Copy of Letter to Editor-Sun Focus

Here is my first letter to the editor-see page 19 in the SunFocus, July 10th edition. I wrote this before the Wednesday meeting with the Realtors and city but everything seems to follow through with what they said at the meeting. The only thing they edited out was the reference to come to the Wednesday meeting, which I am thankful for, since this was published after that. Thanks for your support. Donna Schmitt, Candidate for Columbia Heights City Council http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/07/12/opinion/fo10f2letters.txt Following Donna's letter is a comment I added on the MN Sun web page. Ihave no idea if they are going to publish my comment or not, but it will be here for all that want to see it. I do not think that residents understand the extent of the restrictions that a "point of sale" ordinance will do to change the way we think about selling a home in Columbia Heights. It would totally eliminate the option of selling a property "as is." When we moved into our home 23 years ago, we knew there were things that were wrong with the house. We knew that the furnace was original to the house and that it would have to be replaced, eventually. We knew that the roof would eventually need to be replaced. We knew that the siding was peeling paint - lead paint - and we would need to replace that. We knew that the plumbing was original. We even noticed the leaking in the basement and noted that the windows would need to be replaced. We also noted that most outlets did not have a 3-prong plug and the window air conditioner that was placed in the wall in the kitchen probably wasn't even legally installed since to use it we had to open the garage door. All the floor tiles in the house were probably original, meaning they also had asbestos in them. But we needed a four-bedroom home on a very limited budget and this fit our needs. We have made some changes over the years, but we do it when we can afford it and we probably have another 10-15 years before everything will be done. If we chose to sell our house under this new ordinance we would need to pay the City $150 for an inspection. They would turn around and tell us the items that would need to be replaced, giving us 90 days to have everything completed. We would have to put money in escrow for those repairs and for anything major, hire out services so they could be completed before even putting the home on the market. In addition, we would need to pay the City for permits to do any repairs that required permits. Then before we could get that "certificate for sale," we would have to pay for at least one more inspection from the City to prove that the work was complete. If the new inspector found further repairs that needed to be completed, the process would start all over. If our house stayed on the market more than a year, we would have to start the process all over again because those certificates are only good for one year. Those are just a few things "wrong" with this ordinance. I can give you more! The City is trying to "sell" us the idea by telling us we need to improve the housing stock in the city. That sounds great, but what happens to the person who wants to buy an affordable property to fix up. They will be gone. The second reading of this proposed ordinance (#1548) is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 28. Once that reading is approved, it would take effect Aug. 28, and then it would be too late. Please pay attention to this ordinance; it will affect every homeowner in Columbia Heights. The City is already interviewing inspectors so they are planning on this passing. Please encourage them to re-think this ordinance. Show up for any meetings that you can. Donna Schmitt Candidate for City Council in 2008 Columbia Heights Comment to Donna’s Letter to the editor, How many times does this point have to be pounded into our heads. The govt. is one thing and one thing only: stupid ,brute, force. That is its nature. It is not a flexible, maternal creature. Every time it gets involved in anything but communal protection from the thug, it becomes the thug. Get the govt out of the market and let things work them selves out! There are already plenty of rules, statutes, regulations, and laws on the books to take care of us. And they were instituted by people that had a far better grasp of the role of Govt. than most of the ignoramuses that have been elected in todays power addicted, slave mongering, death eating, make work political environment.