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>> Konyka Dunson: We're here
at Gallaudet University's Kellogg Conference Center
for the Office of the Tenant Advocate's First Annual Tenant
and Tenant Association Summit.
Stay tuned for an exciting bits
of interviews featuring elected officials,
conference sessions, and tenant activists.
We're here with Jim Graham, Council Member,
Ward 1 at the Office
of the Tenant Advocate's First Annual Tenant
and Tenant Association Summit.
Welcome, Mr. Graham.
>> Jim Graham: Thank you very much.
>> Konyka Dunson: Tell us why you feel compelled
to start an Office of the Tenant Advocate,
a very unique city agency.
>> Jim Graham: Well, for two reasons.
First, it's about power, and it's about empowering tenants
with information and resources and lawyers
so that they are better able to understand their rights.
And the second thing we did was we ensured
that the Office would be independent.
So you can have an independent voice representing the tenants,
and nobody could squelch that voice.
And that's why, in fact, I did come up with the title
of Chief Tenant Advocate because I wanted whoever held this job
to wake up every morning with the realization
that they were not a moderator, an administrator,
a facilitator, a convener.
They were the Chief Tenant Advocate,
and that was their job.
Let other worries, let others worry about those other roles.
That's not their job.
They're to be there for the tenants.
>> Konyka Dunson: How have residents in your ward,
in Ward 1 and throughout the city taking advantage
of this office?
>> Jim Graham: Well, they've done it in a number of ways.
I mean, we have Joanna Shrive and her able staff,
which is now pretty much entirely hired I think,
working with them so that they can understand their rights.
In addition to that, though,
we have funded community-based legal services through the OTA
so that they can actually have legal representation in terms
of organizing tenant associations,
in terms of taking legal actions,
which before they had none of that.
>> Konyka Dunson: What, how has the financial climate affected
tenants in your ward?
>> Jim Graham: Well, there has been very little effect yet out
of the ordinary, but it's going to be effective.
There's no question about it.
As the economy becomes contracted,
as the problems worsen, always the poorest, you know,
bear the heaviest burden.
And so we have to be even more vigilant in the future.
>> Konyka Dunson: What is your vision
for the Office as it grows?
>> Jim Graham: Well, I hope it will grow, and I'm going
to do what I can to, now that it is fully staffed and funded,
you know, to enhance that, those capacities in the future.
Because we have, for example, we have about,
just under 100,000 apartments, not people,
apartments in the District
of Columbia subject to rent control.
So if you figure that the average occupancy is,
and this would be low, if you figure it's two per apartment,
then you've got 200,000 people.
That's one-third of D.C.'s population under the single law
to benefit them by controlling the amounts of rent increases
that can be inflicted upon them.
And so, you know, we have a huge challenge to deal with.
There's no question about it.
>> Konyka Dunson: What is the main issue?
If there's a key issue that tenants
and Ward 1 bring to your attention.
>> Jim Graham: Well, I think as of late,
it has been the voluntary agreement
where because we have closed so many of the other loopholes
that the tenant, the landlord attorneys are now finding
that they can convince people to give up the rights
of future tenants in exchange for guaranteed rents
for a period of years, no rent increases, cash payments,
you know, so that down the road, you know, the building will be
in weakened rent control situation or out of it entirely.
Because if you have 70 percent of the tenants willing to agree
to remove a building from rent control, it goes out.
So if you go to someone and say, well, we're not going to ask you
to give up rent control, but in case for XYZ will you agree
that your future tenant in this apartment will not have
rent control.
>> Konyka Dunson: Is there legislation in place
to deal with the voluntary -
>> Jim Graham: It's exactly what we're trying to do right now.
Because, again, we have filled these loopholes
as we have become aware of them.
But it's hard to keep up with these slumlord lawyers.
You know, they're very, very clever people,
and I think they're very well paid.
>> Konyka Dunson: Well, thank you, Jim Graham,
for your leadership for Ward 1 and the residents.
We hope you enjoyed the Conference.
For more information on the Office of the Tenant Advocate,
visit the website, www dot ota dot dc dot gov.