Bellingham City Council Approves Rental Inspections

Tue, Dec 16, 2014, 3:51 pm // Dick Conoboy

One must catch one's breath!

The vote of the Bellingham City Council on Monday night is a stunning reversal of the consensus of the council from earlier this year, at which time only a weak rental registration program was under consideration. Much of the credit for the passage of this ordinance surely goes to the Western Washington University students who have worked hard over the past 4-5 years. They spoke the truth to the opposition (the landlords) whose arguments to defeat this measure were astoundingly repudiated by the 7-0 vote. No stronger message could have been sent.

Also in for thanks are council members Jack Weiss and Michael Lilliquist who worked hard behind the scenes to shepherd this measure to passage. Dozens of Bellingham citizens also worked diligently over the last 10 years to speak to the reality of renting in Bellingham.

Based on a meeting I had several weeks ago with our new planning director, Rick Sepler, I expect we will see rapid action in putting this measure into effect. Rick seems to me to be a no-nonsense manager who will meet deadlines and develop accurate information for the council. Nevertheless, we still need to be vigilant about a process that has yet to be developed to register rentals and then begin inspections in 2015.

Again, thanks to our City Council for this measure to ensure the health and safety of the tenants in Bellingham.

Comments (5) To add a comment, click here to login or register.

Vince Biciunas // Tue, Dec 16, 2014, 4:16 pm

Thank YOU, Dick, for moving this vote on, and on, and on.
It was a herculean effort, and I am so pleased at your success.

Walter Haugen // Wed, Dec 17, 2014, 12:35 pm

Can I assume after this vote that the Bellingham City Council has decisively repudiated the “invisible hand of the market” nonsense?

I just read a review of “Seven Bad Ideas: How Mainstream Economists Have Damaged America and the World” by Jeff Madrick (2014). The “invisible hand” is one of them (along with efficient markets, etc.). I also requested it from the Whatcom County Library System. I suggest others take a look at this book too.

Dick Conoboy // Wed, Dec 17, 2014, 1:37 pm

Walter,

In the Army we used to say “Assumption is the mother of all f**k-ups”. Time and time again I observed the direct and highly negative consequences of violating that maxim.

Walter Haugen // Thu, Dec 18, 2014, 12:29 pm

Dick - Correctomundo. It was a rhetorical question.

However, if there is no paradigm shift, it argues for some other driver in what seems to be a significant change in policy. My next question is whether there is some way the big developers can finesse this to their advantage. To steal a line from Warren Zevon, “Poor, poor, cynical me.”

Scott Wicklund // Sat, May 02, 2015, 5:34 pm

I will be passing the “NOTICE” I just received from the Rentals Program Specialist today to my four tenants. While it is true that actual registration will be open July 1st—August 1st, it is just unfair to hold this information secret when my tenants shelters are unlikely to qualify. I am also in a bind since passive failure to respond could be very expensive. Others have said the same thing, but the days of the low cost rental are over. No better proof is needed than the yellow card just received from rentals@cob.org.

Bellingham City Council Approves Rental Inspections

Tue, Dec 16, 2014, 3:51 pm // Dick Conoboy

7-0! City Council Unanimous. Rentals Will Be Inspected in Bellingham. Thanks go to WWU students for speaking out to city council.

5 comments; last on May 02, 2015

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Bellingham City Council Approves Rental Inspections

Tue, Dec 16, 2014, 3:51 pm // Dick Conoboy

Vince Biciunas // Tue, Dec 16, 2014, 4:16 pm

Walter Haugen // Wed, Dec 17, 2014, 12:35 pm

Dick Conoboy // Wed, Dec 17, 2014, 1:37 pm

Walter Haugen // Thu, Dec 18, 2014, 12:29 pm

Scott Wicklund // Sat, May 02, 2015, 5:34 pm

Tue, Dec 16, 2014, 3:51 pm // Dick Conoboy

5 comments; last on May 02, 2015

Thu, Dec 05, 2013, 6:00 am // Dick Conoboy

3 comments; last on Dec 15, 2013

Mon, Nov 22, 2010, 5:00 am // Riley Sweeney

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Sat, Aug 07, 2010, 10:18 am // John Servais

5 comments; last on Aug 15, 2010

Mon, Jan 18, 2010, 7:00 am // Kamalla Rose Kaur

2 comments; last on Jan 19, 2010

Wed, Jul 01, 2009, 7:39 pm // Kamalla Rose Kaur

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Wed, May 27, 2009, 4:58 pm // Guest writer

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Sat, Mar 08, 2008, 4:07 pm // John Servais

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Wed, Dec 12, 2007, 3:55 am // John Servais

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Sat, Jan 13, 2007, 6:51 pm // John Servais

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Mon, Mar 01, 2004, 8:20 pm // John Servais

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Tue, Feb 03, 2004, 9:17 pm // John Servais

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