The headline of the Oct. 28 issue of the Star Herald reads, "City may help landlords with delinquent tenants." I can’t think of a more misleading line. Maybe worse than current political ads. It would have been more truthful to have printed, "City may soak landlords less."Only in America, if tenants get behind in their utility payments, would the city then notify the landlord that he or she is stuck should this continue. If the landlord elects not to be stuck anymore and requests that utilities be shut off to their own property, the city says, "Sorry, we provide the utilities and you have no say!" Can you say, "Conflict of interest?"The article goes on to say that this happens because landlords are making money by renting the property to tenants. Sounds like the landlords have a monopoly. I’ll be the first person approaching people, hat in hand, asking for donations for our local utilities. Since they are not monopolies, they must need help to keep their heads above water. But … there is a silver lining! The city has spent tens of thousands of dollars on housing surveys, and every time these surveys indicate that we need more low income housing. Ordinances like this will insure that these surveys will be correct far into the future.So … (I know you’re with me now) can you see the headlines? "City gives free land and utilities to develop low income housing."Bill FrakesLuverne
