Council committee advances "pay-to-stay" legislation intended to strengthen tenants' rights
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle You can watch along on @CleCityCouncil’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNWQuaRlKkDpcqSniId2qfg
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any inquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters or email us at documenters@neighborhoodgrants.org
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil The Chairperson for the DPS Committee is Anthony Hairston @HairstonCCC10 Vice Chair is Jasmin Santana @jsantanaward14
Other members are Stephanie Howse, Kris Harsh, Joseph Jones, Kerry McCormack, and Jenny Spencer.
@stephaniehowse @krisharsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Here’s the 1-page agenda for today’s Development, Planning, and Sustainability Committee meeting https://t.co/BwKHtbjAVG
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle There is only one item on this agenda - an emergency ordinance to enact Tenant’s Right to Assert Tender of Rent as an Affirmative Defense to Eviction
https://www.wksu.org/community/2022-01-13/renters-are-protected-in-other-ohio-cities-could-cleveland-be-next
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Here’s the 1-page agenda for today’s Zoning- Development, Planning, and Sustainability Committee meeting, which consists of two proposals to change the use, area, and height districts of parcels in two areas. https://t.co/jNKDwuVTuW
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Here’s the current district zoning code in Cleveland
https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/zoning/index.php#:~:text=The%20area%20districts%20range%20from,height
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Ok so this meeting was scheduled to start 10 minutes ago but it’s not being streamed on YouTube right now
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle I missed the first few minutes because I was on YouTube and TV20 won’t let me go back and watch the first part of this meeting, but they’ve just approved the first ordinance on the ZPDS agenda.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle They’re discussing the second agenda item on ZPDS agenda, rezoning on Murray Hill Rd https://t.co/DHUzG3DxhL
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle With no public comment, this ordinance is approved. This ends the Zoning committee meeting.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Moving on to the one ordinance on the DPS committee https://t.co/OuIF8Kc0Mz
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Pay-to-Stay policies have been in effect in several cities in Ohio, including Dayton and Akron, and in a few municipalities in Cuyahoga County.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Basically, this ordinance would allow tenants to stay in their rentals as long as they have rental assistance on the way or have managed to come up with the back rent before getting evicted.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle This ordinance will help maximize the effectiveness of rental assistance programs. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/cleveland-family-facing-eviction-calls-for-pay-to-stay-legislation#:~:text=Pay%2Dto%2Dstay%20kind%20of,before%20the%20end%20of%202022.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Kris Harsh asks - “How does a tenant prove that a landlord refused payment?”
One person answers that it would be up to the judge to decide in that situation. They can bring the money to the hearing to prove they tried to pay. It would still be the judge’s discretion.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Jasmin Santana says she’s excited about this legislation and asks about how many times someone can apply for CHN vouchers and why landlords dislike accepting assistance dollars.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Here’s information on how to apply for rental and utility assistance in Cleveland https://chnhousingpartners.org/
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Santana also asks about landlords raising rents, which would be an equitable defense in court for tenants.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Santana says that many residents are not aware of the CHN assistance available or their rights as tenants and that the community needs to be better informed.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Jenny Spencer asks how long this assistance program (started in 2020 during pandemic lockdowns) can go.
Hairston answers that funds are still coming in and available and that they can bring more details to the council after some research.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Spencer agrees with Santana that messaging to the people is crucial in this situation and asks how they can effectively communicate to all language speakers in the city
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle The people presenting this ordinance answer that there are a couple community organizations that plan to canvas with pamphlets and information, which is already happening to spread other renter’s rights information
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Jones asks where the funds for this housing assistance come from - they’re covid relief funds (some federal).
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle I caught one of their names! Molly Martin (Thanks to councilperson Jones for asking them to repeat their name)
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle Jones also says the housing situation is bad on a lot of levels and says other policies need strengthening too. They’re concerned about living conditions for families and lack of respect for the community - “Code enforcement must be put in place in the City of Cleveland”
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle The Director presenting this ordinance agrees with Jones and says they’re working hard all day every day to fix the system that’s broken
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle McCormack reads two amendments, one limiting late fees, that are approved.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle With no further questions or comments, Hairston thanks everyone for their hard work on this legislation.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle This Ordinance is approved with ammendments.
@cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle @CleCityCouncil @HairstonCCC10 @jsantanaward14 @stephaniehowse @KrisHarsh @KerryMcCormack1 @jennyspencercle The meeting adjourned at 10:40. This concludes the Cleveland City Council Development, Planning, and Sustainability Committee meeting (Plus Zoning!). Visit the #CLEdocumenters website for ongoing local government coverage https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/