Last November, voters in Tacoma, Washington, approved Initiative 1, a ballot measure that established significant protections for the city’s renters. Also known as the “Tenant Bill of Rights,” among other things the measure requires landlords to provide tenants with rental relocation assistance in the event of large rent hikes, and prohibits evictions during the cold winter months and evictions of students, teachers, and their families during the school year.

The campaign for the Tenant Bill of Rights was spearheaded by the Tacoma chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), in coalition with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 367 and other groups. Jacobin contributor Sara Wexler spoke with two lead organizers about the effort, including the coalition behind it and how they overcame a well-funded opposition campaign by the landlord lobby.