Whoa. I hesitate to enter this discussion as emotions are out of control. But, we have lost logic.
First, the definition of "slumlord" is "a landlord who receives unusually large profits from substandard properties" (1). Mr Palmer stated "I stand by the reference, and I apologize for nothing." For Mr. Palmer to correctly use this term, he must know Mr. Johnson's income. The complaints that Mr. Palmer and Mr. Plante keep reverting to (substandard properties, code enforcement violations, housing level III sex offenders) are questionable business practices. It appears we have a landlord that is not a good property manager or neighbor. We should call him a "poor property manager." That description is accurate and professional. If we choose to use derogatory terms such as "slumlord", "absentee landlord" (2), or "nigger" we should not be surprised when the party we have an issue with doesn't cooperate. For Mr. Palmer to justify the use of "slumlord" because it is not as bad as "nigger" is stunning. Do we accept some level of name calling -- just not the really bad names? Mr. Plante rightfully questions why so many sex offenders live in his zip code. Is it because Jordan landlords recruit them? Jordan Landlords accept them? Neighbors don't run them out of town? Sex offenders want to live in Jordan? I don't know. However, I doubt any landlords recruit sex offenders. If we continue with the slumlord name calling, we will never have a productive discussion about why this is happening. Protests and name calling might feel good; but did it solve the problem? I suspect that some of you think Landlords are the problem. Clearly if they run substandard properties they are part of the problem. But, we can all point to substandard housing that is not a neighborhood problem. Andy Dawkins -- the director of St. Paul's Housing and Code Enforcement -- says a problem property is one that has BOTH code enforcement problems and occupant behavioral problems. While the Landlord is part of that equation, I think you would find it instructive to listen to the landlord's business problems. Most Landlords do care what their neighbors think. Finally, the landlord business is frustrating. We are held accountable for our lessees actions when no other rental business is held to such high standards. Do we put auto leasing agents in jail when their lessee gets drunk and kills someone? Is Rider responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing? Is Ready Rents responsible for a lessee that mis-uses a chainsaw? Is blockbuster responsible for minors that view R rated movies? What is the difference? It is hard to find good tenants these days. Vacancy rates are higher than we have seen in decades. All landlords I know are lowering rent, giving away concessions and lowering their rental standards. Rental property will become a bigger headache as landlords accept questionable tenants so they can pay the bills. I worry the bottom is not here yet -- Mpls continues to subsidize the building of more rental property when we have an oversupply. Since tenants now have easy pickings of rental property, I suspect that landlords in "impacted neighborhoods" receive only applicants with historical behavioral problems. Regards, Bill Cullen Whittier Landlord. (1) http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=slumlord&x=21&y=12 (2) Most owners of rental property do not live on their property. In fact, it is unusual for any property larger than a duplex to be owner occupied. Yet most larger buildings are well managed. "Absentee" means NOTHING and is a joke amongst landlords. "Good Management" is what matters. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
