Tacoma’s tenant rights initiative would do one thing: crush small landlords like me | Opinion

Tenant rights initiative

I urge all Tacoma residents to vote “no” on Initiative 1.

This is not a common sense initiative. With school-year and cold weather month eviction bans, it places severe financial risks on landlords that would be crushing to any kind of small business.

This law will disproportionately affect small landlords, the type of landlords who are also part of this community. Large corporate companies will be able to absorb more of these risks. The unintended consequence of this law will be more rental units owned by large corporations.

I am a social worker by trade, and a landlord for the last 12 years. Our rents on average have been well below market rate. Our tenants are not just a number on a balance sheet, but an important part of our community. My heart breaks when rental costs are out of control. But this is not the solution.

These policies hurt the very people they are trying to help.

Janelle Costanti, University Place

New possibilities

I am walking in Dune Peninsula after sitting and staring at a screen for too long. Screens have taken over my life and I need to restore my health.

I climb the hill at the far end of the park and take in a grand view of water, islands and Mount Rainier. I begin to feel better.

Also in the view is the WestRock paper mill. I suddenly have a wonderful thought.

The closing of the mill offers an enticing opportunity — convert this property into a park.

An exciting vision emerges of restored natural forested habitats for all kinds of wildlife. A clean water lake inviting migrating flocks. A wide walkway tracing the peninsula perimeter provides a place for us to exercise and restore our sanity. The promenade would bring in visitors from near and far.

A hill, similar to Dune Peninsula, would allow commanding views of a vibrant Port of Tacoma and Olympic mountains, migrating salmon heading to spawning grounds, and a city that has cast off that yoke of ill-defining “aroma” and is ushering us into a bright future.

I end my walk refreshed and filled with hope.

Dave Wheeler, Tacoma

Affordable housing

As a resident of Tacoma, I have watched the decline in affordable housing.

I recently got custody of my grandchild due to her parents being arrested. She was so affected by this and required me to be with her 24 hours a day after exhausting all vacation and sick pay.

I had to quit my job. I found myself at DSHS applying for cash and food benefits in order to be able to survive. But after six hours of being there, I was given an EBT card and told that by the morning I would have money and food stamps.

It was $528 in cash — and $538 in food stamps

I read The News Tribune article on affordable housing on Hosmer Street and asked myself, ‘How do you call that affordable?’ Rent of $1,200 a month for small unit? That’s what they are asking for in any apartment.

That’s not an affordable option. With what I am receiving, rent has to be $200, electricity $50.00, phone $50.00 and gas $100.00 for the whole month. That leaves $100 for hygiene and toiletries.

Until we see housing costs that can be paid on this level, we are still not making housing affordable

Shannon Lonning-Hamner, Puyallup