FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 16, 2020

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications,tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

 

A Statement From Deputy Mayor Keith Blocker
on Governor Jay Inslee's Extension and Expansion of Eviction Moratorium

TACOMA, Wash. – “I would like to express my support of Governor Jay Inslee’s extension and expansion of the evictions moratorium during this COVID-19 pandemic and time of great economic hardship for many of our residents in Tacoma. There have been reports of landlords not abiding by Governor Inslee’s original evictions moratorium. I urge landlords to abide by Governor Inslee's extension and expansion. Moving forward, tenants should be aware of their rights under the new order which not only calls for the extension of the evictions moratorium, but expands the order to ban landlords from assessing or threatening to assess late fees; prohibits landlords from increasing residential rents and, in some cases, commercial rents; and prohibits landlords from treating unpaid rent as an enforceable debt unless a repayment plan is explicitly attempted with the tenant.  If you are a tenant and feel Governor Inslee's order has been violated, please file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office at coronavirus.wa.gov.
 
It is paramount to the health and safety of our residents that no one be evicted from their homes or unfairly punished for a lack of resources during this outbreak. I will do all that I can as the Deputy Mayor and District 3 Council Member to keep our most vulnerable residents housed during this time.”

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