Seattle City Council rejects proposal to extend city’s eviction moratorium

SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council voted Tuesday to reject a proposal that would have extended the city’s eviction moratorium.

The council voted 5-3 against the proposal from Councilmember Kshama Sawant to ban all evictions against tenants behind on their rent.

Her office reports more than 130,000 Seattle households are behind on rent payments and evictions would set off a new wave of homelessness.

Mayor Bruce Harrell set the moratorium to expire on Feb. 28, saying small landlords were being affected and people with true hardships could still get an extension of six months.

In Seattle, renters have been protected from being evicted by the pandemic moratorium since March of 2020.

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