Renter Power from the West Side to the World
The big win: Last month, every single West Side precinct voted yes for rent stabilization. This means that our neighbors won’t be priced out of their homes. Starting this May, the rent can’t be raised more than 3% per year. It’s the strongest protection in the nation.
After years of witnessing trauma that displacement has brought to families on the West Side and across Saint Paul, it was time to act. In the midst of a pandemic, we succeeded in safely bringing people together across race and class to make sure that renters can Keep Saint Paul Home.
The big picture: People across the globe are looking to us for encouragement and inspiration. They’ve invited WSCO to national and international meetings, including a recent presentation with Iceland, Sweden, the International Tenants Association, (representing Nepal and Spain, among other countries), as well as international economists and trade unions. By expanding our understanding of power, profit, and housing globally, we’ve also expanded our understanding of the importance of our local organizing. (Fun fact: “Vesturhlið” is West Side in Icelandic!)
The challenge: Predictably, the corporate landlord lobby is mad that despite spending nearly $4 million to fight our grassroots coalition, people prevailed over profits. Now, they’re pushing a narrative of chaos and confusion to try to undermine a common sense policy that the majority of voters supported.
We can’t let that happen. Take action today to protect our win by telling Mayor Carter and our St. Paul City Councilmember Rebecca Noecker to implement and enforce this ordinance according to the will of voters. Click here to contact your representative
Come celebrate! Whether you door-knocked your block, phone-banked your neighbors, spread the word to your friends and family, activated your classmates and co-workers, collected signatures on scorching summer days — it's time to celebrate YOU! Please join us at Bootstrap Coffee Roasters on Sunday, December 12 from 11am-1pm for an outdoor gathering with free coffee, cocoa, donuts, and other gifts. Bring your own lawn chair! Join us!
Visit Housing Equity Now St. Paul’s website for more details on how we can make sure rent stabilization is here to stay!