Res 06-08

ANC 3F RESOLUTION CONCERNING DC COUNCIL BILL 16-457,

"RENTAL CONTROL REFORM AMENDMENT ACT OF 2006"

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F

Forest Hills, North Cleveland Park, & Tenleytown

4401-A Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Box 244

Washington, D.C. 20008-2322

WHEREAS, the DC Council Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Committee Bill 16-457, the "Rental Control Reform Amendment Act Of 2006" changes tenant rights that have over the course of the last 20 years been established by the DC Council, enforced by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and upheld by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals; and

WHEREAS, ANC 3F residents in the Albemarle House, the Brandywine, the Chesapeake, Connecticut Heights, Ellicott House, Sedgewick Apartments, Van Ness South, 3801 Connecticut Avenue and other apartment buildings in the area will be affected by changes proposed by the CRA’s Bill 16-457; and

WHEREAS, the CRA Committee’s Bill 16-457 bears little if any resemblance to the version of the bill introduced to the Council on October 11, 2005 which was sponsored by ten Councilmembers; and

WHEREAS, the version offered by Councilmember Graham greater reflects the intent of established rental housing law.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that ANC 3F does not support B16-457 as passed by the DC Council Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Committee on March 16, 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F does support the intentions that a majority of the DC Council showed in sponsoring the Introduction of B16-457 on October 11, 2005:  to moderate rent increases when a vacancy occurs; to moderate rent increases for current tenants; and to reduce the frequency of rent increases to once a year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F supports the groundwork laid by Councilmember Graham’s substitution for B16-457 and that his version should be the starting point for all future discussions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F urges the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to reconsider B16-457 in order to adopt a substitute bill that better serves the District and its residents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F urges the DC Council to carefully consider the impact upon communities within the District of Columbia before making the proposed changes to existing rental housing laws.

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Adopted by a vote of 6-0-1 at a duly-noticed public meeting of ANC 3F on April 10, 2006, with a quorum present.

/s/ Cathy Wiss   /s/ Mital Gandhi           
            Cathy Wiss, Chair                                  Mital Gandhi, Acting Secretary