Blight Be Gone
Antonia Felix
Friday, August 7, 2009
When we moved to Emporia three years ago, one house stood out as the “poster child” for the sorry state of many properties near Emporia State University.
You remember that house. On the corner of 12th Avenue and Exchange Street at the four-way stop. A real eyesore with beer cans and garbage covering the lawn, graffiti on the walls, peeling paint, a sagging roof and grass growing around a ragged couch near the curb.
Today, that house is gone and the lot is covered with grass instead of trash. It was apparently more economical to raze the building than bring it up to code, and I applaud the owner, whoever you are, for taking action. Thank you, big time, from all of us who drive along that street every day, breathe a sigh of relief and feel encouraged that things can actually change.
But there are plenty more where that came from. More in-your-face violations of the city housing code, each subject to up to $500 in fines.
That’s the old news, the bad news.
The good news is that there are a lot of people dedicating their time, money and resources to helping owners clean those properties up.
This fall, the City of Emporia and several businesses and organizations are joining up with Emporia Building Futures to clean up the city over four weekends in September and October.
It’s a huge undertaking and crucial step in reversing a sad trend that reflects so poorly on the town.
The Emporia Clean Sweep event will allow residents to bring their junk to dumpsters in their neighborhoods at no charge. No dumping fees, no limit to the amount of trash, no hassles.
Items that can be brought to the free dumpsters — two sites will be set up in each “zone” — include furniture, appliances, boards and building materials, computer monitors, tires, paint, tree limbs and brush.
The only items that residents will be charged for are TVs, which will cost $10 to drop off.
Emporia Clean Sweep will take place over a series of four weekends, from Sept. 18 to Oct.10. A map outlining the four zones and their dates will be available soon in many venues throughout town.
If the response to smaller-scale efforts is any indication, the project is going to be a major success. On May 19, 2001, the city placed dumpsters at two locations in the southwest part of town. Over an eight-hour period, residents dropped off nearly 20 tons of trash, one ton of brush and trees and about 400 tires.
“We couldn’t believe how much we collected in just a one-day project,” said Emporia Human Relations Director Patty Gilligan. “Ever since then people have asked me when we’re going to do it again.”
That event, along with a similar recent effort sponsored by Walnut Elementary School, uncovered much more than cleaner lawns — they gave residents a chance to roll up their sleeves and help their neighbors. Many people pitched in to volunteer in any way they could rather than simply bring their own items to the dumpsters and call it a day.
That same sense of cooperation lies behind Emporia Clean Sweep.
For Fred Neuer, who heads up Building Futures’ Housing Committee, the project is one way to address a challenge he has been passionate about since reading a shocking description of Emporia in a bestselling book.
“Thomas Frank’s ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas,’ that’s where it all came from for me,” Neuer said. He was referring to Frank’s description of the “blight” that has struck Emporia’s downtown and adjoining neighborhoods with details about the flimsy storefronts, “porches in midcollapse,” “a window air conditioner abandoned in a weedy lawn” and much more.
“I didn’t believe him,” said Neuer, “and then I drove through town.”
Neuer now heads up the Building Futures committee that seeks to make improvements in the housing and appearance of the community.
The city estimates that the four-weekend event will cost about $40,000 in manpower, vehicles and dump fees, and it is putting up $25,000 of that cost. The rest is being sought from businesses, foundations and individuals, and fundraisers hope to raise enough to offset the city’s expense as well.
“We’re working to make it cost-neutral for the city,” said Phil Dillon, an Emporia human relations commissioner working on the project.
Organizations that have already signed on with donations of money, materials and volunteers include both McDonald’s restaurants, the Emporia Board of Realtors, ReMax, Waters True Value Hardware, the Emporia Lions Club and the Emporia East-Side Cleanup Coalition. A generous contribution has also come in from an anonymous source. Discussions are underway with the Trusler and Clint Bowyer foundations as well.
Publicity for the citywide cleanup project will unfold in coming weeks and include postcards delivered to front doors throughout the city and appearances by “Squeaky” the mouse, who will distribute flyers at local events.
There are many ways to participate, from volunteering on any given weekend to providing financial assistance. To get in on the action, call the Emporia Clean Sweep Hotline at 343-4275.
An overwhelming number of substandard or illegal property conditions have taken a toll on our small-town pride, but they are by no means permanent. Programs like Emporia Clean Sweep can and will make a difference.
Dillon hopes that the event will also drive up interest in looking at a more fair property tax strategy that currently “rewards” those who don’t fix up their houses.
“A rental house that is run-down and not complying with the property code is taxed at a lower rate because of its lower market value,” Dillon said.
In other words, there is no incentive, monetarily, at least, for bringing the house up to code.
“The tax bill on our house has doubled since we moved here 10 years ago, while the tax on a run-down rental property nearby is still below $200 a year,” Dillon said. “The owner is profiting from tenant income but contributing a small fraction of taxes compared to homes that are cared for. That places more of the tax burden on those who keep their homes up. Is that fair?”
Good question. But for now we can look forward to some real change as the junk gets cleared off Emporia’s porches and lawns and into the free dumpsters during Emporia Clean Sweep. Volunteer help is being lined up so that those who can’t cart their items to the dumpsters can call the hotline to schedule a pickup during their neighborhood’s weekend.
“It’s going to be hard work and it’s going to be dirty,” said Emporia City Manager Matt Zimmerman, “but when it’s done, people are going to be thrilled.”
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I agree that Emporia needs cleaned up but Dillon has a valid point. What's to stop the city from raising the property value and costing the owners more in taxes after they clean up? We're taxed to the gills as it is. I hope this works out to everyone's benefit but am dubious. Living in the Emporia area for 19 years has left me very skeptical of the city government.
August 7, 2009 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Watch out, if word gets out that it's nice here the housing market will just go through the roof and pretty soon the po workn folk won't have no place to live no mo.
August 8, 2009 at 1:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
A question borne of idle curiosity. Since these dumpsters will apparently accept everything except grandma and old TV's.....why not grandma? :-)
No, but really....why not TV's? I'm just curious.
August 8, 2009 at 3:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
madpoet......I don't think we are taxed near enough as it is. There ain't no free lunch.
People want water to appear when they open the tap...they want roads to drive their new cash for clunkers on....and they want their poot to disappear when they flush the tiolet. This all cost money...you got to pay the band.
August 8, 2009 at 3:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I hope they do raise taxes on run-down rental property...then maybe my landlord will get off his duff and do something with this dump. And before the chorus goes to singing about renters just tearing it up....since moving here I have spent almost $2,000.00 of my own money [Ihave the receipts] on this s--thole to make it liveable because he won't spend anything.
Why don't I just move? Because I have two dogs. Just make some calls about renting a place and tell them you have two dogs.....you'll understand.
August 8, 2009 at 4 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I'd like to see more being done about "yard sales" that go on and on and on and on, then afterwards, all that junk is just hauled to the back of the lot and left to rot.
There's a house on my street where just such a situation has been going on. They've been ticketed once by the city, but before long, they begin anew. Nothing seems to stop them.
On an ordinarily lovely street, one herd of wart hogs is all it takes to wreak havoc.
I'm with Phil Dillon on his interest in bringing about a more fair tax strategy that will not reward cheap, lazy landlords. Instead, they should be taxed at a higher rate for not keeping their properties up to code and in good shape.
Biscuit, I'm sorry you have such a bad landlord, and I see what you mean about dogs. I am a landlord and have taken great pains to keep the apartment I rent out in good shape. While I have a good renter now, others have been absolute jerks and left lots of damage and filth. The last one even left a car which I had to have towed away. Thank goodness the city has a service for that I'm happy to say.
Still, it is my property; I'm responsible for it, and because of that I always want to keep it in very good shape. Besides, it produces income for me. I would be embarassed to call a derelict property my own.
August 8, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
And I also recognize that many renters are jerks....Here's an idea...somebody could open a web site that connects good renters to good landlords.....and leave the jerks on both sides to deserve each other.
August 8, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Good idea, except in my case, the last renter presented himself as a responsible person and even had a decent job. When I called him several times to retrieve the car, he accused me of "pestering" him. So I got my lawyer to do the pestering. Still he did not do it. I'm out the lawyer's fees.
Like I said, the city has a service for this, and they did tow the car off my property, but I think the city should go one step further and collect on those fees. This jerk got away scot free.
I believe the best way to do this would be to require a reference from a prior landlord or a huge deposit.
August 8, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I wonder if anybody considers my little house a blight? Probably somebody does.
August 8, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks.....Your exactly right and that is much of the problem at times.....one man's castle is another man's blight.
Those always pushing to remove blight need to be careful....remove enough blight and eventually your house will become the blight. There are places in The Hamptons and Newport Rhode Island where the most expensive castle in Emporia would be the blight.
As in all things we need to be careful what we wish for.
August 8, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
biscuitboy
Yeah, I remember when I first joined these forums there was a similar discussion and I ended up sounding like I was against city codes and such, which I am not. Your above post puts it very nicely "Those always pushing to remove blight need to be careful....remove enough blight and eventually your house will become the blight. There are places in The Hamptons and Newport Rhode Island where the most expensive castle in Emporia would be the blight."
August 8, 2009 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Great comparison, biscuit. I have a friend who lives in Newport. Although I enjoyed my visit and touring all the old Victorians, I'm afraid my house would be razed tomorrow by their standards. Those people have groundskeepers and maintenance staff.
August 8, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Yeh....and Bentley's and Rolls Royces.....that money is old enough the ink doesn't rub off on your hands.
August 8, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
To improve standards require a residential property to meet current codes before title can be transferred
August 8, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I found my post from that previous conversation about city codes and such. Here it is.
"I've been to Germany a couple of times, once for two and a half years while I was in the................oh yeah I can't mention that. Sorry. Anyway while I was in Germany I noticed that the buildings and the houses were all very similar in color. It kinda looked nice but something about it just didn't set right with me. I asked a German national why all the buildings and houses are painted the same, he said it was the law. In contrast when I drive around Emporia I see all kinds of different colors on houses and buildings. Would I live in a purple house with blaze orange trim? NO! Do I throw up in my mouth a little at the sight of it? Yeah, a little. But as I hold back the vomit I am reminded how fortunate I am to live in a country where you can live in a purple and orange house if you want to. It is indeed our right to live in such a house until a law says otherwise. Then and only then does it cease to be a right."
That's some classic Folks right there.
Seriously R. Folks
August 8, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
Mr Felix, I am happy to just be able to afford a roof over my head. yes you would want my eye-sore probably torn down. We do keep our house clean inside and out, BUT probably not to meet your high standards, for that, excuse the hell out of me, I guess if I and my wife both worked at the college as you and your wife do, and make that much money I could posibility be up to your standards, maybe. My family have been in Emporia since the 1800's , and have been proud to live here. and how long did you say you have been here? three years, maybe you just need to get the hell off that high horse you are on, I have crossed paths you many times and you really do think your stuff dont stink, your not all that you think you are , put you damn money where your mouth is and step aside when we are cleaning as you will just be in the way of us , hell we probably wont even be able to do the clean up right to meet you and your wifes high standards.
August 8, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
None of my comments so far have been intended to ridicule the clean up...it is a fine idea and I look forward to taking part. But many of us are living in as nice of house as we can afford....and because a couple of academics don't bnelieve our homes are up to their standards.....doesn't change the fact that they are our homes.
If my old place bothers you too much you can buy me a new one....I thank you in advance.
August 8, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
Biscuit, I cant post names on this site, but I can tell you there is at least one landlord that allows pets and keeps his properties in good shape, and as cream on top the pie, he dont sign a years lease. Keep looking cause I know there are some good landlords here, but they must be well kept secrets cause I dont hear their names come up often.
August 8, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truelovecharlie (anonymous) says...
Years ago I tried to start a business in Emporia where I attempted to get many of the landlords to go through me and I would be a matchmaker between the tenants and the property owners. I was also going to have a hit list of "do not rent to" and "do not rent from". There are many tenents that have been cheated out of their deposits; unjustly, and there are those landlords that have been taken advantage of. I use to own a dozen rental properties and I always assured my tenants I would never raise their rents while they were in good standing, and promised to double their deposits back to them as long as they gave me a months notice of moving and left the property in re-rentable condition. I believe most landlords would have better experiences if they would use this tactic. I never had any nightmares like so many others I have heard. Additionally; if you want cheap rent, you have to be willing to live in sub par housing. Likewise; if you want reasonable rent, you have to be vigilant about doing upkeep promptly and correctly, not after being hounded and then do a half-*** patch job.
August 8, 2009 at 9:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
truelovecharlie......sounds to me as if Emporia lost a benefit when you left the rental business.
August 9, 2009 at 3:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
I want to comment on the being cheated out of deposit money. A family moved into a rental next door and before they lived there a month, the landlord was giving them verbal eviction followed by a written notice later. They had not lived there long enough to dirty the place. They moved and lost the deposit. If this is an example of the landlords here, I can see why there are so many empties sitting around. I know someone will jump on here and say the tenant must have trashed the place in less than a month, but the house looked clean and organized when I went over to visit.
August 9, 2009 at 7:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Many of the places that have been setting around vacant for so long now were occupied by hispanics and Somalians before Tyson shut down the kill floor. One place right across the street from me back then always had ten to twelve adults living in a place where everyroom but the kitchen and one bath had been converted in to "bedrooms". It's been vacant since the friday massacre at Tyson's.
August 9, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
It's funny how so many people that were so happy to see the "mexicans and somalians" heading for the city limits signs are now wailing and gnashing their teeth about the loss of revenue...and high unemploment here in the old berg.
I wonder if some of them might now be happy to see some of those furinners come back.
August 9, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Capitalism at it's finest.
With all the new construction in the Emporia Rental market, the older rentals will need to keep up or lose out. I know biscuits rental and those across the street of which he speaks. No where near a slum. The house @ 12 & Exchange was torn down because the city had begun legal proceedings against the landlord for obvious building code violations. What is weird is the landlord in question at one time rented from 4 Seasons, (which is now advertising rentals, the 1st time since being built).
I would predict that new rentals will be built @ that location soon due to it's proximity to ESU.
Rentals in Emporia for to long have been a cash cow for some landlords who did not maintain the property , but just gouged a lot of lower income tenants. The loss of jobs @ Tyson did mean the loss of some rental units being filled, some of those shouldn't have been rented in the 1st. place.
As a landlord of three rentals above my business I am finding it will be cheaper for me to close down those apartments and leave my upper story empty, than to try to keep up with newer, nicer rentals.
All things being said, knowing Biscuitboy, any landlord in town should appreciate a tenant like him, dogs or no.
August 9, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
12th and Exchange would be a great place for a giant fish bowl for William Allen Whale since it's close to the college and that other William Allen's house. I'm just sayin' it makes sense. We have to think about our children's education.
Seriously R. Folks
August 9, 2009 at 10:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
That's A whale of a good idea:)
August 9, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Steve is correct.....where I live is hardly a slum. But the money I previously mentioned as spending here was not all on cosmetics.
I replaced a rear entry door that was so bad the dogs could enter and exit without my opening the door......I put two new kichen cabinets into a kitchen that had no counter space whatsoever, or any lower cabinets at all.....new kitchen sink and faucet with approprate new plumbing......and I added a new electrical curcuit and breaker so you could operate a window ac unit without using an extension cord.
Fortunatly for me...I had the ability and tools to do this myself.....or the cost would have been much higher than I quoted. But what about the people that don't have the ability or the money...they just live with it. And in the case of bad or insuffecient wiring...some times they die by it.
August 9, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Renters should never have to do any of that kind of work unless they are getting a cut in rent or being paid for it. That's the good thing about renting, you don't have to do major maintenance. Biscuitboy did you at least get a cut in rent or paid for your work? If not that is a bunch of Sasquatch droppings!
August 9, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Nary a dime.....plus I bought the air conditioner and a new.....well not new but usable......range for the kitchen. In fairness I must say that eventually I quit mak9ing any attempt at compensation.....experience is a good teacher.
And by doing it myself i got things like a new pre-hung steel entry door...rather than just another 25-dollar hollow closet door it replaced.
August 9, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
The exodus from emporia means fewer jobs and filled rentals like you said biscuit, but the recession has been effecting other places the same way. I cant predict what will come in the future for jobs/housing here, but fewer renters might cause the slumlords to up their standards to attract renters. I imagine in time the economy will improve. Before the house at 12 th and
Exchange was bulldozed, the big house at 13 th and Exchange burned down and was bulldozed, betting ESU apartments will go into that spot also. Im glad you were able to do your own repairs.
August 9, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
It remains to be observed: If you are living in a place that looks like a pig pen (junk in the front yard, on the porch...) you are going to get the chance to get help to clean it up - free! Don't miss this opportunity. Just because "it's been that way for years" doesn't mean it has to BE that way for years. Take a little pride, do a little sweat equity on the exterior and help Emporia look good. You may like having a mildewed 1970's couch on the porch, or a dug-up fish pond liner in the front yard, but not many people do...and, if you let it go, you may end up with a big, fat, well-deserved fine.
Just drive the streets between 6th and 15th, Merchant and Rural - wow! What a difference few junky homes can make to a block.
August 9, 2009 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I wonder if the folks that live in these junked up houses are human beings or something lesser?
August 9, 2009 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
something lesser my friend....at least in the minds of those that believe they are something greater.
August 9, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
My guess is that the places with junk all over the place will remain the same. I'll wager right here and now that the folks that live on my block that have crap all over the place will never clean it up. Never. Even as I write this, their "yard sale" is still ongoing and has been for quite some time. I think the sale is just an excuse for keeping all their junk in plain sight.
August 9, 2009 at 7:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truelovecharlie (anonymous) says...
A little over a year ago I decided to put my house up for sale. I advertised it in the paper on a Thursday night and by that Saturday it was sold. I am now a renter, for the first time in my life. I have never met my landlord and never call with problems. If something minor goes wrong, I fix it. I have now started looking to buy another house as I feel the market has just about bottomed out and now is the time to look at buying a house for it's true value and not the over-inflated prices so many paid and have seen been losing to foreclosure. I started telling everyone I knew 3 years ago that it was not the time to be incurring debt, but rather the time to be liquidating and stockpiling I am 47 years old and have owned about 20 properties in my lifetime. I have never paid more than 7 years on any mortgage. People mostly care about their monthly payment. Now people can get 30 year mortgages on houses and 7 years and more on vehichles so the payments will be where they want them. I have never financed longer than 3 years for any vehichle. I will never again finance anything other than a home and only if I can't find one within my cash abilities. Society is trained from early on to mortgage their earnings far into their futures and they have fallen for it hook, line and sinker. When you deal with cash, it talks loud and clear and terms learn in your favor every time. When you deal with credit, you are at the sellers/financial institutions mercy. FREE advice from me: The window of opportunity is coming within the next 12-18 months.
August 9, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
Some cities have ordinances regarding yard sales, such as each address can have 2 or 3 yard sales per year, each with a duration of 2 or 3 days. Signs are not allowed to continue to stay up advertising the sale, helping to eliminate the "endless" yard sale.
Doesn't Emporia have some kind of restrictions on the duration and number of yard sales per year at each residence?
August 9, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Since I am the one who complained about this originally on this thread, I sought some information this morning.
I learned that a city ordinance does indeed exist. Each residence can have yard/garage sales 4 days a year. If they do it on two weekends a year, for example, that equals 4 days. Or they could have 4 one-day sales per year.
Complaints can be made to the city zoning department.
Sounds pretty clear to me. However, I do know that these people about whom I speak have been ticketed before. Now they're at it again. I should have asked about fines, but I forgot.
August 10, 2009 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concernedforaccuracy (anonymous) says...
I would like to address some concerns raised by Justaflushaway. First, it is too bad that you took the comments so personally. The article was clearly intended as an expression of concern over a problem that plagues Emporia generally. Out of fairness I would like to clarify a few inaccuracies expressed in your comments. First, the article was written by Antonia Felix, not her husband Stanford Felix. Second, the article was NOT about any one person's standards. It was about enforcing codes that have been on the city books for decades. The article did not state, or even imply, that one should be forced to sell their first-born child in order to raise enough money to turn a double-wide into a mansion. All the author suggested is that people make a modest effort to keep their property clean and make minor repairs. Third, I happen to know the Felixs and they are lovely people. Incidentally, only Stan works for the university, and they are far from rich. Fourth, just because your family has lived in Emporia since the year zero does not give you the right to bag on people trying to make a difference for the better. I am happy to hear that your family is proud to live in Emporia. By this are we to understand then that you agree with the author that one should demonstrate pride in their community by keeping it clean?
It is clear from your comments that you are more concerned with lashing out at the author and her husband than about the content of the article itself. By the way, your last sentence makes no sense. If you want them to "put their money where their mouth is" then you would welcome their help.
This is an important topic that really does effect how Emporia is perceived around the state. If we are viewed as a dumpy town where people don't take pride in their property how can we ever expect to draw new businesses to our city and thereby raise the standard of living for everybody. If, as you stated in your comments, you really do have pride in Emporia, rather than attacking people who are trying to make a difference perhaps you should consider working with them.
August 12, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
I welcome the free dump day, and since there are volunteers to pick up stuff and no limit on what goes to the dump, maybe someone will take the abandoned, dilapidated house next door to the dump. After that the two story across the street can go also. I promise to tell the volunteers 'thank you.'
August 12, 2009 at 10:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Look! What's that? It's a bird! It's a plane! No, its...Coffey County!
Soon...
Matt
August 12, 2009 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
P.S.-- Enjoy your visitor's center!
August 12, 2009 at 10:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Have a safe trip!
August 12, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
justthefacts,
I don't think this qualifies as a trip.
A MOVE maybe.
I personally know at least 5 housholds that have moved from Emporia in the last 16 months. Some because of better jobs, some because they just got tired of the same old "stuff" in local politics.
Two firefighters have retired early and gone to work at Wolf Creek in the last 60 days.
The loss of any taxpaying citizen should be cause for concern, not a flip attitude.
The loss of friends living nearby is hard.
I will miss my friends, But I wish them all the Best.
August 13, 2009 at 6:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Lets step into the real world for a minute, shall we .
Again we have those who can afford a nice home and can afford to maintain that home in what they perceive as the best condition possible and yet these people seem to think that everyone in the real world can or should be able to spend, who knows how much to maintain their home to the same standards as they do ! Well, in the real world not everone can afford to spend, nor has the extra disposable income, to maintain their homes to the same standards as those who happen to have a pile of money in the bank !
For instance if a couple is working and has a disposable income, after income tax, etc., of $46,000 per year and another couple has a disposable income of $16,000 per year and you break that down into monthly disposable income of $3833 and $1,333, respectively and each couple has monthly expenses, property tax, utilities, house payment, car payment of $1,100 per mo., not including food, clothing, etc., which couple do you think will have the extra money required to be able to maintain their home to the better standard ?
Also, there is no doubt that property taxes are going to be raised ! Which also means, more cost to those homeowners, which in turn will mean less money for home upkeep and maintenance, etc..
Viewing the world through rose colored glasses is fine, however when you remove those rose colored glasses you may just get a glimpse of the real world and it is a shocking reality.
Everyone wants a better world, however forcing or demanding people to live up to what you perceive as " your " better world, especially if they cannot afford it, does not make for a better world !
August 13, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Here's another real world reality for people to digest !
When jobs are lost and people leave a community, that community usually suffers in many ways and deteriorating neighborhoods and homes are just a few !
August 13, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Josie's bar go the way of Hastings?
August 13, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy,
If you'll notice, Josie's Bar has been closed for about 8 months now. Closed with no rent paid to the building owner who is supposed to maintain it and pay taxes on it.
Closed with no liquor and sales tax paid.
Another empty store front not only takes away from the city, it places a larger burden on the people left in town that have to make up for the loss of tax income.
No matter what the business, Hastings, Papa John's, Centenila, Popeyes, or Josies Bar, when they close it hurts all of us.
Something to think about.
August 13, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Appreciate the information Steve, I did not know, I was never a patron and I rarely drove by that little nook of town.
August 13, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
methusla
I think there is an understanding of these issues. One of the elements of this voluntary program is to identify areas of need in the community. There are a lot of disabled, elderly in town. There are a lot of people who are economically distressed. One of the aims of the program is for organizations (the ministerial alliance, civic organizations, etc) to find ways to support those need areas. For example, our church has a group of volunteers who paint and fix up houses for widows, economically distressed families. We think in a program like this there is an opportunity for churches and other groups to help folks out. This is by no means a guarantee. We hope it will work, but it depends on how much the community is willing to help.
Now there are some who have flaunted the community for a long time. They have profited at the expense of minorities, students, the economically disadvantaged, and the community at large. I think a volunteer program could go a long way toward making parts of Emporia more liveable and highlighting the festering problems that the profiteers have refused to address. If there is enough community support for this effort the political pressure curve will start bending more in the direction of the community than it has been in the past.
Myself, I have no interest in dictating standards of taste or trying to make Emporia a midwest version of Hyannisport. I'll use Emporia's largest minority community - Hispanics - as an example. I think it's a wonderful community. It's a community that places a high value on family and pride of ownership. I'm glad they are friends and neighbors. I've seen here and in other places the wonderful contribution Hispanics have made. I've driven around parts of this town and see the brightly painted houses. They don't always have the some color schemes in mind as homes in northwest Emporia, but they all reveal a great sense of pride in their homes and communities. This is a good foundation for any city.
As I see it, if we can work together we can go a long way toward making this the kind of community we all want.
August 13, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yev_kassem (anonymous) says...
methusla--
First--people who only make 16k a year as a household have no business owning a home. They can not afford to maintain the home or pay the taxes. They shouldn't have car payments at that income level either. There are very few lenders that would approve loans, especially in today's world, for people in that income bracket. The numbers wouldn't work.
Secondly, all homeowners in town make enough money to keep the trash, toys and junk off their lawn and porch and keep their lawn mowed. Sure, sometimes you have more major expenses like gutters or windows but there are programs through churches and other community groups that can help with more of the major expenses.
The problem is living within your means and having the pride necessary to take care of where you live. Whether you own or rent you should take care of your property and take a sense of pride in the community that you live in.
August 13, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Methusla
Here is what can happen as property values increase, particularly when they don't increase artificially. If the average value of this city's homes increases there is a very real potential for the mil levy to decrease. I realize this depends on city government not getting adventurous with taxpayer money and budgeting for high ticket items that the community neither wants nor needs. The baselines can be maintained - they really can. What then happens is that the equity that folks have in their homes grows faster than the city's desire or ability to tax. The same thing works in reverse. As values go down mil levies often go up. In these cases the tax bill may look flat, but as a percentage of home value they are actually going up and the homeowner's real value in the home is going down.
August 13, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
concernedforaccuracy, AKA felix,,, when some one else tells me how my place should look to satisfy their tender eyes when they walk or drive by does get under my skin. OHHHH I will damn sure bag on those who I damn want, save your crap for some other day. I am so impressed NOT by your way of trying to be so perfect in the eyes of the very few friends you have. I do remember a few months ago when you did start all of this crap about the house at 12th and exchange, now that the houses are gone, maybe you should get ahold of your buddy zimmermaqn and tell him the grass needs trimmed to your specs. I'm sure he will get on it since you are the perfect family, I bet where you all came from sure would like you to move back.. oh you have trash in your alley way, get it cleaned up or I will have to ask to get your house cleaned off the area
August 13, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
toofast (anonymous) says...
I can tell you what happens when you clean up an eyesore in the city limits of Emporia. I now pay TWICE the property tax that I did for my property. That is how this city treats a property owner that is trying to make Emporia a nicer place to live.
August 13, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
Wow, justaflush - that's pretty vicious. Do you need anger management?
August 13, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Boy, it would seem that there are people in the world and here in Emporia who have managed to somehow live the " American Dream " and yet would deny that same thing to others ! Even if a family whose income is $16,000 per year has to rent instead of own, renting is going to cost at least $200 dollars per month, for a wreck, and much more for a nice place ! Now some are complaining about people who are trying to own a home and also complaining about rundown rentals as well and yet some people say that some people should rent and not own a home ! Not everyone in the real world is going to have an income of $46,000 per year or may not even have a job long enough to get their home paid off, not everyone can be in the middle class and even those who used to make $46,000 per year is shrinking at an alarming rate, that is just a fact of life in todays world.
Some say that there are " there are programs through churches and other community groups that can help with more of the major expenses." And yet many times those very same people turn around and call the people who do take advantage of such organizations and groups undeserving dead beats ! I had such an experience many years ago and let me tell you, I will never again go through that degradation and humiliation, ever again. And believe me, it can be a degrading and humiliating experience, because of the huaghty and better than you attitude of some people !
It is also a fact of life that in every City or town in the world there are upper class well kept neighborhoods and then there is the lower class poor neighborhoods that are not so well kept, because of the lower financial conditions !
What are we going to do, ban the poor, lower class peoples from the world, as not belonging, because they are not up to the standards of some and don' t have enough money to meet the standards of some ! This is real world fact and has been since the beginning of time !
Go to any of the large Citys that some of you people are so in love with and I can guarrantee that you will also find poor, lower class, rundown neighborhoods there also !
If you don' t like the way my house looks or how I am trying to maintain it with my limited resources, don' t come to my neighbor hood, just stick to your well manicured and well maintained neighborhood, so you won' t have to look at an eyesore, according to your standards !
Emporia is becomming a City of bigots and hypocrits, also another reason people are leaving Emporia.
August 13, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
methusla
I've tried my best, bu apparently my best hasn't been good enough. I've said I want this community to work for all of us. I want things to be better for everyone. My interest and the point of the plan as outlined is to get help for people who need help.
It's difficult for me to see how the intent I outlined could have been so badly misconstrued. What is it about the program as outlined leads you to believe the intent is to get you, so to speak?
August 13, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
WOOSH!>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Social dysfunction just blew by at 100 miles per hour. I'm beginning to get a clear picture of the extinct nature of the 21st Century dinosaurs around here. I am now a believer that if negativism and bellyaching was an art form, Emporia would be the world capitol. God forbid that someone voice an opinion contrary to those of you who are the sage of all wisdom around here. Gridlock apparently isn't only found in government circles around here. I'm gonna go outside and commune with nature. I need a break from the nasty stuff here.
August 13, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I can't speak for others but I do try to take my bellyaching and negativity to the level of being an art form, thanks for noticing. I think you should be patient with others who are less successful than myself, they are trying and given the proper motivation and time I believe they too can turn their gripes into art. How to capitalize on this is the eternal question. I'm going to have to think about that one.
Seriously R. Folks
August 13, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Whoa, a few of you need to calm down. You have taken the idea of standard home maintenance for normal everyday people and turned it into Architectural Digest. Gee Whiz!
It's easy to see at many places around town that a little less laziness is in order. Can somebody please mow the grass and cut down the weeds? That doesn't take much money. Use a kitchen knife to cut down the weeds if you don't have a pair of clippers. Been there, done that. And why does the lawn mower have to be left out in the yard, rain or shine? If a board in the fence cracks or falls off, FIX IT NOW, don't wait until half the fence is falling down. What about the blasted trash? PICK IT UP! It doesn't cost anything to bend down and pick up trash. It's called sweat equity. Physically disabled? Apply to a church for help. Lots of programs out there.
If people can't afford to paint their house, paint one side at a time. What the hell, just keep plugging ahead, it will eventually get done in a couple of months. Can't afford to replace windows? So do one or two at a time. That's how I did my house, two at a time because that's what I could afford. The contractor told me a lot of people do it that way.
Maintenance has to be budgeted for just like anything else.
Man alive, quit coming unglued. This has turned into a battle between the haves and the have nots and that is not the original intent of Ms Felix's piece.
August 13, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"If a board in the fence cracks or falls off, FIX IT NOW"
But what if there is something really good on TV?
August 13, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
seriously, do I have to get my hammer after you? Turn off that TV!!! You want supper? Fix the fence. Where is your sense of pride?
:)
August 13, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I built a nice chain link fence a couple of summers ago, dug all the post holes by hand and mixed all the cement by hand. Just me a wheelbarrow, a shovel and an oldschool manual posthole digger. It took me four days but it turned out great and the best part is it gave me a greater appreciation for airconditioning and TV.;) When one of my neighbors was building his fence he would come over to look at mine for a reference, it was awesome. Anyway enough about my fence back to Blight-B-Gone. We need a manufacturing plant here that produces Blight-B-Gone. Just a thought.
Seriously R. Folks
August 13, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
I think you are close seriously, we need manufactures, but we need the kind that will employ hard working Emporians for a living wage, then Emporians will be able to show their pride by fixing up their homes and hiring some help to haul off the unwanted stuff. Our homes are our castles and when someone starts nagging about our castles, expect an argument.
August 13, 2009 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Goodoleboy,
Yep, Josie's went the same way Hastings did. If it makes you feel any better, I'm probably more glad it closed than you are.
One thing to think about... I bet Burlington will sure enjoy it's 4th of July next year...
It's good to know I'll be missed though!
Matt
August 13, 2009 at 9:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I think I know where you're coming from, Matt. At any rate, I'm sorry to see you go.
Will you explain the Burlington comment? I don't understand.
August 13, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I'm reminded of the two birds sittin in a tree chirping all day long. They chirped at the sun cause it was too bright and chirped at the moon because it wasn't bright enough, and chirp on through the day so much they didn't notice the big old fat cat climbing the tree and sneak up behind them and gobble them up. The cat was so full of himself (and the birds) he lost his balance and fell in the street right side up as cats do. As he snickered about landing on his feet through all this adversity, he was run over by a new Volt purchased by stimulus money and traded for a $4,500 clunker. The homeowner scooped up the flat cat and used him for fertilizer in his newly planted stimulus garden to spruce up his lawn to make his home more attractive.
So it just goes to show that all that chirping is just a bunch of fertilizer.
August 13, 2009 at 11:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
justthefacts
That was awesome! You took complaining about other people complaining to an art form. Very good.
Seriously R. Folks
August 14, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Mr. Folks,
That was a piece of work wasn't it?
I nominate justthefacts for the golden keyboard award for excellence in artfull complaining.
August 14, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Yes i think it is safe to say that no one will be complaining about justthefacts complaining about other people complaining. Unless of course someone does but if that happens I will be the first to complain about the complaining about justthefact complaining about other people complaining.
August 14, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Thanks all..wouldn't have been possible without all the inspiration I find around here.
August 14, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
to a forum:
http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/...
August 15, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )