This is a comment I posted on Lancaster Online. Regarding BHI, Israel Weiss's statement that his tenants are no different than homeowners: Not only do the renters have no interest in a property that they do not own, they do not have money to purchase plants and other items to make the rental properties more appealing. Often there is trash stacked up on these properties and people sitting on the steps at all hours of the day and night. No pride. Most of the renters have no knowledge of or interest in the history of Columbia. This includes Mr. Weiss himself, as he defaced the very old tiles outside his office property, by installing an unsightly mailbox. My husband and I were both born in Columbia, so we know of what we speak. Low income housing and rental units have attracted an out of town population with an interest in criminal activity. The street that I lived on for eleven years has not one familiar face, not one anymore. It does have boarded up houses and trash everywhere. I am ashamed to say that I lived there and I am extremely uncomfortable even walking through the area. While we enjoy all of our personal memories of Columbia, we are considering leaving the borough that we love. I fear it is too late, the damage has been done. The borough council will be left to oversee landlords and their tenants.
Someone said we spend more per student than some private schools. They said we have a spending problem. Yes for example why is there a maint director at $90K a yr who does little or nothing. What does he do? And an electrician on staff at $25-30/ hr who does not wire, just rides around in a pickup truck or sits at the district office.
Why do we have a huge stadium for a little football team? Why do we have multiple coaches and athletic directors on the payroll? Why do we have a track and wrestling team that have to forfeit most of their matches due to lack of players?
Israel Weiss was quoted as saying his rentals go for 750.00-950.00 a month. Our mortgage payment which INCLUDED taxes was lower than that. Granted one has to know what all is included in those rent figures. In example trash, heat, water, sewer, etc. Depending on that answer, it is possible that one tenant's rent could pay the yearly taxes for the building. With possibly 2-3 other tenants in the same building. All of which might have children in the borough schools. This man his way to a monopoly. He is here for only one reason...the almighty dollar.
I rent a 3 bedroom row home from this slum lord I pay 850 a month and he only includes trash.. right now my family is living in a hotel because one of his properties he was renting them was condemed due to raw sewage...this man monopolized on low income families and tries to make himself look good or as if he cares...
People on Sec. 8 also take other people in their houses. A house is for 3 kids and a mother but other people live there. And who knows how many spend nights there. Landlords need to check their properties but I guess they don't care as long as we give them rental money (the taxpayers) Landlords are very lax in this problem.
The CEDC should raise some money and buy out Israel Weiss's properties. Then, with 100 properties in hand, take out the apartments and sell them to individual home owners.
The CEDC is laughing at all of us! They are in it for themselfs, trust me on this!! They are owners of business and a hell of alot of rental properties!!
There's a lot of homeowners who wish they could sell their properties in this town. But because the taxes are so high, they can't get a high enough price to get out.
As a home owner, I would love to see rental properties pay a few per unit as a means of "equity" for all.
Any thoughts on how this is done, how much additional revenue would be generated, and how soon our elected officials could act upon this idea for the betterment of the citizenry?
Everyone wants to blame Mr Weiss. I don't get it. The town has lost almost all of the businesses that were paying taxes. If Columbia had more businesses, property values would go higher and Mr Weiss and other landlords would not be buying properties. Start going to your local businesses !
The future of Columbia is local mom and pop type businesses starting on every main street. The Borough needs to give incentives to property owners to convert ground level living space to ground level commercial space and gradually eliminate all ground level living space along all main roads. As the streets fill up with customers, the low lifes currently hanging around the ground level streets will go elsewhere.
this SHOULD be.....starting the consolidation process....period. out of money. out of options. get rid of the tremendous amount of "supervisors, asst's, etc...that'll save a million or two a year!"
This is a comment I posted on Lancaster Online.
ReplyDeleteRegarding BHI, Israel Weiss's statement that his tenants are no different than homeowners: Not only do the renters have no interest in a property that they do not own, they do not have money to purchase plants and other items to make the rental properties more appealing. Often there is trash stacked up on these properties and people sitting on the steps at all hours of the day and night. No pride. Most of the renters have no knowledge of or interest in the history of Columbia. This includes Mr. Weiss himself, as he defaced the very old tiles outside his office property, by installing an unsightly mailbox. My husband and I were both born in Columbia, so we know of what we speak. Low income housing and rental units have attracted an out of town population with an interest in criminal activity. The street that I lived on for eleven years has not one familiar face, not one anymore. It does have boarded up houses and trash everywhere. I am ashamed to say that I lived there and I am extremely uncomfortable even walking through the area. While we enjoy all of our personal memories of Columbia, we are considering leaving the borough that we love. I fear it is too late, the damage has been done. The borough council will be left to oversee landlords and their tenants.
It seems that some landlords operate with impunity.
DeleteSomeone said we spend more per student than some private schools. They said we have a spending problem. Yes for example why is there a maint director at $90K a yr who does little or nothing. What does he do? And an electrician on staff at $25-30/ hr who does not wire, just rides around in a pickup truck or sits at the district office.
ReplyDelete$90K a year to oversee three schools and an admin building?
DeleteWhy would we have a highly paid electrician on staff?
Why do we have a huge stadium for a little football team? Why do we have multiple coaches and athletic directors on the payroll? Why do we have a track and wrestling team that have to forfeit most of their matches due to lack of players?
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't Jeff Hawkes look at that?
Oh yeah, sports. Have to have sports.
--FMB
Israel Weiss was quoted as saying his rentals go for 750.00-950.00 a month. Our mortgage payment which INCLUDED taxes was lower than that. Granted one has to know what all is included in those rent figures. In example trash, heat, water, sewer, etc. Depending on that answer, it is possible that one tenant's rent could pay the yearly taxes for the building. With possibly 2-3 other tenants in the same building. All of which might have children in the borough schools. This man his way to a monopoly. He is here for only one reason...the almighty dollar.
ReplyDeleteSection 8 pays really well. Maybe he forgot to mention that?
DeleteI rent a 3 bedroom row home from this slum lord I pay 850 a month and he only includes trash.. right now my family is living in a hotel because one of his properties he was renting them was condemed due to raw sewage...this man monopolized on low income families and tries to make himself look good or as if he cares...
DeletePeople on Sec. 8 also take other people in their houses. A house is for 3 kids and a mother but other people live there. And who knows how many spend nights there. Landlords need to check their properties but I guess they don't care as long as we give them rental money (the taxpayers) Landlords are very lax in this problem.
ReplyDeleteThe CEDC should raise some money and buy out Israel Weiss's properties. Then, with 100 properties in hand, take out the apartments and sell them to individual home owners.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, except he probably wouldn't sell.
DeleteYeah ... like that'll happen. It's the CEDC you're talking about.
DeleteThe CEDC is laughing at all of us! They are in it for themselfs, trust me on this!! They are owners of business and a hell of alot of rental properties!!
DeleteThere's a lot of homeowners who wish they could sell their properties in this town. But because the taxes are so high, they can't get a high enough price to get out.
ReplyDeleteAs a home owner, I would love to see rental properties pay a few per unit as a means of "equity" for all.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts on how this is done, how much additional revenue would be generated, and how soon our elected officials could act upon this idea for the betterment of the citizenry?
Not to defend BHI but I see alot of owner occupied homes that look like crap too
ReplyDeleteEveryone wants to blame Mr Weiss. I don't get it. The town has lost almost all of the businesses that were paying taxes. If Columbia had more businesses, property values would go higher and Mr Weiss and other landlords would not be buying properties. Start going to your local businesses !
ReplyDeleteUnless your looking to buy antiques or used items there's not much to buy in town
ReplyDeleteThe future of Columbia is local mom and pop type businesses starting on every main street. The Borough needs to give incentives to property owners to convert ground level living space to ground level commercial space and gradually eliminate all ground level living space along all main roads. As the streets fill up with customers, the low lifes currently hanging around the ground level streets will go elsewhere.
ReplyDeletethis SHOULD be.....starting the consolidation process....period. out of money. out of options. get rid of the tremendous amount of "supervisors, asst's, etc...that'll save a million or two a year!"
ReplyDelete