemption.  His decision, as I understand it, was based on the fact that the apartments will be built on public city land and there should be a public benefit (my words).  He asked the City Manager whether the Affordable Housing Action Strategy included city owned land and she said no but that the teams working on the various parts of the Action Plan could add that to their list.  As a side note - I think we should find out more about these teams.   Here's the link:  http://cityoftacoma.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=3643   This agenda item begins at 53:43.

Certainly Council Member Beale should be thanked for bringing forward the need for policy on the use of public i.e. city owned land for private development and for voting no on the apartments next to the library BUT I think we should also ask him to reconsider his stance on the 8 year Multi Family Property Tax Exemption.  Frankly, I cannot see any need for it especially given the current rental market and the number of units in the pipeline.  

Thanks to Theresa Power-Drutis for sending out CM Beale's proposed Resolution on Racial and Socioeconomic Justice in Housing Policy.  And thank CM Beale for putting this forward.  it should be considered at the May 14 Council meeting for incorporation into the Comprehensive Plan.  

So the talking points for CM Beale might include:

Thank you for bringing forward the need for a City policy on the use of publicly owned land by private housing developers on for voting NO on Resolution 40316.

Thank you for bringing forward the proposed resolution on Racial and Socioeconomic Justice in Housing Policy to the 2019 Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.

Please consider eliminating the 8 year Multi Family Property Tax Exemption.  

That's it for this morning.

Thanks for all you do,

Maureen

3320 S. 8th Street
Tacoma, WA 98405