For those interested, and for those media "lurkers" out there, here is
the press release associated with the Minneapolis Tenant Summit, which
kicks off this Saturday, October 26, 2002, at noon (at the American
Indian Center on 15th and Franklin).
Gregory Luce
Project 504/Minneapolis (North Phillips)
________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHAT: Minneapolis Tenant Summit
WHEN: October 26/12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Minneapolis American Indian Center
1530 East Franklin Avenue
MINNEAPOLIS TENANTS AND ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND CITY ACTION
Faced with a dire shortage of affordable housing, squeezed by huge
application fees and tenant screening practices that are often unfair
and discriminatory, Minneapolis tenants are holding the first ever
Minneapolis Tenant Summit and demanding that the City to take action on
five proposals for change:
* Ban Application Fees. Stop the practice of landlords charging tenants
application fees. (Contact: BROTHER, Jobs and Affordable Housing, (612)
341-1617).
* Prevent Water Shut Offs. Don't shut off a tenant's water because the
landlord has failed to pay the bill. (Contact: Sam Magavern, Legal Aid
Society of Minneapolis, (612) 746-3716).
* Reform NRP. Reform the city's Neighborhood Revitalization Program so
that it includes and helps more tenants and people of color. (Contact:
Greg Luce, Project 504, (612) 277-0408).
* Preserve Subsidized Housing. Take steps to save our subsidized
housing and keep it from going market rate. (Contact: Charlie Warner,
HOME Line, (612) 728-5770).
* Improve Tenant Screening Criteria. Prevent landlords from using
outdated, irrelevant, or discriminatory information in deciding on
tenant applications. No tenant should be turned down for "no rental
history." (Contact: Spencer Blaw, Minnesota Tenants Union, (612) 871-2701).
At the Summit, each proposal and its current status will be explained,
and tenants will have a chance to offer comments and testimony. City
Council Members, including Dean Zimmermann, Gary Schiff, and Robert
Lilligren, will speak and have each agreed to take the lead on one of
the proposals. Additional council members are expected to sign on to
one or all of the proposals in the coming days.
Five tenant organizations have planned and sponsored the Summit: The
Jobs and Affordable Housing Campaign of Family and Children's Service,
HOME Line, the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Tenants
Union, and Project 504. Seven other organizations, including the
Minneapolis Urban League, the Legal Rights Center, and the Harriet
Tubman Family Alliance, have recently signed on to the proposals being
presented at the Summit, and additional endorsements are expected by
Saturday.
_______________________________________
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