Found near beaches where children splash happily about in shallow water while older and braver siblings wander further out to jump the waves – all blissfully unaware of the danger to themselves and their recently constructed fairy-tale home castle – are rip currents sweeping the unsuspecting out to sea.
A current of another type sweeping across the country are the rip-tides of Rental Inspection Programs (RIP), likewise imperceptibly sucking families occupying rental housing, along with their landlords, into a vortex of swirling legislation.
In both cases, safety – let alone survival – is relatively simple.
Sadly, “exhausting themselves by trying to swim directly against the flow of water”, the 46 people who drown annually in the United States who will be the victims of rips, could have self-rescued by swimming perpendicular to – and out of – “the strong, localized, and rather narrow current” and then to the safety of shore.
Though wider-sweeping given it catches literally thousands – with few exceptions – of rental properties – all rental properties in fact within the city – for those 272 cities and towns in the State of Washington (of 281) without Rental Inspection Programs, there is hope.
For the nine municipalities where residents find themselves floundering far from shore, there are exit strategies even still.
Don’t count on a life ring thrown from city leaders however. Your best bet is a strong stroke of your own.
“The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio,” for example, ruled on behalf of citizens October 24, 2015, “that mandatory rental inspections were unconstitutional warrantless searches.”
Under pressure from a successful signature drive to put its rental inspection ordinance on the ballot, the city council of San Luis Obispo voted to suspend the ordinance this February 20, 2017.
Shamil Idriss, who makes his home in the other Washington, is the guest lecturer this Wednesday, March 1, 7 P.M. at Pacific Lutheran University where his theme suggests yet another means of escape: “In the modern world, conflict resolution belongs to citizens, not leaders.”
Even the name of the organization of which Idriss is the president and CEO suggests –like sand feels underfoot to a panicked swimmer – relief in sight and resolution at hand: “Search for Common Ground.”
A true story by way of illustration.
In 2008 the city began serving notice of code violations to a local trailer park. Three years of non-compliance followed on the owner’s end such that the city’s patience was wearing thin.
On February 22, 2011, the mostly Hispanic residents, many enrolled in the local English as a Second Language (ESL) class, received an eleven-page, single-spaced litany of electrical, plumbing, and structural issues.
Many, panicked at the official looking document, sought out their translator.
The ESL instructor, in turn, in a similar plea for help, wrote, “The needs are staggering, but the resilience and capacity to strive for improvement is inspiring.”
A community-wide meeting of locally involved citizens was called and on March 8, 2011, the matter was addressed with members of Code Enforcement, City Planning, and the Police Department, a member of which served as translator in the absence of the ESL instructor.
Twenty days later, a team of contractors and local volunteers, with clipboards in hand, walked the property, identifying problems and itemizing needs.
With $7,000 of donated materials delivered on site, Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together South Sound, members of a local church, and the residents themselves, rolled up sleeves and work begin April 30.
As of this writing, six years later, they’re still there.
No catch-all rental inspection program; no onerous, intrusive, heavy-handed government institution that adds yet another floor, or wing, or even a single cubical to administrate the thing was necessary.
Just citizens, and organizations, stepping up providing the city stood down.
As they altogether, per the vision of Shamil Idriss, “Search for Common Ground.”
Similarly said Tacoma City Councilwoman Connie Ladenburg, “You can pass all the laws you want, but it’s the people in the neighborhood who make the difference” (Tacoma News Tribune, April 27, 2009).
Rip currents, and Rental Inspection Programs, succeed in their respective nefarious ends, because those caught up in them “flow back to the open water by the route of least resistance.”
It’s what the hero of the story “Seven OX Seven”, by P.A. Ritzer, reflected upon while watching from horseback the slaughter of the buffalo in the 1870’s. Once we “relinquish our own judgment of what is right and wrong, as well as our freedom to act upon it,” we are de facto passing on that responsibility to the state, “and with it, passing on our freedom.”
“The state then,” or city government for that matter, “assumes greater power with which to rule.”
Our freedoms, like the power of a rip current, are thus “overwhelmed by the dictates of the state.”
By following the path of least resistance on our part, and the usurping of our responsibilities by government, RIP’s are born.
Lakewood doesn’t have a “Rental Inspection Programs (RIP)”.
Rip currents, and Rental Inspection Programs – or Rental Housing Safety Programs for that matter – succeed in their respective nefarious ends, because those caught up in them “flow back to the open water by the route of least resistance.”
How’s the water Ames?
Mr. Ames,
It is a mystery to me why you continue to suggest to the reading public that there is no such thing as RIP by saying, “Lakewood doesn’t have a “Rental Inspection Programs (RIP)”.”
You were at the Lakewood City Council meeting the night our council voted for the Lakewood Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program or Rental Inspection Program or what ever you want to call it. You even spoke in favor of the RIP.
Every time you suggest there is no such thing as the RIP I am reminded of those who continue to try to tell us the Nazi Holocaust never happened. No the RIP and the Holocaust are not the same, but the concept of telling the public that which is not true often enough is based on the hope that the people will begin to believe that which is not true if they hear the falsehood often enough.
Maybe my assumption is incorrect. Maybe you know something like the City Council is going to nulify the RIP. If so, I have not seen any official pronouncement. Otherwise, our city government seems to be working towards activating the RIP.
Short trip to Godwin’s Law there, Joe.
And please tell Mr. Anderson, as a renter, the water is fine and getting safer. Why does he oppose safety?
Boyle carry your water Ames?
The water is fine here in the Great City of Lakewood! Now that we have the fine City Counsel looking out for us poor renters from the tidal wave of slum lords who have taken over the rentals in Lakewood!
Thank you City Counsel for your great work and dedication to the citizens of Lakewood.
I will vote for all of you when the time comes.
David,
First let’s discuss two terms you used: “us poor renters” and “tidal wave of slum lords.”
If the “poor renters” don’t like it here they should move.
One of the growing problems of Lakewoid is that we have too many renters and not enough owners.
Just show the “tidal wave of slum lords” who is boss by vacating their properties.
Most property owners have made a substantial investment in the property they rent and are going to take care of it so their investment will succeed.
It is unfair to subject all the good property owners to the RIP because of a few bad apples.
I urge all citizens to vote out any council member who tries to strangle the rest of us hard working people by implementing any RIP.
The city has all the tools it needs to go after the few bad apples.
Thank you again David Anderson. I especially like the link to the court case. Their planned inspection program is far too intrusive.
David Wilson, if you find yourself in substandard housing with code compliance or safety issues, there are already remedies in place. Once having reached an impasse with your landlord, you can call in code enforcement yourself. State laws are quite clear on landlord/tenant responsibilities and remedies.
The truth is that if you are in substandard housing it is most likely because you chose not to pay a premium for a quality rental property and you did so knowingly. Of course there are exceptions to that, but for the most part, that old adage applies ‘if it seems to good to be true…’.
I’ve been a landlord for over 20 years now. I invest heavily in my properties. They are my investment, my retirement, my security AND I believe that a quality unit at market value is much more likely to attract a quality tenant, someone who is willing to pay a little more for a place they can call home, be proud of, not be embarrassed to have guest over, etc… and those people are interested enough in ‘where’ they live to pay a little more, they are far more likely to be responsible tenants and take good care of my investment. That’s worked out well for me. It’s also worked out well for my many tenants over the years.
I’ve heard many people discussing rental concerns online, tenants, not mine, who seem to be under the impression that I’m rich, privileged, a slum lord (your words), with no knowledge of the reality of the situation. It’s hard, dirty work. I know every inch of my units, over and under. It’s a business, and not a very good paying job, in fact barely a livable wage. I suspect that you are one of those people who are under the impression that I live large with all your hard earned rent money. Let’s explore that. For the 3 properties that I own in the West Pierce Fire District I paid over $2,070 last year just in case. For those very same properties I paid over $3,987 toward the University Place and Lakewood School Districts with your rent. I also paid over $300 to Pierce County Libraries. I also paid close to $10,000 for water, sewer, garbage and surface water management. Another $10,000 in upgrades and repairs on those very same properties.
Truth. A huge percentage of residential housing is rental units in one form or another. We provide a service to the city and to the people looking for a place to live who either can’t or don’t want to buy. We are not a cash cow for the city and we don’t deserve your trash talk.
Mr. Wilson, it’s time for you to take your head out of your nether regions and look around. This program is intrusive, illegal in nature, as described, and completely unnecessary. Another truth, when their little badge bearing inspector enters with his/her clipboard and I am required to perform thousands of dollars to bring a 50 year old property to current code, we are no longer talking about $10/month in rental increases. The tenants, over time, WILL absorb those costs, not because I’m a greedy slum lord, but because I’m a business person and my tenants are my clients. Clients pay for services provided. It’s called reality.
Well said Betsy! I totally agree with you!
David Anderson, Joe Boyle and you should run for the City Counsel!