I thought this comment by the OilCityOutsider was fodder for a post and comment section all its own.
The Oil City Outsider said:
Howdy John. Off the subject. I’m sure City Council is well aware that the majority of Oil City’s citizens aren’t wealthy people. The headlines of The Derrick today (April 7, 2008 “OC Among Poorest School Districts”) really brought that point home. So if I might make just one little suggestion. When you are considering “blight,” please take into account that perhaps not everyone is just lax or negligent in maintaining their home. Maybe, just maybe, they might not have the funds that they need to keep up with their property. All these low interest loan programs that everyone seems to be talking about now look great on paper. However, please remember a loan is still a loan and a loan needs paid back regardless if it’s at 1% interest or 29.99% interest. For some people to add another payment to their already overstretched budget will all but make them homeless. Just some food for thought.
I don’t think for a moment anyone on council has forgotten that some members of our community face tough times.
Unfortunately, there is a real limitation as to what government can do to help out other than to make programs available, such as the HOMES program now in the works. And it is true that loan programs are more common than outright grants.
There is a tremendous opportunity and need in our community for our private nonprofits, civic clubs, churches and even just neighbors to step up and try to find a solution. In some cases, it would be as easy as putting a crew together to paint, nail down a few boards or other simple repairs and routine maintenance.
I believe there is a group in Franklin doing something like that.
Oh so long ago our daughter went with a church youth group on a mission trip to West Virginia where they did simple repairs and maintenance to the homes of a number of impoverished families and elderly residents. We admired her for her willingness to give of her time and labor and appreciated the efforts of the church leaders and others to put the program together. Still, I thought then and think now that the needs here are so great, why travel so far.
On the broader issue of blighted housing, it is my strong belief that the real problem properties – the one’s that degrade neighborhoods and often have the greatest negative impact on those with limited incomes – are more a problem of a poverty of values than economic poverty. Aggressively dealing with blight is a proven way to protect neighborhoods and individual homeowners. Who is at greater risk from the degradation of their neighborhood than those on fixed incomes and/or financially struggling, but doing what they can to keep their places up and maintain the value of their property?
Let’s aggressively fight blight, and that includes neighbors and the community pitching in and helping those in need maintain and repair their properties.
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4 comments:
John
The condition of ones neighborhood, or their own home is not really a fair indication of "poverty of values" there are many in our fine town who live in nice neighborhoods and homes whose values are questionable. I suggest you read the daily paper, and see just how many solid citizens or members of their family show up on the police blotter. I'm not trying to stir up trouble but the fact is blight does not by itself constitute drug use, or "poverty of values".
I will gladly rent a bus from Bakers Transportation and take a tour of Oil City with you, members of council, and the blight task force, and stop and ask the people of whose homes are considered to be blight, why they have not fixed up their homes. I hope you won't be suprised by their answers.
We both know what the current economic situation is, the same folks who tout blight and drug use
mention nothing about how poverty breeds drug use and blight.
I think it's the Historic Franklin Preservation Association (or some long noun stream that involves a combination of those words) that you're thinking of here in the 16323. And while their motives may be honorable, I'm not sure that it fits into the mission of the group.
You're 100% right when you say that instead of shipping our youth off on service trips they should stay here and do the work - it's been a major rant of mine to whomever would listen for a long time. Perhaps (although I hesitate to involve another layer of bureaucracy) there should be a clearinghouse (pun intended) for homeowners who would accept volunteer help and groups looking for a service project. Something along the lines of volunteermatch.org, but hyper local.
TO Dan Robertson: Are you serious? I walk the streets on the Southside regularly and I can tell you that nearly every run down, shabby house with dogs tied out barking and an old couch on the porch is a RENTAL. I recently talked to an individual with an impeccably maintained home on North St. He is surrounded by dumps. He went down the list of the owners - all slum lords - no poor home owners, Dan.
We need to find ways to make OC such a tough place to be a landlord that slum lords move out and the trash they leave behind is torn down. Most are beyond repair and only attract irresponsible tenants. That's a hard pill to swallow, isn't it?
John is right on the mark. There is a poverty of values. Just listen to the vulgar talk and constant use of the F-word in those areas. That is not at all difficult to experience in some neighborhoods. A constant stream walks by my house coming from the Dollar Store and use HORRENDOUS language in front of small children. Trust me, I don't dare say anything because I like my windows just as they are - intact.
Dan, wake up and smell God only knows what might be emanating from those poor blighted homes.
BTW - could your Bumpkin Pumpkin committee clean up the Brody's window that's been a mess all year with left over white paint - or do you lack the monetary resources?
Dear "anonymous",
Thank you for your concern with the windows at the Brody's Bldg. I will pass along your concern to Mr. Brian Hogue owner of Sleepy Hollow Amusements Inc. Mr. Hogue is the President of Sleepy Hollow Amusements Inc. that operated the Dark Domain Haunted House last year. When the Pumkin Committee took the display out of the window, Mr. Hogue painted the windows to advertise for the haunted house. The Dark Domain Haunted House is solely owned and operated by Sleepy Hollow Amusements and is not affiliated with the Pumkin Fest. Please feel free to contact Mr. Hogue at www.sleepyhollowamusements.com or www.myspace.com/sleepyhollowamusements to voice your concerns. Thank you for caring about the city.
Sincerely,
Jodi Robertson
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