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Comrade,
The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA), an organization representing commercial and residential property owners and managers in the D.C. area, is actively fighting against stronger rent control in D.C. In a recent email to its members, AOBA explicitly encouraged that they oppose the Reclaim Rent Control platform in upcoming meetings with members of the D.C. Council.
The Reclaim Rent Control coalition is asking all Metro D.C. DSA members to call Brandon Todd (202 724-8052) and Mary Cheh (202 724-8062) this week, preferably before or during their meetings with AOBA about rent control. Please feel free to use the script provided below.
AOBA is meeting with Councilmember Brandon Todd (Ward 4) TODAY at 10:30 a.m. and with Councilmember Mary Cheh (Ward 3) on THURSDAY, December 19, at 2:30 p.m.
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Script:
Hi, my name is ________ and I'm a tenant/voter in D.C. (If you live in Ward 3 or 4, say so when calling your councilmember.)
I support the Reclaim Rent Control coalition, and I'm calling because I know Councilmember Todd/Cheh is meeting with representatives from the Apartment and Office Building Association this week. AOBA is trying to stop the council from making commonsense reforms to strengthen and expand rent control, and I hope that Councilmember Todd/Cheh stands strong and does the right thing for D.C. tenants.
I'm concerned that AOBA and the landlords they work for are lying about rent control. They are holding tenants like me hostage by saying that if they can't take huge rent increases, they will neglect their properties.
The truth is that AOBA wants to do away with rent control completely. They don't care about affordable housing, they don't care about tenants, and they don't care about our community—they care about their own profits. We shouldn't let landlords dictate our housing policy.
We need to improve rent control because D.C. is in an affordable housing crisis. We have lost nearly one-third of rent controlled apartments since the law was created. Nearly half of D.C. tenants pay more than they can afford in rent. People are being displaced, and the city is becoming more segregated. I am worried that I might be pushed out of my home by rising rents.
I hope the councilmember will choose to stand up for tenants and support stronger rent control.
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In solidarity,
MDC DSA
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