A friend blows off steam regarding unenforced laws

Thirty-nine years in the same house on Tenth Avenue. Have things changed? Yes they have changed a great deal. Landlords rent to College Students. The rule of the city is "no more than three persons allowed in the household not related by blood or marriage. How about five living in the same house. That means Five Cars, too. No homeowner can claim the parking in front of their home. So, the renters take your spot.

Trash is picked up on Tuesday. One rental never takes out their trash. They pile it up on their porch or between the walk way next to the neighbor. They throw trash out on the sidewalk of the walk way. They leave the trash barrel out for days. They throw cans, beer bottles in the yards. They never pick up. The student renters have a dog that messes in the front yard. Ten to 15 droppings of waste. Health problem? I would think so. They park on the wrong side of street going the wrong way. They drive in fast and leave fast. What if a small child runs out in the street by error, could they stop?

The police should come by an ticket their cars. Just because they are young people does not give them the right to break the law. Just because they go to Marshall University does not give them the right to ignore the laws of the City of Huntinton. They are not guests. You live here, you abide by the laws and rules that apply to the working members of our community.

And, finally, when they turn right at the stop sign without stopping and checking to see if another car is coming it is a violation of the motor vehicle operation laws. Running up our street at 45-55 mph is a no go; they only slow down at the 11th Street stop sign. They rush through. The City of Huntington could purchase a new patrol car a month with the income generated from these tickets.

These feelings are just the tip of the iceburg. I was raised in the West End of Huntington. If I stepped out of line growing up, the neighbors in a twenty block area would call my grandparents about my poor behavior.

Don Watts Huntington, WV