Mark Snyder wrote: > Sorry, but as someone who went through the sweeps with my > fraternity's properties, this characterization is wrong.
As a young person I never understood the value of wisdom, when wisdom is defined as the knowledge gained from years of experience. Have experienced not one, but two sets of L.A. riots I've observed the same pattern. Immediately after the riots, all the politicians show up and make speeches, make lots of promises, initiate some ineffective programs, and then in a couple of years everything reverts back to the way it was. > The fire inspectors were checking for smoke detectors, fire > extinguishers, etc. and making sure they were operable. They > also looked to make sure that egress points (doors/windows) > were not blocked. We had to tell one of our members to rearrange > his room because his desk was blocking a window. Given that these deaths were a five or ten year event. A few months of inspections will result in no long term changes. After another few months everything, including the "over" occupancy rates, will revert to the way it was and nothing will have been done that will prevent more deaths in the future. And as Bob Johnson pointed out, why were these sweeps so geographically limited? > And they apparently checked occupancy limits, since that's > part of the fire code as well, which is what makes them relevant. > Like I said with Steve Meldahl and his vacant house registration > issue, if you don't like the ordinance, then work to change it. > If I recall correctly, it was determined that the reason those three > students died in that fire was because the occupants had > disabled a smoke detector. Not an over-occupancy problem, but > also not something the landlords really could have done much > about unless you want to pass an ordinance requiring them to > start screening tenants for common sense... Lack of common sense is a reoccurring human problem. The concept of regulation and safety rules is to protect people from their own ignorance and commercial exportation. Smoke detectors don't infringe on people's choices as long as they function effectively. Functioning effectively means accounting for human fallibility, i.e. designing smoke detectors that can be turned off temporary, cannot be permanently disabled, and sound a warning when batteries are low (not a complex problem). I don't recall: has the city council required that this type of smoke detector be installed in all rooms in rental units? If so, I will apologize to Mr. Zerby. Also, does the city require the inspection of all rental units prior to occupancy? Having paid for most of my own education and having been dirt poor as an undergraduate student, I sincerely understand the desire of students to find "affordable" accommodations, even when these are unacceptable according to other people's standards. Steve Cross wrote: > I was there when the need for housing sweeps were discussed > by CM Zerby and others. Everyone's statements were to the > effect that something had to be done to generally ensure the > safety of students in their housing. To suggest anything > else was going on is just mean spirited. Years ago someone gave me a rule to live by that has served me well, "Don't listen to what people say, pay attention to what they do." If these housing sweeps were anything but a meaningless exercise in political handwaving I might have more respect for the councilmember's concern for students. Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
