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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-25 Public Comment - C. Menard - Support Right to CounselFrom:Chassidy Menard To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:[EXTERNAL]Support Right to Counsel Date:Tuesday, May 6, 2025 11:02:27 AM Attachments:C. Menard RTC PC.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Bozeman City Commission, Please find my public comment in support of Right to Counsel below: Good evening, Commissioners. Chassidy Menard, Bozeman resident. In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville once praised American democracy for its civic spirit, but he mourned one glaring exception: the justice system. He saw in 1835 what we still seenow, especially in civil courtrooms. A system that favors those who can afford representation, and leaves everyone else, especially renters, on their own. As a renter in Bozeman, I’ve experienced firsthand what it means to be unprotected inour housing system. I lived through multiple violations of my rights: My landlord never countersigned my annual lease, leaving me on a precarious month-to-month arrangement. He entered myhome without notice to walk a realtor through. He sold the house without warning. And he withheld my security deposit for no reason. I’ve never faced eviction, but I know how powerless I would be if I did. Like 55% of Bozeman citizens, I rent my home. And like nearly half of those renters, rentmakes up more than 30% of my monthly income. I wouldn’t have the money for a lawyer. I wouldn’t know where to turn in the five days the law gives me to respond. And I wouldbe alone. Right to Counsel changes that. It gives tenants a fair chance in a system where, right now, 83% of landlords have lawyers—and only 4% of tenants do. And it doesn’t just benefit tenants. It helps landlords by ensuring cases are handledmore efficiently and professionally—reducing costs from prolonged litigation, enforcement, and collections. It also protects our broader community. Every eviction we prevent helps avoid cascadingcosts: emergency services, homelessness, poorer health outcomes, and strained families. Providing legal representation costs around $2,000 to $5,000—far less than the $16,000to $24,000 an eviction costs the community. This is a fair, sensible, cost-effective investment in our shared well-being. Please support the adoption of Right to Counsel. Thank you. Best, Chassidy Menard Good evening, Commissioners. Chassidy Menard, Bozeman resident. In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville once praised American democracy for its civic spirit, but he mourned one glaring exception: the justice system. He saw in 1835 what we still see now, especially in civil courtrooms. A system that favors those who can afford representation, and leaves everyone else, especially renters, on their own. As a renter in Bozeman, I’ve experienced firsthand what it means to be unprotected in our housing system. I lived through multiple violations of my rights: My landlord never countersigned my annual lease, leaving me on a precarious month-to-month arrangement. He entered my home without notice to walk a realtor through. He sold the house without warning. And he withheld my security deposit for no reason. I’ve never faced eviction, but I know how powerless I would be if I did. Like 55% of Bozeman citizens, I rent my home. And like nearly half of those renters, rent makes up more than 30% of my monthly income. I wouldn’t have the money for a lawyer. I wouldn’t know where to turn in the five days the law gives me to respond. And I would be alone. Right to Counsel changes that. It gives tenants a fair chance in a system where, right now, 83% of landlords have lawyers—and only 4% of tenants do. And it doesn’t just benefit tenants. It helps landlords by ensuring cases are handled more efficiently and professionally—reducing costs from prolonged litigation, enforcement, and collections. It also protects our broader community. Every eviction we prevent helps avoid cascading costs: emergency services, homelessness, poorer health outcomes, and strained families. Providing legal representation costs around $2,000 to $5,000—far less than the $16,000 to $24,000 an eviction costs the community. This is a fair, sensible, cost-effective investment in our shared well-being. Please support the adoption of Right to Counsel. Thank you.