Apartment renters, owners get ear;
Wait and see begins
Apartment renters in Schiller Park made it clear Tuesday night how much they value their constitutional right to privacy.
Several long-time apartment renters told a standing-room-only Village Board meeting that they will move away from Schiller Park if Village housing officials continue insisting on mandatory, annual apartment inspections without cause or court orders. They say the involuntary inspections are an invasion of their privacy and discriminatory.
Renters and owners demanded immediate changes how Schiller Park administers its multi-dwelling apartment inspection program. These people may be holding the ultimate trump cards as the April 7, 2009 local elections draw near for the Village mayor and three trustees. Their challengers are promising immediate changes and relief from overly aggressive apartment inspection program.
A citizen or investor exodus from Schiller Park does not bode well for the Chicago west suburban community whose 2008 cost of living index is 14 percent higher than national average and its July 2007 population of 11, 497 is down 3.3 percent and dwindling since the 2000 U.S. Census, according to CityData.com.
Clearly, Village officials’ focus should be on economic growth and expansion versus amassing petty maintenance violations and collecting fines and re-inspection fees. In 2008, Schiller Park collected more than $35,000 in fines and court fees, according to data obtained from Schiller Park under the Freedom of Information Act.
Renters and owner asked the Village Board to take a serious, hard look at the current practices and immediately implement changes that will restore pride in the community. They offered four action items:
- Immediately order a halt to involuntary apartment inspections without warrants. If renters and owners deny access to their apartments, housing officials should follow the existing ordinance and seek a court order if an inspection is necessary.
- Stop hauling owners or property managers to court and force them to defend themselves against violations for refusing warrantless access to apartments when no one is home or when renters request privacy.
- Focus on creating a community environment that restores pride and that will attract and retain good investors in Schiller Park. A renter suggested development of an education program designed to encourage renters and owners to report unsafe or unhealthy situations for enforcement, rather than costly mandatory inspections of all apartments.
- Honor grandfather provisions and roll back requirements for owners to comply with ever-changing building codes until property changes hands or when there are related repairs or upgrades. These costly capital expenses are passed along to renters in the form of rent increases at a time when people are struggling to make ends meet.
Schiller Park Mayor Anna Montana tried to defend the Village’s mandatory apartment inspections as six trustees sat expressionless and silent.
It made me wonder what was going through their mind as they faced one of the largest crowds at a Village Board meeting in the past year or more.
The next Village Board meeting is at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the Schiller Park Village Hall, 9526 W. Irving Park Rd. If no changes are made, the next opportunity for changes is the local elections on April 7, 2009.
Schiller Park renters and owners can register to vote for the upcoming local elections before March 10 at the Schiller Park Village Hall or through mail. Register, vote and be heard!
We urge ALL residents who live in Schiller Park, especially those who live in apartments, to make sure you are registered to vote. April 7th is your opportunity to speak out against the unfair inspectional practices that you are subjected to in your buildings. This general election affects your life more so than the Presidential election and EVERY vote will count. Your one vote could make the difference between the incumbents getting back in or a change and relief for apartment owners and renters. Please don’t be complacent and let the other guy get involved. Take action! VOTE APRIL 7, 2009 – YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!