ERAP Changes: City Council “Seeking a balance” on the backs of DC tenants

B25-0994 – Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2024 :: https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B25-0994

City Council Cmte on Housing, Chair Robert White, Hearing on November 15, 2024 :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOdUfzpr45Q

Theme of the hearing from the Chair –> “Seeking a balance” on the backs of DC tenants.

Here’s an abridged list of those who spoke in opposition to changes to the ERAP law that would allow landlords to evict DC residents faster with less protections despite ERAP applications that may be in process.

< Opposition speakers >

2. Mr. Daniel del Pielago, Housing Director, Empower DC: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=1879

3. Ms. Andria Chatmon, Housing Organizer, Empower DC: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=2073

5. Mel Zahnd, Legal Aid Society of DC:https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=2614

8. Damiana Dendy, DC Jobs with Justice: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=6715

9. Amanda Eisenhour, Tenant Support Specialist at the DC BAR Pro Bono Center: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=6995

10. Ms. Makenna Osborn, Policy Attorney, Children’s Law Center: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=7237

13. Adam Marshall, Neighborhood Legal Services Program: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=3397

21. Mr. Ed Lazere, Director of Legislative Advocacy, United Planning Organization: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=16317

28. Ms. Sierra Ramirez, Eviction Defense Committee Delegate, Woodner Tenants’ Union: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=26706

35. Mx. George Lander, Sr. Tenant Support Coordinator, Bread for the City: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=20852

40. Sunny Desai, Legal Counsel for the Elderly: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=21144

41. Saunya Connelly, Legal Counsel for the Elderly: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=21408

47. Joshua Drumming, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=4220

49. Natasha Bennett, Esq., Supervising Attorney, Bread for the City: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=8262

63. Tamira Benitez, Public Witness: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=12786

65. Kymone Freeman, Co-Founder, We Act Radio: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=23942

107. Ms. Kate Coventry, Deputy Director of Legislative Strategy, DC Fiscal Policy Institute: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=22291

118. Mr. Kelechi Agbakwuru, Housing Justice Counsel, Washington Lawyers’ Committee: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=19462

124. Mr. Chris Otten, DC for Reasonable Development: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=22559

< ANC’s >

Yannik Omictin, ANC 2A01: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=7820
Jamila White, ANC 8A05: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=24815
Trupti J. Patel, ANC 2A03, Chair, ANC 2A: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=26098

< DC GOVERNMENT WITNESSES >

Laura Zeilinger, Director, Department of Human Services: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=28643
Colleen Green, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=29021

— important to note —

Urbanist YIMBYs of course want to make evictions easier for the landlord-class, Cheryl Cort, Policy Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth :: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOdUfzpr45Q?feature=shared&t=12615

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