I would like to once again draw attention to the city’s North side. It appears to be almost like another city, one that’s detached from the rest of the community. It isn’t a place were it could draw business, it seems very unsafe and I am sure it is.
Many of you will remember the Flame & Ember’s club operated by John Zanios. It was a popular supper club that operated for many years on the same block as the now infamous Alley Katz bar now sits. It was well upholstered, the food was good and it was very safe. In fact there were several business located in that region that did a brisk business. Of course the Decker packing plant was in ful operation, 600 hogs an hour were slaughtered there….took a lot of people to process that. The two cement plants were also in full operation…more people, many living in immediate area of their work.
Then the plants ultimately closed and the area fell into decay and never recovered. When property becomes run down, it loses it’s attraction, it’s luster….the rent becomes much cheaper and that draws an element who are not heavily laden with funds and therefore not at all concerned with mowed lawns and flower boxes. These people are often dealers in various forms of popular pharmacology products and do not need expensive store front locations….plus they have a high disdain for authority. They are also almost impossible to completely eradicate, once one becomes a guest of the state, another quickly fills the vacancy.
What then is the solution? In my opinion the quickest way to revitalize a blighted area is to put in a new development; I am not talking about a couple store fronts… no one is going to invest money in that area in hopes of selling something, not now. You need a large development, one that could encompass a vast amount of land, something that could change the landscape and become a preeminent presence in the area. This sort of investment in blighted areas has been know to attract more businesses that will feed off the primary development and spread.
This in turn will act as a retardant to undesirables because they are not comfortable in the presence of more authority which will occur to patrol the new development. Also revoke the liquor license at Alley Katz bar and do not issue and new licenses in that section of the city. We have a brand new city planner…lets see what he can do.
Peter Children
Sounds a whole lot like the discredited urban renewal projects of the 60s.
On the other hand, if you are talking about trying to get new industrial or manufacturing businesses located in that area to recreate what used to be there with Decker and the cement plants, more power to you, though I think those days are over for good, and not just in Mason City.
“When you determine that you do not want to rent to them, simply set your priced higher than they can afford and ask for a high rent deposit. It will be them turning down the house, not you turning down the renter. No discrimination can be proven there.”
This alludes to unequal terms in housing. Such an action is hard to defend, and can point to Cream skimming, Social steering, and other such illegal acts. The exact wording of that statement alone is patently illegal on that basis. If evidence is found, the property owner or agent is going to need a lawyer.
Anyone who has faced this kind of behavior should contact the Mason City Human Rights Commission or a lawyer who specialized in housing.
.. And then there are SLUMLORDS who dont want to fix anything in/on their property or promise they will but never do and are only interested in getting their $$. Don’t spew this crap and complain about who you can or cannot rent to when some land lords have no intention of fixing things and only want their money then blame previous damage on the renters. That’s why when I have rented places I will take photos of before I move in and after.
And then there are SLUMLORDS who can no longer spend $1500 to $2000 every time they evict deadbeat renters who determine that the rented land is their private cesspool/dump.
bookmeyer said before he got elected was he was going to bring jobs. I know they all say that but has he brought any jobs to here and actually take credit for? just asking. good day
The north end SUCKS. Peter Children is exactly right!
@concernedsouthender: LMAO. That’s the best you could come up with??? I can see why people choose the south end. Lol
LMAO. With all this negative attention to your neighborhood, good luck ever selling your house. I don’t have to worry about that. THAT SHIT IS PRICELESS.
Who’s laughin now?! 🙂
Hey Southender-if you dislike the northend so much maybe you should just stay on your side of town and wallow in the Children cesspool. It wouldn’t be good if the “D” Boys found out who you are.
Last straw for me. Boycotting NIT until this worm turns.
When you rent out your property, never list a price! Meet the potential renters, let them see the property, find out what prices are within their income. When you determine that you do not want to rent to them, simply set your priced higher than they can afford and ask for a high rent deposit. It will be them turning down the house, not you turning down the renter. No discrimination can be proven there. The neighbors surrounding your rental properties will be pleased when you don’t rent to trash!
I have a good freind who is just bought his first rental property. He has done countless hours of work on it to get it ready for someone to rent. He3 is very worried about renters and how to be selective without breaking any laws. I will pass this info on to him. I’m sure he will find it helpful
Being selective is not against the law. Being racially selective is.
Have potential renters sign off on a credit check, previous rental references, and do an employment check.
Do this for all applicants, and only take those who pass your test.
You might have to spend a couple hundred dollars getting the right tenants, but it’s money well spent.
Sorry you just described discrimination. That practice will generate a lawsuit and you WILL loose.
The above is still discrimination it is wrong, unlawful, unethical and will get you sued. Although this is a perfect discussion for Peter’s articles… What does this have to do with the topic.
PS. I see this op-Ed article got buried quickly. Ha
Saaaavy idea. I agree!
SomeOne cannot cry discrimination based on the fact that they cannot afford a high deposit or rent. You always have the option of requiring references and can check those out too. Always have a strict lease agreement and check up on your tenants and your property! They violate the terms, they’re out! Simple as that!
I can’t wait for Peter Children’s next article… “I’d like to revisit the revisited revisting of the Northend story”. I mean it gets really old banging on the same drum, that is not even backed up with real modern day truths. His last article filled with racism received rave reviews. Too bad this stuff gets posted just to give NIT website hits. They will deny it and say “Oh No, we’re just protecting Peter’s 1st amendment right to free speech” but we all know it gets top of the page ranking as controversial stuff like this that really ramps up the page count and comments for NIT. I know I’ve given a few too many hits to this page today for the neighborhood destroying comments on this page.
PS Anyone ever know that Mr. Children likes to revisit everything but his own articles to defend his comments? hmmm. I wonder why?
I agree. I have said the same thing from time to time. Matt will print ANYTHING that Peter writes no matter how offensive or outrageous.
Yes, there are a lot of problems on the “darned North End”. But they are not limited just up there. There has been a bit of a history up there with a near riot and violent crimes. But that was due to the venue, and not the community. Alley Katz fed the people who perpetrate and perpetuate anti-social behaviors.
As others have said, there are a lot of good points to that area, and people who believe in it, and invest in it. They will not be driven away.
I have said before, a community, a block needs to work together to take care of problems, use the resources of the City, and point the finger where it is due. Turn the spotlight on the trouble makers. The last thing they want is publicity. They hope you ignore them so business as usual can continue.
Such things can be done either overtly, or covertly. Mention what you see going on with neighbors. Make phone calls. Get motion lights. Perhaps even a motion sensor camera with night vision.
What they do down the street does effect you, most times in a negative way in the form of fear, or property values. Those who cause trouble, violate the laws constantly, and exhibit anti-social behaviors, don’t care about you, your familiy, or your community.
Stand up for where you live, it’s your home! You have the ultimate right to feel safe in it.
The last murder was downtown for all you the northend starts at 12st nw and ends at federal ave . Crime is all Mason City just check the stats !
The North End starts at STATE STREET. Everything NORTH of State street is indicated with a N meaning NORTH. You have NE which means NORTH EAST and you have NW which means NORTH WEST. But all of these are in fact on the NORTH END of this city. It does not start at 12NW and stop at Federal. What is there no East North End? And what is 11th Street NW or NE not on the NORTH END? Really? YES, the “Preverbial” North End may start north of 11th where MOST of the trouble in this city happens but I like to just refer to that area as the sphincter of MC as it contains more of the shit of the city.
Damn North End!
So I would assume that you live in that area.
My wife & I live on the northend with our young child. We both work full time, have a decent home & decent cars, not much money left over for recreational spending, same as southenders I presume. The problem in MC is EVERYWHERE! South end businesses are no better than north end. What are you talking about, you think Patricks is any better than the Kozy, sears is any better than the Northwestern? Come on, the one thing that needs to change is landlords need to demand renters work unless disabled or retired & stop accepting HUD as primary payment for housing. That’s south, north, east, west & anywhere the sun shines. The city also needs to create jobs that pay well instead of these minimum wage jobs that a lot of people are forced to work at.
WOW! Just WOW! The “landlords need to demand renters work unless disabled or retired & stop accepting HUD as primary payment for housing.” As a landlord how I wish I could pick and choose who rents my house. Do you really believe that we want this scum renting (and usually destroying) our property. But the liberal laws on housing prevents the landlord from turning down almost anyone.
There ya go. You invest your hard earned $$$ into your newly acquired rental property and the liberal left tells you who you must rent too. Or you are in big trouble. You’ can’t evict when they destroy your property, but the big GOVERNMENT doesn’t step in and help you rejuvenate the place. I would’t be a landlord, no way. The Government has their hand in everything. We have to take back our country.
My brother in law is a property manager & yes you can pick & choose who you rent to. Anyone on HUD or that seems sketchy, you don’t have to rent to. It is your property. Think they can afford to sue you? Nope. Even if they do, look how many people sued Ed Kent for discrimination, still didn’t get their apartments, lol!
They have a term for this in big cities. The word is “The projects” and it didn’t work worth a damn.
How about we quit paying people to not work? Welfare reform is the answer.
Seriously Peter? I’m one of the folks who are not “heavily laden with funds” but I do care about mowing my lawn, flower boxes as you put it, I don’t deal in drugs, and I happen to respect authority. No criminal records here, I work a full-time job as does my husband so we can support our children, maintain our home, and have few luxuries in life. My home consists of our children and two parents working full time professional jobs. We are not “laden with funds” simply because we spend the funds we do have on daily living essentials like food, shelter, clothing besides insurance for our autos, home, and health. And I forgot to mention paying our basic bills. Thanks for categorizing us with the slum! Income has no basis on chosen lifestyle when these slums have money, drug money, and probably more of it than I make the honest way!
And Peter, how exactly do you think that bringing in a new development will work? You can bring in all of the jobs you want but that does not mean the hood rats (or whatever you call them) actually want to work. Unskilled, uneducated workers who can make more off from the welfare system and dealing illegal substances do no have that desire.
Peter,
Allow me to present you with some facts rather than rumor. Within .7 miles of Peter Children’s home on South Tyler there have been the following crimes in the last 60-90 days. 19 reports of theft, 6 Breaking and Entering (burglaries), 1 auto theft, 1 Assault, and 1 Sexual Assault. As well, there are 4 registered sex offenders living within .7 miles of your home.
The main reason I post to this website is to stop the misinformation of the Northend! When I hear my neighborhood where I raise my children referred to as a blighted area where “no one is going to invest money in that area in hopes of selling something” and full of undesireables that would be better off being bulldozed, it upsets and angers me and I will correct this misinformation over and over until it stops!
The problem in Mason City is the entire community has been given “opinions” for much too long. The problem is multi-faceted starting with a troubled city council for years. Add to this a lack of jobs due to a lack of skilled and educated workers in the entire area needed to bring those jobs to this community. On top of all of this, we have a lower income area in the entire city which often leads to an increase in crime. Disadvantaged “Former” criminals have been brought to the area hoping to reform them only to find out they have not changed at all. Then we have the people who are 60+ remembering the “good ol’ days” back when decker’s plant was here and Ma would bring a homemade pie over to the neighbors and the solution to all of our problems is to bring back the downtown area, revitalize 100 year old buildings and it will all go back to the way it was. Well, it’s not the good ol’ days as that was 50 years ago and it’s not the same anywhere.
I live on the Northend. My wife and I both have college degrees, are upper middle income professionals, have children, and are doing fine without selling illegal substances, welfare, or going to the bars with concealed weapons. I know many, many others in my neighborhood who are just the same as me.
You sir, are no better than me, you are no wealthier, no more intelligent, and your neighborhood is factually no safer than mine. Your misinformation is adding fuel to the great divide in this community and it must be stopped immediately! Everyone wants to complain about the situation but does nothing besides provide opinions as to how this should be fixed. We must have representatives in our community who can help. If not the city council then a committee of community members to bring respect and action to this problem. In fact, the appraised value of my home is twice that of yours. So please stop thinking you are better, more advantaged and have all the solutions to my problems
Those posting from the southside of the community, adding fuel to the fire are no better than Peter Children whose home is valued at a whopping $45,000. This has become a huge problem and is masking solutions to the problem at hand.
Again, I ask you Peter… Please stop with your throwing misinformed opinions around adding fuel to the fire. If you come to the table with a valid solution with action steps whether it be opinion or fact, I will be more than happy to listen.
Very well said. I certainly wish I had said it in this way.
Perfectly said!! Thank you for representing the “north-end”. We love it over here and I have said on other posts…we are definately not afraid to go out and live just like other people!!
So I guess nobody goes to the Northwestern Steakhouse anymore. The Holcim baseball diamonds are never used either huh? As I recall they are in the heart of the “North End” I also remember seeing in the news a murder in “Downtown Mason City” recently. Riot at Big Blue, and Hy-Vee East. Reports of beatings/assaults in East Park. Crime is all around town! You all live in the same city. Quit acting like if you don’t live on the “North End” you are safe…this is the WORLD we live in. Either do something about it and be part of the solution or shut up!
Hey Peter, it’s hypocritical liberals like your self that brought this on so shut up and soak in your own cess pool!
I know there are bad things and people in the north end, as well as all over the rest of this town. But, look at the new restaurant “Butchers” that opened up way in the north end of town. There are cars there all the time and they are busy as ever. I don’t think they were doing that good uptown. If you bring good things to the north end — it will prosper. People have to start taking some pride back into this town in order to make it a better place to live again. How do we do that? I agree with getting some new developement there. If you put something good there…people will come to it.
I’m not sure what can be, or should be, done with the North End. Revitalization on the level that needs to be done will take a lot of resources. Right now the City is putting it’s resouces in the Downtown area. Maybe what could be done is to take the profits from selling the sculptures that we are buying and use it to help the North End!
The truth is that it will take more than the City thowing money at it, the residents of the North End need to band together and start controling their own destiny. Until THEY care, it would be a waste of taxpayers money to invest in the North End.
Peter Children has a big mouth and does not speak for the north end of Mason City. The good people up here far outnumber the bad. Most of the out of towners who are undesirable live on North Federal in the slumm houses and rentals that now line that street. If you read the news you will see that there is more crime in the south end then there is in the north end. Crime is city wide so get of the crap Children. You are nothing but a opiniated old man By the way, The Flame and Embers was in the very same bulding and spot as the Alley Katz. The White house was across 14th street and pPete’s pace was two door down followed by a drug store. Then of course was Grupp’s Food Store. Get your damn facts straight or shut up. The reson these places are gone is the same reason the downtown is dead. Lack of good paying jobs and everything going west.
Pardon the spelling errors and typo’s. I am usually more careful when I post stuff but this idiot pisses me off with his comments and he doesn’t even live up here. He is nothing but a rabble rouser stirring up crap. The North End needs help, but so does the rest of the city. I do not believe that we will get it with our current mayor and do nothing council (unless you are the Chamber of Commerce).
Umm, how do you believe there’s more crime on the South End than the North End??? When was the last shooting on the South End. The last stabbing? The last Murder? The last large crowd disturbance? The last rape? Get YOUR facts straight before YOU spew.
Damn North End!
Damn North Enders!
Dave-If you look at the post of Concerned Citizen you will see the facts. They are also in the GLOB. I am assuming a person like you reads the papers.
I agree with this opinion piece. There is almost a sense of hopelessness on the North End–that things will never get better, so take what you can, escape (drugs, etc) however you can . . . .
The only way out of that type of despair is for some type of urban revitalization. The Drake area of Des Moines is slowly climbing back–it isn’t easy. And without government assistance, it won’t happen. Something to think about when we talk about shrinking government.
Hey I got it how about a prison like they got at Fort Madison. They have good paying jobs. I lived in Canon City in Colorado for some years. I think they had the Max right in town. And a couple more in Florence a few miles away. Town does real well on the guards income. Not to mention all the service help. They call Canon City the climate capital of Colorado. Nice
“They call Canon City the climate capital of Colorado.”
What?
It is the “Climate Capital” of Colorado because the temperature there is generally much more pleasant than other localities in the region. I just moved back to Iowa from Canon City. Even with all the prisons there was still a lot of crime in town. Every baby mama of a convict had to move there to utilize Fremont County’s welfare department and so they could frequently visit their “friends” in prison. Right. Good idea.
I think Mr.Children is correct on this issue.
The loss of jobs and working people leads to a vacuum filled by “undesirables”.
This leads to a declining environment in a community.
Maybe the answer is redevelopment of the area?
It could start with the use of bulldozers.
I now believe Mason City has passed the tipping of attracting point of attracting a major manufacturer
and missed the Target Distribution boat.
Some other solutions will be needed.
To bad Mason City didn’t get that big plant there building in Osage.
I believe you meant to use they’re instead of there. Typical mentality of this group lately
I believe you meant too bad not to bad. Typical mentality of this group lately.
People who can’t resist talking crap to people they don’t know(yes I am doing it too). Typical mentality of this group lately. Ps- I am pretty sure that’s not a full sentence if you’re going to be so judgemental. Anything else you’re “concerned” about? Do you have anything positive you would like to say?