Business interests who oppose the legislation are bombarding the City Council with emails and letters. The City Council needs to see and hear from anyone who believes in second chances. Make your voice heard!

Email City Council Members at council@seattle.gov with the following message:

RE: Support Job Assistance Legislation!

Name
Address

Dear Seattle City Council:

Thank you for considering Council Member Harrell’s Jobs Assistance legislation that passed out of the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology subcommittee. I strongly support this legislation.

This legislation affirms the idea that those of us who have paid our debt to society should have a chance to turn our lives around. It continues the hard work Seattle has done to address racial inequities in the criminal justice system– particularly the disproportionate arrest, prosecution and incarceration of people of color.

This legislation provides employers flexibility and guidance to fairly and effectively conduct background checks where appropriate while giving people a chance to present their qualifications before a background check is considered. Under this legislation, employers and applicants will know when and how an applicant’s criminal history can be considered.

As you know, when someone is employed they are less likely to engage in criminal conduct again. This legislation helps make our communities safer by removing barriers to employment by people who have a criminal history.

My experience with this issue is: (enter your personal story including jobs applied for, not hired or interviewed, how long ago your record was or if you were a juvenile or a veteran or your experience as an advocate or your organizations interest in the issue, if relevant)

Please vote in favor of this legislation on Monday so we have safer and more vibrant communities.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Published in: TU News

Business interests who oppose the legislation are bombarding the City Council with emails and letters. The City Council needs to see and hear from anyone who believes in second chances. Make your voice heard!

The Council Public Safety Committee will consider the legislation TODAY Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 2PM

Where: Seattle City Council Chambers
600 4th Ave.,- 2nd Floor.
Seattle, WA

Please come to testify or stand in support!

You can also send letters of support to: council@seattle.gov

To read more on the JAL visit: http://www.seattle.gov/council/harrell/job_assistance_leg.htm.

Published in: Take Action

Job Title Operations Coordinator
Supervisor Executive Director
Hours Part-time, 26 hrs/wk
Salary Range $18,000 – $21,000 depending on experience.
Benefits Health and dental insurance (employee contributes 18% of premium), vacation & sick paid time off, flexible hours, and generous holiday schedule.
______________________________________

About the Tenants Union
The mission of the Tenants Union of Washington State (TU) is to create housing justice through empowerment-based education, outreach, leadership development, organizing, and advocacy. Founded in 1977, the TU carries on a proud legacy of work to create concrete improvements in tenants’ living conditions and challenge and transform unjust housing policies and practices. As a membership organization, the TU’s work is grounded in the strong conviction that tenants must be the leaders of efforts to transform our housing conditions and communities. The TU embraces the values of equality, hope, tenant leadership, respect, direct action, civic courage, racial and economic justice, and self-determination.

Job Summary
The Tenants Union is a collaborative work environment where all employees participate in planning and carrying out the organization’s mission and goals. The Operations Coordinator assists the Executive Director in maintaining financial and grant compliance, provides a support role to our Board, assists with membership communication, logistical planning for our Annual Meeting, and related duties to ensure a the organization runs smoothly.

Job Responsibilities, Duties, and Tasks

Finance and Compliance (60%)

• Coordinate with contract bookkeeper to track receivables and expenses.
• Monthly and quarterly government reporting for payment vouchers and other requirements.
• Review submitted timesheets, finance forms, and other related systems.
• Track membership dues and provide appropriate follow-up.
• Other reporting as required.

Organizational Planning (15%)

• Maintain and update organizational calendar for major events.
• Assist to communicate and track progress on strategic plan and other organizational goals.
• Coordinate Annual Meeting or other related membership events, plan for related logistics.
• Schedule job interviews and advertise positions, as needed.
• Assist select staff in logistical needs for workshops, such as researching and reserving meeting spaces
• Plan logistics for quarterly staff retreats.

Communications (5%)

• Collect articles and assist in publishing organizational newsletter three times a year.
• Draft and send email blasts to members, collate & mail renter’s kits.

Board support and engagement (5%)

• Assist Executive Director in providing board members with information, tools, and resources that enable the board to govern and support the organization effectively.
• Coordinate logistics and staff the regular Board Meeting as needed.

Fundraising (5%)

• Monitor grant calendar and issue reminders for pending deadlines to relevant staff.
• Grant research.
• Grant follow-up letters.

Office Management (5%)

• Order office supplies, monitor office technology and equipment.
• Maintain files and other data, update Office Manual.
• Maintain Hotline Phone System & Phonetree.

Other (5%)

• Manage select volunteers and interns, MSW/Americorps reporting,
• Participate in staff meetings, retreats, and board meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

All percentages are illustrative only, and will vary from week to week on a cyclical basis.

Essential Qualifications

• Maintaining calendars and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Proficiency in basic math, and familiarity with basics of MS Excel.
• Strong values for racial and economic justice.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with diverse groups of people and willingness to challenge oneself and others to undo racism, homophobia, xenophobia (fear or hatred of immigrants) and other forms of oppression.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends.
• Basic computer skills, comfort with databases, MS Office Suite, Google systems, and other software and web-based tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian or other relevant language in addition to English.
• Expertise in Salesforce or related databases, Microsoft Word or Publisher.

To Apply
Applications are due June 7th, 2013. The anticipated start date is in late June or early July.

Submit cover letter, resume, and a writing sample to info@tenantsunion.org with “Job Application” in the subject line, or mail to:

Tenants Union of Washington State
ATTN: Hiring Committee
5425 Rainier Avenue South Ste B
Seattle, WA 98118-2455

People of color, women, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQI or queer individuals, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Tenants Union of Washington State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Published in: TU News

If you have gotten help from the TU, please take a moment to make a gift through GiveBIG today and it will be increased by the Seattle Foundation! The TU is working to build power with renters all over the state and has been providing tenant education, organizing, and advocacy for over 35 years. Visit the TU’s Seattle Foundation webpage or click on the yellow “Donate Now” page to make a gift. Thank you!

Published in: Take Action

Seattle City Council voted on Monday, April 22nd, to promote affordable housing in South Lake Union through incentivizing developers to build affordable housing on-site instead of writing a check toward affordable housing elsewhere. TU leaders Tupelo Bahir, Garnett Brooks, and Solomon Berhane spoke powerfully to their experience of being displaced when their downtown housing was sold to for-profit developers and the rent was raised. They tell their stories in an Op Ed on Publicola. TU organizer Stina Janssen was quoted in this King 5 news segment, and Garnett and Stina testified at the City Council hearing, viewable here.

This vote represents a step towards affordable housing in the greater downtown area, but we have more work to do. The proposal that passed will mostly create housing for renters earning 80% of Area Median Income, or about $45,000 for one individual, and it won’t create enough affordable housing. The TU wants to make sure low income renters are included in South Lake Union and that the City is doing enough to stem the landslide loss of affordable housing in the greater downtown area.

Send a message to the City Council by emailing: Sally.Bagshaw@seattle.gov,Tim.Burgess@seattle.gov, Sally.Clark@seattle.gov, Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov, Jean.Godden@seattle.gov, Bruce.Harrell@seattle.gov, Nick.Licata@seattle.gov, Mike.OBrien@seattle.gov, Tom.Rasmussen@seattle.gov

You can use this sample email, and add why affordable housing is important to you:

Dear Councilmember,

My name is [ ] and I live in [neighborhood, city], and I’m a member of the Tenants Union of Washington State.

Thank you for your work on incentive zoning for affordable housing development in South Lake Union. As we move forward, we would like to continue to talk about how to include low and modest income renters in the development of downtown neighborhoods. Low and modest income people often need to be close to services, transit, employment opportunities, and medical care. I would like to see the City standing with low and modest income tenants through promoting affordable housing development so that all families have the opportunity to live in South Lake Union.

Thank you,

[Your name]

And then the CM email addresses.

Thank you!

Published in: Take Action

Survivors Won Necessary Protections to Access Housing

Governor Inslee signed Part II of the Fair Tenant Screening Act (SSB 5568), creating necessary protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This step towards increased access to housing and fair tenant screening follows on the heels of our success last year passing Part I of FTSA, which created more transparency for tenants when we apply for housing. Congratulations to TU members and leaders, staff, Board members, and all the organizations who worked tirelessly on this new law, especially the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, and Northwest Justice Project, and Solid Ground. The new protections require that a tenant screening company not disclose an applicant’s status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. These protections are critical in ensuring that survivors can access housing and secure a safe and stable home for themselves and their families. Read more about the Fair Tenant Screening Act and how the TU is organizing for greater housing access in an article coming soon.

A Step Towards Affordable Housing in South Lake Union, Seattle

Seattle City Council voted to incentivize affordable housing development in the South Lake Union neighborhood this Monday. We thank all the tenants and advocates, including our partners at Puget Sound Sage, who helped us take this step towards affordable housing, but we also know there is more work to do. We want housing for low and modest wage families, Section 8 voucher holders, seniors, and people with disabilities who would not be able to access housing built only for people earning 80% Area Median Income. Send a thank you and a message to Council emphasizing our goals for a liveable, sustainable, and affordable South Lake Union at South Lake Union: A Neighborhood for All Families?

Published in: TU Events, TU News

Published in: Housing News

Email City Council Members with the following message:

RE: South Lake Union Rezone – Support More Affordable Units

Dear Seattle City Council,

Please support the strongest proposal that builds the most affordable units in South Lake Union, and make sure lower-income workers aren’t left out by allowing housing options for people at 60% and below Area Media Income.

I am greatly concerned by the rising rents in Seattle, and the city must use every tool at its disposal to build more affordable housing so workers can live in the communities where they work. This will ensure a more inclusive and diverse City, and is the right direction for Seattle.

Thank you,

[You Name]

Sally.Bagshaw@seattle.gov
Tim.Burgess@seattle.gov
Sally.Clark@seattle.gov
Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov
Jean.Godden@seattle.gov
Bruce.Harrell@seattle.gov
Nick.Licata@seattle.gov
Mike.OBrien@seattle.gov
Tom.Rasmussen@seattle.gov

To read more on the competing proposals, read this recent Pubicola article.

Published in: Take Action

Currently four of these detrimental bills that have passed out of the State Senate and are being considered by the House. This week there is an important opportunity for concerned residents to tell their legislators to not let these bills out of committee. At the bottom of this post there is background information on all of the bills.

To find your legislator, use this map. After you find your legislator, you can click on their name below to send them an email, enter your address, and copy and paste the sample letter.

ESB 5105 Offender Vouchers

Sample email:
RE: Please oppose ESB 5105
This bill would narrow the housing options of people who have been released from the criminal justice system, and invites the risk of increased harm to public safety as it could exacerbate the rate of recidivism because offenders lack stable housing. Stable housing is a key component in reducing recidivism risks. The bill also effectively exempts properties from having to comply with health and safety certification requirements. This is a flawed bill that would ultimately harm public safety, and creates loop holes that could allow owners of substandard properties to receive public funds to subsidize rent. Thank you

SB 5494 Carbon Monoxide Detectors & ESB 5495 State Building Code Council

Sample email:
RE: Please oppose SB 5494 and ESB 5495.
SB 5495 will unnecessarily put people’s lives in danger from carbon monoxide poisoning. The rental industry has had years to prepare, please vote no for another extension. Please also vote no on ESB 5495. Building codes should be created by technical experts, like engineers and architects, not special interest groups. Please oppose this power grab by the rental industry that could result in laxer safety requirements and less energy efficient buildings. Thank you.

SB 5425 Alternative Service

Sample email:
RE: Please oppose SB 5425
Tenants should be entitled to being properly served and notified of a lawsuit, if there is any possibility of a money judgment, and allowed their day in court. The result of this bill could lead toward abuse, as a landlord could sue for a greatly inflated amount of money, win by default, and tenants get stuck with a massive money judgment. This will cause them to be denied housing whether the actual debt was valid or not. Please vote no to protect tenant’s right to due process. Thank you

Background Information:

SB 5494 “Carbon Monoxide Detectors” Background: An estimated thousand people visited hospital emergency rooms from carbon monoxide (Co2) poisoning during heavy storms in December 2006. Over 500 people die each year from this preventable problem.

In 2009 the legislature instructed the State Building Code Council to adopt rules to require all residential properties to be equipped with Co2 detectors by January 2013. Eight years after the tragic deaths of the storm, and four years after the law was first passed and the implementation deadline already expired, the rental industry introduced a bill to push back the implementation date another two years. The bill was amended to one year as a “compromise,” and passed out of the State Senate. Its effect will unnecessarily hamper safeguards against carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Tenants Union opposes an extension that would needlessly put lives in jeopardy after the industry has had almost a half-decade to prepare for the carbon monoxide detector requirement.

ESB 5495 “State Building Code Council Expansion” Background: Perhaps in response to the State Building Code Council requiring Co2 detectors, the rental industry introduced a bill to have two new positions added to the Council held explicitly for landlord trade associations. Currently the Council is comprised of elected and public officials, and individuals with technical expertise like engineers and architects to set sound policy to ensure safety requirements in construction. In a naked power grab, this bill opens the flood gates for special interests to influence what should be a neutral body of technical experts.

This could result in buildings that are less energy efficient, laxer safety standards, and gives landlords a lopsided influence to override concerns of fairness and equity for tenants.

ESB 5105 “Offender Vouchers”
This bill would narrow the housing options of people who have been released from the criminal justice system, and invites the risk of increased harm to public safety as it could exacerbate the rate of recidivism because offenders lack stable housing. Stable housing is a key component in reducing recidivism risks. The bill also effectively exempts properties from having to comply with health and safety certification requirements.

The Tenants Union opposes this flawed bill that would ultimately harm public safety, and creates loop holes that could allow owners of substandard properties to receive public funds to subsidize rent.

SB 5425 “Alternative Service.”

A tenant must be personally served a lawsuit in order for a landlord to get a money judgment in court. Under certain circumstances, a landlord may be allowed to serve a tenant by posting and mailing the lawsuit. However, under current law, the landlord can only get a court order to retake possession of the rental unit and NOT a money judgment. This bill would strip away this due process requirement if the tenant responds to being sued after service by posting and mailing.

Tenants should be entitled to being properly served and notified of a lawsuit, if there is any possibility of a money judgment, and allowed their day in court. The result of this bill could lead toward abuse, as a landlord could sue for a greatly inflated amount of money, win by default, and tenants get stuck with a massive money judgment. This will cause them to be denied housing whether the actual debt was valid or not.

Published in: Take Action

There are also 4 anti-tenant bills threatening tenant rights. Collectively these bills would strip tenants of due process and make it easier for landlords to evict over arbitrary and excessive fees, empower landlords to arrest your guests or void your verbal rental agreement, and much more. Call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to say NO to eroding tenant rights.

SB 5425 “Alternative Service.” Message: Please oppose SB 5425 so a tenant can be properly notified in person if they are being sued over money claims.

UPDATE: SSB 5280 is dead! Thank for making calls! SSB 5280 “Squatters.” Message: Please oppose SSB 5280 because it is over broad and criminalizes tenant’s guests and basic freedom of association, and harms tenants on verbal agreements.

UPDATE: SB 5254 is dead! Thank for making calls! SB 5426 “Fees.” Message: Please oppose SB 5426 so tenants don’t lose their homes because of minor fees, and allow landlords to threaten the eviction process to collect unreasonable fees.

UPDATE: SB 5233 is dead! Thank for making calls! SB 5233 “Manufactured Housing Training.” Message: Please oppose SB 5233 so that park managers get proper training from the Attorney General, and not biased training from their own trade associations.

Published in: Take Action