While stats may be massaged to reflect what is desired, I find the dilemma facing my neighborhood to be particularly defined by the following - Jordan is roughly 50% rental property (at least those that are legally licensed). There are roughly 1000 residential dwellings in Jordan. Of this total, 380 (Strib stats) are licensed, but uninspected. Summing it up, 38% of residential property in Jordan is rental property that has NOT received an inspection (by the City) to determine if it is inhabitable.
In my opinion, this begs the questions - If the property is in compliance, why HASN'T the owner requested an inspection? Also, if it's agreed that we're dealing mostly with economically disadvantaged renters, what type of message are we (as a society) sending to them, that we care so little about their living conditions that we don't even require their landlords to maintain their properties? Further, whereas many of these properties receive rental subsidy (tax dollars from you and I) we should be further outraged that we're not getting what we're paying for.
For those readers living in more affluent neighborhoods where a renter is much more likely to report unsafe living conditions, be aware that it doesn't happen with the same frequency in the economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. To continue to allow rental properties to be licensed on the "honor system" is a dis-service to everyone. Both the renters AND the taxpayers.
Dennis Plante Jordan
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