2008.12.07
Discuss Sunday's local commentary
Time to go after slumlords
Jeffrey Campbell
Campbell, of Roanoke, is president of Old Southwest Inc.
For many years the neighborhood of Old Southwest has been able to overcome many obstacles in its continued effort to improve the quality of life for those living and working in our great neighborhood. In the last two years, this historic neighborhood has experienced a decrease in criminal activity and calls for service by as much as 30 percent.
New voices of thanks in a new land
Jude Prashaw
Prashaw, of Roanoke, is an English language learner specialist at Fallon Park Elementary School.
"Dear Soldier, Thank you for protecting our country." So starts a handful of letters from Betty Coyne's second-grade students at Fallon Park Elementary School.
While Coyne's writing assignment focused on the theme of Thanksgiving, I believe her true purpose was to encourage her students to write. "The more my students write," she says, "the more fluent readers they will be." Almost every day, upon entering Coyne's class, I am greeted with: "Come see what my students wrote today."
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Great article Jeff!
Thanks for taking the time to inform the citizens of Roanoke City how their tax dollars are being spent! The slum landlords believe because they are operating a rental business they are exempt from any responsibility to neighboring property owners. Most of the problem landlords are made aware of ongoing problems by concerned neighbors, sometimes evicting only to rent to the same type, thereby continuing the problem. Slum landlords reap the benefits of earning money while abusing the neighborhood and taking tax dollars to assist in their mismanagement. The money it costs the citizens of Roanoke to fund their business will only result in a lessening of services to the rest of us. These slum landlords need to be held accountable for the calls for service to their properties. They should also be required to screen their tenants in order to ensure some level of public safety. In June 1997 the Roanoke Times ran a series of articles by Mary Bishop and S.D. Harrington that shed light on the practices of Slum Landlords, the Times should consider a reprint. Maybe they could do a "Then and Now" comparison piece showcasing the changes, especially the 400 block of Day!
Wanda Kemp -OSW resident
Comment by Wanda Kemp — December 8, 2008 @ 10:06 am