News from Seattle Solidarity Network http://www.seattlesolidarity.net Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:32:14 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/images/M_images/mini-logo.jpg http://www.seattlesolidarity.net News from Seattle Solidarity Network http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63 After thirteen months of aggressive actions, we have finally won our fight against developer Lorig Associates (http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42). The have granted our "final offer" demands, dropping their lawsuit against us and paying fired secretary Patricia $22,000 in back-pay compensation (though they won't call it that). This fight has been longer and harder than any of us ever imagined it would be. The company brought in a major nationwide union-busting law firm to try and crush us with lawsuits against both our organization and three individual brothers and sisters: Emily, Andrew, and Patricia. They tried to get an injunction banning us from picketing, on pain of arrest. They promised they would never give in to our demands. Still we stood our ground and managed to keep up a never-ending series of aggressive actions against the company. We repeatedly picketed many of Lorig's for-rent and for-sale properties. We continually posted "Don't Rent Here" flyers. We brought our message to Lorig-sponsored "open house" events, industry events, and even charity events. We picketed and addressed three different city councils who were considering hiring Lorig for city developments. We contacted the owner's neighbors. We brought Lorig's troubles to the attention of their financial backers at Bank of America.... News - Recent Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:05:37 +0100 http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62 Alejandro moved in to one of Victor Venavides' "Delridge Cottages" in West Seattle last year with his cousin. The place was rundown, had rats, and Venavides repeatedly ignored several requests for repairs, including a shower that went unfixed and unusable for 25 days and a stove Alejandro had pay to have repaired himself. When Alejandro's cousin decided to move out, Venavides told Alejandro that he was expected to pay an additional $500 security deposit. Alejandro said he didn't understand why he had to pay it, given the fact that his cousin had still never had his deposit returned and the place had not been cleaned- but Venavides insisted. At the same time Alejandro was having to scrape together money to pay the additional deposit in increments as well as his monthly rent, Venavides started upping the rent. In less than a year Alejandro's rent increased over $200 per month. Weary of Venavides' bullying, Alejandro finally moved out at the end of November 2009, thinking he'd never have to hear from Venavides again. What Alejandro didn't know at that time was that it is actually only after his tenants move out that Venavides really goes after them. Venavides quickly filed a... News - Recent Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:18:00 +0100 http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61 Three months of offers and counter-offers between developer Lorig Associates and SeaSol seem to be ending in failure. The sticking point: Lorig's insistence on a permanent license to engage in predatory and/or racist behavior against workers, tenants, and communities in the future, without ever facing any form of criticism from SeaSol. Gaining this extreme form of protection is apparently very important to Lorig - so much so that Chief Operating Officer Tom Fitzsimmons (who you may remember from our last face-to-face Lorig negotiation (http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47)) has been personally calling ex-receptionist Patricia at her home and dangling the prospect of thousands of dollars in compensation in front of her ("We have the papers drawn up and the check ready for you!"), if only SeaSol will sign their permanent, blanket gag agreement. Our answer: never. Unlike Tom Fitzsimmons, we have integrity and basic principles to uphold. SeaSol has never granted any employer or landlord a blanket protection to carry out unjust practices in the future without fear of repercussion. If Lorig is unwilling to come to a reasonable agreement, we must be prepared to carry on and step up our efforts at pushing individuals and institutions to cease doing business with this company. If necessary,... News - Recent Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:05:53 +0100 http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60 This fight (http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59) against Nelson Properties is now over! For the past five weeks we have postered every week around Nelson's properties warning potential renters about the company. We also began a tenants' rights investigation at their buildings, delivered letters to the owner's neighbors informing them that there was a slumlord in their midst, and held two small pickets in front of Nelson's offices to warn potential tenants not to do business with them. Last Thursday we found out that property management boss Lisza Darling's reign of terror is over -- she is no longer an employee of Nelson Properties. Then this Monday, June 21, Maria received her $500 deposit plus a letter agreeing that all issues from her tenancy (i.e. bogus bills) are now settled! Let's celebrate -- come to High Point Park at 6pm this Sunday (6/27/2010) for a victory potluck! News - Recent Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:21:11 +0100 http://www.seattlesolidarity.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59 We are supporting Maria as she tells her ex-landlord to give her back her stolen deposit and to stop harassing her with bogus bills. News - Recent Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:51:35 +0100