Eight years later, and it's déjà vu all over again as Pat Harrison prepares to defend our downtrodden slumlords against the Gestapo.
The following was originally published here on March 4, 2008; text and video by Jeff Gillenwater.
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Patience is a version.
There was a council meeting last night but quite frankly, the Building Commission, who met a little earlier, had the more intriguing agenda.
Local Realtor and landlord Pat Harrison addressed the commission regarding code enforcement and rental property inspection. Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz did the same, and Commission Chair Steve LaDuke added some comments.
I won't, letting readers or, in this case, watchers make their own.
Comments at the time:
TedF said...
Thanks for being there to video Bluegill. There were some positives in the total exchange worthy of comment.
But first I would like to say now how distasteful, offensive and unprofessional it is to compare any code enforcement effort to a fascist effort to carryout genocide. Ms. Harrison made that comparison a couple times while speaking when using the term “Gestopa”. It was an extremely poor use of words and poor judgment.
New Alb Annie said...
I'm not a fan of the Harrison group's tactics. If this is a group of about 100 people, they should be directing their efforts toward the 'few bad ones' that she referred to. Why waste time meeting with the building commission if you're not doing anything wrong? Why not target the slumlords and apply some peer pressure to get them to clean up their acts?
Harrison has called my mother on several occasions--my 87-year-old mother--to get her riled up about property taxes and rental property issues. If this group has time to start a phone tree, I'd suggest they call the owners of the bad properties, and apply some pressure.
bluegill said...
"Harrison has called my mother on several occasions--my 87-year-old mother--to get her riled up about property taxes and rental property issues."
I got some of those early calls, too, about property taxes. I suppose it was from attending the tax "forum" at the Grand that was so falsely advertised.
It does help explain, though, why one of Harrison's group, when first arriving, leaned over to her and asked why he was supposed to be there.
Highwayman said...
Unfortunately I was unable to attend this meeting last night as my Jeep decided to turn engine parts into shrapnel on the way there.
As one of the more vocal proponents of this particular issue, I regret that I missed this opportunity.
However, had I been present my response to Ms. Harrison, the group she represents,as well as the city's representatives would have been as follows.
"All that was proposed sounded like the beginnings of a solution to the problem. Now let's see some action!!"
We as taxpaying property owners would much prefer that the rental industry in our city police itself.
Likewise, we'd like to see New Albany's government actually govern in the area of code enforcement as well as many other areas.
Having said that, let me assure all parties that platitudes alone will not suffice as success.
You have some time to bring in some results, but the clock is running!!
***NOTE*** To the editorial staff of NAC...feel free to extend this comment further if you see the need.
Greg said...
I find her remarks to be offensive and self-centered. If she really cared about cleaning up rental properties then she would have stepped up to the podium a long time ago. Also, if she thinks the "Clean Up New Albany" signs very negative, there were plenty of venues (a website, neighborhood meetings, letters to the editor, etc..) to provide feedback.
There has been plenty of opportunities for her to work with neighborhood groups to better our neighborhoods in New Albany, but not until her slums or purse strings are threatened she steps up as this caring perosn! I agree with Highwayman, it is time to see action.
I personally invite Ms. Harrison to our next neighborhood clean up. Also, I will be asking the ESNA president to invite Ms. Harrison and her group to one of our neighborhood meetings to speak with property owners and to layout her plans how she is willing to work with us to Clean Up New Albany. I am sick of the slumlords that Ms. Harrison has sold New Albany to and the ones that she represent.
Greg said...
Highwayman,
This is a issue that is on the top of my list this year and has been for several years! Let me know what I can do and how I can help.
Highwayman said...
Greg,
My suggestion for all of us is that we stay "persistent" and "consistent".
Attend every City Council, Building Commission, BZA, Zoning and Planning meeting you possibly can.
Mention it every time you see an elected or appointed city official or councilmen.
Stay involved in your neighborhood groups and above all stay informed & keep those around you informed.
The more we know about upcoming events or proposed actions, the better chance we have of either supporting or combating them.
New Alb Annie said...
What I find most irritating about the whole issue of code enforcement, especially regarding rental properties, is the incredible waste of time it is for everyone who just expects ordinances to be enforced, or whose job it is to enforce them.
I don't have time to waste, especially when it's the result of people simply not wanting to follow the rules. I don't think there are any of us posting here who have the luxury of time to waste on a slumlord's bad habits and poor business practices.
For example, the Harrison group showing up at this meeting. Why waste everyone's time? If you own property and you have violations, repair them--bring them into compliance. Seems it would be far less stressful and expensive, in terms of the time spent trying to delay the inevitable matter of codes being enforced, to just fix the problems. I can tell you this, if I owned a slum in one of the mentioned 'targeted areas' for concentrated enforcement, I wouldn't be lollygagging around in meetings--I'd be fixing my situation.
If you are an honest business person running a legitimate business, you'd be insistent upon following the rules for your business. I am very suspect of a group who is actively attempting to delay code enforcement and inspections.
The New Albanian said...
Just for the record, I've e-mailed Pat Harrison several times to offer time in this blog to present her case, or to respond to things that I've written here.
Total responses: Nada.
Iamhoosier said...
NA,
Have tried corresponding with her in German?(grin)
MommyKnowsBest said...
When was this meeting?
Who are the people with Pat Harrison that are n/k/a the "Harrison Group"? Has she ever come to your house (if you were a for sale by owner) to try and list your house? If so, can you say what happened with that?
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