Tribune editorial: "Landlords, who neglect their property, need to become more responsible to their renters, and to the city."

It all comes down to improving the quality of life for a substantial number of residents by enforcing the city's laws and codes pertaining to housing standards, and in this instance of a rental registry, augmenting existing laws and codes with a simple mechanism to assist transparency. It should be easier, not harder, for people to know about the business across the street.

That's because self-serving bullshit and semantics aside, rental property ownership plainly is a business, and one that is in the civic interest to regulate.

Will the city council grow some spine for this one? The body's law abiding, responsible members cravenly allowed the last effort to languish in committee at the behest of Jethro's mice roaring. Let's call the rental lobby's bluff, queue up some Progressive Pints, and see what happens this time.

TRIBUNE EDITORIAL: Rental registry will help — if enforced

... However, our concern with another ordinance is having enough bodies, and funds, to enforce and chase down violators. The city has made progress in recent years tearing down a number of condemned properties. But there is only one city attorney, one building commissioner and two code enforcement officers. There is no way, without more code enforcement employees, that a rental property ordinance could be enforced. There is no sense in passing feel-good ordinances if they are not properly funded.