HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-24 Public Comment - G. Thompson - Tenants Union request for Legal CounselFrom:George Thompson
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]
Date:Tuesday, June 11, 2024 1:57:05 PM
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June 11, 2024
Mayor Cunningham and Commissioners
RE: Tenants Union request for Legal Counsel, $670,000
-As a Bozeman small business owner for over 40 years ( a side job to our professional careers,we have provided affordable rentals in local trailer park, small houses, duplexes, garages) it is
distressing to hear the City is considering hiring a fleet of lawyers to assist tenants being
evicted. The only time we have evicted tenants is for simply not paying rent. Last year oneeviction cost us over $15,000 to cover lawyer, damages to the unit and 6 months before wecould re-rent the $2,000 month unit. The best solution is to simply sell our affordable rentalunits, and have a higher financial return.
We are not the large rental unit developers in town who have better lawyers than City could
hire. As one of the many landlords who have 10 or fewer rental apartments, we simply don’t
have funds for lawyers on retainer. Will we still be required to pay city taxes to protecttenants who chose to not pay rent?
Tenant leases are a contractual obligation, not paying for goods or services is considered theft.
Kenyon Noble will not extend your lumber credit if you choose to ignore your payments,Banks will repossess your car, essential for work and life style. But City lawyers will sue us forevicting a tenant who does not pay rent??
Those choosing to rent property do not understand that taxes must still be paid, whileinsurance and maintenance costs are doubling.
Why don’t our elected officials look into who is funding the Tenants United group withadministrative, legal and start-up funding? Not Bozeman, or Montana residents.
Please cancel the proposed $670,000 for lawyers and invest these funds in more planreviewers staff, and more importantly, fund early child care development services whichhave made Bozeman what it is. The social returns on Child Development is a criticalcomponent in long term growth of the City.
Going forward, perhaps it is time to sell our small quirky affordable rental units located in
Bozeman downtown core areas and simply deposit money in saving accounts.
Thank you,
G. Thompson, Bozeman