District 3 representative Kshama Sawant is standing up for seniors living in two Rainier Valley apartment communities who say their buildings are unsafe and poorly maintained.
Sawant’s office says the city council member was planning a Wednesday morning appearance at the 34th Ave S offices of COAST Property Management calling for the company that manages the complexes and property owner SouthEast Effective Development to respond to the complaints.
The Tenants Union and Sawant have supported residents who say they are living in “unsafe and deplorable living conditions at units of a subsidized housing complex in Rainier Valley that includes water leaks, no heat and broken appliances,” KOMO reported.
The battles targeting individual developers and real estate companies have been a regular Sawant strategy and an element of her time in office mostly much different from other colleagues on the council over the years.
In spring of 2019, Sawant and residents of the Central District’s Chateau Apartments said concessions made by the property’s owner were unprecedented after rallies and press conferences targeted the complex. In that agreement, Cadence Real Estate met demands including allowing the building’s Section 8 tenants to remain in their units until the building is eventually demolished to make way for a new microhousing project with 73 “small efficiency dwelling units.” The company said it also agreed to provide $5,000 to every household living in the building on top of legally required relocation assistance.
Former Capitol Hill-based Community Roots Housing vice president Michael Seiwerath now leads SouthEast Effective Development. CHS spoke with him earlier this year about the change.
Despite heading into what is shaping up to be the largest political battle in a string of election challenges for the longest sitting member of the city council, Sawant has continued to push elements of her agenda this fall including a so far unsuccessful call for legislative support for construction workers in the city, and a rekindled campaign for rent control in Seattle.
Immediately following the November 2nd General Election, expect the fight over Sawant’s council seat to flare up with ballots going out later that month for a December 7th special recall vote only for District 3 citizens.
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When Sawant starts with this stuff it means there is an election near.
Recall can’t happen soon enough. Time to move on from this destructive force aka CM Sawant. Her tactics to distract D3 voters attention as if she is really doing something is amusing.
More anti-Sawant nonsense from KOMO. Tenants shouldn’t be living in unsafe conditions. Landlords need accountability and pay the piper. Go Kshama!
She needs the spotlight!!! Let’s say good bye!!!!
LOL, how predictable! Even a post about Sawant advocating for senior housing residents in unsafe living conditions and winning other exploited renters $5,000 each still has anti-Sawant folks foaming at the mouth in the comments. Sawant has her fair share of valid criticisms, but are you all incapable of feeling any form of justice (like the instances outlined in the post) when it’s related to her? Gross.
If you are really D3 voter, maybe you should reallize that apartment is not in D3.
But Sewant will not miss any chance for a photo op even if the protest is not her business.
People would have no issues with her behavior if she is serving D3 well, but she doesn’t reply residents’ emails, has no office hours, doesn’t care one ounce of neighborhood safety, schools, etc… Because all these City Council duties are too mundane and not revolutionary enough.
I don’t really care where the apartment is located. I’m happy to have a council member representing me that will fight for all Seattleites. If landlords are allowed to exploit seniors in D2, then what’s stopping them from doing it in D3? Sawant is an activist. Does activism stop in someone’s district? It’s not unusual for representatives to work on city-wide issues that benefit the city as a whole.
If you were walking through another district and noticed some kind of injustice would you just walk by without doing anything? Seniors are being exploited and you’re concerned that someone outside of the district is trying to do something about it – what’s wrong with you? It’s actually very sad to me that your hatred for Sawant is preventing you from seeing the greater good in this situation.
Are these apartments even in D3?
If it’s the Dakota- looks like nope…. D2.
Who the fuck cares if they are in D3 or not. Senior’s are getting exploited. If your grandmother was getting exploited would you give a fuck what district a person who is advocating for her lived in?!
Like Jesus Christ.
Well, you see, District Councilmembers are supposed to handle issues arising in their District. That’s why we have them. Are there not enough problems arising in D3 to keep Sawant busy and engaged?
I care very much, given that I contacted her office twice in the last two years and heard crickets from her office. Once was about who I could contact to find out why my unemployment claim was stuck in review for over two months when the unemployment office ph# was completely broken (they literally had no hold function or voicemail system, and it would just ring and then disconnect you. So yeah, these are issues I expect my council member to help me, her D3 constituent, navigate. But I guess my issue didn’t present an opportunity for a PR spectacle.
Another person shot in 23rd and Jackson, which is actually in sawants a district, but I guess a 2 year old getting shot along with 10 other people in 2 years doesn’t get enough press for sawant to even comment on. Probably because she hasnt figured out how to blame it on all 5 republicans in Seattle
“a subsidized housing complex in Rainier Valley”
Does the City of Seattle not have some agencies that oversee these kinds of residences? Should not CM Sawant have checked with the professional, city employees to see what steps are already being taken to make the repairs and improvements before butting in?
The complaint is not that Sawant went to the offices of these management companies, the complaint is that, if Sawant expects the companies to comply with the rules, Sawant should comply with the rules.
This is why people criticize Sawant for grandstanding.
What came of this meeting? If it was a triumph for Sawant, you’d think CHS Blogs would have in posted in 48 point font.
Were the staff of the management companies puzzled by Sawant’s visit since it’s not her district and there are city and county agencies with whom the management companies are already interacting?
Tenants in 3 of the 4 apartment buildings in Rainier Court, the Dakota, Courtland Place and Columbia Gardens will hold a tenant organizing meeting Friday 10/29 @ 6:30 PM. The 4th building, The Spokane, was recently built within the last 2 years.
If the city has oversight agencies, they are clearly not doing their jobs. And COVID has complicated oversight efforts as well as repair and maintenance. But if Coast Mgmt was “surprised” by Sawant’s involvement, it is likely because there has been very little apparent involvement from anyone at the city.
I moved into Courtland Place with the help of a case manager after living in my car for most of 2019, which caused considerable health issues. The volunteer service helping with the move had to stop and help me clean the apt. It was filthy although was freshly painted and new carpet. The fridge didn’t work and took 5 weeks to be replaced. $100’s worth of packages have been stolen from lobby. I am grateful for the roof over my head but shouldn’t have to assume this is good enough for any of us.
Welcome to government subsidized housing!