I recall Michelle saying this, and kind of just chuckled at the time, but this letter writer puts a whole new perspective on it;
In an article in the Nov. 24 Argus Leader, Michelle Erpenbach said “… If I’m going to rent a crappy house, I have to take responsibility for that.†She also stated that part of that responsibility is alerting city officials to code violations.
Does Erpenbach think people deliberately choose crappy houses and apartments to live in? For many renters, there are very few choices, so you take what you can afford. And many renters in those “crappy houses†are reluctant to snitch on their landlords because they are afraid of losing their homes if the landlord finds out.
And Kermit Staggers’ statement, “I’m glad we don’t enforce every code in the city,†must have made landlords with code violations jump for joy.
Well, Michelle, we are all not as fortunate as you to have a part-time gig as a newsletter writer and a husband that will provide you with ‘non-crappy’ housing. As the letter writer points out, many people don’t have a choice because they are priced out of decent housing. My last apartment I had before I purchased my home was in Pettigrew Heights. This was about 10 years ago, right when the neighborhood was beginning to become shady. I had cheap rent, and my landlord didn’t always upgrade things, but the place was livable and fine for me. Just because there is a little paint missing or a chip of concrete on the front steps, doesn’t mean the place is falling to pieces. I believe that is what Staggers is getting at. It seems some people in city government have this attitude that you should desire to live in safe, clean, updated, new affordable housing. The problem is, not a lot of that kind of housing exists. And the places that do have so many restrictions, they are almost impossible to get into. This is why I have often said we need to switch the purpose of TIF’s to almost ALL affordable housing projects and to individual, small landlords who want to fix up small-plex apartment buildings. Sioux Falls, CAN provide  ‘non-crappy’ affordable housing, the problem is, we are giving the tax breaks to sports complexes and luxury hotels instead of small time landlords that want to help people with affordable housing and that in itself is kinda ‘crappy’.
Councilor Erpenbach is running for re-election in the Central District.
She is a prime example of someone who has let her position go to her head!
Let’s hope there is a strong candidate that runs against her.
The biggest joke is the profit that some shady landlords make off of Sioux Falls Housing and HUD.
For example, rent is based on market value of the area, not necessarily the condition of the apartment themselves – housing inspections focus on safety, not livability. So the DT slumlord who has a building next to a $1,500 / mo loft gets to claim a significanlty higher rent value, pockets a ton from SF Housing/HUD and doesn’t do anything but the minimum to keep the place in compliance. So a crappy DT apartment that you wouldn’t pay more than $450 market value is claimed at $800 per month, and SF housing picks up the balance with the exception of what they tennant has to pay. Typically the tennants in subsidised housing are on disability and need a palce to live and close to services they need.
Prime examples are L’Abri Apartments and Albert House (both at 6th and Main).
I guess I wasn’t talking about ‘rental assistance’ that is whole other ball of wax. What I am talking about is an incentive for small landlords to fix up their properties, like a property tax refund. Ultimately these properties would have to be inspected to make sure the work is being done for the refund.
At this time there is at least a waiting list of four years to get on housing assistance from Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment. The way it works is for two people in a two bedroom you can only live in an apartment of up to $700.00 a month. The tenet’s share of the rent is figured on 30% of income, if you have above a certain amount of prescription medications you get credit for that. Anything above $700.00 for a two bedroom and two people the tenet has to pay. If a single person wants a two bedroom, they have to pay the difference in rent between what a one bedroom would cost and the cost of the two bedroom. For example on January 1, our rent goes from $700 to $721, which means we have to pay $21.00 more a month. We can’t afford to move, because where we are at we have to give two months notice and the places I have checked into will only hold an apartment for one month with the deposit, which means for one month we would be paying rent at two places. Plus hiring somebody to move us, transfer of utilities, etc. I figure it would cost about $2,000 to move which we don’t have and as far as that goes we don’t even have enough to make a deposit on another place. From what I hear very few people get their deposit back here, because it is never cleaned good enough when they move out.
In addition – much of the “crappy housing” isn’t owned by what I would call “small” landlords. It is owned by a few people – who use several different corporate entities to manage different segments of what they own.
I gave up renting and bought a house years ago, it does cost me a bit more monthly but no regrets. I can remodel the house to my preferences and to my comfort. Worst and probably most embarassing thing for me when I used to live in an apartment was a couple of neighbors complaining to the landlord when I had a lady over for the night few times *wink wink*
Joan~ Yea, tell me about it about the apartment never clean enough. One of apartment I used to rent had $850 deposit. Prior to moving out, I hired a couple of professional maids and a carpet shampooer. I kept the apartment clean and was very minimal wear-and-tear. I never see a pretty penny of the deposit again.
rufusx on 12.06.13 at 9:46 pm
In addition – much of the “crappy housing†isn’t owned by what I would call “small†landlords. It is owned by a few people – who use several different corporate entities to manage different segments of what they own.
DL, this would be worth some investigation and REVELATION!!!
Much of Councilor Erpenbach’s Central District is made of seniors and the working poor living in marginal housing.
They might want to consider her statements when they vote in April.
Councilor Erpenbach’s “let them eat cake” moment.
Randall, she has had many ‘let them eat cake’ moments. Many, Many, Many.
I have heard that ‘slumlords’ usually do have several properties. When I talk about TIF’s for fixing up older properties, I talk about the kind of landlords that own one or two properties, as ‘something to do’ and take care of them, not slumlords. I would agree with the city, that these kind of clowns need to go.
As for the ‘deposit’ I have rented many places, and have never gotten one back, ever. It might as well just be called ‘moving in fee’
It is important to recall erp did not get 50% of the vote back in ’10. Theresa lost in part because two other Joe Sixpacks garnered 12% of the vote that ultimately hurt Theresa’s chances. A two person race could spell the end for erp.
Now, I wouldn’t call my Bro-in-law a “slum lord” (keeps hois properties up), but he does own SEVERAL rental properties in various parts of town (for example) as “something to do” – not one or two. He also does his level best to AVOID getting things like building permits and inspections – FWIW.
Good ol’ government-hating “independent/conservative” that he is.
People I’m talking about have dozens – PER “legal entity”. Figured this out when I delivered stuff to different “landlords” (name on paper) that ended up having the same guy there to take delivery. Some real rat0-holes, some not so bad at all. Depended on the “business name” that was the “owner”.
I’ve always gotten at least MOST of my deposits back. In fact, the ONLY place I haven’t gotten all of it back was from ONE place in Sioux Falls. Others (various cities around the state/country – as well as in SF) have always gotten it all back.
Hopefully, a formidable candidate will step up to oppose Erpenbach.
She has spent the last four years on the Council casting votes in support of whatever special interests are seeking.
She is cultivating the special interests for her 2018 Mayoral Campaign.
I see erp has found her way to headlines again in todays argus.
“I’ve seen kids in inner tubes on the river and I just want to yell at them, ‘Get out.’ â€
Well, ain’t that special. Where were you in July of 2011 when the city raided the Big Sioux River ENVIRONMENTAL Trust fund of 1.9 million dollars to build shureslickter his baptismal steps?
This is what we heard from you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CQFEY9RIRJA
I don’t know Urbbucket’s husband but he has my respect for tolerating her. She’s narrow minded and subtracted from community opinion. She opposes renters because a house could land on her when there’s a tornado.
Hilarious, Path!
I believe there’s a mistake in this headline that needs immediate clarification. Shouldn’t it be “Sometimes People Elect Crummy Public Officials”?
Uh, yeah.
Councilor Erpenbach, standing up to the slum lords.
Mark, I just want to say to Michelle about her council term, “GET OUT!”