[RP TownTalk] multiple families/apartments

Thu Apr 22 04:21:13 UTC 2010

Bruce's theory is only one scenario in the Big City of immigration in
America. And in landlording. Most landlords are not out to beat the tax
system illegally. At least not the ones in my sphere. And we are also not
out to take advantage of tenants, citizens or undocumented immigrants.

Long before America's recent invasions/wars broke the bank, families and
friends have been doubling up in houses. And in apartments. Part of it has
been economic beyond the economy, part of it is cultural. My own Ukrainian
relatives packed into a small house made for a fifth of the number of those
who lived there. That was during Calvin Coolidge's administration. And it's
happened to every immigrant population since, not to mentioned US born
Americans. It's just more obvious to communities when the gang is
"outsiders." And we immediately think they don't belong and that they are
here illegally. A whole lot of assuming is going on here.

One more thing: Americans are generally a people overhoused. Too darn much
space for each person in a single house. Bathrooms that go on for acres,
kitchens large enough for Emeril Lagasse to do his show. Should we be
astounded when someone from a different culture takes new approach to
otherwise wasted space?

As far as fear of property values going down because "too many" people live
at one address, consider if these same people were forced to live outside
the dwelling, on the street. Property values would be really down then. And
that would be the least of our problems.

On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:00 AM, <bruce.wernek at mindspring.com> wrote:

>  Oh please, enough with the motherhood, this has been going on for years.
> There are two houses around a block from my house that have/had multiple
> families living in them long before the economic downturn.  One of them,
> next to Ernie's Lock, was shut down about 18 months ago for this reason.
> The other still has around four families living in it.
>
>
>
> It's unfortunate, but many of these places are halfway houses for illegal
> immigrants/families.  This is the way it works.  A citizen or a
> legal immigrant buys a house.  To pay for the house he/she rents rooms to
> illegal immigrants/families.  Since the illegal immigrants/family have no
> identification, credit history, social security number(s), etc, it's
> difficult if not impossible for them to rent an apartment or find a regular
> job.  This means that they must work as day laborers and therefore pay their
> rent in cash.  It's perfect for the landlord because; there is no record of
> rent payments; there is no enforcement of rental laws because as far as the
> county is concerned the house is not a rental property; the landlord doesn't
> have to spend any money on maintainenance, insurance, etc. because again the
> house is "not a rental property"; enforcement of rental laws is lax if not
> non-existent; and the landlord doesn't claim the rent as income so he/she
> doesn't pay any taxes on it while still geting all of the related benefits
> that we taxpayers pay for.  Not only that, if the illegal immigrant/family
> is having difficulty paying their rent, the landlord can threaten to turn
> them over to the INS or just throw them out with absolutely no
> consequences.  The tenants have no recourse since they are not legal
> residents.
>
>
>
> What a country!
>
> Bruce
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "McDougall, Sherene (Law)"
> Sent: Apr 20, 2010 6:01 PM
> To: OurDollMom at aol.com, wheadle at yahoo.com, bruce.wernek at mindspring.com,
> nbmooney1 at yahoo.com, towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> Subject: RE: [RP TownTalk] multiple families/apartments
>
>  Please remember that in these times when a lot of people are losing their
> homes, families are bundling up and living with relatives so as not to end
> up on the streets.  I do agree that there are instances where unrelated
> people dwell in a home, but we are all trying to survive.
>
>
>
> Sherene
>
>
>
> *From:* towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org [mailto:
> towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] *On Behalf Of *OurDollMom at aol.com
> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 20, 2010 5:57 PM
> *To:* wheadle at yahoo.com; bruce.wernek at mindspring.com; nbmooney1 at yahoo.com;
> towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> *Subject:* Re: [RP TownTalk] multiple families/apartments
>
>
>
> Some time ago I went to a meeting about
>
> this topic.  The answer was the courts are
>
> so overloaded with serious cases that the
>
> judges will not hear or prosecute people
>
> who have multiple family members/friends
>
> living with them.  Also was mentioned that
>
> these people are trying to survive, make a
>
> living, send money back home, etc. They
>
> said the rules cannot be enforced.
>
>
>
> In a message dated 4/20/2010 12:30:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> wheadle at yahoo.com writes:
>
>
>
> On the same subject, what is the maximum number of people allowed in, for
> instance, a 1 bedroom apartment?  Just curious...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* "bruce.wernek at mindspring.com" <bruce.wernek at mindspring.com>
> *To:* Nancy Mooney <nbmooney1 at yahoo.com>; towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> *Sent:* Tue, April 20, 2010 10:42:23 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [RP TownTalk] multiple families/single family homes
>
> I've noticed this too Nancy.  This is going on all over town.
>
>
>
> Based on my understanding, the maximum number of unrelated individuals
> allowable by law is five per household.  I had to abide by this law when I
> had rental property in Hyattsvile.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nancy Mooney
> Sent: Apr 20, 2010 10:33 AM
> To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] multiple families/single family homes
>
> I have begun to wonder what the impact is on our town of these many single
> family homes that are crammed with families.
>
> I know of one instance where a family of 4 shares a bedroom in the back of
> a house.  Another large family has the front of the house, and at least one
> other person is living in the basement.
>
> I think there are at least three families - by the number of 'moms' and
> kids I see.  (I'm assuming they are moms) in the house next to me - which
> has 4 bedrooms at the most.
>
> I know this group can be very caustic - please no insults about me being
> racist, or bigoted, or, whatever.  These people I'm speaking of are my
> friends.  But it just seems unhealthy and in the long run - a burden on the
> town services.
>
> What I would like to know is what are the costs to the town, and what can
> we do to reduce this impact?
>
> Nancy
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Property Management, Inc.
Yorke Partners
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com
301-502-1243
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