A number of residents, several of them residing in the South Washington Street neighborhood, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance. One noted that the landlords of the troublesome properties are absentee, without exception, and the troublemakers are usually not local either. Another cited the fact that, as a safeguard for honest residents, any illegal activity must be documented, not just alleged, according to the proposed ordinance. Another asserted that the issue is that of property owners being held accountable. Council member Barry LaRue recounted the story of a situation in his own neighborhood to illustrate what can happen when neighborhood residents start seeing evidence of drug-dealing, guns being brandished and other activity.
Residents leave the neighborhood, and the rental property goes on a downhill spiral.
An absentee landlord needs the threat of losing his income through a padlock ordinance, which might induce him to clean up his rental property, LaRue said. The ordinance that is before you has passed constitutional muster through the level of the Michigan State Supreme Court. Ypsilanti Chief of Police George Basar described situations law enforcement personnel often face. People who are law-abiding, and peaceful citizens have a right to be safe in their neighborhoods, and I think that this will help us achieve that goal, and help us to stabilize our neighborhoods. I would really encourage us to move forward with this on first reading.