Seattle disregards safety of citizens

"Fair" Chance Housing?  Or a slap in the face?  

If you or a family member or friend is a renter (or owns rental property), how fair do you think Seattle's new housing code is that prohibits landlords from screening for criminal histories?  What about families and vulnerable people?  What about their civil rights and their right to live in a safe community?  BTW - peoplel living in federal housing must be screened.  Government: "You have to do what we say, but we have special rules just for us."  

There are a few populations that have extreme difficulty finding appropriate housing and could use a public option:  1) the indigent elderly and disabled, 2) the mentally ill and developmentally disabled who need some level of health care services, 3) the homeless, and 4) people with certain kinds of criminal histories who fail standard criminal background checks. 
  While affordable housing for the most financially needy can be solved with Section 8 Vouchers, the state and counties should support populations with special needs and perhaps assist landlords who voluntarily accept them.  Use carrots not sticks.  

People who engage in criminal behavior should not expect to enjoy the level of same trust as those who follow the rules.  After awhile, most, but not all, criminal offenses are dropped from a person's rental application - an incentive to not re-offend.

There must be consideration for regular tenants who deserve to live in a safe environment. Except in Seattle where political snowflakes rule and good people are ignored.  PC agendas be damned.  What will Seattle (or San Francisco or similar progressive places) look like in a decade after years of progressive rule?  A beautifully-situated Detroit perhaps.  


If I were a renter, I'd move to another jurisdiction just to be sure my neighbors had been screened.  If I owned an apartment in Seattle, I would be looking for ways to get out too. Goodby honest, hard-working people.  (Did they contribute to Seattle's ruination by voting for these knuckleheads?)  Will more people with criminal histories find Seattle more welcoming now?  Unintended consequences abound.

 SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL

Full Council Meeting Agenda

Monday, August 14, 2017

2:00 PM

Council Chamber, City Hall 600 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104

Bruce Harrell, Council President Sally Bagshaw

Tim Burgess

M. Lorena González

Lisa Herbold

Rob Johnson

Debora Juarez

Mike O'Brien

Kshama Sawant 

 City Council Meeting Agnea Item 3:

AN ORDINANCE relating to housing regulations; adding a new Chapter 14.09 (Fair Chance Housing) to the Seattle Municipal Code to regulate the use of criminal history in rental housing; authorizing the Seattle Office for Civil Rights to enforce the regulations set out in this new chapter; and amending Section 3.14.931 of the Seattle Municipal Code to expand the Seattle Human Rights Commission’s duties.

The Committee recommends that Full Council pass as amended the Council Bill (CB).

In Favor: 6 - Herbold, Sawant, O'Brien, Bagshaw, González , Juarez
 
Opposed: None

Summary and Fiscal Note
Summary Att 1 - Racial Equity Toolkit - Fair Chance Housing 

1. The legislation requires a business justification when a landlord takes an adverse action based on an applicant’s conviction record that is less than two years old or on an adult applicant’s status on a sex offender registry. The legislation also addresses requirements on the landlord to ensure the applicant is given notice of this law, and an opportunity to correct erroneous records. The legislation includes exemptions for certain types of housing and federal requirements. 
   

c. Is there financial cost or other impacts of not implementing the legislation?
Yes. Not implementing this legislation means that individuals will continue to face barriers to housing. We know these barriers have resulted in homelessness for many in our community. Beyond the many other reasons for addressing this issue that are outlined in the Racial Equity Toolkit, there is a financial cost to not ensuring people who face these barriers can secure stable and safe housing. 

1. Is a public hearing required for this legislation?
   No. 
   

1. Does this legislation require landlords or sellers of real property to provide information regarding the property to a buyer or tenant?
   Yes, the legislation includes a provision requiring the landlord to notify the tenant in writing on the application of the new law. Once the legislation is passed, SOCR will place a summary of the ordinance with a link to the chapter in the Seattle Municipal Code on our website. We will send this information to Municipal Research Services to have it included in ordinances applying within Seattle city limits. 
   

1. Does this legislation affect a piece of property?
   No. 
   

1. If this legislation includes a new initiative or a major programmatic expansion: What are the specific long-term and measurable goal(s) of the program? How will this legislation help achieve the program’s desired goal(s).
   N/A.