Seattle City Council votes down Sawant's rent control proposal
The Seattle City Council rejected a proposal for rent control Tuesday, rebuffing the last major progressive push by outbound Councilmember Kshama Sawant.
Sawant, the council’s only socialist member, introduced a bill in June that would have capped annual residential rent increases at the rate of inflation in an attempt to make rental housing more affordable. It failed on a vote of 6-2. Opponents on the council argued that controlling rent increases would disincentivize developers from building new housing.
“Seattle has seen unparalleled development alongside rampant homelessness,” Sawant said, rebuking concerns that rent control would impact the city’s available housing.
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Councilmembers Lisa Herbold, Andrew Lewis, Sara Nelson, Alex Pedersen, Dan Strauss and Council President Debora Juarez voted against the bill, citing the city’s limited housing stock.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-city-council-votes-down-sawants-rent-control-proposal/