| The time has come for another show of strength from Michigan renters, unhoused people, and all of our allies! Come to Lansing on Wednesday, November 13 at 11:00am! We will be demonstrating at the Capitol complex to remind our Representatives, our Senators, and our Governor, that the Rent Is STILL Too Damn High, over a year after we first rallied together last September 5. Please RSVP here: The Rent Is STILL Too Damn High demonstration |
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| Here’s why November 13 is an important day to come together in unity: A Tenants Bill of Rights was a core goal of our statewide coalition when we came together just over a year ago. In the year since, we and our legislative allies have made strides towards this goal by introducing dozens of renters’ rights bills. Despite this progress, tenant protection bills are waiting on the back burner for lack of support from Senate & House leadership, and the Governor. Meanwhile the housing crisis is catching up to more and more of us every day. Just yesterday, a story in the Detroit Free Press revealed that 49% of Michigan renters pay over 30% of their income for rent. But you don’t need a data set to know that people are struggling to find and pay for their housing – and we’re all sick of it! Now, we approach a critical juncture: The conclusion of this state legislature. This Nov. and Dec. will be the last chance for this legislature to make a positive contribution for renters’ rights, before a new state House is seated on Jan. 1. This is the Housing Homestretch – the last chance for this legislature to do right by renters, the unhoused, and housing insecure people. On November 13, we’ll insist that House and Senate leaders Joe Tate and Winnie Brinks take up our top-priority bills, and bring them across the finish line. We’re also doing something we haven’t done previously – We’re directly calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to fight for renters by issuing her public support for these renters’ rights bills, and using her political clout to get these bills passed. The Governor has said herself that the rent is too damn high, but she hasn’t had a word to say in favor of renter protections. She only wants to focus on spending money to build more housing. That’s fine, but more housing without renter protections only means more exploitation. Housing supply and renters’ rights must go together. Come out to downtown Lansing on 11:00am on November 13 to stand together with renters, unhoused people, and allies from across the state. Here’s the RSVP link again: The Rent Is STILL Too Damn High demonstration. Please forward this email to your contacts. If you’re on Facebook, share the Facebook event (link) Spread the word far and wide. For Renters’ Rights, Will |
