Somewhere between Capitol Hill’s activist circles and neighborhood groups is a “silent majority” of renters seeking a way to get involved in Seattle’s most pressing policy debates. Capitol Hill EcoDistrict wants you.

On Saturday, the EcoDistrict — an outgrowth of the nonprofit Capitol Hill Housing — is sponsoring its first ever Capitol Hill Renter Summit at the Miller Community Center.

“We view the Summit as the start of a much larger movement,” said CHH planner Alex Brennan. “We’ve talked a lot these past few months about how renters can have more power in decision-making in our neighborhood and city.”

The summit will be a mix of performances, speakers, discussion groups, and, yup, food. Organizers also hope the event will give those with little past exposure to city politics a chance to mix with Seattle elected officials, including Mayor Ed Murray and City Council District 3 rep Kshama Sawant. Here is the schedule:

11:30 AM

• Doors, Lunch and Mingle
• Welcome Remarks by Alex Brennan
• Poetry Reading by Michelle Peñaloza 
• Remarks by Mayor Ed Murray
• Opening Talk by Nick Licata
• Art Performance by Vis-à-vis Society 
• Issues Briefing 1: Affordability by Sara Maxana, Principal Planner with Puget Sound Regional Council
• Issues Briefing 2: Mobility by Shefali Ranganathan, Executive Director at Transportation Choices Coalition
• Discussion Groups Facilitated by Renter Volunteers (Affordability, Mobility)
• Q&A with House Speaker Frank Chopp, Senator Jamie Pederson, King County Metro Deputy General Manager Victor Obeso, Councilmember Rob Johnson, and Councilmember Kshama Sawant
• Closing Activity 
• Event Concludes; Happy Hour at Local Bar (TBD)

3:00 PM

The event is free and open to the public. Childcare will be available.

For months leading up to the event, the EcoDistrict has been meeting with renters in an effort to identify “building ambassadors” for future organizing efforts as part of the Capitol Hill Renter Initiative. Some have already got involved in pushing for issues like the recently adopted income source discrimination law.

Capitol Hill would seem to be fertile ground for building a renter movement. While more than half of Seattle’s property is zoned for single family homes and only 8% of Seattle is zoned for multi-family buildings, renters make up 80% of the population within the EcoDistrict boundaries.

Sawant also been doing her part to organize a renters movement, particularly around the issue of rent control — a policy she strongly supports. Earlier this month, the City Council unanimously passed Sawant’s “slumlord” legislation, which prevents landlords from raising rents in poorly maintained buildings. Sawant said she would use the momentum to continue working towards a comprehensive tenants bill of rights.

Capitol Hill Renter Summit