Tenants’ rights crowd should walk a mile in landlords’ shoes. The initiative hurts | Opinion
Landlords’ plight
Proponents of the Tacoma Landlord Fairness Code Initiative seem to have zero understanding of the basic economics. The initiative is the definition of a sadly misguided policy.
When you want more of something you reward it with incentives. When you want less of something you make it more expensive and difficult to engage in. It is well known that small housing providers, “mom and pop” operations, supply critical affordable housing. Many of these property owners purchased properties years ago at far lower prices and have been able to keep rents low.
Owners of one or only a few rentals can’t absorb the high cost of the lengthy eviction bans and relocation fees mandated by the initiative. And with no means test, it is ripe for abuse.
Since the initiative became law, owners are simply selling when they get their first tenant who enacts the measure, taking advantage of current market prices and eliminating properties as affordable units forever. This means more corporate landlords and gentrification, less supply and higher rents.
Yes, tenant protection is necessary, but the Tacoma initiative is too extreme without any consideration of the consequences. It won by a mere 370 votes after significant campaigning. Roughly 20,000 voters opposed it. Hopefully, enough housing providers will engage with the city council to get this highly damaging policy amended in 2025.
The proponents, including our lawmakers, need to tag around with a property manager to get a realistic understanding of the business. If they had, the Tacoma Landlord Fairness Code Initiative would not have happened.
Our policymakers, city and state, need to live up to their campaign promises and set aside their self-serving motivations.
Instead of currying favor with their base so they can get re-elected, they should make decisions based on economic realities.
Debby Herbert, University Place
What about the (other) kids?
It’s great to see The News Tribune finally embrace the transition from paper to digital presentation of its content. Maybe now is a good time to update what it considers newsworthy.
As I see the near-daily acreage of space allocated to high school athletes lauded for being the best at — you name it — soccer, baseball, softball, track, wrestling, etc., it makes me wonder who at the TNT determines this to be newsworthy?
Certainly, we have high school students who deserve recognition for being top humanitarians, the kindest to animals, the bravest in the face of adversity, the most willing to stand up for what they believe, students fighting injustice and climate change, etc., etc.
No knock on those who have perfected the craft of playing a game, but can’t we also hear about those who are perfecting the craft of living lives of service and care for others?
James Plourde, Tacoma
Pardon insurrectionists
The more likely Donald Trump seems to regain the White House the more he is denounced. Since he lost office a woman I had never heard of was awarded over $80 million for based on the claim Trump damaged her reputation. In New York, a questionable legal theory was used to elevate misdemeanors into felonies. To seek compassion, one should be compassionate.
Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, declared, “Mercy to all; malice to none.” After the Civil War, many wanted revenge against Confederate leaders. Some wanted revenge against all Confederates. After two years in custody, Jefferson Davis was set free. Perhaps such leniency allowed Jim Crow laws to flourish, but most likely not.
At the Nuremberg trials, Nazis leaders and collaborators were tried; Many were hung. Later, others were released. Their transgressions were never forgotten.
Carter pardoned Vietnam war deserters. Controversial, it allowed many to reenter the country.
The wisdom of Ford’s pardon of Nixon’s has only grown in stature.
Revenge and retribution have not healed this country. They’ve divided it.
Biden wanted to unite us. Pardons for those convicted of January 6 non-violent misdemeanors would be a start.
John Cain, Tacoma