[Mpls] Demagogic language used/ Small stakeholdersbruised/Neighborhoods lose

[Bill Cullen]

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.