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<BODY><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,sans-serif>You are absolutely right Chris. Riverdale has been "flexible" with Jemal and the Town Center for as long as I've lived here.<BR></FONT></FONT></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px">-----Original Message----- <BR>From: Chris Currie <CRCURRIE@GMAIL.COM><BR>Sent: Oct 19, 2011 10:48 AM <BR>To: towntalk <TOWNTALK@RIVERDALE-PARK.ORG><BR>Subject: [RP TownTalk] Broken window -- Does it make a difference whose window? <BR><BR>Sue raises an interesting point that I've long ruminated upon. I can't speak to Riverdale Park, but in Hyattsville and in every level of County code and permitting agency I've ever dealt with, it's been my experience that it makes a big difference whether the issue in question involves how you make a living or it's simply where you live. Landlords, contractors, commercial property owners nearly always get cut more slack in dealing with code enforcement or permit review staff than do residents/homeowners.
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<DIV>I don't think it's because "money talks" -- or, at least, because cash is being slipped under the table. I've never had any evidence that any money is changing hands illictly.</DIV>
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<DIV>Here are my own theories as to why this might be the case:</DIV>
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<DIV>1. Government personnel feel commercial entities have more at stake than homeowners, and thus are more willing to be flexible with them.</DIV>
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<DIV>2. There is a certain rapport of professionals dealing with professionals that you don't have when the other party is a private homeowner.</DIV>
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<DIV>3. Often the government personnel at one time worked for commercial enterprises in the same field (e.g., for construction firms), so there's a natural sympathy for the challenges they face.</DIV>
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<DIV>4. Typically, government personnel have to deal with the commercial players over and over, whereas the residential interaction is often a one-off transaction. Thus, there is a natural tendency to want to maintain a good working relationship -- and that leads to more flexibility.</DIV>
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<DIV>5. Commercial parties can bite back harder than homeowners can -- whether through lawsuits (or stonewalling in the courts), involving an elected official who receives their campaign contributions, or simply by raising a ruckus in interpersonal interactions (homeowners are usually more afraid and intimidated by government enforcers). </DIV>
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<DIV>Does anyone else have other explanations, or perhaps challenge my premise?</DIV>
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<DIV>Chris Currie<BR>Hyattsville<BR>
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<DIV><SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); FONT-FAMILY: arial, sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(68,68,68); FONT-SIZE: 13px" class=Apple-style-span>Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:33:24 -0700 (PDT)<BR>From: Sue Collins <<A style="COLOR: rgb(34,34,34)" href="mailto:wheadle@yahoo.com" target=_blank>wheadle@yahoo.com</A>><BR>To: Vernon Archer <<A style="COLOR: rgb(34,34,34)" href="mailto:varcher@gmail.com" target=_blank>varcher@gmail.com</A>>, Sarah Wayland<BR> <<A style="COLOR: rgb(34,34,34)" href="mailto:sarah.wayland@gmail.com" target=_blank>sarah.wayland@gmail.com</A>><BR>Cc: "<A style="COLOR: rgb(34,34,34)" href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target=_blank>towntalk@riverdale-park.org</A>" <<A style="COLOR: rgb(34,34,34)" href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target=_blank>towntalk@riverdale-park.org</A>><BR>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Broken window - when will it be fixed?<BR>Message-ID:<BR> <<A style="COLOR: rgb(34,34,34)" href="mailto:1318955604.71596.YahooMailNeo@web112613.mail.gq1.yahoo.com" target=_blank>1318955604.71596.YahooMailNeo@web112613.mail.gq1.yahoo.com</A>><BR>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<BR><BR>Very interesting; but I have to wonder if, for?instance, a private home owner in town who'd have windows broken out for such a long time would be cut any slack, and if they would be able to get away?with making the repairs when and if they got around to it??<BR>?<BR>Bad enough a developer has for all intents and purposes bought up all of the town center and apparently wants to keep the properties vacant for all time; the LEAST they could do is keep the outside of the buildings presentable.?<BR>?<BR>Oh well, money talks and the rest of us can.... walk.?<BR></SPAN></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY><pre>
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