1. LOWER THE RENT:

WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO RENT INCREASES. WE DEMAND A LOWERING OF RENTS TO PREVENT FURTHER DISPLACEMENT OF WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES. WE DEMAND RENT CONTROLS. WE DEMAND RENTS BE PREVENTED FROM REACHING OUTRAGEOUS HEIGHTS AGAIN.

2. NO EVICTIONS:

WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE EVICTIONS FREEZE. THE INTERSECTING CRISES OF HOUSELESSNESS, CLIMATE CHANGE, PANDEMICS, AND POLICING ARE MAKING OVERCROWDED SHELTERS AND SLEEPING OUTSIDE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. IN THE MIDST OF THESE CRISES NO ONE SHOULD BE EVICTED BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY THE UNAFFORDABLE RENT INCREASES PUSHED DOWN OUR THROATS SINCE 2020.

3.  NO UNNECESSARY TAX HIKES THAT HURT THE WORKING CLASS:

MAYOR SMILEY’S PROPOSED TAX HIKES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY HURT WORKING CLASS RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS. WITH SKYROCKETING RENTS AND TRUMP’S TARIFFS, WE ARE ALREADY PAYING TOO MUCH TO LOVE. WE DEMAND THAT THE RICH PAY, NOT US. IT’S TIME FOR BROWN UNIVERSITY, BROWN HEALTH, AND OTHER WEALTHY INSTITUTIONS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

4. NO RENT FOR SLUMLORDS:

WE DEMAND LEGAL IMMUNITY FOR TENANTS WHO WITHHOLD THEIR RENT FROM NEGLIGENT SLUM LANDLORDS. WHILE RECENT LEGISLATION NOW ALLOWS TENANTS TO WITHHOLD RENT ON THE BASIS OF A MISSING LEAD CERTIFICATE, THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM. LANDLORDS SHOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM COLLECTING RENT WHEN THERE ARE UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS OF ANY NATURE, AND PROHIBITED FROM RETALIATING AGAINST TENANTS WHO WITHHOLD RENT.

5.  JUSTICE FOR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS:

WE DEMAND AN END TO THE EVICTION AND CRIMINALIZATION OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE. ONGOING ENCAMPMENT RAIDS AND POLICE HARRASSMENT ARE ILLEGAL VIOLATIONS OF THE HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS. WE DEMAND IMMEDIATE AID FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS INCLUDING MORE RAPIDLY DEPLOYABLE PALLET SHELTERS, 24-HOUR REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO STREET LIVING OR EXTREME WEATHER, AND AN IMMEDIATE AUDIT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS AT ALL EXISTING EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

6. FUND THE PEOPLE, NOT THE POLICE:

FUNDING FOR THE PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES UP A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE CITY’S BUDGET WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO HARASS WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR BLACK, BROWN, IMMIGRANT, AND UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. MEANWHILE, VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES ARE STARVED FOR RESOURCES. IT’S TIME TO REALLOCATE THAT FUNDING AND POWER TO THE PEOPLE. WE ALSO STAND FIRMLY AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANY NEW COP CITIES, LIKE THE ONE BEING PROPOSED IN JOHNSTON, RI.

7. AIRBNB OUT OF PROVIDENCE:

SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE HURTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, DRIVING UP RENT AND MAKING AN EASY BUCK FOR SLUMLORDS. SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPANIES FILL BUILDINGS WITH TRANSIENT TOURISTS WHO HAVE NO INTEREST IN LONG-TERM LIVING CONDITIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION, OR TENANT SOLIDARITY, MAKING IT EVEN HARDER TO FIGHT BACK.

8. PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

WHILE IMMEDIATE AID IS NEEDED, EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE ARE NOT A LASTING SOLUTION. WITHOUT DRASTIC ACTION, MANY TENANTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED NOW WILL BE FORCED TO THE STREET IN COMING YEARS. WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE SEIZURE OF VACANT BUILDINGS AND LAND BY EMINENT DOMAIN TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP PUBLICLY OWNED AND RENT CONTROLLED HOUSING DEMOCRATICALLY GOVERNED BY RESIDENTS THEMSELVES.