Last month, Pillow Talk looked at personal investment in advocacy: participating in AATC PAC events (golf tournaments and Pickle Ball), Business Exchange (NAA PAC), and donating to AATC PAC, TAA PAC, and NAA PAC. This month, we continue the personal aspect of advocacy by exploring hosting a fundraiser for a candidate/elected official: hosts raise the most.
Have you ever hosted an event in your home? A family gathering, birthday party, or dinner with friends? Hosting a fundraiser for an elected official or candidate is similar but better. Frantic cleaning aside, opening your home, apartment community, or personal venue to an elected official strengthens the relationship between them, you, and AATC.
AATC Past-President Anthony Wonderly and his wife Angela recently hosted a fundraiser for Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker at Colonial Country Club. This event raised more than $25,000 for Mayor Parker. Long-time AATC members Hugh and Susan Cobb annually host a fundraiser in their home for State Senator Kelly Hancock (R- SD 9).
AATC and TAA work closely with elected officials’ campaigns and staff to ensure these events comply with political campaign rules and regulations. The best part is that these personalized events tend to be more relaxed and raise significant funds beyond AATC PAC funds for elected officials.
Advocacy tip: Consider hosting an event for your elected officials. AATC will handle the invitations, catering, and event details. Just let Perry Pillow (ppillow@aatcnet.org) know, and AATC will make you the host with the most!
REP. GRANGER MEETING – END CARES ACT 30-DAY NTV – On August 23, AATC members Sarah Turner, Nicole Zaitoon, and Jim Floyd, along with AATC Director of Government Affairs Perry Pillow, met with long-time AATC friend and U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R – TX 12) to discuss ending the CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate. AATC asked Granger to include language in the upcoming federal appropriations legislation to abolish the CARES Act 30-day Notice to Vacate provision. This potential repeal will impact rental housing owners throughout the United States.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE AATC PAC – AATC’s advocacy efforts depend on all our members doing their part to support candidates that align with AATC’s interests financially. Please contribute to the AATC PAC by clicking on the following link: https://form.jotform.com/220464310148143.
BEDFORD INSPECTIONS MEETING–On Wednesday, August 16, AATC hosted a meeting with Bedford city officials to discuss the excess enforcement of non-life/safety inspection requirements. AATC successfully litigated against onerous inspection fees in the City of Bedford. Until recently, Bedford officials adhered to the letter and spirit of the lawsuit settlement. Special thanks to American Landmark, Devonshire, and Unity Partners for bringing this issue to the forefront.
BUSINESS EXCHANGE – NAA PAC FUNDRAISER – RECORD $96,650 – Big thanks to the 240 owner/operators and 283 supplier partners that participated in the 2023 AATC Business Exchange presented by Perma-Pier. This year’s event raised a record $96,650 for NAA PAC! These funds help to fight onerous federal legislation like the CARES Act mandatory 30-day Notice to Vacate. Special thanks to Business Exchange Committee Chair T Jaye Cupit-Sanders (Madera), Christine Moreno with Perma-Pier, the Business Exchange Committee, Mindy Barnes with AATC, and Robert Johnson and Jodi Applewhite with NAA for making this event a huge success!
SAGINAW ONEROUS $125 PER UNIT FEE – AATC members and staff are actively engaged in repealing an extremely onerous $125 per unit per year registration and inspection fee in the City of Saginaw. Under Saginaw’s ordinance, a 200-unit property would pay $25,000 to the city. According to city records, this fee generates more than $230,000 in revenue for the city. Saginaw is using revenues from the apartment properties to subsidize the city’s entire building inspection department—special thanks to Teresa Alvarado with Cushman-Wakefield for bringing the Saginaw overreach to our attention.
Perry Pillow is AATC’s Director of Government Affairs. For more information, contact Perry at ppillow@aatcnet.org or call 817-701-6353
