During the intermission at the forum last night for the mayoral candidates in Salisbury’s upcoming election, there was mention of a major rift among the landlord’s trade group –“SAPOA” – about the effort being made by Salisbury’s legendary landlord, Richard Insley, to influence the outcome by duping his tenants into voting for his champion, Gary Comegys, and against Bob Caldwell and Jim Ireton. Insley’s letter to his tenants was exposed on this blog a couple weeks ago.
The buzz last night was also about recent correspondence by and or about Sir Richard sent to or from the officers or members of SAPOA – we don’t have complete details and have not seen any such document(s). If you have any, it can be made public on this blog by sending it to the e-mail address stated above.
4 comments:
not much more to say about a bag of dirt
I want to know who's who on what side of this supposed rift.
There were landlords who had no problem repeating Insley's lies in the last election.
These slum lords have GOT to go! I can't prove it because what I have is hearsay but was told that one of them is going to start renting on a month to month lease. That way, if the tenant is 3 to 5 days late with the rent, they don't have to pay for the eviction process, they just don't renew the lease.
I have read the various ignorant comments on this blog directed at landlords and Richard Insley in particular. Here is a news flash for you judgemental quick studies who have exposed yourselves as having no real understanding of legitimate business practices. Get a life. Get over your wealth envy. Richard Insley is entitled to his perspective which he has earned through years of hard work. No tenant is forced to move into his properties. No tenant is forced to sign his lease. We live in a free market. There is plenty of housing competition in this town. Due to the competition, it behooves no landlord to provide substandard properties or price gouge. In addition, landlords pay 70% of the taxes in this city but have no vote and therefore have no voice. Mr. Insley would be a fool not to encourage his tenants to vote against candidates who seek unnecessary legislation that victimize them and penalize his industry. Debbie Campbell and Jim Ireton certainly have no problems misleading the students into thinking that each has the students' best interests at heart. Everyone else knows the first item on their mutual agenda is to revisit 4-2 in order to kick the kids out of the neighborhoods. Hey Joe, you're the maverick reporter for the city, why haven't you reported that rental properties in the city of Salisbury are now 98% code compliant? It's a matter of public record and it is excellent news. Surely you've noted the improvement in the housing stock since Neighborhood Services was created. Hey Joe, we are in a recession and Salisbury has a huge crime problem, why haven't you exposed the $84,000.00 of wasted tax dollars spent by Campbell and Cohen since their arrival to the city council? This horrific tax waste accumulated due to their cavalier misuse of the city staff to mandate inane and unnecessary research of items such as zoning issues that occurred in 1957. Tax payer money has been spent in order to fulfill their personal agendas to find a legal precedent to overturn the current 4-2. It's a matter of public record. Seems to me that money could have been used to bolster the struggling police department and fight the crime that is victimizing all citizens of Salisbury including students who regularly get jumped on city streets.
It is very interesting to note that it is illegal for landlords to practice discrimination, yet our elected officials have given themselves carte-blanche to pass discriminating legislation. I know their theory is: "If you get the students out of the neighborhoods, single families are going to buy up all the rental properties. Homeownership will improve the neighborhood because homeowners will take pride in their property." Great theory, but Landlords have to feed their families, so someone has to rent their properties. Section 8 may be less money but it is guaranteed income. Beware the law of unintended consequences. Unnecessary and unfriendly legislation in all likelihood may cause conditions in Salisbury Neighborhoods to get worse and not better.
There are ways for landlords and neighborhoods to co-exist in a world of mutual respect. Many Landlords actually run an ethical business. Many landlords' kids attend school with your kids. Many Landlords care deeply about the City of Salisbury, its now and its future. Many Landlords work consistently in conjunction with the University and police department to make the city a better place to live. I suggest you blog participants attempt to solve problems in a responsible way instead of name calling and vilifying others. What have you name callers actually done to help your city? Get a clue before casting stones.
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