tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post2993775106933584401..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Local Story Of The YearLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-42891192363824229202013-01-01T04:06:54.909-05:002013-01-01T04:06:54.909-05:00What used to bother me the most when I was with th...What used to bother me the most when I was with the Housing Authority were the desperate voicemail messages from students who thought that the "Housing Authority" had authority over housing -- and went down the options until they got to the inspector, which was me.<br /><br />"Water pours through the ceiling every time it rains and the landlord says he doesn't have to do anything about it until we leave next summer." "The furnace isn't working and the company won't send anyone to look at it because the landlord hasn't paid them for the last three times they were out here." "Is it true that the landlord doesn't have to have a working furnace in a rental building?"<br /><br />For those of you who wonder why I am so anti-Amherst, this is a good portion of it. If any other group were treated in this manner - if it were, say, African Americans instead of UM Students, the s**t would have "hit the fan" long ago and this stuff would not be tolerated.<br /><br />But students aren't considered people, and thus....Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-13103754063215823412012-12-31T11:56:07.583-05:002012-12-31T11:56:07.583-05:00Landlords, in this town, have for years~30 that I ...Landlords, in this town, have for years~30 that I am aware of~been allowed by having authorities ignore documented concerns of violations of housing codes to just keep breaking them! DH Jones for instance~property they own managed by Kamins~has been reported to the Board of Health, Amherst, for mold contamination, mildew in their carpets,& questionable air quality, yet ignored, time after time. I think this phenomenon is just another sad example of money speaking louder than health, or safety, of the individual(s) renting these living quarters. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-52119372419947397122012-12-31T09:34:51.110-05:002012-12-31T09:34:51.110-05:00That's pretty much the way it used to be Dale....That's pretty much the way it used to be Dale. This time, however, things will be different. <br /><br />Because, people are mad as Hell and they're not going to take it anymore.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-22761651679667106682012-12-31T09:14:53.785-05:002012-12-31T09:14:53.785-05:00I would be curious to know how much enforcement ac...I would be curious to know how much enforcement actually takes place with this type of violation and others. It sometimes appears as if the issues are brought to light then delayed long enough for everyone to forget that there was an issue. Are they simply swept under the carpet, or are the penalties actually executed to prevent history from repeating itself? I've never seen a town so divided as Amherst where the good of the town is all to often pushed aside for the betterment of single individuals or groups. I've lived in this area my whole life and in Amherst for the last 14 years and I still struggle to understand the mentality. It might be just me and maybe the Amherst community is just a little to politically correct for me.Dalenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-89882118527191862902012-12-31T08:20:09.095-05:002012-12-31T08:20:09.095-05:00I wish all my Anons were as sagacious as you.I wish all my Anons were as sagacious as you.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-86288873530881440182012-12-31T08:08:52.481-05:002012-12-31T08:08:52.481-05:00While the University really needs to get on the ba...While the University really needs to get on the ball and build more dorms -- which they could do over any opposition from the town -- it does not seem like the town does anything to alleviate the housing shortage. The collapse of the Gateway Project and the town's focus on money pits like that golf course instead of revenue generating real estate developments. UMass has been there for 150 years -- the town's ought to realize it's not going anywhere.Matthew M. Robare https://www.blogger.com/profile/01238656296410351634noreply@blogger.com