Any more reactions from the public input meeting last night? Were citizens angry in general, angry at city staff, or pretty calm and reasonable about the issue? Did the landlords show up in force to defend the measure? I wasn't able to attend, but here's the QCTimes article about it.
QCTimes.com has got some artist's renderings up of the proposed Pierce School redevelopment. I don't know if they were in the printed newspaper, I just know they weren't in the online version when I read it the other day.
I predict about a million comments disagreeing with this letter to the editor...
Hopefully coming to this space in the next week or two: Images and my impression of the Cityview Apartments. Might be one of the few places with a better overall view of downtown than mine.
This one (CNN article) has nothing to do with the QC in particular, but I'm both a computer nerd and a Beatles fan, so it appeals to me. Back in 1991 Apple the computer maker and Apple the Beatles' record company agreed that they could both be Apple, since one makes good music and the other (at the time) only made sort of crappy computers. Nobody's stepping on anybody's toes or business. Now suddenly Apple computers has become Apple iPods and iTunes and music, and the original Apple is a bit upset. The case goes to court today, and one tidbit that has come out is that the judge hearing the case owns an iPod. It'll be interesting to see the result of this one.
I'm thinking of putting together a blog-fans team for the Downtown Cleanup Day on May 11th. Let me know if you're interested.
10 comments:
I went to the Friendly House meeting last night. It was obvious to me that the city is way over their heads on what the fire department needs to do to take over the rental inspections from the NEO. Mr. Malin kept saying this was a meeting for the citizens to give the city input. Instead Mr. Malin got a lot of people telling him that it's a bad idea to get rid of the NEO. Only a couple of landlords out of the 60 people there thought getting rid of the NEO was a good idea. Most people said things could be improved but to get rid of the NEO entirely was not in the best interest of the city or neighborhoods. I like the idea that landlords should foot the bill for the inspections, especially for properties that have multiple complaints the fees should reflect that. Why should we as property owners have to pay half of the rental inspection fees to cover the landlord expenses? More important why do so many of the landlords have properties they wouldn't themselves live in? My husband and I have had rental property but we made sure the tenants were good and the properties were kept in good condition. I would have been proud to live in them.
How'd you feel Malin/Clayton/etc handled the meeting? Usually there's nothing but dislike towards them from much of the meeting-goers. Who did the crowd seem to blame?
Clayton didn't speak at all that I remember. It was mostly Malin and Freize. Both men were uncomfortable. They tried to answer questions and did a fairly good job considering that they were thrown into a situation that I'm sure neither wanted to be in. If the crowd blamed anyone I think it fell on the city council. No one really attacked Malin, just the idea that the NEO was being disbanded without any foresight on how the inspections will be handled in the future. I think the people at Friendly House were upset that neighborhoods in crisis are getting another blow to their survival. I have heard many people speak of Goose Creek and how it has made big changes in the last few years due directly from the city taken a special interest in them. I don't live in Goose Creek but I have driven out there and have seen much improvement.
The city needs to stand up to the fab four landlords.
At least they had the foresight and courtesy to hold the meeting. I think Malin really does care.
Its sad that it takes a Bettendorfer to appreciate how important Davenport is to the Quad Cities.
You were right on about the million comments disagreeing with that letter to the editor. I think the "againsters" (as you call them) are just very vocal compared to most others.
Anon 9:41:
So who are the Fab Four in your opinion?
I think the problem is with the department, not the "againsters" or the people in the D1 supporters.
The department does not do its job, with the exception of Goose Creek Heights, and that is just sad. I drive through the central city daily, and see the same old crap. And I, and others, have complained to the NEO until we were blue in the face. Time for somebody else to have a crack at cleaning up this City.
Am I missing something here?? I think the people who are creating the problem, tenants or homeowners, are the ones to blame for the mess you see while "driving through the central city". If anyone should be held responsible shouldn't it begin with the bums who don't take care of where they live????
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