What Shane Price once called the "Gang of Good People", is still trying to solve problems in the hood. I think it will be necessary to discuss negative name-calling as a tactic chosen; just as confronting drug sellers is a tactic. Language carries a load and "slumlord" is a too wide, shotgun load. Although sincere people may use the term; it is most likely offered by such people when they are under huge pressure. By pressure, I mean being in the crucible of open drug selling, wild shootings, concentrated poverty, and other degradations. Then seeing the same criminals misbehaving in the same run down properties on their block, and neighborhood. Any honest discussion of problem solving in the hood must include "language tactics". Honest problem solvers must recognize that the language used will either draw partners to the table, or repel them. In fact, a term such as "slumlord" will draw some people, and repel others. I guarantee that the "others" will not be simply "slumlords".
Jon Palmer, Exec. Director of JACC has also chosen the tactic of "slumlord" usage. I wish to call him to an even higher standard against inflammatory language then a simple resident of JACC. Because he is a professional, and is hired and paid to serve all legitamit stakeholders in Jordan; he should refrain from using language, as described above, that is loaded, charged, divisive. And simply not useful. He should lead by example, that name calling is not helpful.
Dennis responds:
In discussing a very real problem facing my neighborhood, I don't view my use of the term "slumlord" as a language tactic. I view it as a fact. The 55411 zip code ALONE (although I haven't checked I was recently told it's an area roughly encompassing Broadway on the south, Washington on the east, Lyndale on the north and Penn on the west) currently has 15 registered levell III sex offenders living within its boundaries. While I haven't done a thorough socio/economic study to determine the motivating factors that contribute to such an unusually high concentration of what most communities would consider as undesirable neighbors, I strongly suspect it's related to the availability of housing. I may be going way out on a limb, but I'd like to further state that I strongly suspect most of the newly released level III sex offenders probably aren't moving into properties they just purchased.... They're renting.
Maybe this is a stretch on my part. Or, if you'd like, you can even call it an unfounded conclusion. But I also strongly suspect that the reason my zip code has 17% of the State of Minnesota's registered level III sex offenders living within it's boundaries, is precisely because some of our rental property owners don't operate in the manner that most rental property owners (in the metro area) do. Maybe I'm using the term "slumlord" too loosely and freely. Maybe I should adjust my thinking. Maybe these landlords just have stronger "morale convictions" than do the majority of landlords in Minnesota. Maybe they're just all philanthropists....
Back in late November, a contingency from what some call the "gang of good people" from north Minneapolis went out to Elk River to protest in front of a rental property owner's house. The basis of our concern? We felt that he wasn't adequately maintaining his properties, or screening his tenants. The reason for us feeling this way? The frequency of visits that have been made to dwellings he owns in our neighborhood by both the police and the city inspections dept.
About a week after our protest, my wife and I (along with other residents that attended) received a hand-written letter in the mail from this individual. Below are verbatim excerpts:
Regarding an article published about the protest in his local newspaper, the Elk River Star News:
"if I could buy this space (in the newspaper) it would cost $2,000.00. My wife's business (for another business they own) went up 28%." Basically he's thanking us for the free advertising.
Regarding how we are unfairly targeting him as a slumlord:
"at (address) and (address) there are 6 level III sex offenders living. Because the landlord is "black" I wonder why his place has not been targeted." It has by the way.
In the newspaper article, the landlord goes on the state that what he is doing is in line with the teachings of Jesus - helping out those in need.
We have received several subsequent correspondences from this individual. Mostly right-wing cartoons related to a citizens "right" to own property and make a "fair profit".
In truth, I think Merriam-Websters should add to its definition of "slumlord", as it's not entirely accurate. Most "slumlords" in Jordan don't make unusually large profits, although they do operate substandard properties. By and large, they're just ill-prepared business people that are contributing to the decay of what could be a vibrant neighborhood.
Dennis Plante Jordan
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