I read the Times Leader’s article regarding
punishing landlord’s due to their tenant’s drug activity. http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/739312/Mayor:-1-strike-youre-out
The irony of this
situation hit me immediately. It would seem that the first order of business
would be to assure the citizens that the Mayor, the police chief, and even Magistrate
Marty Kane are all sober. You would start at the top, right? From every account
(and there have been many)… Wilkes-Barre is being run by chemically impaired
people.
The plan to go after
landlords is so unprovable, so legally flimsy... that I can’t believe it is
being taken seriously. Is this simply a racket to generate lawsuits so Leighton’s
crony attorneys can enrich themselves? This makes about as much sense as does
the plan put forth.
The best assurance that
you, Tom Leighton, can give the city is the knowledge that you are sober and
have been for a significant time. The situation is perilous. If you folks were an actual business
you'd be broke. You'd realize that theft comes out of your own pockets and not the city's coffers.
All I have ever asked is
that you get an evaluation. But you won’t do it. This raises red flags. You can’t
blame anybody but yourself. Having cops give you rides home is not “social
drinking.” Not for someone in their 50’s. “Bar crawls” for charity? Is that
something your wife set up? Opening bar after bar... is this considered economic development? Fundraising for the
Osterhout? More booze. Do you see a pattern here? Your development has been arrested
at the frat boy stage.
Here is a listing of AA meetings: http://aaintergroupnepa.org/
The picture in the Times
Leader has you standing in front of flags in a stellar looking suit. But pomp
and circumstance does not cover the soul sickness you hide. Inside you are
dying and have too much pride to admit it. You are not alone.
I can't see why anybody would have any compelling reason to listen to you or Dessoye or Kane. An alcoholic's thinking is impaired even if he doesn't realize it. This new plan has so many holes in it that it sounds as though it was written on a bar
napkin.
Again, I ask that the three of you have a drug evaluation. Nick Colangelo from Clear Brook would be your guy. You need to do this so we can
earn your trust. Your refusal is only validates the claims people make of you. You are the "Mayor Barry" of Wilkes-Barre.
The worst track record possible
Allow me to remind
you what happened recently when a landlord tried to push out a drug dealer.
Brenda Meehan tried everything to clean up her side of the “double.” She filed
so many reports and 911 calls it is dizzying.
But nothing happened.
Why?
Because Chief
Gerard Dessoye was being serviced “Hat trick” style (any combo of
sex/narcotics/heroin) by his “heroin
honey.”
How do we know that
Dessoye doesn’t have a new house he is getting possible drugs from?
Civil liberties You
are asking landlords to enter the world of their tenants and to figure out what
their will and intent is. They are not drug counselors and evaluators – they are
landlords. Plus they have limited access to the tenants. An example here would
be staging a surprise visit rather than giving proper notice. This is illegal.
Innocent Children Are you going to toss babies and small children on to the street because
of the crime of an adult? This person might not be related to the children.
This new policy is both crazy and inhumane.
Good tenants The market bears what it bears. You are not going to find
“good tenants” who choose to live in crime ridden neighborhoods. This isn’t
like renting at Newberry Estates. People pay what they can afford. Landlords
must accept this or earn no income.
Profiling
Everything about
this plan points to racial profiling which is illegal. You cannot force
landlords to engage in this highly illegal practice. The “code word” here is “good
tenants.” But we know what it means.
Legal? “The
mayor said it has been thoroughly researched to make sure it is legal.” This is
a lie. This plan completely destroys the Constitution.
Must know? The
plan says the landlord must know of drug activity. So this means if they don't know it it is OK? ... and please tell me how you prove
that someone knows something?
Sherman Hills? Are
they included?
Selective Enforcement? If a house happens to be one of
Leighton’s… who actually thinks it will be shut down? No one. But what if it is
Frank Sorick’s or Betsy Summers?
The last thing these idiots at city hall need is more power!
Don't give it to them!
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