News & Articles

Against eviction moratorium

Across the state, understandably, people have become deeply concerned about the recent ICE actions in Minnesota.  On a local level, residents have called on the city council to do something to “protect the public.”  Several city councilors have promised to bring forward a proposal in the coming weeks, vowing to take up the full list of demands speakers have advanced.  The recent article in the Duluth News Tribune, January 31, 2026 article “Council mulls ICE response,” has the details. Many of the suggestions would be helpful.

There is one “demand” that brings me great concern and that is ...”a moratorium on evictions...” I do not believe that an eviction moratorium would actually help anyone and it could hurt many tenants in the long run. “Eviction moratorium” sounds like a good thing because it touches our emotions. I will share with you why I do not believe it would be a good thing.  I am biased because I provide housing to people in Duluth and I collect rent for that housing.  I also have first hand experience because I was part of the COVID eviction moratorium, was not paid rent during that time by an individual and used the COVID funds to help offset some of my lost rent.  Hopefully concerned citizens and the council will not use emotion or what I say to inform them, but will do a full search on the pros and cons from the data on the recent COVID eviction moratorium, so they can more fully understand the potential long term consequences of including such an action.  Here are my thoughts.

Why an eviction moratorium should NOT be a part of Duluth’s proposal
1. Evictions happen primarily because of non-payment of rent. An eviction moratorium is an invitation to not pay rent. If rent is not paid, owners cannot pay property tax, insurance, utilities, mortgages, and make needed repairs. Duluth weighed in clearly with the last vote that we want properties to be repaired. Not having “paid rent” makes this a financial impossibility for owners of rentals and ultimately hurts tenants and neighbors.

2. There is currently no “COVID” financing, as in the previous eviction moratorium. Would the council also propose a plan to pay owners for non-payment of rent? I have no idea where that money would come from, so most likely not. As a side note- COVID rent payments were complicated and any new payments would require new rules so fraud would be less likely to happen.

3. Approximately half of Duluth rentals are owned by private individuals, also known as “Mom and Pops.” If these folks suffer a financial hardship such as not getting rent, then selling is always a strong option. With Duluth currently being a sellers market, this would be a really attractive time for Mom and Pops to sell. When a rental sells, it will sell for today’s current top dollar.  That means the new mortgage, at today’s higher interest rate, will lead to increased rents because the base expense for the new owner will be higher. Duluth might get flooded with rental sales, and as a result, understandable rent increases.  This would hurt all tenants in the long run.

There are many more reasons I could include, but I think 3 is enough for you to chew on from me. Thank you for your time in considering my experience and thank you for reading. Don’t take my word, but do be informed and don’t let emotion drive policy.
Barbara Montee
Duluth housing provider for more than 30 years

And wouldn’t it enrage the idiot in the White House

Congratulations to the City of Minneapolis for being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Due to the unnecessary hell that they have had to go through in the last couple months, they truly deserve this international honor. The courage, strength, resilience, kindness, compassion, resourcefulness, grit and love the folks in Minneapolis have shown each other is inspiring to all of humanity. The Nation Magazine nominated the city and had also said the prize could be given to the State of Minnesota. I am glad they didn’t include the whole state because of the deep political division between many of us. If there are those who still support the creepy racist, liar, felon, fraudster, bully, narcissist, pedophile who sits in the White House, they should hang their heads in shame and reflect on why their hearts are so hateful. After that, they can apologize and then help us all build a better humane nation, one based on loving your neighbor no matter whether they look, worship, or speak like you or not.
Barb Tacyshyn-Roth
Moose Lake

Thirteen Minutes to 3

It is thirteen minutes before 3 a.m.
I awaken from dreams as usual
A wind blowing outside, with a whistle
I wonder if it is melting or freezing the snow
I look at my companion, my iPhone, the weather
Then a news flash pops on the screen
Dreadful things going on five hours from here South
Or various spots across the country
All this, these days, makes one weary
Reminding how we must be vigilant
How we must remember the distant past
Or centuries past, the brutality of life
Mankind’s cruelty surfaces yet again
We have choices on how to proceed
Do we join in, do we decide to hate this time
Or will we forgo such and take the high road
TV reminds us, -old stories, people on the run
Men in uniforms with guns who’ve forgotten
Having left all at home each morning with their loved ones
Going out with expressionless faces and desire to damage
How will I respond these days, I alone
Shall I stand for freedom or quiver behind a door
Will I face up and declare what is right on a sign
Will I love, or hate the oppressors
In the early hours, as I have awakened in words
Thoughts churn, the terror of year’s past or now
How it shall go this time for the great numbers
I hear the wind’s force hit the windows
Cecilia Rolando
Ely, Minnesota