A policy of neglect
Emporia Building Futures, Housing Committee
Saturday, May 22, 2010
When it comes to the state of properties in Emporia, it’s all about the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good: Anyone who has lived here through the past five years has been encouraged by positive improvements downtown. We’ve got new restaurants, a magnificently restored theatre and bustling construction on a new arts center. The successful Clean Sweep project last fall showed that a broad base of businesses, organizations, churches, city officials and individuals are willing to roll up their sleeves to make Emporia a cleaner and more attractive town.
The Bad: The forces behind the scenes that have been choking off that kind of forward-looking progress for decades like a steel vice.
The Ugly: Last week we described how decaying, substandard housing that ignores Emporia’s property maintenance codes hurts all of us by slashing community-wide economic opportunities and ruining our pride of place.
The ugliness persists because Emporia’s leadership gives it a red carpet to do so. It’s a carpet with lots of messages woven in, such as, “We don’t care about the property codes, so don’t worry. You won’t get cited. No town can enforce all of its laws.”
It’s a big carpet with plenty of room to spell out the leadership’s philosophy: “You don’t have to spend anything on repairs because we don’t want to be a pesky government that tells you what to do. And we don’t care what our neighborhoods look like, not even near our university or downtown. So go ahead, let those steps rot and let that paint peel off to the bare wood. We won’t get in your way.”
That’s the message from the top. How do we know? Just drive around the some of the neighborhoods near the university and two blocks either side of Commercial Street, the heart of the city.
The dictionary defines “to lead” as “to guide on a way, especially by going in advance.” Does the message of Emporia’s leadership — plastered all over town in shabby properties — show that it wants to advance toward clean, safe, attractive housing? About enforcing the laws that directly affect the first impression of every potential business person, retiree or student and the pride of our residents?
The state of many properties in Emporia shows that up-to-code housing is not a priority — and has not been for a long time.
In his 1998 book “Main Street Blues,” historian Richard O. Davies describes the “persistent policy of benign neglect” that slowly brought decay to a small Ohio town. He uses that town as an example of what is happening to many small towns and cities across the country. Neglect leads to decay.
But a policy of neglect can be reversed, if there’s a will to change it.
One Emporian we spoke to about the look of the town, a long-time resident who recalls details of previous attempts to solve the eyesore properties problem, said that he has seen improvements in some areas and deterioration in others. But when it comes down to doing something about the deterioration, it’s still the same old story. “We have a terrible time of making a dent in the problem,” he said.
“The people with the properties in question learn very quickly that if they threaten litigation it hampers any activity,” he explained.
Emporia’s establishment of a minimum housing code quite a few years ago did make a short-time impact, he recalled. “When it was first and foremost in everyone’s mind we had some enforcement, and then there was some threatened litigation. The people with those properties seem to be one step of everyone else to be able to shut down any movements to help the situation.”
Why are they one step ahead of the law? One step ahead of city leadership?
Because Emporia is led by a policy of doing nothing rather than making cleanliness, safety and attractiveness a standard for the town — a policy of benign neglect. It’s a policy that says appeasing a few violators who create the biggest problems is the most convenient, hassle-free way to go.
It’s a policy that gives the red-carpet minority more rights than the rest of us (the worst violators are a minority — most landlords and property owners take pride in their buildings).
And it’s a policy that’s got to change.
We’d like to thank last week’s readers for the solution-oriented feedback you’ve been giving us online at the Gazette site and ours using the “Contact Us” link on the Building Futures website at emporiabuildingfutures.com.
Keep it up and make your voices heard.
This is the second of five columns dealing with housing issues in Emporia written by members of the housing committee of the Emporia Building Futures project.
butterfly (anonymous) says...
I actually thought there was a code that was passing stating that only outdoor furniture was going to be allowed outdoors? i think keeping recliners and couches (where rodents can find haven) off of front porches is a good first step!
Are there grants available for those in poverty (the only ones who will live in those locations) to be able to have assistance making improvements? How many of those are owned by landlords??? is there a way to hold landlords of rentals accountable?
May 24, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefooting (anonymous) says...
Some of the worst looking houses are the ones that have sat empty for years.
May 24, 2010 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
It seems to me that the housing code in Emporia is similar to the parking ticket dilemma. We have a law but nobody wants to enforce it.
But then how many other laws are the same way?
May 24, 2010 at 3:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dale011 (anonymous) says...
I've lived in Emporia for over 5 years and yes, the downtown area is in better shape than before. There seems to be a belief in Emporia that students will live in anything, or that it doesn't matter what the condition of the building, no enforcement will happen. If you just drive around Emporia you will see houses all over that look like they just need to come down. I realize we have clay soil and a high water table and that causes foundations to shift, but some of the slanted ones really need to go.
I will commend the city for making the owner of the shack at the corner of 12th and exchange to tear it down, but it was just one of many.
May 24, 2010 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I agree with you, dale011. Good post. Also, I'm glad you brought up that belief that students will live in anything. I am reminded of how quickly that motel on Merchant and the Interstate filled up once the remodeling was complete and they opened up for business. That place was filled up even before it was complete. That certainly puts the quietus on that old belief, doesn't it?
May 24, 2010 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eldiablo (anonymous) says...
Definitely received a citation a few years back for having indoor furniture on the deck. Pretty silly considering the condition of the house and surrounding buildings. The sofa wasn't hurting anything nor was it an eye sore to anybody--the house was the problem and the fact that it was firmly implanted in the student ghetto. Eff off city.
May 27, 2010 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Indoor furniture does not belong outdoors where it gets wet and moldy in the rain and snow. Yes, it is an eyesore, and on top of that, it is a health hazard for everyone when those spores get picked up by the wind and transported all over the place.
Face it, there is an ordinance that covers this, and you're expected to follow the law. It's not "eff off city" either because you're telling all of us to "eff off."
May 27, 2010 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
This law needs reformed! They are going after the wrong people! If you want to stop people from putting indoor furniture outside you need to go after the furniture manufacturers for making the furniture so dang pretty. Who wouldn't want everyone to see their nice furniture. You are a hypocrite if you say you don't want to show off your furniture. Shame on YOU! This is really our fault for building a society that can make some really nice furniture. eldiablo, I am sorry that you got a ticket for breaking the law. It's not your fault. You should not be held responsible and don't let anyone tell you other wise.
May 27, 2010 at 6:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Way to be proactive, akamai. I like your style. I just wish I could afford to do that too because I have a junkyard south of me.
We've talked about what to plant for a screen before. I hope you find something soon. I do like fir trees, and they do grow tall and stately like the one I started years ago, but it takes so long.
Here's what I don't understand. If people are going to turn their yards into junkyards, why don't they just move out in the middle of nowhere miles from the city instead of crapping up an entire neighborhood.
May 28, 2010 at 7:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
This is one area where I'll step in and say I'm way to young to be able to contribute to the degree as my elders here.
But, I have a question. Why are there not more programs available and resources popping up to teach people how to take care of their property.
I just moved into my own house, well with my boyfriend, and I am a complete dud with my knowledge of landscaping. (I also don't know how to work a mower. DON'T JUDGE ME).
If there were some classes that were free or low cost from places like Waters or Bluestem that teach real basics on how to take care of the yard or what plants grow best in town I would certainly attend them if I had time.
Also, this is a honest to god real question. Down by the country club I've seen those roads be redone several times as I had a boyfriend for many years that lived in that area. I on the other hand lived on the 'other' side of town and never saw the city really working on places and the roads. Why has so much focus been placed on one side of town and not the other? It would seem to me that if people wanted to make this city more presentable that the funds that could have been used to help make all of Emporia pretty.
May 28, 2010 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
Oh and on the topic of landlords, there are some crappy crappy landlords out there that do not take care of the home. I have several friends who've lived in either homes or apartment complexes there the owners of the building where awful with the upkeep.
One friend just moved out of her complex that kept flooding because nothing was being done to fix the problem.
Another had the same situation with a house that flooded in the basement and was developing a mold problem because of it.
But not just that, I don't see why a landlord cannot make a visit to the house on occasion and make sure the house is in order. If the renters are trashing it, they should be kicked out. I have been to some houses of people who were renting and they had no respect for the house they were in.
May 28, 2010 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
When you look at these folks houses you see "junk" piles but when the owners look at them they see finely crafted ...... whatever it is that they have. It really is a cultural thing. A culture that has no racial boundaries. You will see African Americans, Latin Americans, Asian Americans, and crackers with homes decorated with "junk piles". Out of many races one culture. That's beautiful man! Laws that make folks conform to "societies" "norm" deny these folks of their culture! I suggest to you "haters" that you try out this culture before you get all judgmental with your haternessness. I suggest you go to the salvage yard and get yourself an engine and plop it right on down in your front yard you uncultured naughty ones. If you have a small yard you can get a four banger, if you have a medium yard you can get a 6, and if you have a big yard or yards(like akamai) you can go for a good ol' V8 baby. Boy howdy! Yesiree indeedy! For best results leave the old oil in until you get it placed where you want it and then take a valve cover off and then tip that bad boy over and you'll get a nice "waterfall" of oil come a runnin' out onto your yard for all to see and enjoy. So stop all your hater judging and try this culture for yourself. If anyone complains our calls "5 O" on you just tell them that it is your culture and the laws shouldn't apply to you because it is your culture and throw out the word culture a lot until they start feeling guilty and that maybe they are the ones that are at fault for judging your culture and in fact the law is unjust because it goes against your culture then they will give up and leave you alone. It works like a charm! Just keep sayin' "But my culture! But my culture!" you'll be amazed at what you can get away with in this country.
May 28, 2010 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Akamai
So what your saying is you're not even going to try this other culture? Come on man! You have three yards! You could have like a three tiered oil fall built out of a 4, a 6, and an 8 cylinder engine blocks. We could dig a pit and put a used plastic kiddie pool in that sucker, filler on up with used oil, put a sump pump in thar and run a garden hose up the back of the engine pile and let er run down em back inta tha pool a oil. what we can do ta power the pump is bury an extension cord under some dirt over into your neighbors yard and plug that rascal into one of her outlets. If she complains just say "But my culture!" that will shut her hater mouth lickety split. If the oil gets out of the pool and EPA comes a knockin', you know what to tell them. Man, you got my creative juices a flowin' I'm going to draw up some plans and drop them by your place. I'll tell you what, I'll landscape your yard for next to nothin' if you let me put a sign in your front yard to advertise my new business.
May 28, 2010 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
The Lyon Co Extension office and Garden Club offer such events Toxic.
As for the grass being greener on the other side of town, I've been thru Country Club Heights recently, it's nowhere as nice as it was back in the 60's and 70's, you should have seen it then. The City hasn't done major street repair in years, the only thing they have done is slurry sealing. Nearly every street in Emporia is on a schedule for that to be done, it's not just done in the Northend of town.
People pick nice neighborhoods to move into to get away from crime and undesirable people in their former neighborhoods. They drive around and see nice yards, gardens, and well kept properties that are attractive compared to the Ghetto they live in. Trouble is when they move in, they bring all of their junk and lifestyles along with them. You either put up with them or put your house up for sale and move out before others like them move in as well. I've had to do that in recent years. I've recently driven thru what used to be upper middle class nice neighborhoods in Emporia in the 70s-80s that now look like low income subsidized housing areas.
May 28, 2010 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
I've always wanted to see this schedule. Our street hasn't received any slurry seal since we moved in over ten years ago.
May 28, 2010 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Ask the City to see it, perhaps the Gazette can put it in print. Slurry sealing your street is not something to look forward to, it does not make it a better looking or driving street, it just seals the cracks up some. When it gets hot outside, you get it all over your shoes. Now if they were to mill down the streets and put a nice layer of blacktop down to smooth them out I could see your complaint about not getting your fair share of road work.
May 28, 2010 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
akamai (anonymous) says...
"Actually, I have five yards."
Holey greedy rancher Batman!!
That's like a lot of dirt you have there.
It reminds me of the guy in this link.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Ra...
He got what many think he had coming to him because he got in the way of some folks that were just trying to feed their families and deliver medicine to people in this country that have diseases like glaucoma and ginko biloba and such. What was he thinking? That he owned that land? Doesn't he know that he stole that land from those fine folks over a 100 years before he was born? There are many things we must rethink ..... apparently(?). Should laws apply equally to everyone? What if someone has a really good excuse to break the law? What if they feel like their life would be better by breaking the law? What if they feel their life would be better if they had your car stereo? Do you want them kicking in your window to take it? Of coarse not silly! That would be silly, silly. You're so silly, silly! We need to rethink whether or not we should even try to secure our cars because there is stuff in there that someone else might want to use to improve their life. What I'm sayin' is if you see somebody on "your" property, don't act in haste. Stop and think about the fact that they may not have the stuff that you have and they may really want that stuff really really really bad. Just be careful out there. It's a brave new world that is really starting to behave like a third world.
May 29, 2010 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"The rancher in your story link was shot and killed for a reason. You see, what the article didn't talk about is that "rancher" was was known to participate in human smuggling activities and he also enjoyed extorting the drug smugglers too."
Oh, I see. It really was his fault and the ones who did it are really his victims. Gotcha. I understand now. Could you provide a link to where you got the facts about this dead evil ugly greedy American and his wicked ways?
May 29, 2010 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
As I watched Independent Lens on PBS last night, I got to thinking about our problem of neighborhood blight. These people featured in the program worked very hard to keep their neighborhood safe from the toxins that would have invaded their spaces. I salute them as I offer you the link so you can watch too. (Unfortunately, the link only provides video shorts. The schedule says it will air in its entirety on June 12. How I was able to see the entire film last night is beyond me. Anyway, watch the shorts, won't you?)
We get irritated by our neighbors who defy the ordinances and turn their yards into junkyards, I know I certainly get irritated by my neighbor who does this, but I'm also thankful we don't have industry that is processing heavy metals that pump toxins into our town like in some areas. I hope you have a chance to take a look at the link I spoke about.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/vi...
May 30, 2010 at 7:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
create,
I wonder what akamais spin on the following bit of news would be, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37422274/...,
not that I would want to actually hear what his/her ridiculous spin would be.
And this is not an invitation to you, akamai to comment or give us your ridiculous spin on anything.
May 30, 2010 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I can see where this is going. The building futures housing committee is pushing for more enforcement via increased hiring of inspectors. More tax dollars on more government workers to legislate the behavior of property owners.
The 1st article of this story in the paper had a picture of a property on Commercial Street that was in "need" of fixing up.
It doesn't take much research to look up the legal owners of these properties, the one pictured is, (according to the Lyon county appraisers parcel search page), owned by a local business couple who have enough resources to keep it looking nice and up to code, or tear it down.
There is another house on commercial in the ten hundred block that could also use some work, and it is owned by different business people.
So why can't the committee work with the Gazette and have a weekly "property of the week", showing properties the committee feels are in need, listing the owners name and address and give the owner a chance to respond?
Maybe, just maybe, these property owners would take a little better care of their properties if everyone knew who the owners were?
May 30, 2010 at 8:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Sorry, create, I meant to adress my previous post to seriouslyfolks.
Oh, and seriously, heres another bit of news info that would probably make akamai go into their particularly ridiculous spin mode. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...
May 30, 2010 at 8:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Steve,
I think that everyone in Emporia knows that there are certain people that noone and I mean absolutely noone " Messes " with and are pretty influential, controlling and good freinds/connected with some of the City Commissioners and are either immune to or above the rules, regulations and laws of the rest of the " common " Emporia, " Folk " . And I think that most of us who have been around here for some time, know that it has been this way for as long as I/we can remember.
I can just imagine the " UP ROAR " that would happen at City Hall if the following were published in the Gazette. Photo of run down house with caption, DILAPIDATED/RUNDOWN HOME/PROPERTY. OWNED BY( name of prominent influential citizen), OWNER CITED FOR NOT MEETING HOUSING CODE, FINED $ 500. ORDERED TO BRING HOME/PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CITY HOUSING CODE OR TEAR IT DOWN OR FACE MORE FINES OR JAIL TIME .
Wow, just imagine the thunder and lightning this would cause at City Hall and the Gazette.
You don' t mess with the Kings or Queens.
May 30, 2010 at 8:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
methusla,
I don't know, if Chris can mess with a high priced lawyer from "NEW YORK CITY", maybe he would be willing to upset the apple cart here in Emporia?
May 30, 2010 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Steve,
Maybe the subjects themselves need to start picketing those King and Queen palaces. The writers of this series of articles are doing their best to shine a spotlight on these properties, but it doesn't seem like it is enough. These Kings and Queens have no shame, just as the many landlords in this city have no shame and continue to offer up sub-standard apartments and houses for rent.
For that matter, there are some commercial properties on 6th Avenue that don't do much for themselves either. Half the time they don't even mow! And speaking of ugly properties, what's happening with that Wendy's? Jeez, what an eyesore! It's disgusting.
May 30, 2010 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I don' t know akamai, the perception of wealth and grandeur, seem to attract crime, in my opinion.
Example, the thought or perception of wealth and getting something for nothing sure has encouraged approx. 20 to 30 million immigrants to break the " Law/Laws " .
May 30, 2010 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
There is no hope for humanity when we have to bribe people to behave. Sad sad sad.
May 30, 2010 at 6:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I myself live in a small humble little house on the south side yet I obey the law. There are probably more houses that are better than mine in this town than not, yet I obey the law. There is all sorts of material crap that at times I think I want yet instead of just taking it, I obey the law. I know many people who live a humble life within their means and there is a lot of stuff they don't have, I don't know if they are tempted to break the law but I know they don't. I don't think that not having what someone else does is an excuse to break the law. We have too many people making excuses why the law should be broken. There should be a law.
May 30, 2010 at 6:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
A famous essay with the theme of neighborhood cleanup is called "Broken Windows." Here's part of it and then the link if you want to read it in its entirety.
...at the community level, disorder and crime are usually inextricably linked, in a kind of developmental sequence. Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in run-down ones.
Window-breaking does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined window-breakers whereas others are populated by window-lovers; rather, one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more
windows costs nothing. (It has always been fun.)
Philip Zimbardo, a Stanford psychologist, reported in 1969 on some experiments testing the broken-window theory. He arranged to have an automobile without license plates parked with its hood up on a street in the Bronx and a comparable automobile on a street in Palo Alto, California. The car in the
Bronx was attacked by "vandals" within ten minutes of its "abandonment." The first to arrive were a family -- father, mother, and young son -- who removed the radiator and battery. Within twenty-four hours, virtually everything of value had been removed. Then random destruction began -- windows were
smashed, parts torn off, upholstery ripped. Children began to use the car as a playground. Most of the
adult "vandals" were well dressed, apparently clean-cut whites.
The car in Palo Alto sat untouched for
more than a week. Then Zimbardo smashed part of it with a sledgehammer. Soon, passersby were joining
in. Within a few hours, the car had been turned upside down and utterly destroyed. Again, the 'vandals"
appeared to be primarily respectable whites.
http://www.manhattan-institute.org/pd...
May 31, 2010 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I give up, I for one cannot stand to read nor respond to anymore of akamai's insane, illogical drivel . These forums used to be a fairly decent place for disussion, debate and yes, at times, even argue and temper flairs, but akamai, Henry VIII, and ole crackinsack have managed to ruin it, at least for me, with their illogical, helter-skelter thoughts .
May 31, 2010 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
methusla, just read past those who irritate you. Be choosy. It's like going to a smorgasbord; if you take everything offered, you'll soon be much too full to really appreciate the special dishes offered.
May 31, 2010 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
"I certainly get irritated by my neighbor"
So did I when I lived within the city limits. I moved and now you know why I use this alias on here.
May 31, 2010 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
a·li·en (l-n, lyn) n.
1. An unnaturalized foreign resident of a country. Also called noncitizen.
2. A person from another and very different family, people, or place.
3. A person who is not included in a group; an outsider.
illegal [ɪˈliːgəl]
adj
1. forbidden by law; unlawful; illicit
2. unauthorized or prohibited by a code of official or accepted rules
n
a person who has entered or attempted to enter a country illegally
illegally adv
illegality n
akamai
You are asking the wrong question. You can't get and answer to the question"What does an illegal alien look like?" because we are a country made up of every race and this is a great thing. It is not what the person looks like that makes them "alien". It is where they come from that makes them "alien". That is by definition. What makes them illegal is breaking the law. That is also by definition. So how do we know who is an illegal alien or not? Well, we could ask.
May 31, 2010 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
seriously,
My friend, I have tried to explain this exact concept to akamai and others, in severaly different ways, but have had no success in getting the point across. Perhaps you will fair better than I, but I doubt it.
May 31, 2010 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I know, methusla. It seems an uphill battle at times. I wonder if it is that they really understand but want to make excuses why certain groups of people should be allowed to break the law. Is it only certain people that can break only certain laws. Can certain other people break certain other laws but not this one over here? Is there any law that applies to everyone across the board? It's all very confusing. Is there a chart somewhere that explains who can break what law and which laws they have to follow, if any?
May 31, 2010 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
akamai,
You say you do not know what an illegal alien/immigrant looks like . I do not know what a " REDNECK " looks like or what part of the world or country a " REDNECK " hails from or what language a " REDNECK " speaks, without asking or checking, somehow. So just exactly what is a " REDNECK " any way, a species of bird like a bluejay ?
Also your last comment has undertones of racial discrimination against " REDNECKS ", whatever they are, and the French . You need to see a therapist of some sort.
May 31, 2010 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
akamai (anonymous) says...
"As far as who is legal or illegal .......... I don't care!"
I'm glad some people care about the law before it gets broken to the point that it hurts me and my family. We can go to work everyday and we don't really have to worry about protecting our property because we have laws and law enforcement. For the most part people either respect the law or fear the enforcement enough not to break the law. Now we have people that defend breaking certain laws and that kinda worries me. What if people start breaking the laws that protect my family? Will that law breaking be defended? What if the people breaking that law have a really keen reason to do so? What if they think I deserve to have my daughter beat because I'm a redneck and have an oil waterfall in my front yard? You may want my daughter to get a good ol' beat down but I prefer that she doesn't get beat and I'm glad there are laws and law enforcement to protect her when I can not because I have to go to work or go on tour with Logjam. Watch this video and you'll get a good idea of why laws are important in this country.
http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/
May 31, 2010 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, akamai, I see that you are a very materialistic person. You need to get paid for doing the right thing .
Noone said you have to knock on a violators door. You can always call the City and report the violater of the " LAW " . I have done that very thing many times .
June 1, 2010 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
FarmRaised
I saw that same documentary and read the same thing . I just wanted to see what akamai's take on what a redneck was. Some people use the term " redneck " as a derogatory remark .
I have also read, that the term " redneck " is associated with anyone who works outside, such as, farmers, cowboys, construction workers, etc., etc., because the backs of their necks usually get red/sunburned . So, as I see it anyone who spends anytime in the sun and gets their neck sunburned from laboring in the out of doors is a " redneck " and that is not a bad thing, as they are usually hardworking and honest people and most of them are not wealthy people either.
June 1, 2010 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Can we get back on topic, please.
Earlier, I had posted a link to an essay. "Broken Windows," about neighborhood neglect.
Wait until you see this. This is my hometown in Hawaii where a similar problem is occurring, only it got worse in a hurry. It certainly proves the thesis of the Broken Windows essay.
http://www.kitv.com/news/23764971/det...
June 2, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
swoozie (anonymous) says...
From experience (on the wrong side of the experience), Code Enforcement is almost entirely complaint driven. If you see a problem, call & tell them. They'll go out to see if the problem is a violation of city code. If it is, they will cite the property owner. The owner gets a certain amount of time to fix the problem. If they don't, the city can fix it and bill them, or take them to court.
After our experience, I've become far more proactive about reporting issues, particularly when they involve city properly where someone has planted trees or put in other landscaping that blocks being able to see down a street to safely make a turn.
We're paying for the code enforcement department to exist as it is. Why aren't we assuring that we're getting what we're paying for?
June 3, 2010 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
Great story! Great comments!
June 15, 2010 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )