I'm happy the City Council has finally recognized the problem with unregulated condo conversions ("Council: All displaced renters must be told of aid," Oct, 7).

It's too bad that the council has only belatedly started to act on this issue, after a slew of conversions have already evicted hundreds of renters, many without without due process, and pushed the vacancy rate so low that it's almost impossible to find affordable housing in the city. In particular, some members of the council, notably Jean Godden, have been very reluctant to do anything to help moderate and lower income people stay in the city. It might have to do with the contributors to Godden's huge campaign coffers (now at over $200,000) from many of the major developers in Seattle, such as Vulcan Corporation, Martin Selig, and others.

There is a chance to change the situation this November with new candidates for City Council. Joe Szwaja (who is running against Godden) is promising to reverse the "anti-liveable Seattle" trend. Szwaja is also criticizing the tendency of Godden to unconditionally support the mayor in giveaways to developers, such as the South Lake Union trolley, which will use up most of the future transportation improvement funds that were slated to give Ballard better bus service.

Claude Ginsburg

Ballard