As an ASE at WSU, I know the feeling each year not knowing how much my rent will increase at a maximum and whether it will be the year to move, which is also unaffordable for me. WSU especially has a responsibility to ensure that ASEs are not overburdened by their rent rates, since it ultimately cycles back to the university as revenue. It is not fair for ASEs to provide a service to WSU and be burdened by the increase in rent by WSU as both their employer and landlord. Since our ASEs at WSU are not being paid a living wage, WSU who lease housing units to ASEs should provide reasonable monthly rent rates each year.

Affordable housing is very much needed in our Pullman community, and that was very apparent recently with the February 18th announcement by the Community Action Center in 2022. The waitlist for several Section 8 housing was closed due to an overwhelming demand. Currently, there have been efforts at the City Council level to address the affordable housing crisis, but mostly within the lens of homeownership. The reality is that renters make up a large portion of residents in Pullman and they have largely been ignored in plans to expand housing options. Renters are also facing increased rent costs every year that seem unreasonable and unpredictable to low-income earners. First, I think WA state ban on rent control should be repealed. The two bills which did not pass this year around keeping rent stabilization were extremely unfortunate. Legislators across the state from the county and city levels should come together to put pressure on the state to repeal the ban on rent control. I would love to join in the efforts as a city council member to take steps to make it happen! I would also be interested in advocating for city council to pass a resolution to formally urge state legislators to lift the ban on rent control.

I personally would like to see rent control be implemented at least at the city level if the state-wide ban is lifted. Considering the recent late rent cap that was passed in Seattle, I am also inspired to explore that possibility to support low-income earners who may be struggling to meet rent. As an ASE who has been late on rent many times because of low funds, I know it will provide extra relief to those in that position to not feel constantly on edge until they receive the money for it.

As we continue to fight for the rent control ban to be lifted, I am open to exploring the possibility of building more multi-dwelling complexes (like affordable apartments), incentivizing more density in single-family home areas by considering accessory dwelling units, and reduce zoning for single family housing. This will require looking more into the zoning and how this works, which I am still learning. To the best of my knowledge, there seems to be grants that the city can apply through the WA state department of commerce which supports the construction of affordable housing. I am also in the works of being able to listen into conversations prior to entering office officially during the city committee called Exploratory Housing committee which is centered around affordable housing goals in Pullman.