Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Not a bad idea

The Wall Street Journal reported on a Baltimore blogger's efforts to clean up her city by embarrassing wayward landlords:

A Baltimore woman's five-year campaign to pressure landlords to repair blighted buildings has attracted fans and imitators in other cities, the ire of some property owners, and now for the first time, a pair of lawsuits.

Since early 2009, Carol Ott has run a website called Baltimore Slumlord Watch. On an almost daily basis, she posts photographs of boarded-up or dilapidated buildings and the names and addresses of owners she identifies through public records.

Last month, Ms. Ott was sued for her role in a recent project in which artists painted murals on 17 vacant buildings in the city. Two civil lawsuits filed in state court in Baltimore allege the work was an act of vandalism at two properties and seek $5,000 to restore the buildings to their prior condition.

"To trespass on property and vandalize property is just anarchy," said Brian Spern, a lawyer who filed the lawsuits on behalf the owners, two trusts whose investors he declined to identify. "Labeling someone a 'slumlord'—name-calling—is not in the best interest of anyone," he added.

Ms. Ott, 45 years old, said she advised artists as they looked for buildings to target and provided property-owner information, which was posted next to the finished artwork. She said she didn't trespass and plans to fight the lawsuits and keep blogging.

Her use of the word "slumlord," an epithet normally reserved for owners who permit substandard living conditions, is intentionally volatile, Ms. Ott said. " 'Negligent Property Owner Watch' doesn't have the same ring," she said.

A court date is scheduled for March 5. Ms. Ott is the only named defendant.

The lawsuit illustrates tensions that can arise between urban landowners and citizen watchdogs as cities across the U.S., including many that were once industrial centers but have shed jobs and residents for decades, wrestle over what to do with vacant properties.....

City officials in Baltimore estimate it has 16,000 vacant buildings. In Philadelphia, there are an estimated 40,000 vacant houses, commercial buildings and lots. A 2010 study by the center found that more than one in five addresses in Detroit; Flint, Mich.; and Gary, Ind., were vacant.

The hollowed-out buildings drag down surrounding property values and can invite problems from drug dealing to prostitution. Sites can become stash houses for stolen goods.

Two years ago, Linda Henry, 62, who works part time cleaning offices, started a Facebook page titled Slumlord Watch of Columbus, Ohio. She said she was inspired by Ms. Ott's site.

"When the weather is permissible, I take pictures of nasty houses and post who the owner is," she said. "The properties get so torn up." She said she hasn't been threatened with a lawsuit.

Real-estate investor Stephen Arrivello said he was also inspired by Ms. Ott's site to create Abandoned Philadelphia, a site that he uses in part to drum up business. He allows others to post about vacant properties that can become leads for his business... Rest of article

Not a bad idea. There is one Belhaven landlord. First name starts with a "C". Druggies frequented the house. Two prostitutes resided in the home. Cars frequently stopped for only a few minutes. Police visited the house several times. Think the landlord did anything? Nope. Perhaps his property and face should have been pictured. Its a thought. Too often the landlords are not held accountable for what goes on in their homes.  Funny. If they made a racist joke on the air, they would be run out of town.  If they allowed a bunch of hookers and drug dealers to move in and corrupt the neighborhood, it would not be considered fair to shame and ostracize them.  Too bad.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Crowley tried that for a bit with Downtown Jackson. Hate that his efforts went away.

Anonymous said...

It worked. He ran their asses off.

Anonymous said...

No property owner wants a bad tenant, but you folks are forgetting one basic principal:

Sorry mutherf__ers (ie..tenants) have legal rights.

You want a landlord to do something? Amend the Tenant-Landlord Act and give him the power to throw their ass out without a bunch of horseshit in Justice Court.



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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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