RHINO is the Rental Housing Information Network in Ohio
Today in Ohio history
February 3, 1993 -- Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott suspended for 1 year due to racist comments. Later, Schott's comments about Hitler led MLB to ban her from day-to-day operations through 1998. Finally, on April 20, 1999, Schott agreed to sell her controlling interest in the Reds for $67 million.... At the time she was facing a third suspension, failing health and an expiring ownership agreement with her limited partners, who planned to oust her.
This week's rental housing news
January 23, 2023. NYT, As Thousands Fall Behind on Rent, Public Housing Faces ‘Disaster’ "The New York City Housing Authority collected just 65 percent of the rent it charged in the 12 months leading up to December, the lowest percentage in the agency’s history." Thanks FlorenceR
Jan 24, 2023 Gothamist.In rare occurrence, Brooklyn landlord spends time in jail over apartment violations, "A Bushwick landlord is getting yet another shot to fix the violations in his six-unit building, a month after a judge took the rare step of sending him to Rikers Island. A Brooklyn judge ordered property owner Aron Stark’s arrest last month after he failed to complete court-ordered repairs at 1422 Greene Ave as roach infestations, heat and hot water complaints mounted and the city’s housing agency cracked down with steeper fines and heightened scrutiny. He was released eight days later."
no date. NBC Los Angeles via MSN. LA Council Adopts Permanent Tenant Protections as End of COVID Emergency Nears. The council voted 12-0 -- with two recusals -- for an ordinance to be drafted to implement the protections. It then went into recess while staff worked to immediately prepare the ordinance, which was later also adopted unanimously. The protections, which await Mayor Karen Bass' signature, are expected to be in effect prior to the expiration of the state of emergency. The protections include three key items that tenant advocates have called for -- universal just cause to require a reason for evictions, relocation assistance if a tenant cannot pay rent increases of a certain amount and a grace period of one month before evictions due to nonpayment of rent." This is what happens when tenants learn to vote.
January 25, 2023. WaPo. White House unveils new tenant protections amid soaring rental costs. "Tenant leaders, housing experts and legal organizations have pushed the Biden administration to do more to make rent affordable. "Under pressure to address the nation’s soaring housing costs, the Biden administration on Wednesday announced significant new actions to protect tenants and make renting more affordable. The announcement involves multiple federal agencies that will gather information on unfair housing practices. It also includes a 'Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights' that, while not binding, sets clear guidelines to help renters stay in affordable housing. The White House is also launching a call to action, dubbed the 'Resident-Centered Housing Challenge,' that aims to get housing providers as well as state and local governments to strengthen policies in their own markets." Thanks to FlorenceR for sharing this paywalled article. RHINO thinks this is; "small ball" that won't make much difference where tenants actually live. It's a long way from advocating for Universal Vouchers. An interesting take here.
RHINO's Six Steps Project is an effort to focus grassroots attention on looking beyond incremental change.
2025? YES, that's how deep the policy stagnation has become as political forces have dashed hopes for real change in the wake of the 2008 and 2020 housing crises.
Facing a divided Congress in the 2023-2024 session, transformative change is unlikely in the short term. However laying the foundations for transformative changes following the 2024 elections, can make a difference.
What just happened? Because Congress was unprepared for the Pandemic Recession of 2020, well-meaning solutions like eviction moratoriums, emergency rental assistance, child tax credits and american rescue plan among others) stopped the bleeding, but failed to change the system of bandaid tinkering with US Housing policy (ie. the five legged stool).
In fact, stimulus payments likely contributed to the housing affordability crisis that put stable housing out of reach for ordinary families. as the Pandemic recession morphed into the Pandemic Inflation. All hands were on deck, but rowing in opposite directions.
Three housing related recessions in just 12 years underscores the fact that the root of this recurring cycle is a broken housing policy strategy. Todd Rungren observes "The mysterious mad man with his hand on the lever/Don't seem to never ever want to let you off"
Episodes 1 and 2 are available for review. The series will continue shortly. Read more about the Six Steps project.