|
CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> had it all set up within a week though and we were fine with it. We knew it going in, it's just my
<br /> husband and I,and we were good.The thing that concerns me about this is, I think it's a great start,
<br /> but with re-inspection to take place in sixty (60) days, the landlord will be able to start eviction
<br /> proceedings. What is there in place to stop a tenant from losing their home? We know evictions
<br /> are high in South Bend. I think it's eighteenth(18th)in the country. Three(3) families per day lose
<br /> their home here in South Bend. I'm not really seeing anything in this ordinance that puts any
<br /> protections into place. That up to eight hundred dollars ($800) of assistance for relocation is
<br /> nothing to a poor family. That is basically spitting on them.When there is a poor family living pay
<br /> check to three (3) days before paycheck, that not going to move them. It's barely going to cover
<br /> the U-Haul and moving expenses. Most poor families at least have one (1) eviction already on
<br /> their record. So now, you have a family in crisis, students that can't go to their school, parents
<br /> frantically rearranging their work schedule, hope they don't get points or lose their job in the
<br /> meantime. I think this is a great step,but South Bend can do more for tenants. We are forty percent
<br /> (40%) of the population, we deserve to be treated with the same respect that property owners
<br /> receive.
<br /> Pete Taddeo, 2537 Grape Road, stated, I'm president of Access Properties and we have a large
<br /> number of rentals, especially in South Bend. We have close to 1,000 rentals and I've been at this
<br /> for fifty-five(55)years as of last month. I'm in favor of this program. I think there are some needed
<br /> modifications in it and I've already spoken to Jamie Morgan and others about those modifications.
<br /> I think there needs to be an appeal process built into this ordinance where if there is a disagreement
<br /> between an inspector and landlord,it can be brought up in an independent-based appeal process to
<br /> work it out in a very common sensical way. A lot of this depends on the International Property
<br /> Maintenance Code. I'd venture to say that close to one hundred percent (100%) of the people in
<br /> this room, and landlords,have no idea what that means. Actually, there are a lot of common-sense
<br /> requirements in that code. I think outside of this ordinance, you need to have an educational
<br /> program available to landlords. Also, I have two (2) fast food restaurants. I'm saying this for a
<br /> reason. You open up a fast food restaurant, the Health Department has to come in and approve it
<br /> for occupancy. Then they come back on a random basis to make sure you follow it. If you get a
<br /> complaint, you'll be shut down until you open. Well, if you have a couple of minor problems,
<br /> you're not shut down, but you have a certain amount of time to correct that. Also, every store has
<br /> to have their managers that go through an educational program. It is one hundred fifty dollars
<br /> ($150)per person and I think landlords should have the same opportunity. They should go through
<br /> a program to learn about this International Property Maintenance Code, which this whole thing
<br /> and program is based on. Secondly, I think we have some smart people and we need to think in
<br /> smart ways. We could do far more inspections than what is proposed if we can do the vacant
<br /> homes.You could probably do ten(10)a day,vacant homes.We do it for our company and it takes
<br /> about forty-five (45) seconds to go through a home to decide if it is livable, ok? Thirdly, what
<br /> would help this ordinance a lot is something called receivership. If a landlord is uncooperative,
<br /> you put it in receivership, an independent person comes in, takes charge of the property, cleans it
<br /> up and that would help this a lot.
<br /> Andre Stoner, 628 Cushing Street, stated, I am a homeowner, a neighbor, a landlord and through
<br /> my work with the Near Northwest Neighborhood, I also connect with and relate to a lot of tenants.
<br /> On all of those counts, I am supportive of this initiative. I would like to commend the staff of the
<br /> City. I think they really did their homework. It's complicated.They've really done a lot of research
<br /> and, I think,have been engaged with a lot of people and really prepared a good piece of work here.
<br /> One (1) question I have has to do with the experience of tenants who are in really substandard
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
<br /> 17
<br />
|