Lawmakers urge court to protect renters, owners

WEST CHESTER » Several Chester County lawmakers, accompanied by many House and Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court urging an order to halt evictions and foreclosures for 90 days after a county is moved from the “red” to the “yellow” phase by Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration.

Currently, an executive order from the governor extends a stay on foreclosures and evictions through July 10.

Calling for the measure are Sen. Katie Muth, D-44th, of Royersford, Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th, of West Whiteland, state Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten, D-155th, of West Whiteland, and Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D157th, of Schuylkill.

“I deeply appreciate and value the moratorium on all foreclosures and evictions for the next two months, but individuals who will be living in ‘red zones’ beyond then shouldn’t have to worry about keeping a roof over their heads during a global pandemic,” Shusterman said. “Supporting families and small businesses during this crisis also includes ensuring their stability once we rid Pennsylvania of COVID-19. This virus has taken a lot from us and Pennsylvanians have undoubtedly sacrificed so much so we can flatten our curve. The fear of homelessness should not be a consequence of all the progress we’ve made.”

With the support of many other lawmakers in both legislative chambers, the letter highlights a shared concern that COVID-19 could continue to cause serious challenges for many Pennsylvanians whose counties were among the first to shut down and will remain in the red phase for a longer period of time. The order would cover commercial properties also to protect against businesses closing due to the inability to afford their spaces during the public health emergency.