BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Research conducted in
multiple states showed undeniable
relationships between
absentee landlord ownerships
and neighborhood degradations.
Simply stated, absentee
landlord residences are more
apt to become neighborhood
nuisances than those that are
owner occupied.
Multiple municipalities
including Reading, PA, Buffalo,
NY and Rochester, NY enacted
laws defi ning landlord
responsibilities to address
this troublesome problem.
These legislations hold absentee
landlords responsible
for property conditions and to
some extent, the behavior of
its inhabitants. These necessary
actions bring transparency
and possible punishment
into the absentee landlordcommunity
dynamic.
New York City has no such
laws. Well-documented past
experiences with nuisance
situations on Clarence Avenue
give merit to legislative
action. The Clarence Avenue
dwelling was listed on various
web sites for short-term rental.
The history of maladaptive behaviors
that emanated from
this nuisance house is a stark
example of investor greed before
community need.
The lengthy and diligent
efforts of a unifi ed community
and Councilman Mark
Gjonaj brought resolution to
that untenable situation. In
recent months Spencer Estate
Civic Association helped amicably
resolve multiple absentee
landlord matters. Easily
obtained contact information
led to communications that
fostered positive outcomes.
When a party is cloaked
in a shroud of secrecy, communication
becomes improbable.
Contact information, including
phone numbers, for
absentee landlords should not
have the acronymic shields
provide by by LLP and LLC
status. Estimates indicate absentee
landlords own 20% of
1-4 family dwellings in the
Bronx Community Board 10
footprint. A recent analysis
of a six-block grid in the Spencer
Estate footprint supports
that estimate. A multi-prong
approach is essential to stabilizing
this growing and overlooked
quality of life issue.
Suggested legislative actions:
Cease and desist status
should be granted to all 1-4
family residences in NY State.
Cease and desist is a regulation
designed to protect homeowners
from unwanted real
estate solicitations by telephone,
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,80 JUNE 26-JULY 2, 2020 BTR
mail, fl yers, door to
door, e-mail, text message or
any other direct means. Despite
the desires of many communities,
only very select portions
of the Bronx, Queens,
and Rockland counties are
covered under the cease and
desist regulation.
Contact numbers for landlords
or authorized agents in
absentee landlord situations
must be easily accessed public
record.
Absentee landlords must
adhere to local municipal ordinances;
adequately maintain
their properties and in
the event of nuisance issues or
emergencies be readily available
or designate an agent to
legally act in their stead.
Noncompliant absentee
landlords should be subjected
to punitive measures including
but not limited to incidence
escalated fi nes.
The serenity and stability
in any community can be disrupted
by legislative uncertainties.
Now, more than ever,
community involvements are
needed to ensure and maintain
the charm and quality
of life in a neighborhood.
Whether by happenstance or
design, the recent actions of
investors, activists and politicians,
often under the guise
of aiding the less fortunate,
have created pathways of confusion.
Community residents, take
a moment to ponder how recent
legislations and modifi cations
will affect the long-term
emotional and fi nancial commitments
placed in your stable
neighborhoods. We must
work twice as hard to get half
as much.
“If we want to keep and
reap the blessings of our fi ne
quality of life we must endure
the fatigue of supporting
it.” Any area homeowner or
renter interested in membership
to the all inclusive Spencer
Estate Civic Association
inbox George Havranek on Facebook
or send-email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com.
Remember: “Inclusion brings
solutions.”
BY FRANK VERNUCCIO JR. J.D.
Over the past several years,
extraordinary proposals
have been made to, as Barack
Obama promised, “fundamentally
change” America. The
former president was never
specifi c about what he wanted
to change America into and
a supportive media never
pressed him on the issue.
A clear and disturbing picture
has emerged, one which
eliminates traditional Constitutional
forms of justice, basic
American governmental
rights, and essential national
security.
Democrats have seriously
discussed eliminating the
Electoral College, a move
which would mean that progressive
run New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles and a few
other major cities would essentially
decide each and every
presidential election.
Some have even discussed
eliminating the entire U.S.
Senate, a move which would
ensure that a few large leftist
states would forever dominate
the entire nation.
The concept of the rule of
law is on the “fundamentally
change” chopping block. Progressive
judges across the nation
have replaced the concepts
of adherence to precedent and
statutes with their own personal
beliefs. One of the most
basic purposes of law, protecting
citizens from criminal activity,
has been challenged by
leftist moves to empty out jails
under any convenient excuse.
The Washington Times reports
that “Protesters arrested
for looting or rioting in several
American cities appear
to have been let off the hook as
prosecutors drop charges or
new laws put them back out on
the streets quickly,” in places
like St. Louis, the District of
Columbia, Philadelphia and
New York.
The latest move to defund
the police is a key objective
to replace the rule of law
with leftist-oriented politicized
mob rule. The New York
Post notes that “Hillary Clinton’s
ex-press secretary Brian
Fallon tweeted, ‘Defund the
police.’ The progressive outfi t
the Working Families Party
did the same. A Brooklyn College
sociology professor, Alex
Vitale, called for abolishing
the police. Left wing celebrities
rich enough to afford
private security… all signed
an open letter drenched with
lies calling for public funds
to be turned away from policing
and toward more nebulous
goals such as ‘public health.’”
What would take their
place? Law Enforcement Today
reports that “One of the
self-proclaimed leaders of the
Black Lives Movement in New
York says they plan on launching
an armed branch of “peace
offi cers.” In some places, a socalled
“all volunteer-led civilian
patrol organization.”
Police forces themselves
have been intimidated by leftist
public offi cials into kneeling
before protesters — a scene
that should viscerally disturb
everyone — and agreeing to
budget cuts. Ludicrous restrictions
have been placed upon
them by progressive mayors,
such as the Portland, Oregon,
mayor who told his cops that
couldn’t use loudspeakers to
breakup riots.
None of these moves have
anything to do with George
Floyd. That terrible crime is
only the excuse to push these
long-brewing radical ideas.
Basic protections under the
Bill of Rights are under constant
attack. Senator Schumer
has proposed weakening the
First Amendment, and universities
largely ignore freedom
of speech. Major social media
sites overtly censor those on
the center and right. Numerous
cities act as though the
Second Amendment doesn’t
exist.
In an attempt to weaken
the percentage of Americans
who remain devoted to the
Constitution, leftists continue
to push for open borders.
All of these acts are dangerous
in the extreme, especially
when taken together. However,
a great nation cannot be
annihilated without fi rst killing
its soul. That attempted
murder is where progressives
have made the most headway.
The educational establishment
has adopted biased and
inaccurate textbooks and curriculum
designed to denigrate
the American experience.
Several generations have
now been taught to hate their
own nation. The entertainment
industry, now heavily
infl uenced by Chinese money,
casts a malicious and false
portrayal of American society.
Social media giants and
the mainstream media are
dominated by those who hate
the nation.
All of these actions have
one central goal: the replacement
of American rights and
Constitutional order with the
type of “progressive” rule
seen in places such as Venezuela,
Cuba and China. It can
happen here and the battle is
being fought now.
CIVIC CENTER
Spencer Estate Civic
Association
CIVIC CENTER
COMACTA
BY TONY SALIMBENE
Happy (and safe) summer
to all! Although we had a gathering
in June, it did not meet
all election requirements due
to the COVID-19 virus. So as
per Albany, all offi cers remain
in place until next time:
• Gene Defrancis, Commander
• Kevin Devine 1st Vice
– Membership
• Sal Caruso 2nd Vice – Activities
• Nick Tedesco 3rd Vice –
Sick Call
• Ed McGee, Finance Offi cer
• Colleen McCarthy, Adjutant
• Christine Ryall, Sergeant
at Arms
• Guy Richardson, PPC,
Chaplain
• Tom Hansen, PPC, Historian
• Patrick Devine, PPC, VAVS
CIVIC CENTER
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