KC Tenants rally at City Hall to ‘collect their check’

Skyler Whittaker speaks on the steps of City Hall Wednesday, March 11 to discuss the importance of funding the Tenants Bill of Rights. PHOTO/Elizabeth Orosco

Members of KC Tenants gathered Wednesday morning, March 11, on the south steps of City Hall to discuss a proposal that would fully fund the Tenants Bill of Rights.

KC Tenants is an organization working to “ensure that everyone in Kansas City has a safe, healthy, accessible, and truly affordable home.”

The Tenants Bill of Rights package, which included a resolution and an ordinance, passed 12-1 Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, and was signed into law Dec. 13, 2019. 

KC Tenants asked the council to pass the two together and fully fund them to ensure implementation and enforcement, however, zero funding was provided for the Tenants Bill of Rights in the FY 2020-2021 city budget that was released Feb. 13, 2020.

The resolution aims to enforce existing tenant rights and lists additional protections including the right to organize, protection from retaliation, not passing permit fees to tenants, limits on security deposits, written tenant consent and notification before landlord entry, disclosure about past issues in the unit and a utilities estimate, and the right to receive a Tenant Bill of Rights document before the start of each tenancy.

The ordinance establishes a Rental Housing Assistance Unit within a new Division of Housing and Community Development to educate tenants of their rights and resources, operate a Rental Housing Hotline, establish a Rental Housing Center, and publish a regularly-updated Tenant Bill of Rights Document enumerating legal protections.

The Division would work with the Health Department to ensure freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, mental or physical disability, marital status, familial status, age sexual orientation or gender identity, gender expression, ethnic background, being a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, source of income, arrest and conviction history, or rental history.

After three public hearings on the city budget, in which members of KC Tenants attended and advocated for funding, no funds have been allocated for the Tenants Bill of Rights. 

“We cannot keep passing unfunded mandates,” said Jenay Manley, a leader with KC Tenants, at the Feb. 22, 2020 budget hearing. 

At the press conference Wednesday, leaders of KC Tenants discussed the importance of funding the Tenants Bill of Rights and what it means for the tenants who make up 48% of the city’s residents.

“I need to know that I have people who can advocate for me as a tenant when I don’t know how to advocate for myself,” said Skyler Whittaker. “I need the Mayor and the City Council to be accountable for fulfilling their promise to fully fund and implement the Tenants Bill of Rights. I need the leaders of our city to be committed to doing the right thing.”

“If we don’t fund the implementation of the Tenants Bill of Rights, if we don’t fund the outreach and education for our tenants in this city, if we don’t fund enforcement against bad actors, what will we have to do?” asked Kevin Jean-Paul, a leader with KC Tenants. “We are not here asking for funding for our organization. We are not here looking for jobs at City Hall. We are here to collect our check. And with that check, give that power back to the people. We are here and we aren’t going anywhere.”

Mayor Lucas responded in a recent statement, discussing recent work that has been done.

“The plan has always been to fight for as much funding as possible in year one for our Tenants Rights Package that was passed back in December. I think we’ve done an impressive job already finding hundreds of thousands of dollars for temporary rental assistance; we’re working to find hundreds of thousands [of] dollars more for legal assistance for those who face eviction; and hundreds of thousands of dollars more to make sure we can provide more teaching, education, and training about tenants’ rights—not just for tenants, but for landlords, as well. We’ve already made incredible strides in making sure Kansas City is a better place for tenants to live and I look forward to continuing this important work alongside our friends with KC Tenants.”

Want Northeast News articles sent straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
Enter your email address and click on the Get Instant Access button.
We respect your privacy

Comments are closed.

  • Movie Review of ‘Nelly Don: The Musical Movie’

    September 29th, 2023
    by

    By Dorri Partain, Contributor Opening at select art theaters across Kansas City on Friday, September 29, Nelly Don, The Musical […]


    I-35 shutdown due to cattle truck, SUV collission

    September 28th, 2023
    by

    If you are southbound on interstate 35 this morning headed for downtown, you may want to find an alternate route. […]


    Book Review: Mafia Dreams by Frank Hayde

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Publisher As an amateur Kansas City historian, pretty much any book that offers a glimpse into the city’s past […]


    Nelly Don: The Musical debuts for local viewing

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Dorri Partain Contributor A new, locally filmed production, “Nelly Don: The Musical” recounts the life of Nell Donnelly Reed, who found […]


    Record numbers turn out for John V. Mesh Scholarship Fundraiser

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Publisher Over 200 shooters turned out on a stormy Saturday morning at Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kan., […]


    Mattie Rhodes opens health clinic to serve Jackson County’s Latinos population

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover  Managing Editor Last Friday, Mattie Rhodes Center announced the grand opening of its health clinic that will provide […]


    Developers break ground on Columbus Park Townhomes

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover Managing EditorMichael BushnellPublisher Developers broke ground on the long-awaited Columbus Park Townhomes project on Pacific Street Friday morning, […]


    Scarritt School repurposing conversation continues

    September 21st, 2023
    by

    On Thursday, Sept. 21, Kansas City Public Schools’ (KCPS) Repurposing Initiative staff sent a message updating the community on the […]


    Bally’s Kansas City casino expansion opens

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover  Managing Editor Bally’s Kansas City officially opened its land-based property expansion in the East Bottoms on Friday. The […]


  • Truman Road pawn shop owner sentenced for $744,000 scheme to sell stolen items online

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Criminal Conspiracy Profited Most During COVID Pandemic Abby Hoover  Managing Editor The owner of a Kansas City, Mo., pawn shop […]


    Families who rely on interpreters find Kansas City area schools can come up short

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Federal law requires that schools provide interpretation for families. But technology glitches, tight budgets and staffing issues can pose barriers […]


    Familias  recurren a intérpretes consideran que las escuelas del área de Kansas City se quedan cortas

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Ley federal requiere que escuelas ofrezcan interpretación a familias. Pero fallas de tecnología, presupuestos ajustados, y escasez de personal imponen […]


    Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center hosts KC Police Chief Stacey Graves for community conversation

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover  Managing Editor Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center (SURHC) on Euclid hosted Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) Chief Stacey […]


    We’re from the government, and we’re here to help

    September 15th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Publisher Maybe not so much. If you’ve been unlucky enough to drive down Belmont Blvd. this week, just south […]


    Secretario de Educación, Congresista Cleaver, visitan Mattie Rhodes Center para promover la participación de padres 

    September 14th, 2023
    by

    Escrito por Abby Hoover, directora editorial Traducción por Daisy Garcia Montoya, reportera de educación Mattie Rhodes Center en Northeast Kansas City […]


    Secretary of Education, Congressman Cleaver visit Mattie Rhodes Center to promote parent engagement

    September 13th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover Managing Editor Mattie Rhodes Center in Northeast Kansas City hosted U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) and U.S. […]


    Festival to highlight urban agriculture and healthy eating

    September 13th, 2023
    by

    Dorri Partain Contributor From sweet and tart to savory, visitors to the 3rd Annual Ground Cherry, Garlic and Good Times […]


    KCU’s Score 1 for Health screens 400 students on Thursday

    September 13th, 2023
    by

    Michael BushnellPublisher Over 400 charter school students from Northeast-based Scuola Vita Nuova (SVN) were guests at the Kansas City University […]


  • Northeast Newscast


  • Remember This?

    Remember this?

    September 27th, 2023
    by

  • Want articles sent directly to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
    We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information.