CEO Update - Our Eyes and Ears

You're Our Eyes and Ears.

Texas has a unique and frankly admired State Legislative process over many other states. Our Legislators meet every other year and, for the most part, for only four months. This year, we saw some extensions, but that was due to the desire of many politicians to return excess taxes back to the citizens. What a breath of fresh air to see a legislative body recognizing that the citizens are who they serve. A big thank you goes out to our friends at the Texas Apartment Association, who did a fantastic job this last legislative cycle.

But just because our State Legislators are done doesn’t mean our fight is over. We are still battling issues at the Federal and Local levels. Fortunately, our affiliation with the National Apartment Association ensures that we are battling the constant attack from the Federal level.

AATC fights local issues, and much like the Federal process, these attacks come in many forms throughout the year. We are currently addressing two significant issues: Bedford’s inspection process and inspection fees in Saginaw. Our own beloved Perry Pillow is working on both issues, but we were not made aware of these issues until they were brought to our attention by our members—which is the primary focus of this article.

The staff at AATC is constantly looking at City Council meeting agendas and talking with Mayors and Department Directors, but we can’t see everything. You are a big part of our eyes and ears when it comes to notifying us of local changes that impact your business. I want to encourage everyone to let us know when you experience a new process, imposed fee, or requirement outside your daily expectations. Reach out to us, let us know your concerns, and we will investigate the issue and determine the best course of action. 

Remember, we are here to serve you. 

-Kevin Pellegrino, CEO, AATC

Kevin Pellegrino is AATC's CEO, for more information, contact Kevin at kevin@aatcnet.org