The Office of the Tenant Advocate’s Director Ms. Johanna Shreve and the agency’s Legislative Director Joel Cohn testified before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs on Bill 17-778*, the “Rent Control Protection Amendment Act of 2008.”

The hearing was chaired by Councilmember Marion Barry of Ward 8. Also present were Councilmembers Mary Cheh of Ward 3 and Jim Graham of Ward 1.  

The “Rent Control Protection Amendment Act of 2008,” which was drafted by an OTA working group, would restrict the use of the Voluntary Agreement to it original purpose, which was to allow tenants and landlords to agree to a rent increase to address building conditions.  OTA Director Johanna Shreve and Legislative Director Joel Cohn testified to the history and purposes of that provision.

The complete hearing and testimony of the OTA staff can be seen on Channel 13 “Video on Demand**”.

 Also Legislative Director Joel Cohn was interviewed by Georgetown University reporter Dawn Hu for the campus newspaper “The Hoya” on the Rent Control Protection Act.