Lakewood’s city council is working hard to solve a problem everyone agrees is a problem, namely slumlord properties which produce terrible living conditions for some tenants renting in Lakewood.
Westside Story – An Offer He Can’t Refuse
The City of Lakewood’s proposed Rental Housing Registration & Safety Inspection Program reminds me of the wedding scene in the fictitious Godfather trilogy movie series where Michael Carleone shares a story with his fiancee, Kay Adams. The story goes like this. Michael’s father, Vito Carleone, loved his god-son, Johnny Fontane, who is a prominent singer. […]
Letter: Rental Inspection solution – could it be that simple?
It is human nature to ponder, to procrastinate and pontificate, to build sandcastles in the air. Speaking of which, July 23 is the sandcastle contest in Long Beach, WA, “the 32nd annual Long Beach Sand-Sculpting Competition Extravaganza: ‘SandSations’.”
Westside Story – Renter Safety Ploy
The City of Lakewood is exploring the possibility of enacting a proposal initially called Rental Inspection Program or RIP. Now the city is calling this proposal Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program (RRSIP). Adding the word Safety to an otherwise bad idea is an ingenious move. How can anyone object to safety?
Westside Story – Positive City Process
Recently I published several articles highly critical of the City of Lakewood’s proposed Rental Registration and Inspection Safety Program. Some think I am critical of City Council and city staff. I am not. I am focussed entirely on exposing why the Rental Registration and Inspection Safety Program is a harmful and unfair idea.
Letter: Abandoned to the river
To be abandoned, literally, means to be “put under someone’s jurisdiction.” Spellbound. Under the influence. Mesmerized. That was the river as a young man – and still as a much older man, thanks to the memories – to me. Now it may be the Enchanted Valley chalet that is abandoned to the river.
Westside Story – City Rental Housing Tactics Used By Adolf Hitler
If the City of Lakewood implements their proposed Rental Housing Safety Inspection Program, they will be capitalizing on tactics previously used successfully by Adolf Hitler. Adolf always liked to target particular groups of people who could not effectively speak up or defend themselves such as those with mental disabilities, Jews and Gypsies.
Westside Story – Political Sign Watchdog
FREE COUNTRY: We live in a wonderful country that allows citizens to participate in their government, political campaigns and to vote. I support and cherish these gifts of freedom. CHILDISH POLITICAL SIGNS: What I do not cherish is the juvenile grade school kiddie practice of posting campaign signs all over town. These signs are a […]
Letter: Did you clean your toilet? City staff wants to know
The toilet-cleanliness-requirement question, and other questions posed in this article, should be among those asked by Lakewood City Councilmembers of city staff before the Council votes July 18 to create a mandatory rental registration and inspections ordinance.