Post by Marc LeVine on Feb 19, 2007 8:58:28 GMT -5
The APP Editorial Board continues to praise Freehold Borough's efforts to get tough with bad landlords and tenant. Here is today's Asbury Park Press' edititorial:
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/19/07
The occupants of a house in Asbury Park were fortunate no one was injured when a fire broke out there recently next to the city's firehouse. Their good fortune — and that of the landlord's — is likely to be short-lived.
Fire officials later determined that the residence, which contained three apartments, housed 35 people. Extra beds and mattresses were found throughout, including the attic. Many residents were sleeping on hardwood floors with their personal space set off by their belongings, fire officials said.
The landlord will pay, though likely not enough. And the illegal tenants, all believed to be from Mexico, will have their immigration status checked. At the very least, they will need a new place to stay.
The owner of the house, Star Express LLC, was cited with seven violations, including overcrowding and lack of adequate exits from the attic space, officials said. But it's doubtful the fines will come close to matching the monthly rental income the landlord derived from the illegal tenants.
Asbury Park is far from the only municipality coping with severe code violations. Lakewood, Freehold, Long Branch and other municipalities with large immigrant populations, large inventories of multi-unit residences and unscrupulous landlords have trouble keeping up with the problem.
The federal government's failure to address the immigration issue has exacerbated the problem. Until it acts, it will be up to local government to deal with it. Freehold is on the right track in trying to deal with overcrowding and building and fire code violations. Asbury Park officials should pick up a copy of the borough's Rental Property Advisory Committee recommendations and use them as a starting point for updating their own policies. The city also should send a message to other slumlords by throwing the book at Star Express.
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/19/07
The occupants of a house in Asbury Park were fortunate no one was injured when a fire broke out there recently next to the city's firehouse. Their good fortune — and that of the landlord's — is likely to be short-lived.
Fire officials later determined that the residence, which contained three apartments, housed 35 people. Extra beds and mattresses were found throughout, including the attic. Many residents were sleeping on hardwood floors with their personal space set off by their belongings, fire officials said.
The landlord will pay, though likely not enough. And the illegal tenants, all believed to be from Mexico, will have their immigration status checked. At the very least, they will need a new place to stay.
The owner of the house, Star Express LLC, was cited with seven violations, including overcrowding and lack of adequate exits from the attic space, officials said. But it's doubtful the fines will come close to matching the monthly rental income the landlord derived from the illegal tenants.
Asbury Park is far from the only municipality coping with severe code violations. Lakewood, Freehold, Long Branch and other municipalities with large immigrant populations, large inventories of multi-unit residences and unscrupulous landlords have trouble keeping up with the problem.
The federal government's failure to address the immigration issue has exacerbated the problem. Until it acts, it will be up to local government to deal with it. Freehold is on the right track in trying to deal with overcrowding and building and fire code violations. Asbury Park officials should pick up a copy of the borough's Rental Property Advisory Committee recommendations and use them as a starting point for updating their own policies. The city also should send a message to other slumlords by throwing the book at Star Express.
