Updated on February 22, 2021. Renter-rights advocates are condemning signs that urge Burlington voters to protect tenants of color by rejecting a ballot item that would ban no-cause evictions. The proposal, the advocates say, would help, not harm, those tenants. Vote No on #5 Just Cause, the signs say. Protect BIPOC tenants from racist neighbors. The unsigned messages, which appeared along heavily trafficked public rights of way, seem to suggest that if Question 5 passes this Town Meeting Day, landlords would not be able to evict tenants who harass neighbors who are Black, Indigenous and other people of color. The orange and white placards drew ire from proponents of the ballot item, including City Councilor Zoraya Hightower (P-Ward 1), who last year became the first woman of color to be elected to the council.
PUSH Buffalo / Twitter
An array of local social change groups says the effects of the continuing pandemic show the need for basic changes, from housing payments for the homeless to restrictions on evictions.
The first sign of their push for change is starting now: door-to-door activity to tell people that if COVID is threatening their health or creating financial hardship, they can block eviction even if not paying rent. There is a bar date of May 1, although that could change as it has been since the start of the pandemic.
Among the groups in the Housing Justice For All coalition is PUSH Buffalo. PUSH Deputy Director of Movement Building Harper Bishop said hardship declarations have to be filed by Feb. 25.