MG:
While I understand the need to be fiscally responsible from a budgetary standpoint on issues such as rental property licensing/inspections, I also, on the other hand, understand how easy it is to build a case for doing so with quantifiable statistics, such as what you've done.
However, the impact of (the City) not requiring a "provisional" rental licensed property to undergo an inspection within a finite period of time has both large financial and quality of life implications on many of the Citys' poorest neighborhoods.
In the early to mid-90's, during the time when "white-flight" occurred in North Minneapolis, property values tumbled. Suburban investors with a few dollars in their pockets and a desire to improve both their net worth and cashflow came into neighborhoods such as Jordan and bought-up single family residents as investments.
A good case study for this type of activity would be 3007 Irving Av N. The property was sold by Hud in 1997 for I believe, $37,000. From 1997 through 2003, the investor NEVER had a City inspector on the premises, rented it out the entire time at a profit, and was able to leverage it for an additional $63,000 in liquidity, which was used to purchase additional "investments" on the northside. Further investigation would reveal that for a majority of that period, it was rented w/o having a rental license. It was recently sold (again to an outside, multi-unit investor) and now at least has a "provisional" license. This "outide investor" bought and sold roughly two dozen properties in my neighborhood over this 10-year period. The majority of which were not operated legally, or in compliance with city ordinances. He is one of many still operating on the northside.
But wait a minute you say. If it (3007 Irving) was recently sold, a "truth in housing" inspection was performed, requiring the new owner to at least correct the defects prior to renting it out, yet again. I haven't checked, but I would be willing to bet (giving you very attractive odds) that is not the case. I an aware of instances where properties were bought with truth in housing inspections performed that required permits to be pulled, and subsequently resold (a chargeable offense I believe), without ever having the required work done. There's no procedure in place to catch these infractions.
As a city, we do a disservice to our taxpaying residents by not revamping the inspections dept, and closing more of these loopholes. I don't fault the actual inspectors, they're doing the best they can with what they have. I do however, question the wisdom (of the City) for continuing to pump monies such as NRP dollars into neighborhoods the benefits of which, are being realized dissproportinately by outside investors.
There are large social implicactions that affect this activity and allow it continue. I, as a white, middle-class, taxpaying male, even though I live in Jordan, only remotely understand. I will however(not very well I'm sure), try to explain them.
While sitting w/ Don Samuels last nite, the final nite of his vigil, we were visited (for the second time this week) by a middle-aged African american male that came to chat. He had many things to say regarding our neighborhood. Most of which, Don had to interpret and explain to me afterthe resident left.
While he visited, I asked this man if he intended to participate in our "citizen patrols". His answer - in his forty-some-odd years, he had seen many such actions come down the pike. Concern by those that really don't have a clue as to what the lives of the majority of the residents in Jordan - lower-income African Americans, is like. While he seemed interested in what we were doing, he communicated to us that he was going to wait a little longer to see how things unfolded, before he became involved.
Having lived a life that's been relatively free of social discrimmination, I was, understandably, full of contempt for the visitors' lack of desire to become involved. It was only AFTER hearing that he had served his "country" during the Vietnam Conflict", been involved with the social uprising in the south in the late 60's and was still faced with large social injustice issues, that I began to understand his position.
How does this relate to the inspections issue? The majority of our renters in Jordan are in fact, African Americans. Our society has set-up a rental inspections system that relies heavily on citizen participation. In the more affluent neighborhoods, where the residents are used to seeing results (socially) to their involvement, things work well. In the more impoverished neighborhoods, such as Jordan, where the majority of the residents STILL feel disenfranchised, it does NOT.
Continuing on, I have nothing but the utmost respect for Don Samuels and the position he's taken on the issue of livabilty in our neighborhood. I also have the utmost fear for him. He's done the right, but tough thing politcally. He's drawn attention to part of an issue that's been plaguing our society for more than 200 years, yet we as a society have continued to attempt to solve it in an inappropriate manner.
There is very little upside for Don on this issue, for in three months' time, many in power WILL have taken pot shots on his stance. It's the easy thing to do. WE GAVE you 12 troopers, yet you still have problems? Indeed, you didn't have the answers, did you Don? When in fact, Don, nor the neighborhood were heard. This is how we solve problems.
I am amazed by the lack of understanding on the issue, and the lack of trust by others in power to defer to someone that might have a better answer. I listened (at Don's press conference on Wednesday) as one visiting politician suggested that the real issue was related to parenting. It all started in the "home". For 200 years, we've ripped apart African American culture and society, yet our answer to the problems within thier society is to expect them to act "more like us".
In a single moment, a simple tornado causes mass property destruction to a small mostly "lilly-white" town in rural Minnesota, and we (as a society) all understand the need to run to their assistance, financially and spiritually. We demoralize, humiliate, and dehumanize an entire culture for better than 200 years and we expect to "solve" the problem by lending them 12 state troopers. We don't have the answers, maybe we should at least be receptive to those that might.
Dennis Plante Jordan
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