HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-16-24 Public Comment - G. Monahan - Budget Items Citizen InputFrom:Glenn Monahan
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Budget Items Citizen Input
Date:Saturday, June 15, 2024 7:05:49 AM
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Dear City Commissioners:
I’m writing today to oppose the inclusion and/or approval of two items proposed in the
upcoming budget.
First is the proposal being pushed by Bozeman Tenants United (BTU) that the City provide$670,000 to hire attorneys to provide free legal services to tenants (Tenants Right to Counsel).
I thoroughly oppose this for the following reasons:1- This will increase property taxes.
2- According to BTU, Gallatin County, population 124,000, experienced 179 evictions in thepast year, equal to 0.1% of the country population. Statistically, this is not a significant issue.
3- Aggrieved tenants with legitimate disputes have every right to consult with private practiceattorneys, who will provide representation at no cost, and whose fees will be recovered upon
winning a case.4 - BTU is promoting a socialist, anti-capitalist agenda that is attempting to interfere with
private property rights. Examples include proposals to limit short term rentals, impose rentcontrol, and now to threaten landlords with burdensome legal action.
5- The PRIMARY factor in housing challenges is LOW WAGES, and proposals such as thisare bandaids that do not get at the root of the problem. The City Commission should pass a
strong resolution promoting a $30 minimum wage for Bozeman.6- BTU claims that Tenants Rights to Counsel (TRC) is a popular and commonplace service.
A look at the places where TRC has taken root includes New York City, San Francisco,Newark, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Boulder, Baltimore, Seattle, Louisville, Denver, Toledo,
Minneapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans, and Detroit. None of these places has ANYTHINGin common with Bozeman, all having large, inner city, poverty stricken neighborhoods. For
BTU to cite these locations as examples of why Bozeman needs TRC is absurd.
Secondly, I’m writing to oppose the hiring of a DEI position. This is being proposed at a timewhen DEI is being seriously challenged, and many entities, including corporations and
universities are downsizing or eliminating their DEI departments, and are eliminating DEIpledges from hiring criteria (MIT, University of Wyoming).
I view this position as unnecessary and a further imposition of tax increases on a populace that
is fatigued by tax increases.
Please practice fiscal conservatism with our new budget, and use strict criteria to includeONLY CRUCIAL ITEMS in the budget.
Sincerely,
Glenn Monahan
Bozeman Montana
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