May 2013
PICTURES = 1000 WORDS... 5 PAGES OF CODE VIOLATIONS... THIS IS WHAT “WELCOME” LOOKS LIKE
(Five years after the writing of this article, five children died in a horrific fire.)
(Updates)
BELOW IS VISUAL EVIDENCE for a May 2013 court hearing, in response to a summons initiated by a notorious Greensboro landlord for failure to pay rent. Our renters lived at the apartment for many years, complained about holes, broken windows, leaking pipes — and finally stopped paying rent in response to landlord noncompliance and noncooperation.
The 3-building complex has had a history of violations dating over decades, yet it manages to stay open, and the landlord collects rent from people of color who are too poor to move, unable to fully understand their tenant rights, and afraid of the threats made by the landlord, including the summons received by our renters.
Legal Aid represented the renters, backed by the Greensboro Housing Coalition. Within minutes of showing up at the courthouse, the landlord’s rep caved, agreeing not to seek $3000 in back rent with the face-saving excuse that the renters leave the apartment in a week, which they planned to do anyway with the help of the Coalition.
And the remaining families at the two buildings?
It’s going to take a lot of effort to overcome decades of fear, mistrust and miscommunication, but little by little, we think the goodness people feel for their families, children and elderly will overcome the greed of predatory landlords and a passive Greensboro community that tolerates this kind of crap.
Who wishes to stay in misery? But poor people in Greensboro have few choices, especially when they can’t afford to lose their security deposit, can’t pay down a new security deposit for a new place, and can’t find decent housing at an affordable price. But we stuck with our family and figured out a plan that got them out.
Things we shouldn’t do:
PHOTO EVIDENCE
This landlord charged $450 per month for an apartment unit in a building in which all the units were condemned by the City of Greensboro. Despite 5-pages of code violations, the landlord sought to recover more than $3000 in back rent from the family by asking for a Magistrate Summons rather than fix anything shown in these photographs.
5 PAGES OF CODE VIOLATIONS
Say the tenants, “Why won’t the landlord fix anything? Why do the repairmen pretend to do things and only make them worse? How come the landlord doesn’t fear going to court?”
PICTURES = 1000 WORDS... 5 PAGES OF CODE VIOLATIONS... THIS IS WHAT “WELCOME” LOOKS LIKE
(Five years after the writing of this article, five children died in a horrific fire.)
(Updates)
The 3-building complex has had a history of violations dating over decades, yet it manages to stay open, and the landlord collects rent from people of color who are too poor to move, unable to fully understand their tenant rights, and afraid of the threats made by the landlord, including the summons received by our renters.
GREENSBORO’S “THOUGHT LEADERS” PERSIST IN USING LANGUAGE LIKE “WELCOMING CITY” TO DESCRIBE THEIR VISION OF A FANTASY METROPOLIS. IN ANY EVENT, WISHING PEOPLE A HEARTY “WELCOME!” IS CHEAPER THAN SOCIAL REFORM, SAFE HOUSING, ETC.
And the remaining families at the two buildings?
It’s going to take a lot of effort to overcome decades of fear, mistrust and miscommunication, but little by little, we think the goodness people feel for their families, children and elderly will overcome the greed of predatory landlords and a passive Greensboro community that tolerates this kind of crap.
Who wishes to stay in misery? But poor people in Greensboro have few choices, especially when they can’t afford to lose their security deposit, can’t pay down a new security deposit for a new place, and can’t find decent housing at an affordable price. But we stuck with our family and figured out a plan that got them out.
Things we shouldn’t do:
• Buy into arguments that landlords are doing Greensboro a big favor by offering dangerous, substandard unrepaired housing to poor people, whether they're refugees, immigrants or just plain poor folk.
• Buy into discussion that sets refugees and immigrants apart from the poor, working class, under-served, minorities, people of color and marginalized of Greensboro — especially discussion that presents them as refugee service providers’ and some faith organizations’ almost exclusive objects of care and shelter.
• Buy into the refugee service providers’ arguments that crappy housing is tolerable —“She’s lucky she has a roof over her head” is how one veteran jerk known for pious pronouncements expressed herself in an unguarded moment.
• Buy into arguments that this is the best we can do. Collectively, Greensboro can do a lot more. Although the city ranks high in volunteerism, it also also ranks high in neighborly suspicion — virtually cancelling out progress. Greensboro is not a welcoming place for those without privilege and power — and that’s a lot of people.
PHOTO EVIDENCE
This landlord charged $450 per month for an apartment unit in a building in which all the units were condemned by the City of Greensboro. Despite 5-pages of code violations, the landlord sought to recover more than $3000 in back rent from the family by asking for a Magistrate Summons rather than fix anything shown in these photographs.
5 PAGES OF CODE VIOLATIONS
Say the tenants, “Why won’t the landlord fix anything? Why do the repairmen pretend to do things and only make them worse? How come the landlord doesn’t fear going to court?”
