The Cap Times' new city beat reporter has a blog post about a letter several local officials wrote to Gov. Walker about a proposed bill to override all local landlord-tenant ordinances. This is a terrible bill for the Northside, and for all of Madison.
Right now, Madison renters enjoy the toughest protections in Wisconsin. They didn't just materialize out of nowhere, but were specific responses to specific problems in our community. (I should know, I've rented from two of the most notorious student landlords downtown.)
Check-in forms. Adequate locks. Photo evidence to support security deposit deductions. These might seem like no-brainers to us, but to the bill's sponsors they're onerous regulations on struggling small businesses. Legislators and business advocates admit this is an anti-Madison bill.
The letter talks about the bill's expansive new background check provisions having a disparate impact on minority groups. This portion of the bill goes well beyond current law, even outside of Madison. I expect that, if it passes, there will be a swift court challenge on those grounds.
But the bill shouldn't pass in the first place.
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