Slum Landlords Need To Be Identified, Vilified and Prosecuted
In 1959, when Huntington was named an All-American City, the lack of affordable housing was identified as a major issue that needed to be addressed during the decade of the 1960's. Almost fifty-years later, it is still an issue and our city government continues its long history of diverting its eyes from another one of our biggest issues - slum landlords.
I have visited the homes of some of our most vulnerable citizens while attempting to spread what I call "the gospel of litter". They are vulnerable because they are not able to afford living in more stable neighborhoods. Frankly, their rented homes and apartments, in many cases, are not livable. The plumbing doesn't work, the floors are rotting, the windows barely keep out the cold and the overall condition of the structures they call home is very poor.
There are several slum landlords in Huntington. They go about the business of collecting rents while refusing to keep their unlivable properties repaired and safe. Building codes are being violated, but the renters are powerless to require their landlords to keep their properties livable and safe. Many of these renters are subsidized by the Section 8 Housing Program of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, many Marshall University students are victimized by unscrupulous landlords who charge exorbitant rents when you consider the condition of a great deal of the available off campus housing.
It is time for these slum landlords to be identified and vilified! The City of Huntington must beef up its code enforcement function and prosecute slum landlords who refuse to properly maintain their shabby and unsafe rental properties. Why not license all landlords and require that they identify each and every housing unit that they rent? Why not enforce the ordinances related to building codes and landlord and tenant laws? As Cicero said, "The welfare of the people is the highest law." He meant ALL of the people; not just the more affluent ones.
I have visited the homes of some of our most vulnerable citizens while attempting to spread what I call "the gospel of litter". They are vulnerable because they are not able to afford living in more stable neighborhoods. Frankly, their rented homes and apartments, in many cases, are not livable. The plumbing doesn't work, the floors are rotting, the windows barely keep out the cold and the overall condition of the structures they call home is very poor.
There are several slum landlords in Huntington. They go about the business of collecting rents while refusing to keep their unlivable properties repaired and safe. Building codes are being violated, but the renters are powerless to require their landlords to keep their properties livable and safe. Many of these renters are subsidized by the Section 8 Housing Program of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, many Marshall University students are victimized by unscrupulous landlords who charge exorbitant rents when you consider the condition of a great deal of the available off campus housing.
It is time for these slum landlords to be identified and vilified! The City of Huntington must beef up its code enforcement function and prosecute slum landlords who refuse to properly maintain their shabby and unsafe rental properties. Why not license all landlords and require that they identify each and every housing unit that they rent? Why not enforce the ordinances related to building codes and landlord and tenant laws? As Cicero said, "The welfare of the people is the highest law." He meant ALL of the people; not just the more affluent ones.
posted C. Richard Cobb, Sr. @12:31 PM 
