Ignorance = immunity & impunity, or some think.
I believe the above words apply to the Mason City Council along with the administrative staff. Sometimes when you have the key to City Hall, you might tend to think City Hall is yours.
You’d be wrong.
It’s hard to ignore what is taking place on the North End of the city; at the center seems to be Russ Hardy the city’s largest residential property developer….also one of the largest property tax payers. Russ once said to me; “Do you know what makes a slum lord?” The answer was tenants….tenants turn properties into trash. He then took me on a short tour of one of his remolding projects. This was the former Dodge House on 1st street NW. All the appliances were top of the line Westinghouse, there was WiFi in each unit, expensive sheet rock used that provided sound proofing between apartments….everything was top shelf, and the best money could buy.
But once it was rented what took place inside had nothing to do with him. This is true of every landlord. If your tenant has paid the rent you cannot enter without just cause. Are some of Russ’s properties run down? You bet; are there other properties in this city owned by others that do not meet code? You bet. In a democratic society you don’t get to pick and choose. Sometimes before you push someone into a corner you better take inventory. This isn’t over until the fat lady sings….and she is just approaching the stage now.
Peter Children of Mason City
You are so right Peter. People are simply lazy and can’t seem to want to pick up after themselves. The real hogs are the people that QWN their home and can’t get it done either.
In most cities there are inspectors for blight and code violations..THAT is where the problem lies…enforcement. Fines after fines. Hit em in the pocketbook and someone new will emerge.
@anon-we have city inspectors too, but there just are not enough of them to do what needs to be done. Also, if they had some leadership or just plain support by getting out of their way they would accomplish more. You are right that a lot of homes that are owned are allowed to be trashed out and nothing is done about it. No one seems to care any more.
Are you certain the rent is up to date on houses you claim he walks into? If the rent is owing it’s another ball game. Besides what could he possibly gain by conning me?
Well Peter, he could just be looking for sympathy. I have heard this about him for years and years. Many people that I know and do not think they would lie have told me things about him. Enough that I would never rent from him. The only reason the city doesn’t crack down on him is because he does pay a lot of taxes. Talk to other realtors and see what they tell you.
I heard all the landlord stories out on the campaign trail, knocking on doors and then sitting in living rooms once invited inside. The tales I was told span more than one or two landlords, and there were some doozies. Conveniently, there is no Human Rights agency left to speak of to report this kind of behavior. In that vacuum, NIT has offered to take Human Rights complaints and investigate. So far we have received just 3 complaints, but boy, are they interesting.
@peter-he has owned the old Pete’s Place building for years and after all these years of ignoring it he finally put in some cheap windows in the front. Nothing more than cosmetics to get the heat off. When he finally cleans them up along with other places he owns I might change my opinion. Now, I understand his son is altogether different.
Peter-He is conning you and you fell for it. I know several people who rent from him and everyone of them tells me he walks in unannounced. Most have changed the locks at their own expense to keep him out. I have seen his rent houses and the ones in his wife’s name on North Federal and I wouldn’t let my dog live in most of them.