[Peace-discuss] Re: Nuisance Ordinance and Racism

[John W.]

You raise a valid point, Marti.  Maybe the criminal nuisance ordinance
should be made applicable to homeowners as well?


On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 11:43 AM, Marti Wilkinson <martiwilki at gmail.com>wrote:

If we can get back to the original issue - there are different opinions on
> the proposed ordinance regarding property owners and the conduct of their
> tenants. My primary objection is due to how an ordinance like this can
> potentially be enforced.
>
> By that same token, I am not unsympathetic to property owners who live next
> door to individuals who engage in criminal conduct. My question here is what
> would the individual do if the neighbors happen to be homeowners?  To me the
> question of how to deal with poor neighbors is one that can't always be
> addressed through the creation of laws.
>
> For example, when I bought my house in 1997 I came close to not making an
> offer on the house because the owners pulled a couple of stunts when I
> attempted to see the house. I wasn't able to get a good look at the backyard
> due to an oversize swimming pool. However, I was living in a place where the
> lease was going to expire and it was the best house I could afford at the
> time.
>
> When I moved in I had to cut down 5 foot high weeds that were spread across
> the back yard. Additionally I had to fill in the hole that had been left
> when the previous owners removed their swimming pool. Underneath the wood
> deck (which I later removed) was an exposed wire which connected the
> detached garage to the house. In order to alleviate the fire hazard I had to
> disconnect the power to my garage. In the process of moving the previous
> owners trashed the place, left a mess, and took off with the mailbox. Their
> daughter later came over and told me how embarrassed she was by the state of
> things.
>
> This is not all....a couple of my neighbors, who moved here from Germany,
> told me that they had been subject to verbal abuse and harassment by the
> previous owners. Another neighbor of mine, who is blind, received similar
> treatment. I've heard stories about drinking and loud fights and when I
> checked the circuit clerk site I found that members of the family have been
> on the receiving end of restraining orders. However, as homeowners, they
> were not subject to the types of nuisance laws that are being proposed
> against renters.
>
> At the time I bought the house the previous owners told me they were
> building a place out 'in the country' and, considering what I have heard, it
> may be that they just were not a good fit for living in a municipal
> community.
>
> Needless to say my neighbors were happy to see me move in:)
>
> Marti
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