Slum lord letter to Transcript

[admin]

I was really ticked after reading the article about the illegal eatery in the News transcript. So, while still hot, I wrote out a quick letter to the transcript. I hope others will follow.
Here it is:

I have written to the New Transcript before on related matters, and I am writing today because of outrage at what I read on the front page. The recent discovery of an illegal restaurant in Freehold Borough is truly amazing and disgusting. The article said there may be even more. What is worse is that the owner of the property is a police officer. I hope he loses his job for allowing this kind of activity on his property.

An illegal restaurant? What about zoning regulations? Health and safety codes? Neighbors? and a host of other issues. Some heads need to roll because this is out of control.

These landlord in Freehold Borough, who have no regard for law, or the quality of life for Freehold residents, need to get out. The lawful residents are getting really tired of opportunistic people ruining our streets.

The Transcript, again, did us a favor by printing the names of the involved parties.

Thank You,

[Marc LeVine]

Yes, Brian. Write that letter and encourage others to do the same!

Here, we have a golden opportunity to send a message that this sort of thing will not be tolerated in Freehold Borough. LOTS of your letters will have a desirable impact on the people that are allowing this kind of "crap" to happen at their properties.

We can take them down, one by one. We can also demonstrate to the media that this is the type of news that regularly belongs in their newspapers. We all want to read about this stuff, because it hits much closer to home than some isolated crime on a back street of town at 3:00 am in the morning. These landlords and their tenants make our lives miserable EVERY DAY, 24 by 7.

As these situation come out to the public and the landlord's names and backgrounds are revealed, we'll find it increasingly interesting learning who these people are. Already, we have learned that our slumlords are members of the Lakewood Orthodox community, code officials from other towns and even active police officers from within Monmouth County. There are Doctors, Lawyers and prominent business people also involved in slum property ownership in Freehold Borough.

There will be some, who could care less if their names hit the newspapers. But, there are many others, who business and social futures depend on staying out of the negative limelight. This is why keeping the heat on, will have a desired effect and send the message that we are fed up with this kind of garbage and are fighting back.

PLEASE, SEND IN MASS LETTERS TO THE AREA NEWSPAPERS. FLOOD THEM WITH YOUR LETTERS. MAKE THEM HAVE TO SET UP A SEPARATE SECTION HOLDING DOZENS OF YOUR LETTERS, AS THEY OFTEN HAVE TO DO AFTER A STORY LIKE THIS BREAKS. AND CONTINUE WRITING, SO THAT SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT ISSUES OFFERS YOUR LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC.

Marc

[admin]

Today I got home from work and had a message on my machine from the Transcript wanting to confirm that I am the author. I did call them back so we will wait and see if it is printed.

As I have written and as Marc has written, this is a very important topic for all residents to write the papers about. The Asbury Park Press has not reported on these issues. It is time for us to make them aware. I will be writing the APP in reference to all of the nonsense that has been going on.

Marc is right about name publication. Lefkowitz is no more. I am sure that the police officers and code officers will take some serious heat for their involvement.

[Marc LeVine]

I wrote something to the Transcript, too. We need to build attention and momentum and keep this at the top of the news.

Dear Editor:

Bravo for your reporting on the private residence recently busted while operating as a home restaurant and overcrowded house in Freehold Borough. Our town really appreciates the special attention the News Transcript is paying to its efforts in dealing with bad landlords and inconsiderate tenants.

While not all absentee landlords necessarily make bad neighbors, we seem to have stumbled upon a large pocket of troublesome Borough slumlords, trying to disguise themselves as solid citizens. So far, in a series of articles, you have successfully unmasked several code violators and in so doing, revealed the faces of police officers, code enforcement officials from other towns and religious members of the Lakewood community. You have also introduced us to numerous tenants who have shown little regard for federal, state and municipal laws; the publics health and safety, their neighbor's quality of life; and, least of all, any terms of the rental leases they allegedly signed.

While I praise the efforts of our code enforcement and health departments for doing an excellent job dealing with the people we just discussed, I highly commend your newspaper for taking the lead on this entire issue and realizing that bad landlords and bad tenants deserve bad press - and giving it to them. Keep up the good work!

Marc LeVine
Councilman, Freehold Borough

[cloris]

At the town council meeting this week Councilman Marc LeVine congratulated the Transcript for their article with regard to the lack of respect certain tenants and their absentee landlords have for our community. Particularly the illegal restaurant. Besides the health and occupancy violations this "restaurant" also was serving alcohol without a license. Legal restaurants in this town don't serve alcohol because they don't have the very expensive license, but what the heck do as you like and let the law abiding citizens be d**ned.

Illegal restaurants are just the tip of the iceberg. In Lackwood a resident found that she was living less than 20 feet from a house that had an illegal propane tank hooked up to the gas line. According to officials it was only a matter of time before that tank exploded and to nearest estimations it would have taken out the entire block. We can only imagine if such a condition exists somewhere in the Borough. Code enforcement is doing the best the can but they can't be everywhere.

Illegal restaurants, electrical fires (Long Island) and potential explosions are concerns for every resident in the Borough and elsewhere. These landlords and their uncaring tenants need to be dealt a harsh blow, its not a matter of rights its a matter of life and death.

[admin]

I am happy to report that both mine and Marc's letters made it to the Transcript. Me thinks the APP is next.

[Marc LeVine]

The Press is not picking up on these stories and this upsets me. This is definately newsworthy stuff and of great interest to the public at large. I hand delivered this story to them at the same time I gave it to the Transcript and the interest level immediately soared at TNT.

Therefore, I think a letter writing campaign is in order reminding the Asbury Park Press that they need to be covering this ongoing saga in the Borough. We will continue to provide them with additional opportunies to report on this story and your support as readers is appreciated.

Marc

[admin]

Diane in Lakewood has also gone to the App among other papers, with very little success. I think these papers really need to wake up.