This term, we’ve passed important renter protections aimed at lowering barriers to housing, at preserving housing as housing, and at improving housing stability in our city. We’re proposing even more changes in that direction. I’m excited about that work.

I’m less excited to see landlords and property managers attempting to claim an outsized role in this year’s election to roll that progress back. Landlords are actively recruiting and supporting challengers to the Council Members who supported tenant rights.

In Ward 3, a property management company is using resident lists to organize coordinated meetings in condo buildings in support of both of my opponents as part of a ranked-choice strategy.

One of my opponents was introduced at his campaign kickoff by the manager of a venture capital-backed short-term rental operator who lobbied hard against the short-term rental regulations I authored.

This video from Ward 4 suggests this is not a problem limited to Ward 3. I haven’t been invited to any such landlord meeting, and I’m glad there’s video circulating to cast daylight on these conversations. What we’re seeing is not OK. https://twitter.com/WedgeLIVE/status/1387930883064176643?s=20

We can’t normalize this. Respectful engagement with diverse viewpoints, including landlords and property managers, is good, but having candidates express this kind of commitment to selling landlords’ messages and deferring to them as experts is unacceptable.

As a renter myself, and as someone who values all of my Minneapolis neighbors, whether or not they own property, I’m committed to continuing steps to stabilize and reduce barriers to affordable, dignified rental housing.

If you care about renter’s rights and affordable housing in this city, you need to register to caucus right now. Landlords and property managers are mobilizing. We can’t let them win. https://caucus.dfl.org/ 

If your landlord or property manager is engaging in campaign activity in your building that unduly pressures residents or misuses non-campaign resources for politics, please e-mail [email protected]. We’re hearing from residents in many buildings, and are tracking it.