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Residents say OAG consumer-and-tenant unit returns money and trust; advocates urge sustained funding
Summary
Multiple residents testified that the Office of Attorney General's Consumer and Tenant Response (CTR) unit quickly resolved long-running consumer disputes and returned funds, and urged the council to maintain staffing for the unit amid proposed budget cuts.
At the April 22 committee hearing several residents who had used the Office of Attorney General's Consumer and Tenant Response unit described rapid, favorable outcomes after they had been unable to resolve disputes with large companies on their own.
Michael Messina told the committee the CTR intervention led to a full refund after an estate-sale vendor misrepresented the origin of an artwork he had bought. "The rightful and positive outcome would not have been possible without the CTR program," Messina said.
Other witnesses described similar experiences with Turo, Vivid Seats and online travel or booking platforms; one witness said OAG staff responded within a day after she filed a complaint and recovered a refund within weeks. Testimony highlighted CTR's role in returning consumer funds, mediating disputes and providing a low-cost pathway to redress for residents with limited resources.
Witnesses asked the committee to preserve CTR funding and the paralegal and casework staff who manage intake and mediation. Several council members asked OAG for workload and outcome metrics so the committee can assess staffing needed to sustain response times and case resolution rates.
The hearing record remains open for written submissions.
