[Mpls] Part 2. The violins continue to sob but play on thewrongpage

[Michael Atherton]

Steve Cross wrote:
 
>  Actually, my understanding of the city ordinances is that 
>  all rental units must be licensed and getting a license not only 
>  requires a safety inspection but such safety inspections are to 
>  be conducted on a regularbasis as long as the property is licensed 
>  for rental.  (Doing so is one of the "burdens" of being a landlord.)  
>  And the inspections do include checking for smoke alarms and making 
>  sure that they are functional.  However, one problem that the city 
>  has had is coming up with the money necessary to conduct the 
>  inspections as regularly as they are supposed to be.  (You may 
>  write and thank your governor for the lack of funds by the city.)  
>  So, the frequency of inspections all over the city have been 
>  stretched out because of the lack of funds.  The very purpose of these 
>  particular safety sweeps was not a one-time thing but was to 
>  catch up on the safety inspections in at least the areas heavily 
>  populated by students.  While the safety sweep was completed on a 
>  hurry-up basis, all those properties are now back to the regular 
>  inspection schedule -- but they will be inspected again.
>  
>  Now, is that apology forthcoming?

You've got to be kidding.  This is a case of being unclear on the 
concept.  The goal here is to prevent future fatalities, not 
political handwaving and CYA via ineffective bureaucracy that gives 
the illusion of action, but in reality accomplishes nothing.

Problem:  1) Smoke detectors need to be functioning to be
effective (i.e., they need be checked and the batteries changed
at least annually.) 2) Smoke detectors give false alarms, 
so people tend to disable them. 3) Disabled or missing smoke
and carbon monoxide detectors can result in fatalities.

Solution: 1) Require inspections of all rental units when new
residents move in.  To blame the lack of inspection on state
funding is either disingenuous or uninspired.  Most housing sales 
inspections are done by licensed contractors paid for by the 
buyer.  Rental inspection can be done the same way and paid 
for by the landlord (and of course, passed on to the renters).
Inspectors would not need much training and costs could be
left up to the market. Minneapolis seems to have an unseemly 
addiction to organized labor. 2) What is clear about these 
students deaths is that smoke detectors lack good human 
engineering.  I'm suggesting that the city council require 
NEW technology (which is not very complex) that will reduce 
the number of fatalities. 3) Pass an ordinance that requires 
landlords to check or certify smoke detectors twice annually, 
i.e. they have to have someone enter the unit and push the 
test button on each smoke detector and change batteries.

What we need are real solutions to real problems, not 
hat tricks that give the appearance of sensitivity
and concern sufficient only to soothe the liberal masses.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park