December 22, 2021

The Honorable Darius Pridgen
Council President
Ellicott District
65 Niagara Square, Room 1315
Buffalo, NY 14202

Subject: Adopt the Buffalo Tenant Bill of Rights

Dear Council President Pridgen,

We, the undersigned partners of Partnership for the Public Good (PPG), urge the Buffalo Common Council to pass the Buffalo Tenant Bill of Rights (TBOR).[1]

Thank you for your foresight and leadership in requesting policy solutions to our city’s housing crisis. As you well know, half of Buffalo’s tenants cannot afford their rent and about a quarter of renters spend more than half their income on rent. Like you alluded to in your resolution, this housing cost burden falls disproportionately on the shoulders of residents of color. In Buffalo, 30% of Black householders, 37% of Hispanic householders, 29% of Asian householders, and 42% of Native householders face a severe housing cost burden compared to just 15% of white householders. And of course, as you mentioned, we have a major housing quality problem here in Buffalo, with tenants’ health suffering severely due to lack of maintenance. COVID-19 and the subsequent lack of housing supply have only compounded these problems. Like you suggested, proactive legislation to address these issues is sorely needed.

Thankfully, the Tenant Bill of Rights addresses many of the issues Buffalo tenants face and will give our city what it so desperately needs – a local homes guarantee. All people, regardless of immigration status, country of origin, or language deserve access to safe, quality, energy efficient, and affordable housing. The rights outlined in the TBOR would protect tenants against evictions without good cause, ensure timely repairs, reaffirm the right to language access in housing court proceedings, allow tenants to purchase their homes when they go up for sale, and more. If enacted, these rights would encourage stronger neighborhoods, establish stability for tenants, and would prevent displacement.

Each right works together with the others in the document. For example, passing rent stabilization (Right #8) can lead to landlords evicting tenants for no cause. Landlords are incentivized to do this because they can then drastically increase the rent. Good Cause legislation (Right #1) prevents this very issue by prohibiting eviction without legal cause. We urge you to consider the TBOR with these connections in mind.

Each year, PPG calls on its 300+ partner groups to propose and vote on the most pressing policy changes needed in our region. Out of 25 proposals, the Tenant Bill of Rights was voted onto the agenda as a key priority in 2022.

Thank you for speaking up for Buffalo's renters! We ask now that you stand with us and pass the Tenant Bill of Rights.

Sincerely,

ACCESS of WNY

Board of Block Clubs Buffalo & Erie County

Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology

Buffalo Citizens for Council Accountability

Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization

Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network

Center for Elder Law & Justice

Center for Urban Studies, University at Buffalo

Coalition for Economic Justice

El Buen Amigo

Housing Opportunities Made Equal

Interfaith Climate Justice Community

Jurisdiction Wide Resident Council (BMHA)

Latin American Cultural Association

Partnership for the Public Good

Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Prisoners are People Too

Sierra Club Niagara Group

Spark Filmmakers Collaborative

Ujima Company Inc

The WASH Project

[1] https://bit.ly/TenantBOR