Not that long ago I got a few emails and texts telling me that Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales is proposing a moratorium on paying rent in Seattle. After swearing a few times (I had just finished a lengthy summary of eviction actions across the country), I thought, “It never stops!” But here’s the good news: Councilmember Morales is just making noise. Her resolution doesn’t have any effect. What’s she’s asking for is action from Governor Jay Inslee and President Donald Trump. Her resolution doesn’t make law, it calls for the City’s lobbyists to send a message. Here is the action that the Council is likely to approve on Monday (you can read the full text here):

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

Section 1. The Seattle City Council calls on Governor Inslee:

A.  To use emergency powers to impose an immediate moratorium on residential and commercial rent payments, such that no Seattleite should be required to pay rent during this health emergency or accumulate debt for unpaid rent; and

B.  To call on federal legislators and President Trump’s administration to impose an immediate moratorium on residential and commercial mortgage payments, such that no owner of Seattle property should be required to pay mortgage during this health emergency or accumulate additional debt for unpaid mortgage payments.

Councilmember Morales’ Proposed Resolution

You’ll notice a lot of calling going on in this resolution. It has no effect. While it is an unhelpful distraction, in some ways if it were reality upon passage, many people could breathe a sigh of relief. Suddenly nobody would have to pay rent or mortgage; residents and housing providers could just let everything slide until the emergency is over, whenever that is. If nobody has to pay anything during that period, then, conceivably nobody gets hurt.

However, Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez’ proposal to extend and expand the current eviction ban is real, would have effect, and would be disastrous. You can read more about that proposal here and you can send a message to council here. Gonzalez’ proposal needs all of our attention now, not Morales’ effort to try to be like San Francisco.