MAYOR IRETON: STU LEER IS CORRECT, ONCE AGAIN!
Those old homes that were converted to apartments many years ago (before most City residents were even born) may be non-conforming under the zoning laws, but they are suitable for the only type of occupancy that will be made in those structures from now on. Their zoning district classification is what makes them non-conforming, and it should be changed to a district that allows for apartment conversions.
Since the City is revising its comprehensive plan for zoning, the areas with apartment conversions should be designated for that purpose and then zoned that way. If that’s done they would then no longer be non-conforming. That would be better than if the mayor continues to try to drive away the tenants who live in them.
Mr. Ireton has made his bed with the crowd that does not want those persons to live anywhere near them. He is not capable of changing his course, which is headed for the rocks, by proposing a reasonable solution.
We can expect Ireton to expend much of his time and energy and substantial City funds in an effort to shut down those apartments. If he wins, the tenants will be forced to relocate to other neighborhoods throughout the City and the buildings will remain vacant and become derelict. And Ireton could, and he would, brag that he did what Barrie Tilghman failed to do – beat Stu Leer – but the City would be the real loser.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
37 comments:
Ireton is about to learn the hard way that he has not been appointed the Sun God of Salisbury.
10:32 Nor has Stu Leer!
Ireton is another Barrie Tilghman, but associates with a different clique on the Council. And one other difference, that one just has 2 members, not 3, which is a huge difference.
And most City residents are more concerned about jobs, safety and taxes than whether there are some older apartment houses in the Camden area and in Newtown.
Stu Leer is about to learn the hard way that he doesn't get to screw the citizens of Salisbury for decades without paying the consequences.
11:42-
Stu Leer will whip Ireton, with or without Wilber, just like Mr. Leer stopped Barrie in her tracks.
So . . .it is all about Stu Leer? Ego!
Ireton's refusal to meet with SAPOA or with members of the Council other than Campbell & Cohen shows him to be just as bad as Barrie was when she was mayor.
Leer said on WBOC last evening in discussing one of his rentals. You know how much it would cost me to fix this place up". "DAH" the mentality of a landlord. I guess there are some can that can only afford sheds. When are they going to slum them up for residences. What's next?
"Mr. Ireton has made his bed with the crowd that does not want those persons to live anywhere near them."
Seems Shanie Shields is ghost writing for Joe now. She often says this about Camden residents. She hasn't had the pleasure in recent years of watching landlords knocking out upper story walls to put in doors.
Question is: who is ghost writing for Shanie Shields?
(Joe, when you aren't writing these things, please put a line in there that clearly shows that. I've read you a long time and can tell you didn't write this, but newer people might not know.)
--DB
Why can't we focus on the legislation instead of these personal battles, manufactured by SAPOA, designed to distract us?
Ireton's bill is trying to help the city while offering help to landlords - it lets landlords EVICT problem tenants after three calls for service in a year! I thought Stu Leer et. al. would be doing backflips over that. Instead, they're whining about how a bill was drafted that they knew was coming for 14 months?
It's smoke and mirrors from SAPOA's leaders, meant to distract us from the fact this city needs this new code to help keep its citizens safe.
Remember what's in it:
*Community Empowerment Act to help abate nuisances (like Thrift Travel Inn)
*Crime Free Lease Addendum, successfully used in many city to get rid of criminals from rentals
*Tenants Bill of Rights, which plainly states how many are allowed to live in the dwelling
*Three Strikes Provision, which allows the city to get back some of the tax money they spend on calls for service to problem properties
*Code sweeps to make sure problem properties are dealt with
*BZA code revision, which means no more "letters from a neighbor from 1972" at hearings.
That's what's in the bill. That's what they are trying to stop. The question is, WHY?
Stu Leer doesn't want the code changed because he's making money under the old, antiquated, broken one. There's nothing in the new code that he and the leaders of SAPOA shouldn't being doing already.
Focus on the bill, not the middle school drama generated by SAPOA.
Joe - Why do you always take sides with the landlords and SAPOA on issues regarding housing in single family neighborhoods? Is it because you have no disruptive rentals nearby where you live in Delmar? I am happy for you that you live in a relatively peaceful environment. However, you cannot truly understand our neighborhood problems here in "70% rental Salisbury." Give us a break, and maybe even a little occasional support with our situation here.
Thanks.
A loyal follower of your blog.
What if the landlords caved in and pulled out of salisbury? What would happen? No more taxes being paid on those properties, none of the residents qualify to purchased tham now that fannie isn't giving loans to people without income or money down, the properties would be taken over by squatters and things would be much worse. Wake up Salisbury, it's notthe place to live anymore...neither is Baltimore or Princess Anne.
D.B. says:
Sorry, Joe. Just saw it was a letter to the editor.
The landlord should have signed his name.
Subtle and not-so-subtle casting of the people of Camden as racists has been a long-standing tactic of Shanie Shields and SAPOA. But SAPOA wants everyone to think they've changed their spots.
So glad I got out of Salisbury "proper" when I did, but two of my dear friends live in the affected areas. I've seen what goes on.
What is it about the TITLE A Letter To The Editor so many of you didn't understand? I did not write this piece.
People of Camden racist!?!?
12:25-
Let's be truthful, please.
Stu Leer's remark that you mention about the cost was in the context of reconverting the building back to a single-family dwelling. That cost would be humongous, and there is no demand for single family homes in that area.
Like them or not, the landlords have made the area better than what it otherwise would be -- a bunch of abandoned and boarded up houses.
Because the rental homes don't get the special "homestead tax credit" that the City gives to a resident homeowner, the landlords are paying a much greater tax burden than the residents who own their homes. Ireton better be careful about driving landlords out of the City, or the homeowners will have to pay much higher taxes.
I bet they dont want mold test done.
I just think Leer and his compatriots have a responsibility to offer SAFE housing.Some of those old tinderboxes they rent for ridiculously huge amounts of money are literal deathtraps.The families who live in them may not be able to afford much but they do deserve to be safe.
1:14 - It's MARYLAND law - the city hasn't been in compliance for years. The state has told the mayor's office, "Get in compliance." Stu Leer wants to complain, he should do it to the state government.
Joe:
Ireton is just as obnoxious and arrogant as Barrie Tilghman in her prime. By secretly meeting with just two members of the City Council he has lost any support that he might have gotten from the other three if he had consulted with them also. His conduct and disparaging comments about SAPOA members is no different from Barrie’s “dirty dozen” criticism. And his “my way or the highway” scheme will explode in his face, just like telling the Council that they had to select a fire chief from his list of names.
He is in so far over his head that he will never be effective – a sure sign is his constant media presence and castigation of those who disagree with him. Campbell & Cohen are like Pelosi and Reid to his Barack Obama.
1:14,
Perhaps. Or perhaps an investor would have snapped up the boarded up houses and done something else with them. Who knows? Might the demand for single family homes go up once the boardinghouses were removed and a more stable population moved in?
1:21,
Our taxes will go down when these rentals become homes because rentals take a disproportionate share of our services, including police. Nobody is against all rentals, but we are way out of proportion in Salisbury, and the landlords have been running the city for too long.
1:44 -- please quote or provide a citation to the "Maryland law" that you mentioned.
1:55 -- that area went to apartments in the past because the homes were no longer desired for single-family, and that would not change now. Ireton's plan will just make things worse. Face it, the landlords have helped, not hurt those streets.
1:14 --
Please identify the state official who has told the mayor's office to "get in compliance."
Or, are you BS-ing us?
Ireton is a buffoon who thinks that the clock can be turned back to yesteryear in the older part of Salisbury if the landlords are forced to leave. But that would be a disaster because the tenants and rentals would spread all over town except in a few exclusive places, and the apartment buildings would become boarded up shells.
The situation would be much worse if PRMC had not bought and torn down so many of the old homes over the years.
Bulls-eye:
"He {Ireton, that is] is in so far over his head that he will never be effective – a sure sign is his constant media presence and castigation of those who disagree with him. Campbell & Cohen are like Pelosi and Reid to his Barack Obama.
1:55--
So, would you move there (and where do you live now)?
Where do you live, 3:20? I bet I live a lot closer than you do!
Stu Leer has made a fortune in Salisbury renting to low income people. Of course he doesn't want anything to change. Because of the poor oversight of housing regulations in Salisbury it has become mostly a slum. The majority of streets in Salisbury are unsafe to walk at night. And guess who owns most of the properties in those areas? Tha landlords have run this city for years and I doubt it will change anytime soon.
Remember, we must maintain a large amount of slum properties in Salisbury so those people don't move away. There is gold in them thar hills!
4:11
"Remember, we must maintain a large amount of slum properties in Salisbury so those people don't move away."
Like where would they go, idiot?
Mr. or Ms. 4:11
Frank Perdue also made a fortune off those same "low income people" who work in that plant in Salisbury, so why don't you trash him, too.
Ireton, Obama:clueless
If they redistrict the sections that have conversions, kiss Camden and Newtown goodbye. They'll be total slums instead of half slums.
Sad cuz the bride and I were thinking it would be cool to live in one of the only two neighborhoods with some history and character left. We'd like to get out of our sterile apartment, even did a little "window shopping" since can't afford it yet.
With this proposal, it'll be "all hood, no neighbor." Thanks, but no thanks!
Come on folks. All of these issues involving rentals were identified by the Crime Task Force under Barrie Tilghman's Administration. Ireton inherited them.
4:37 Right on Stu lets trash Frank Perdue!
I am an owner of rental properties in and around Salisbury and not a member of any association. I dont have any rentals that I would have a problem living in. Fact is I have lived in 3 of my rentals. Sadly there are owners that could care less.
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