HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-28-24 Public Comment - A. Wallace - Re_ Tenants Right to CounselFrom:Adrianne Wallace
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:bzntenantsunited@gmail.com
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Re: Tenants Right to Counsel
Date:Tuesday, June 25, 2024 1:11:45 PM
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As a life long resident of the Gallatin Valley, I have spent many years being a renter and thepast 10 being a home owner. I have children who are renters in town who have had to move
nearly every year since they left our house due to landlords kicking everyone out to be able toraise the rent huge amounts each year without being restricted by tenants' rights. I understand
the rising cost of taxes and utilities completely- I feel it every month and with each increase-so I understand that home owners have to keep up with their costs but the ways they do it are
often unscrupulous and leave good people stranded. Thankfully my kids know they can comehome if they need to- and they have. Other people - including families with young children
and people with disabilities- often do not have a place to go when a landlord decides to uprootthem.
I know the issue is complex and that's exactly why we have courts to help decide when the
actions people take are actually criminal and when they're not. Providing legal advocacy forthose who are not in financial positions to defend themselves is so important. Our public
defenders are over burdened and everyone knows that.
Allocating funds to represent people is essential to living in the democracy we have today. It'snot saying that all tenants who are evicted are in the right -- it's simply saying that they have
the right to advocacy, acknowledging that the extremely high cost of rent in Bozeman does notallow many people the luxury of paying an attorney.
Please do the right thing and support this initiative.
Thank you,
Adrianne Wallace
211 N Sweetgrass Ave Bozeman, MT 59718