Syracuse Sun

A new documentary film, "Raise the Roof: Building Tenant Power in Syracuse," directed by Maxwell School sociologist Gretchen Purser, premiered recently at Salt City Market in Syracuse. The film, lasting 53 minutes, highlights the efforts and activism of the Syracuse Tenants Union (STU), a grassroots organization focused on tenants' rights and legislative reform.

Purser collaborated with Franklin Thompson from August Fifth Productions on this project. "The film seeks to reveal how, due to the imbalance of power with their landlords, tenants can make few changes as individuals, sometimes face retaliation for reporting code violations, and often wind up stuck due to the cost of relocation and rent," said Purser. She emphasized that collective tenant organizing could challenge these power imbalances.

The documentary is part of a three-year research project funded by a $350,000 grant from the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders program under the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This program supports collaborative action-oriented scholarship with community partners.

The research team included Jamila Michener from Cornell University and Palmer Harvey from STU. They conducted focus groups throughout Syracuse to gather insights into tenants' experiences and introduce them to tenant organizing as a strategy for community health improvement.

Shana Kushner Gadarian commented on the significance of this work: "This is a great example of using social science research to have a real-world impact in our local community."

Filming started in October 2023 across various locations in Syracuse. Interviews featured union organizers, tenants, city officials, and Michener discussing issues such as mold infestation, lead poisoning, structural problems, eviction threats, sexual harassment, and predatory rental practices.

Proposals highlighted during the screening included Good Cause Eviction legislation aimed at capping rent increases and limiting evictions to specific cases. Other ideas included updating rental registries and enhancing code enforcement systems.

Jocelyn Richards from STU expressed hope that the documentary would inspire viewers: "This documentary reveals that nearly every tenant in Syracuse is encountering or has encountered similar issues: we’re not alone."

Further screenings are planned for 2025 at venues including Maxwell School. The documentary will also be made available online through STU's website.

Gretchen Purser holds several roles within academia focusing on urban housing struggles and poverty management policies in the U.S., having published numerous articles on related topics.