The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-11-18
RENT CONTROLS
EXTENDED, ACTION
OF CITY COUNCIL

tNC1iJ CO1lLlOl AOl CuliCtld WAC W
tended to June 80, 1851 by action
of the City Council in regular SEES
sion here last night. Juneau is the
second Alaskan city to pass a rent
control extension resolution. Pet
ersburg was first.
There were 1870 signatures on pet
itions, several letters from indi-
yiduals and organizations and a
full house of interested persons at
the meeting urping the action
Dorothy c. Farrell, rent examiner
inspector from the office of the
housing eXpediter in Juneau was
present to answer questions and
clarity issues.
Letters supporting continued rent
controls were read from Roy H.
Stewart of the Veterans Admin
istration, the executive board of
the NaC-onal Federation of FEEDER
al employees, Lillian Uggen, Mrs.
A. w. Bolay and Erma E. Wainner.
Mrs. Farrell explained how rental
fees could be adjusted under the
present law.
Landlords Side
Harold F'oss presented the land
lords side of the question although
he stated that he did not oppose
rent control until such time that
sufficient rental housing was avail
able re pointed out that when the
rent freeze was put into effect that
juneau was in slump while An
chorage was enjoying boom and
that Juneau was caught short
Building costs have increased 25O
percent, ross said, while rent con-
trol does not allew fer interest on
money invested in housing. This
has seriously discouraged building
in Juneau compared with Anchor
age and other towns.
John Klein also presented the
landlord view of rent controls re-
ferring to the troubles encount-
cred in evicting undesirable ten
ants once they get in an apart
ment.
Tenant Evictions
Mrs. Farrell explained conditions
under which tenants could be re-
moved.
A representative of the VFW
spoke for continued controls
Cledamae Cammock Of the Alaska
Terri rial Federation of Labor
went on record as favoring con-
tinued controls.
Klein countered that salaries OF
labor had doubled while the line
in rents had been held.
T. B. Erickson of CLIO reminded
the council of the Importance OF
controls to protect federal and ter
ritorial employees whose salaries
were frozen and furnished the
main payroll for Juneau.
Mrs. Mildred Hermann received
a round OF applause following the
presentation of her case as both
a member of the rent advisory
board and a landlord. She stressed
the fine work done by the Alaska
office which had been both fail
and rapid and feared that removal
of controls would result in apart
ments going to the highest bidder
thereby working a hardship OF
many people.
There was a time when Juneau
apartment houses were not filled
she said, nov they are full. AT
present there are 1888 dwelling
units in Juneau and 1926 cases OF
adjustments have been made in the
past year."
Councilman George Jorgenson re-
marked that the evidence presented
showed a demand for extension
of controls. Councilman Bert Mo
Dowell moved that the City At
torney prepare a resolution 1oi
the extension. Councilman Al Zen
ger, ST., seconded the MOTION ano
it was passed without a dissenting
vote.
Telephone Rate Issue
The matter Of a hearing Tor the
increase in telephone rates was
discussed. City Accountant D. y
Ehrendreich suggested that while
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