Committee Report CR-2

The purpose of the hearing was to conduct a public hearing to discuss how to assist tenants in danger of losing their homes due to the recent sale of their buildings on Harding Street.

Present at the hearing were Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Marc McGovern, Councillor Dennis Carlone, Councillor Nadeem Mazen, Vice Mayor Dennis Benzan, Richard C. Rossi, City Manager, Iram Farooq, Acting Assistant City Manager, Linda Prosnitz, Housing Project Planner, Community Development Department, Jason Alves, Aide to Councillor Toomy, Wil Durbin, Aide to Councillor Kelley, and Neal Alpert, Aide to Councillor Simmons.

Also present were Greg Russ, Executive Director, Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA), Denise Belloste, Nancy Seymore, Elaine DeRosa, CEOC, Cheryl-Ann Pizza-Zeoli, Jean Hannon, Alliance of Cambridge Tenants (ACT), Lee Farris, Ti-Grace Atkinson, Michael McIntosh, Susan Hegel, Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services, Peter Daly, Executive Director of Home Owners Rehab, Inc., Attorney Jeffrey C. Turk, Tony Madan, Rekha Madan, James Williamson, and Lucille Kenney.

Councillor Simmons convened the hearing and read an opening statement (Attachment A) and gave a brief overview of the agenda for the meeting.  (Attachment B)

Elaine DeRosa, CEOC, stated that she hadn't intended on speaking. In the spirit of the opening remarks, however, she suggested that this meeting represents a good opportunity for everyone present to work together, to reach consensus, and to hopefully reach an agreement in which the Harding Street tenants would not have to be displaced. She said she hoped that the building's owner would rescind the eviction notice that has been issued to a tenant, and would commit to refrain from issuing other such notices.

Cheryl-Ann Pizza Zeoli, Alliance of Cambridge Tenants, said that she echoes the comments of Ms. DeRosa, and that while she had no other immediate remarks, she might speak later in the meeting.

Ti-Grace Atkinson, Harding Street resident, said that this crisis has made her think hard about why exactly this is so upsetting to her. She said that this made her think about the concept of what a home is, and how it is more than simply four walls and a roof. She said it is about all of the experiences and feelings, the good times and the bad times, that a person has in that home. She said she has lived there 18 years and she has deep connections with her neighbors, who are friends and feel like extended family. She said that her life at Harding Street can be summarized as pre-sale and post-sale of her building. She remembered when she first moved here in 1997, waking up one day that September to the sounds of the Cosmas and Damian Festival, and being overjoyed by how festive and vibrant it was. She noted that giant likenesses of these saints are paraded around and bless peoples' houses. She said that this gives a good sense of what it's like to live in this neighborhood.

Ms. Atkinson said that this situation has also made her think of her late neighbor, a woman named Rosie. She said that Rosie was one of her first friends when she moved to the building, she gave her advice about how to get around the area during the winter months, and that Rosie was an artist who painted pictures of the local buildings, capturing their mood and spirit, and the essence of the neighborhood. Ms. Atkinson said that she would love to help save some of the spirit of what Rosie was painting.

Ms. Atkinson said that, if you added up the combined tenancy of all the Harding Street residents, it would equal 195 years. She said you cannot replace that kind of community. She said that there are differences between short term tenants and long term tenants, with the long term tenants having more investment in the neighborhood, in the people around them, and in preserving the buildings for the future. She said that Boston Investments doesn't seem to care about the sense of community, and the company has been making moves that would encourage short-term tenancy. She said the new owners have been harassing the tenants, and have been negligent in ensuring that the trash bins are taken out to the streets for collection. She said that Boston Investments doesn't seem to care about letting the current tenants live there in peace, but rather they bombard the tenants with site visits and realtor visits.

Peter Daly, Executive Director of HRI, Inc., said that he was very concerned about the stories he was hearing. He said that HRI is focused on the community, and that each building is a community, and he is very concerned about that sense of community being lost.

Lee Farris, of 269 Norfolk Street, said she sent the committee an email on behalf of the Cambridge Residents Alliance (Attachment C) and that she would briefly summarize its contents. She said that the CRA would like to work with the City Council and the tenants of Harding Street to come up with whatever solutions are possible for each individual. She said that the CRA has some legislative ideas. She said that one idea might be for the CEOC and other community-based organizations to helm an informational campaign to let tenants know about the resources available to them, prior to these types of situations taking place. In a situation where peoples' homes are at stake, time is of the essence, and having this information at the outset could be quite beneficial.

James Williamson of 1000 Jackson Place said that he was quite moved by Ms. Atkinson's testimony. He said that if illegal actions are taking place, then he hopes legal organizations like Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services are ready to step in to counteract these. He said that he hopes the City, likewise, would take action against any illegal practices. He asked what action the City could actually take to help these tenants. He also said that this situation takes place inside a socially constructed market system, and that we have a choice in what these markets are like. He said we don't have to allow this type of behavior to be tolerated.

Michael McIntosh of 33 Harding Street, Apartment 2, said he has lived in this unit for 15 years, and in Cambridge for 30 years. He thanked the Housing Committee for discussing this topic. He said this whole conversation can be summed up in the word "community." He said that he moved around every couple of years when he was young, and then when he was in the military he was moved around repeatedly. He said he didn't have a sense of belonging to a specific place until he arrived in Cambridge in 1985, and he suddenly felt connected to his surroundings and the people around him. He said that, upon moving to Cambridge, he felt compelled to vote for the first time in his life. He said that he has had two great teachers in his life: Cambridge, and his great-aunt, Marie M. Runyon. He recounted his great-aunt's early struggles in New York, her activism and her work in dealing with Columbia University, and how she inspired him to stand up for what he believes in, and to find ways to work collaboratively towards mutually beneficial resolutions. He said that he prayed that the people at Boston Investments could work towards a resolution that gives them what they want, while also factoring in the needs of the Harding Street tenants.

Susan Hegel from Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services said that she was here on behalf of her vacationing colleague, Ellen Shachter, who has been working with the Harding Street tenants throughout this process. She said that she is not here to discuss specific cases, but she had two points she wanted to make. She said that when Attorney Shachter first became involved in this situation, she reached out to the Cambridge Housing Authority and inquired about the possibility of having the CHA issue Section 8 vouchers to the tenants, to hopefully give them the opportunity to remain in their homes. She said that the CHA would be discussing this proposal at its next board meeting, and that this would hopefully help the Harding Street tenants. She said her other point was that it is important for the City and nonprofits to try to reach out to building owners, like the Martins, who had owned the Harding Street buildings, prior to the point at which they sell their buildings. She said that starting these conversations early, getting a sense of who does own all the buildings in the City and who may be looking to sell in the near future, could be an important way of holding on to a larger number of affordable units.

Denise Belloste of 43 Harding Street introduced herself as a lifelong Cambridge resident. She said that she was at this meeting to support Ms. Atkinson. She said she was concerned about her street, as several buildings there had been sold off to investors, and the neighborhood was losing many families and longtime residents. She was very sad about this, and that this is all about business. She said she understood why Mr. Martins had to sell his buildings, but she was sad that the tenants had not been notified that this was in the works.

Vice Mayor Benzan asked that a disruptive individual sitting in the gallery be removed from the chamber. Councillor Simmons advised the individual that if he did not refrain from being disruptive she would have him escorted from the room. She then asked if Tony Madan or his attorney would like to speak.

Attorney Jeffrey Turk stated that Mr. Madan and his sister agreed to attend this meeting in order to provide the committee with a better sense of who they are. He said that this is not a case where some faceless, absentee corporate landlord was coming in and taking over. He said that the Madans were local people, longtime residents of Cambridge and Somerville. He said that they are the children of immigrants. He said that they started from nothing and worked their way up to what they are now. He said that the Madans are committed to providing decent and safe housing. He said they purchased these thirteen apartments on June 15 and recognized that all the tenants were paying rents that were about 50 percent less than what the apartments are worth. He said that the property is in desperate need of renovations, and that the Madans are committed to doing that work. He said that they had to take out a large loan in order to have that renovation done. Attorney Turk said that the Madans have been willing to work with any tenants that have reached out to them for assistance, and they have been most cooperative. He said that the Madans are willing to cooperate with the CHA, they support the move to issue vouchers to the tenants, and they would be happy to accept these vouchers for a period of time. He also noted that the Madans have struck an agreement to pay one of the residents to take the trash bins out to the street, and that they should be applauded for keeping a local person employed in this manner. He said that the Madans were happy to answer any further questions at this meeting.

Councillor Simmons said that the Housing Committee members were aware of the CHA's proposal to consider issuing vouchers to the Harding Street tenants, and that they are very appreciative of this possible policy shift. She said the committee members were also very appreciative of all the individuals who had been working to make this policy shift happen. She said to the Madans that she was pleased to hear that they are willing to work with the CHA, but she was concerned that if the Madans set the rents too high, then the tenants wouldn't be able to stay even if they were issued vouchers. She asked whether the Madans might consider setting slightly lower rents, if need be, in order to make the math work with the vouchers. Councillor Simmons reminded the Madans that the City Council would very much like to work to make this happen, and the Housing Committee members very much want to allow these residents to remain a part of the Cambridge community. She reiterated that these units had been home to some of these tenants for a very long time. She asked Attorney Hegel if she happened to know what the value of a mobile voucher is.

Attorney Hegel said that her understanding is that a voucher for a two bedroom unit is $1,660, although it is a little unclear what bedroom size these particular units would be classified as. She said that a voucher for a three bedroom unit is $2,326, and this does not count the utility rates. She said that this is approximately double what the current tenants are paying. She said that there may be some flexibility to allow the tenants to pay a little more out of pocket, to make the voucher work, but that this eventually becomes untenable due to the other general expenses that tenants must pay, but would not be able to afford.

Mr. Madan said that he and his sister are sympathetic to the Harding Street tenants. He said that he understands we are talking about their homes, and that this isn't just an apartment, it is people's lives. He said that he and his sister grew up in California when their father went bankrupt, and the family had nothing. He said that they were destitute. He said that when he and his sister came here, they had to pick up the pieces and start all over. He said that they understand how it is. He said that he is on the board of the Cambridge Action Fund, and he donates to the homeless. He said that his family is sensitive to people's issues. He said that, at the same time, he has his limitations. He said the prior owner of Harding Street inherited the property from his parents, had no mortgage, and seemed content to receive whatever rent monies he received, without working to maintain the property. He said that the property was sold at an obscene Cambridge price, and in order to obtain a mortgage, Mr. Madan and his sister had to promise that they would be making a certain amount of profit by September 2016. He said if they did not meet this goal, they would risk defaulting on the mortgage, and this is not a position they can afford to be in. He said that he and his sister need to bring the property up to decent standards, and furthermore, they have no desire to own a property in disrepair. Mr. Madan said that every person that has approached him for assistance has been worked with, but if they do not email him, then he cannot work with them.

Councillor Simmons said if we take this meeting as a starting point of the conversation, where all parties seem willing to work together towards a positive resolution, then she is optimistic that such a resolution can be reached. She said she was heartened to see the Madans present and saying they're willing to work with the City. She said that she wanted to note that the City has begun taking preliminary steps toward conducting the kind of survey of building owners that was discussed earlier in the meeting, which she hopes will help stabilize situations like this one. She stated that Councillor Carlone would have to leave the meeting early due to a previous obligation, and she invited him to speak.

Councillor Carlone said that what is happening in Cambridge, in terms of the loss of affordable units, is something that is happening on a larger scale all over. He said that the members of the City Council regularly hear from people who wish rent control could be reinstated. He asked if Mr. Madan could clarify how many tenants remained in the units. Mr. Madan responded that, out of thirteen units, nine units still had tenants in place, and of those, about half of the units have had their situations worked out. Mr. Madan said that those tenants are being allowed to remain in place in leases that ranged from a few months to a year at a subsidized rent. He said that he is committed to giving people the time they need to ease their transition.

Councillor Carlone said that the stories he has heard from the tenants have clearly struck a chord with him and his colleagues on the Housing Committee. He asked if Mr. Madan needs to have his buildings vacated in order to do the necessary renovations. Mr. Madan replied in the affirmative, due to the extensive repairs that need to be made. He also confirmed that his financial analysis was premised upon having these units renovated, and that these units are intended to remain as rental units, and they will not be converted into condos. Councillor Carlone said that providing extra time to the tenants will be helpful, but that this committee is most interested in long term solutions. He stated that this committee has been exploring whether there are new policies the City could enact that would mandate a certain percentage of rehabilitated units be set aside as affordable, and that this is information that Mr. Madan should be aware of.

Councillor McGovern thanked Ms. Atkinson and Mr. McIntosh for their earlier comments. He said that he grew up in Cambridge as well, and that his children are fifth generation Cantabridgians. He said that his family lives in a house his great-grandfather purchased, and he has seen the city change dramatically in his lifetime, both in good ways and in bad ways. He said that these scenarios where affordable units are converted to market rate are bad changes. He noted that this is the kind of development that is truly hurting Cambridge, not the development where housing is built on a formerly empty lot, replacing nothing. He said that the City has lost over 4,000 affordable units since the loss of rent control. He said that his family owns eleven units that it rents out, and his family made the choice to charge rates below market. He said that they could charge market rate, which would help his personal financial situation, but that they made the choice not to because some things are more important than making money. He said that it's more important to make decisions that allow the community to remain intact. He said that he is glad that the Madans have indicated a willingness to make the transition easier on their tenants, but that what he really wants is to find a way that lets these tenants stay in their homes. He said that even with a housing voucher, these people will ultimately get pushed out of Cambridge, because the rates will be too high. He asked that the people at this meeting think creatively about ways to not just buy time for the Harding Street tenants, but to help them stay.

Councillor Simmons acknowledged that CHA Executive Director Greg Russ has joined the meeting, and she recapped the conversation for him. Councillor Simmons said that she would give Mr. Russ time to get his bearings while others had their turn to speak. She then invited Councillor Mazen to speak.

Councillor Mazen said that the members of the Housing Committee understand the financial situation and the constraints the Madans are bound to. He cautioned that people should not come to Cambridge and purchase a building with the intention purely of making a profit. He said that the concept of buying a below-market building and renovating it into luxury apartments is a false proposition. He said there has to be a middle ground. He said that this is not a safe bet, buying this type of property and taking out a mortgage in order to renovate it and ultimately make a profit, and people should not be making those kinds of speculative deals in Cambridge.

Vice Mayor Benzan asked for a show of hands from the tenants present to give a sense of how many of them are on fixed incomes. Those present indicated that they all are on fixed incomes. Councillor Simmons then asked if someone from the Community Development Department could discuss the income eligibility requirements for the City's inclusionary housing program. Linda Prosnitz stated that she brought some flyers with information about upcoming affordable housing sessions with her. She said that there has already been one Harding Street tenant that has applied for an inclusionary unit, and she would encourage the other tenants to apply as well.

Vice Mayor Benzan said that he was concerned because he was thinking about residents who may be seniors on a fixed income. These individuals may not be income-eligible for inclusionary units, and they may not qualify for emergency housing vouchers. He said that the City should reexamine its inclusionary zoning program, and exactly who qualifies for this program, or we will see many more situations like the Harding Street situation, which won't be easily resolved. He said that the city also needs a greater amount of affordable housing, which would provide a greater amount of flexibility in assisting those facing a housing crisis. He said that he would like to see a motion coming from this meeting that explores whether the City should be creating a transfer tax, and whether or not a home rule petition would be needed to allow that to happen. He also said that he would like the City to consider creating a tenant first refusal program.

Greg Russ said that he would be meeting with the CHA Board the next evening, and he would be recommending a change to the emergency housing voucher program. He said that this change was being driven by situations similar to what was being discussed at this meeting. He said that this change would be focused on, in certain situations, trying to allow eligible people to remain in their current units, provided that their landlords would be cooperative and willing to accept the vouchers. He said that this is just a step in addressing this issue, but that there is a bigger problem to consider. Mr. Russ suggested that a hypothetical Cambridge couple making $55,800 per year that devoted thirty percent of their income to housing would be paying $1,395 per month in rent, and he defied anyone to find a suitable unit in Cambridge (that is not a room in someone's house) in that price range for this hypothetical couple. He said the average two bedroom unit in Cambridge costs around $2,600 per month. The gap is substantial, and as long as it exists, Mr. Russ said that we will all be trying to play catch up with what the market is charging.

Mr. Russ said that the CHA Board is considering changes that would be allow the CHA to consider issuing emergency vouchers to applicants who do not meet their current criteria of no-fault evictions, but who do fall within the following circumstances: if they are not earning more than 80 percent AMI, if they've resided in Cambridge for at least one year, if they are faced with a rent increase of 25 percent or more and they have a shelter burden of 40 percent or more (including utilities). If all those circumstances are met and the building owner is willing, the CHA would enter into a voucher agreement to keep the residents in the unit they currently occupy, or in another unit that the owner has available elsewhere in Cambridge. This would allow some families that are impacted by a change in building ownership to have some opportunity to remain housed where they are. Mr. Russ said that this was a slightly revised version of a policy that the CHA had many years ago, which was known as a "finders keepers preference." He said he believed the CHA Board would approve of this policy change. He said that, in addition, the CHA is in the process of taking some names off the public housing waiting list, and the CHA hopes to reopen the Section 8 list later this year, hopefully before the end of December.

Cheryl-Ann Pizza-Zeoli thanked the CHA for considering this policy change, and she thanked the CHA for being so willing to adapt their policies to meet local conditions. She said that it would be economically feasible for the Madans to accept these CHA vouchers due to the small number of tenants that would be utilizing them. She said that, since the Madans have stated that they are able to negotiate higher rents in some of the other units, this seems like a reasonable compromise. She said people need to be willing to negotiate. She also noted that she resents the way that Mr. Madan had used the word "subsidy," since he has negotiated higher rents for people to remain in their units for a short length of time, and this is still a much higher rent than they were previously paying.

Elaine DeRosa stated that she wanted to circle back to Mr. Madan's statement about his willingness to work with the tenants, and she noted that many people at this meeting have stated their willingness to work with the Madans. She said that everyone was coming at this from a good-faith perspective, and she felt that it would generate a sense of goodwill if Mr. Madan were to rescind the eviction that was issued to Ms. Atkinson, and if he were to pledge to refrain from issuing other eviction notices during this process. She said this would be a good faith measure from Mr. Madan, and it would relieve much of the stress that the tenants were feeling.

Councillor Simmons stated that the fact that Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan were at this meeting was a good sign and it suggested they were open to working with the City. She said that the Housing Committee, the CEOC, the Affordable Housing Trust, and staffers from the Community Development Department were here and showing they are poised to work with the building owner, and that there is a great hope that the Madans would be willing to see if there are ways to allow the Harding Street tenants to remain in their homes on a longer term basis. She said that one of the great strengths of Cambridge is its diversity, not only in terms of culture and ethnicity but in terms of economic background. Councillor Simmons thanked the Madans for bringing everyone here together, in common cause, and she said that this process may actually result in a net positive for the City.

Vice Mayor Benzan said that he was thankful for the CHA working hard on behalf of those in need of affordable housing. He asked Mr. Russ if he could specify the highest amount that the CHA is able to contribute toward a one bedroom unit. Mr. Russ said that it would be $1,300 for an individual, and near $2,000 for a two-bedroom unit. He said that the CHA is willing to look at the amounts it can give. Vice Mayor Benzan then asked Mr. Madan if the CHA policy change is approved and if the Harding Street tenants were able to take advantage of this program, would the building renovations be able to take place without their having to vacate the buildings. Mr. Madan responded that, yes, the renovations could theoretically take place around the tenants, but that he had concerns over whether the property would currently meet CHA standards and minimal requirements. Mr. Madan said that he must bring these units up to a standard, and he needs to invest money in order to get them even to minimum standards.

Mr. Russ responded to these concerns by stating that the CHA would need to inspect the units and evaluate whether or not they meet CHA standards, and what amount of work they would need in order to be brought up to code. He said that he cannot speculate about the amount of work that might need to be done.

Councillor Simmons said that her understanding is that, regardless of whether or not the CHA was issuing vouchers, Mr. Madan would be seeking to renovate the property to bring it up to code and ensure that it is not a slum. Mr. Madan concurred that he had no desire to be considered a slum lord. Mr. Russ said that there are sources of funding, there are thirteen units that need repairs, and there is probably a sweet spot Mr. Madan needs to find in terms of where he wants to be after doing repairs. The question is whether he can do that with the economics of the vouchers in the building. If he cannot make that work, he would need to notify the CHA. Mr. Russ suggested that Mr. Madan inform the CHA what his rental income is, and then the CHA can work with him. He said he thinks the voucher rates are reasonable, and this could be attractive to a landlord since it is guaranteed, steady rent from the CHA, and the tenant only pays what they can afford. This makes the units slightly different, as they become a steady stream of income for the landlord every month. Mr. Russ said this takes some of the load off of what a landlord needs to contend with every month.

Councillor McGovern said that perhaps it is a difficult ask, but he urges that Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan strongly consider cooperating with this idea. He said that there are benefits to having reliable tenants, and it may mean that the landlords don't turn a profit for a year beyond what they expected, but they will eventually make their money. He said that their story mirrors that of his family's story in some ways. He said if their story is true, then they should be compelled to work with the tenants, and to work with the City. He said that he is ready and willing to work with Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan, and that he has been playing nice so far, but he is also willing to turn adversarial if need be. He said that, if this does turn adversarial, he wants the landlords to know that he is on the side of the tenants. He said he hopes it does not get to that point.

ORDERED: That the Housing Committee strongly urges the owner of 33-35 Harding Street 34-42 Harding Street to accept Section 8 vouchers obtained by qualified tenants to allow them to continue to reside in their homes long-term.

ORDERED: That the Housing Committee strongly urges the owner of 33-35 Harding Street and 34-42 Harding Street to rescind and refrain from issuing any eviction notices until such time as further discussions can take place to resolve these issues.

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the appropriate City staff to explore the feasibility of establishing a transfer tax via Home Rule petition.

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the appropriate City departments to explore the feasibility of establishing the Right of First Refusal.

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with the Community Development Department to expedite the conversation on applicability in the Inclusionary Housing program.

Councillor Simmons asked that, since the next City Council meeting is several weeks away, the essence of these motions be placed in writing and forwarded to all applicable parties, including Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan, the Community Development Department, the CEOC, and Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services. She said that she hopes that the Madans and the representatives from the Community Development Department and the CHA would continue to talk following the end of this meeting, and that she would like a letter to go out to these parties confirming what was discussed at this meeting, and the expectations for next steps going forward.

City Manager Richard C. Rossi encouraged Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan to talk with CDD staffers to see if there might be any ability for the City to invest affordable housing money into this project. He said this could be a worthwhile conversation, and the staff may have some creative ideas.

Councillor Simmons reiterated the offer that the City Manager's offer to Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan, and she also said the CHA is willing to work with them. She clarified that the Housing Committee and the City Council is not here to work against them, but that they are clearly working to assist the tenants. She said that these tenants represent the life blood of the community, there is clearly much passion in wanting to help them, and they are the City Council's priority.

Vice Mayor Benzan thanked Mr. Madan and Ms. Madan for coming to this meeting and staying in the heat. He said it is not easy for anyone to confront these issues that are challenging for the whole country. He also thanked the tenants for their courage in coming to this meeting, and he hoped that they understand the support they have from the City Council.

Councillor Simmons said that there will be a letter going out to confirm this meeting, there are motions that have been voted on, and one last item she wanted to discuss was whether Mr. Madan would be willing to rescind the eviction notice that was issued to Ms. Atkinson.

Mr. Madan said that with regard to the evictions, he cannot discuss any specific case, but that he and his attorney have been working with Attorney Susan Hegel and they are working to resolve this matter. Councillor Simmons said that any resolution that leads to Ms. Atkinson ending up on the sidewalk would not be acceptable. Attorney Jeffrey Turk said that he cannot discuss specifics. Councillor Simmons replied that the Housing Committee was looking for some assurance that this tenant would not be left homeless as the result of any resolutions to this situation. Attorney Turk said he was confident this case would be resolved this week.

Councillor Mazen said that the Housing Committee was looking for an immediate resolution, and that it was within Mr. Madan's discretion to say, here and now, whether he would rescind Ms. Atkinson's eviction notice. Attorney Turk responded that he and his clients are working with Ms. Atkinson's attorney. Councillor Mazen said that this response is entirely unsatisfactory. Councillor Simmons said that the committee members have been polite up to this point, but that politeness was being tested.

Attorney Turk stated that he and his clients have been working cooperatively and are happy to work with the Housing Committee. Councillor McGovern stated that he was glad to hear this, but that this is separate from the issue of Ms. Atkinson's eviction. He said that his understanding is that Ms. Atkinson was issued this eviction notice immediately after Mr. Madan learned she had organized a meeting of the Harding Street tenants. He said that this seemed like a case of retaliation. He asked if the Madans were now willing to rip this eviction notice up. Mr. Madan responded by stating that nothing is black and white. Councillor McGovern stated that his understanding is that Mr. Madan is not willing to rescind the eviction notice.

Mr. Madan stated that we have reached a point where the Housing Committee members are now all steamed and overreacting. Several committee members and members of the gallery immediately spoke up, prompting Councillor Simmons to demand order. Mr. Madan stated that he has been working with Attorney Susan Hegel and he believes that they are very close to a resolution of Ms. Atkinson's situation. He asked whether anyone here has bothered to ask Attorney Hegel whether she could disclose where she was in discussions with Mr. Madan regarding Ms. Atkinson's eviction. Attorney Hegel requested a moment to confer with Ms. Atkinson. Councillor Simmons called for a two minute recess in order to provide time for this consultation. The meeting recessed at 7 pm, and resumed at 7:02 pm. Attorney Hegel stated that she and Ms. Atkinson discussed this matter and determined that they would prefer not to discuss this matter on the record.

Councillor Simmons thanked Attorney Hegel. She reiterated that it would be a show of good faith for Mr. Madan to rescind the eviction issued to Ms. Atkinson. She said that Mr. Madan had told a very heart wrenching story about his beginnings. She said she looks at Ms. Atkinson and she sees her own mother, and she hopes that Mr. Madan does as well. She said that she hopes when Mr. Madan sees this woman, he asks himself if he would want to see her out on the street. She said that rescinding this eviction would certainly buy him some good faith. In any case, whatever action Mr. Madan chooses, the Housing Committee is watching him closely.