Every renter in Tacoma deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. Nearly 9,000 Tacoma voters signed petitions to put Measure 1 on the ballot because too many of our neighbors face toxic mold, illegal rent hikes, and retaliatory eviction threats when asking for basic repairs.

Measure 1 establishes municipal enforcement of renter protections to hold corporate slumlords accountable to the law and protects tenants from retaliation when they organize.

• The Facts: This is an unverified political scare tactic. The City Manager made this claim in a brief verbal exchange at a City Council meeting, but when questioned by reporters, the City admitted it has not done a serious cost analysis on Measure 1.

• The Math: Similar rental safety programs across Washington (Lakewood, Olympia, Vancouver, Bellingham, Seattle, among others) are funded through modest landlord fees of $15 to $35 per unit. Across Tacoma’s ~45,000 rental units, that points to an annual operating budget of $700,000 to $1.5 million—roughly 10 times less than the City Manager's claim.

• Self-Funded Design: Measure 1 is designed to largely pay for itself through dedicated landlord licensing fees and fines on bad actors, avoiding negative impacts on essential services or the general fund.

• The Facts: The main factor driving consolidation in the rental housing market is out-of-town corporate investors looking to maximize profits at the expense of renters and small housing providers alike. There are no credible studies demonstrating that basic tenant protections have harmed Tacoma's housing supply.

• False Choice, False Promise: We reject the race-to-the-bottom claim that families must endure toxic mold, safety hazards, and illegal fee hikes to keep housing affordable. Deregulation has failed repeatedly to lower costs; it is an empty promise.

• Building a Fair Economy: Washington's economy is among the strongest in the world. Building enough affordable housing while ensuring tenants' legal rights to safe, dignified homes is a matter of political will, not a lack of resources. Small landlords and affordable housing providers who maintain safe properties will receive compliance support under Measure 1 and will avoid negative impacts. Critically, Measure 1 helps tenants build the collective power needed to shift political priorities and win affordable housing at scale.

• The Facts: Modest annual licensing fees between $15 and $35 per unit equal roughly $1 to $3 per month—far too small to impact market rent levels. Most law-abiding landlords will see no meaningful operational impact.

• Real-World Evidence: While Tacoma rents spiked over 40% between 2017 and 2023 under weaker regulations, rent prices have remained largely stable and consistent with regional trends since voters passed the Tenant Bill of Rights in 2023. This track record disproves the landlord lobby's scare tactic that basic renter rights drive up housing costs.

• What Really Drives Costs: Illegal rent hikes, unregulated junk fees, and hidden corporate charges destabilize families. Measure 1 reins in illegal price-gouging and stabilizes neighborhoods.

A large majority of Tacoma’s 100,000 renters lease from out-of-town corporate landlords who prioritize profit over affordability and community safety.

In 2023, outside corporate real estate interests spent nearly $400,000 in a bid to buy Tacoma's election—shattering all previous local spending records.

Over 90% of opposition funds came from outside Tacoma.

The Public Disclosure Commission confirmed that opponents illegally hid more than half of their funding from voters until just days before the election.

We expect these same outside groups to spend heavily again to flood mailboxes with deceptive claims.

• Investigations & Fines to Deter Bad Actors: Removes bureaucratic loopholes that force city staff to endlessly "attempt to settle" with bad actors. Confirmed violations carry fines ($500 to 5x monthly rent).

• Direct Tenant Relief: Penalties collected from bad actors go directly to impacted tenants as compensation for the harm caused them.

• Repeat Offender Accountability: Large corporate landlords (25+ units) with repeat violations (6+ in 3 years) pay the full cost of city investigations.

• Right to Organize: Protects tenants from retaliation when forming a tenant union or meeting in common areas.

• Good-Faith Bargaining: Requires larger landlords to meet quarterly and bargain in good faith when a majority (50%+) of tenants in a building sign union cards.

• Small Landlord Exemption: "Mom-and-pop" landlords with 4 or fewer units are fully exempt from negotiation requirements.

• Education & Resources: Funds training and compliance assistance so small property owners have the tools to navigate rental regulations.

• Fee Protections: Non-profit and public affordable housing providers are largely exempt from licensing fees. Smaller housing providers (24 units or fewer) are exempt from investigation cost-recovery fees.

Measure 1 is about enforcing rights that already exist under Washington state law and local municipal code.

The City currently prioritizes mediation over actual enforcement, resulting in just one fine issued against a non-compliant landlord in three years. Renter rights mean nothing without meaningful consequences for lawbreakers. While landlords enforce fees immediately when a tenant falls behind, the City allows corporate slumlords to ignore housing and safety laws without penalty.

You can check your voter registration with Pierce County with this link: VoteWA Voter Portal