Today
marks a turning point in New Britain's year long war over several housing
ordinances as the election outcome gives CTPOA an opportunity to get back to its
goals of providing education, tools, resources and opportunities to property
owners; or not!
When
Mayor O'Brien went on the attack and proposed his housing ordinances in 2012, he
also stereotyped landlords as 'Money-grubbing owners taking advantage of poor
tenants and getting rich." Next he began repeatedly calling us 'Angry Slumlords"
when we reacted as a large group in opposition to his policies at Council
meetings.
I
must point O'Brien never consulted with any housing experts before creating the
ordinances, he states; "These are his policies". However O'Brien has never owned
or managed a rental property in his life, yet he insisted his ordinances are
sound policies and he pressed forward despite strong opposition on a "Never been
seen before" scale in any Connecticut city; it clearly defied logic!
As
the Mayor continued his assault against private ownership of rental properties,
his spokesmen Phil Sherwood twisted the story as opposition grew and Phil hurled
daily insults at landlords in the press increasing in absurdity to where it was
akin to me calling a " Brain Surgeon a Meat Cutter." Yes, it was a difficult
year for me in New Britain.
Recently,
spokesmen Sherwood has been banished from the kingdom, temporarily or
permanently, nobody knows. The Mayor has divided the city and brazenly spends
tax-payer money by providing his friends city work despite a hiring freeze and
he continues to defend these housing ordinances.
Both
the 9-1-1 Caller Fine and the Landlord Licensing Tax have been the focus of
CTPOA in 2012 and 2013. We also know these ordinances make little sense to
anyone with basic property management knowledge and they must be repealed.
So,
CTPOA with the help of many local New Britain property owners mobilized for the
first time ever landlords and tenants into a voting block for an election. While
in the past, we have theorized about this ability, it has never been attempted
until now in New Britain.
Tonight's
outcome will tell if we did well the first time playing this game. I want to
remind all to vote today and of course CTPOA is supporting Erin Stewart for
Mayor in New Britain and we urge all that vote in New Britain to support Erin
Stewart.
President, CT Property Owners Alliance Inc.
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