Tenant groups urge council to publish rental-inspection ordinance after promised mid-May delivery missed

During the public-comment period, speakers representing tenant-advocacy organizations told the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee that a rental-inspection ordinance the administration had said would be presented to council by mid-May had not been entered into the record by mid-June.

“Hi. My name is Thomas King. The 4 of us represent various different housing organizations that have been advocating for the city to pass the rental inspection ordinance ... We are here because both the mayor at the seventh District City Council meeting and the planning director promised that this ordinance would be before this body by mid May. It's now mid June,” Thomas King said, identifying himself as representing multiple tenant groups including Richmond Tenants Union, Virginia Organizing, New Virginia Majority and Richmond DSA.

King told the committee he believes the ordinance “has not been entered into the record at council” and estimated that, by his count, the delay could push consideration until July and the summer recess. Benny Gates, who said he represents Virginia Organizing and described himself as a native Richmonder, urged the city to act: “Housing is a priority ... We are in a crisis with housing, and I understand that. But the things that we can do about housing, we need to do it.”

Speakers asked the committee and staff to identify who was delaying publication of the ordinance so that advocates could meet with that office. The committee did not take action on the topic during this meeting; the public-comment items were recorded and closed before the consent and agenda matters.