HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-01-25 Public Comment - O. Sohn - Bozeman Study CommissionFrom:Olive Nakano Sohn
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Bozeman Study Commission
Date:Wednesday, April 30, 2025 10:23:04 PM
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Dear Bozeman Study Commission,
Bozeman is where I’ve chosen to put my roots down and build my life as an adult. I’ve grown
deep relationships in our community and love for this land. Living here is how I’ve grown tounderstand myself as an organizer, a community member, a friend. I love this town, but being
a renter becomes harder year after year. My rent has doubled in the past five years. I’ve had towork three jobs just to keep a roof over my head. I’ve been exploited and controlled by
landlords using eviction threats over made-up clauses in my lease because they knew Icouldn’t fight back. Unfortunately, this issue is not unique to Bozeman. Corporate Landlord
invasion and tenants being dehumanized is a nation-wide epidemic, and if I were to leave thistown I would be treated no differently.
During turbulent times like these, now more than ever, we need stalwart local governments
ready to defend the rights and livelihoods of working people like me. I’m grateful that theStudy Commission is being convened this year because I believe that while many in city
government are well intentioned, our city has outgrown its current charter.
Our City Commission is not representative of the average renting Bozemanite. There are toofew Commission seats and they are all at-large seats which has resulted in a lack of geographic
representation within our city. Our unelected City Manager has disproportionate power overwhat is prioritized and how city staff works to meet the needs of working Bozemanites. Our
city governance is not accessible to poor and working class people. Things like providingchildcare at Commission Meetings would make them much more accessible to the families
who are most impacted by our housing crisis.
Olive Nakano Sohn