Seattle City Council President Tim Burgess today managed to get two affordable housing ordinances approved — both of which he credits to former Councilmember Sally Clark. The first would require landlords to provide a 90-day notice for no-fault evictions of tenants. The most common reason for such an eviction is to make room for a family member of the landlord or for the landlord to move into the building.
The second ordinance requires owners of market-rate affordable units to give the city advanced notice of sale. Although the city cannot legally require a right-of-first refusal, advanced notice would, at least in theory, make it easier for the city to buy units and preserve them as affordable.
It's odd for a politician like Burgess to deflect credit for what is a largely popular measure. But Burgess has been getting criticism from his opponent Jon Grant for coming around too late on progressive housing measures. By crediting the work of Clark, Burgess has proof the measure has been n the work for a while now.
