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>> 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 mix
of interviews featuring elected officials,
conference sessions and tenant activists.
We're here with Mary Che, council member from Ward 3
at the Office of the Tenant Advocate's first annual Tenant
and Tenant Association summit.
Welcome Mary Che.
>> Mary Che: Oh thank you very much.
I'm delighted to be here.
>> Alright.
Tell us why you felt compelled that the city of Washington,
D.C. needed an Office of the Tenant Advocate?
>> Mary Che: Well, it was clear to me
that the tenants didn't have the kind of strength and direction
that they needed to confront what are often very serious
problems at the hands of, you know, property owners.
And so it was just-- it was an idea
of Council member Jim Graham's that he moved forward.
You know it was an idea that was around for a while,
but it was something that was absolutely needed.
And we're already seeing great benefit because, for example,
I've been around to apartments in my own ward
where issues have come up and the Office
of the Tenant Advocate either Johanna Shreve herself
or her staff, they come out.
One thing that people don't know is the intricacies
of some of these laws.
So, she comes out and explains it to them and then they're,
then they're able to, to, you know,
defend their own interests.
And then to the extent that they can use additional help she's
able to provide it.
So, it really gives them an opportunity
when sometimes they've been left at sea against actions
that are taken against them.
>> What kind of legislation do you think is important right now
for tenants in D.C.?
>> Mary Che: Well, one of the things we're working on is
to reform the so called voluntary agreements whereby
the, the property owner gets a number of the tenants to agree
to a rent increase or, or other changes
and they need 70 percent.
But, what we're finding is that sometimes
to get the 70 percent they're engaging in coercive practices,
unacceptable practices
or they're having the current tenants
in effect bargain away the rights of future tenants.
They'll move out people, whoever remains will agree okay their
rent will stay the same, but anybody else who comes after.
And part of the law for the rent administrator who has,
has to sign off on these things is
to maintain an affordable housing supply
in the District of Columbia.
This is eroding that so we want to change that.
It wasn't meant to work that way.
That's one, one initiative.
>> Have you seen any impact of the current financial climate
on tenants in your ward and in the city?
>> Mary Che: I haven't yet seen a direct cause and effect.
What I have seen is some areas where developers were planning
to put up condominiums and now they're going
to make them apartments, you know, to sort of use that part
of the market more effectively.
And so in some sense it might be-- if you think about,
in some sense kind of an advantage in terms of tenants
because maybe there'll be more apartments available.
Now, these are not-- these are going
to be market rate apartments and so they're not going to be,
you know, necessarily workforce housing or things like that,
but it may expand the stock of, of apartments in the city.
>> What is your vision for the Office of the Tenant Advocate
as it continues to grow and serve city residents?
>> Mary Che: I'd really like to see the Office
of the Tenant Advocate be staffed
up with sufficient numbers of lawyers so that when there is,
you know, an adversarial relationship that arises
between the property owner, the housing provider and the tenants
that the tenants can, you know, equalize the sides,
you know that it can be, you know a fair adversary process.
We'd like to not have adversary processes, but they're kind
of inevitable because that's, that's the way this operates.
I want tenants to be able to be armed up,
you know to defend their rights.
Now, many, many, many housing providers are responsible
and good and, and I thank them on behalf
of the citizens of the district.
But, there are a slice of land owners who are not
and those are the people against whom we need the resources
and the, you know, an independent tenant advocate
to protect the rights of tenants.
>> And what's your assessment
of how well city residents have been taking advantage
of the office?
Are they aware that these services are available?
>> Mary Che: Well, you know it's been a process
of staffing up the office.
I think that this annual tenant summit is, is one major step
in sort of getting out and, and telling, you know,
the community what's, what's out there.
But, we, we have a lot more to do.
The, the office itself is going to find new headquarters
to be able to have, you know, a library and resource area.
The tenant advocate herself goes out to many,
many meetings all throughout the course the year
so it's, it's slowly building.
And I think when we have the second annual tenant summit
you'll see a real seat change in, in her efforts.
>> And what's the most important thing that you want
to tell people here at this first annual tenant summit?
>> Mary Che: Get informed,
know your rights and demand them okay.
>> Alright, thank you Mary Che Ward 3 Council person.
We hope you enjoyed the conference.
For more information on the Office
of the Tenant Advocate visit the website, www.ota.dc.gov.
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