HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT AND DERELICT BUILDINGS
A substantial percentage of the residential structures in St. Louis were over 50 years old when the first local housing code was enacted. The current gap between the MHSO standards and existing housing conditions in some areas of the city is not totally a matter of the age of the structures alone. Given optimum conditions. . .trained inspectors in sufficient numbers, committment and enthusiasm on the part of the City Counselors staff as well as the Building Commissioner and the Mayor. . . housing code enforcement can be more effectively used.
If an owner declines to repair his building the City must condemn it as unfit for human habitation.
Derelict buildings should be cleared as quickly as possible by the city when, in the view of the residents of the areas in which they are located as well as the police department, they pose an immediate threat to residents of such areas. Attempts to secure owner repair of buildings should be increased through total commitment to code enforcement efforts in situations where such efforts are likely to be successful and bring improved living standards to the occupants. When costs involved are such that the owner refuses and the residents of the area feel that the rehabilitation is essential all efforts should be made by the city and every other federally assisted and non-profit group to secure subsidized funding to achieve this purpose.
LANDLORD AND TENANT RESPONSIBILITIES —
As a first step in improved landlord/tenant relations I would like to assure that tenant neighbors and the city be readily able to identify the owners of property, including vacant lots. For this reason, I have asked the City Counselors Office to secure a copy of a recently enacted Philidelphia ordinance requiring registration of all rental properties and vacant lots and designation by absentee owners of resident agents. This would also give an assist in code enforcement.
Tenants, generally , are on their own in terms of detecting deficiencies prior to rental. Owners can attempt to lessen their problems by renting to adults only, refusing welfare families, requiring security deposits, or otherwise screening tenants.
One of the greatest obstacles to developing a workable landlord/tenant responsibility code is the need for a non-involved third party to check the premises before and after rental to assure that complaints are directed justly.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTROL OF CITY SERVICES —
The majority of individuals and neighborhood groups seem to me to express more desire for city services than for the control of them.
Until the city is able to secure the money necessary to provide adequate city services of all kinds to all residents it does appear that, whatever the name given the form, one neighborhood does compete with another neighborhood for such services, with some areas getting far less than their share.
Representative groups from various areas and neighborhoods should receive maximum assistance from the City Plan Commission, the Police Department, Board of Education, Department of Welfare and other appropriate sources to assist them in assessing their problems and possible solutions.
CRIME PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT —
Street lighting is not enough, city alleys should also be illuminated. Some consideration might be given to the possibility of developing alley lighting districts similar to MSD sub districts whereby the cost of alley lighting would be transferred, on a per foot basis, to the electric bill of abutting owners, or until the bond issue, recently passed, takes over the lighting of all alleys.
Voluntary dawn to dusk programs are financially possible when there is total or near total participation.
The major focus of efforts toward crime prevention and law enforcement must be people-directed. Citizens must get their second wind, and begin again reporting lesser violations, (and reporting, and reporting) until such matters are taken care of.
Additional facilities for juveniles should be provided, programs to motivate youngsters to remain in school should be continued and expanded. Group homes and halfway houses can assist in providing an alternative where needed and appropriate. Increasing the Police Department to full strength seems the only way to place beat patrolmen in neighborhoods where this type of protection is essential
RACE RELATIONS —
Initial 1970 census data shows another decrease in St. Louis population. Census data may also demonstrate that poverty and low-income problems are shared by both black and white city residents to a degree not presently realized. Polarization is a serious problem. Some real efforts must be made to acquaint lower income white with the assistance programs for which they qualify.
SOURCES OF INCOME FOR THE CITY, INCLUDING TYPES OF TAXATION —
I would favor Federal block grants to cities, directly to the city treasury, on a continuing basis rather than by bits and pieces in a variety of projects.
I strongly favor some sort of tax break for older residents on fixed retirement income, probably the “circuit breaker” approach would have maximum impact.
I favor an end to the tax exempt status of any properties owned by non-profit or religious organizations which are not used solely for the purposes for which the group or religious organization exists.
I favor the sales tax only as a last resort and would regard it as more satisfactory if food and drugs could be exempt.
I believe that the city should, through court action, seek to recover the cost of demolishing derelict buildings from the owner of the parcel rather than place a lien against such properties.
Originally published in The Paper, August 1970.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1970_08.pdf, printed page(s) 2.
