[RP TownTalk] multiple families/apartments

Thu Apr 22 12:42:17 UTC 2010

Quite agree.  I am from a West Indian culture and know how it is with
big families in a small space.  Could not have said it better about the
wasted spaces in huge homes, though I am guilty of that to a point but
only because I extended from a small home to a moderate one to make more
room for my family, extended family and friends when they come to visit.

From: Jeffrey Yorke [mailto:yorkedial at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 12:21 AM
To: bruce.wernek at mindspring.com
Cc: McDougall, Sherene (Law); OurDollMom at aol.com; wheadle at yahoo.com;
towntalk at riverdale-park.org; nbmooney1 at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] multiple families/apartments

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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