This is what is known as shameful politics.
Robbie worked/funded the effort to eliminate local rental inspections state wide via TREBIC
.
.
"Councilmember Perkins made a motion to appoint [Apartment Landlord] Frank Auman to RUCO Board, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Rakestraw and adopted by voice vote of Council; made a motion to re-appoint Ronald Nelson to the RUCO Board, the motion was seconded by Councilmember Vaughan and adopted by voice vote of Council...
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
19 APRIL 2011
...the following members present: Mayor William H. Knight, presiding;
Mayor Pro-tem Nancy Vaughan;
Councilmembers Bellamy-Small,
Jim Kee,
Robert V. Perkins,
Mary C. Rakestraw,
and Trudy Wade.
Absent: Councilmembers Zachery Matheny and Danny Thompson.
Councilmember Vaughan requested a
...reevaluation of RUCO for use on a “complaint only” basis.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
1 JUNE 2010
On TREBIC and Illegal Lobbying
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/05/on-trebic-and-illegal-lobbying.html
Koury, TREBIC and RUCO: What could Regulatory Capture look like?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/09/koury-trebic-and-ruco-what-could.html
Jordan Green’s post on RUCO’s Taskforce meeting
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/09/please-read-jordan-greens-post-on-rucos.html
Why didn't Jim Kee or Skip Alston or Dianne lift a finger for their constituents on RUCO?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-bill-marlene-ii-why-didn-jim-kee-or.html
Last summer, the Greensboro City Council effectively let the clock run out
on a successful and proactive rental unit inspection program
by not lifting one finger to defend it.
The council tabled a vote on a motion to support the program, called RUCO,
or Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy,
the day before a legislative vote in Raleigh and did not revisit the issue.
...For whatever reason,
the majority on this council simply lacked the will to fight for the policy."
Allen Johnson
Oct 25, 2011
..
Mayor Vaughan enabled the elimination of Greensboro’s Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy ordinance, along with Zack Matheny, Dawn Chaney, Jim Kee, Peter Placentino, Marlene Sanford and Robbie Perkins among others.
Meanwhile the RUCO taskforce will be meeting at 8 a.m. on Friday
to evaluate whether the program should continue.
Where is the location? Wait for it:
The Greensboro offices of Triad Real Estate & Building Industries Coalition,
or TREBIC, its better known acronym.
Jordan Green
"Robbie Perkins, a ...real-estate developer ...holds full confidence in [Engineering and Inpsections Director Butch] Simmons’ handling of changes to the city’s rental inspection program.
...Are the changes reasonable? Yes.
...Why should I dispute that?”
Asked whether amendments to the rental housing ordinance brought to council for approval by Simmons were likely to garner the required to five-vote majority to pass, Perkins gave a simple answer.
“I would hope so.”
Laura Jackson, 2615 West Court Street, spoke to the CNN story;
inquired about Council‘s response to the media perception;
expressed concerns regarding the passage of Senate Bill 683
and its impact on the RUCO ordinance;
and requested Council contact the Governor‘s Office and lobby to veto the bill.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
21 JUNE 2011
...the following members present: Mayor William H. Knight, presiding;
Mayor Pro-tem Nancy Vaughan;
Councilmembers Bellamy-Small,
Jim Kee,
Zachery Matheny,
Robert V. Perkins,
Mary C. Rakestraw,
Danny Thompson
and Trudy Wade.
Robbie worked/funded the effort to eliminate local rental inspections state wide via TREBIC
.
.
Nancy Vaughan harmed poor renters by allowing the elimination of RUCO and then not doing anything for years while Justin Outling chaired the Minimum Housing Commission, which let the Agapians off multiples of times.
I believe the mayor of Greensboro bears responsibility for eliminating RUCO while saying the exact opposite in public.
I believe Vaughan misled Greensboro's African American community along with other elected officials who didn't lift a finger to oppose the state gutting of RUCO.
.
.
Greensboro’s Landlords Association PAC donated campaign cash to the following in 2009, after which RUCO was castrated, and these folks were in on it;
Nancy Vaughn
Robbie Perkins
Zack Matheny
Trudy Wade
Jim Kee
T. Dianne Bellamy-Small
Yvonne Johnson
Marikay Abuzaiter
Councilmember Perkins made a motion to appoint Helen Wood to the RUCO Board
as the representative from TREBIC.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Matheny and adopted by voice vote of Council.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
1 FEBRUARY 2011
These folks let renters who file complaints to be more likely to get larger rent increases when their leases come up.
These folks let renters who file complaints not get good references if looking for another place to rent.
These folks let renters who file complaints become more likely to get evicted.
Councilmember Matheny made a motion
to appoint Lee Porter [Lee Porter, CCIM, CPM, REALTOR/Broker] to the RUCO Board.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Wade;
the motion was adopted by voice vote of Council.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
4 JANUARY 2011
Mr. Porter served on the Board of Directors
for both TREBIC (Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition)
The Realtor's Commercial Alliance
and as Chairman of the North Carolina Association of Realtors
What is amazing is the lack of our elected and community leaders to look out for the people they supposedly repesent.
It's wrong to kick around poor people.
Councilmember Perkins added the name of Peter Placentino
[Vice President Property Management, CPM]
to the databank for future service on the Minimum Housing Standards Commission;
requested the elimination of the appointed councilmember position on the RUCO Board;
requested the City Clerk to compile a summary of the RUCO Board members‟ terms
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
18 JANUARY 2011
"Mayor Johnson introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 11
of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances
with respect to Inspection Fees and Civil Penalties
assessed under the RUCO Ordinance.
Willena Cannon, stated she was a RUCO Board member,
voiced opposition to the proposed amendments to Chapter 11
and requested that a policy be developed to remove a landlord serving on the RUCO Board
who was not themselves in compliance to be removed.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
10 NOVEMBER 2009"
"Councilmember Matheny ...reappointed [Real Estate Broker] Todd Rotruck to the RUCO Board,
...and appointed Jeff Nimmer [Marty Kotis] to the Minimum Housing Standards Board.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
18 November 2008"
.
.
From: Marlene Sanford - TREBIC (E-mail)
To: Knight, Bill; "Trudy Wade"; Mary Rakestraw; Danny Thompson; Kee, James; Zack Matheny
Cc: "Jon Lowder"
Subject: Council Agenda Item 44 - RUCO
Date: Monday, June 06, 2011 4:34:33 PM
Importance: High
You may have on your agenda tomorrow night as item 44
a resolution asking you to oppose Senate Bill 683/House 554 Residential Building Inspections.
We respectfully ask you NOT to pass the resolution.
Contrary to what you will hear from GNC and GHC,
S683 and H554 would not
“eliminate proactive inspections by every county and municipality in North Carolina”,
or “end Greensboro’s Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy ordinance.”
The bills absolutely do allow local governments to have proactive inspections
on problem properties.
...Deadlines and fines are the real teeth of Greensboro’s RUCO ordinance,
and we support them.
From: Paul Meyer
To: Schwartz, Sue
Subject: RE: S 683
Date: Friday, May 27, 2011 10:17:12 AM
Sue
We met with interested parties yesterday,
and it became clear to me the extent of bad blood.
Greensboro was at the top of the hit list.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the Gboro program has resulted
in any positive results for safe housing.
A woman named Miranda(?) with black curly hair argued improvements in housing
were unrelated to RUCO program.
...Thanks for your help.
Paul Meyer
Chief Legislative Counsel
NC League of Municipalities
From: Turner, Denise
To: Young, Rashad; Scott, Andrew
Subject: Fwd: Sb 683
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011 7:22:07 AM
Rashad/Andy, I know the below referenced bill
would have a negative impact on our RUCO policy
if not make it obsolete altogether.
I believe TRBIC is very much in support of this change.
From: Wegner, Doug
To: William Whaley; lteague@co.alexander.nc.us; Jimmy Lloyd
Cc: Diane Meek; Frank Park; Norton, Lisa
Subject: RE: House Bill 554
Date: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 2:36:20 PM
William,
I briefly read this. I think it is a reaction to RUCO.
From: William Whaley [mailto:wowhaley@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 2:25 PM
To: lteague@co.alexander.nc.us; Jimmy Lloyd; Wegner, Doug
Subject: House Bill 554
Gentlemen:
Pleasetake time to read the attached House Bill.
If this Bill passes in its present form
the Legislature will set life safety back over a hundred years.
Thank You,
Carolina Code Studies & Consulting
Building Performance Institute Certified Building Analyst
W. O. Whaley
.
.
Greensboro’s RUCO among handful of proactive rental housing inspection programs across state
Cover up by the City of Greensboro on the fire at 3100-E Summit avenue which killed five kids
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/06/cover-up-by-city-of-greensboro-on-fire.html
Justin Outling and the Agapion's
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/06/justin-outling-and-agapions.html
What Richard Barron didn't mention in his News and Record article on Greensboro, North Carolina being the 7th largest renter eviction city in the nation, compared to the very media's often comparison; Greenville, South Carolina; Remember RUCO mayor Vaughan?
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-richard-barron-didnt-mention-in.html
Deep background on the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy program (RUCO), which the NC Realtor's Association liked Robbie and TREBIC getting rid of
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/deep-background-on-rental-unit.html
Koury, TREBIC and RUCO: What could Regulatory Capture look like?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/09/koury-trebic-and-ruco-what-could.html
Who did Greensboro’s Landlords Association PAC donate campaign cash to in 2009, and who do they want to castrate RUCO?
http://triadwatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-did-greensboros-landlords.html
"Editorial: The RUCO shuffle
Last summer, the Greensboro City Council effectively let the clock run out
on a successful and proactive rental unit inspection program
by not lifting one finger to defend it.
The council tabled a vote on a motion to support the program, called RUCO,
or Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy,
the day before a legislative vote in Raleigh and did not revisit the issue.
...For whatever reason,
the majority on this council simply lacked the will to fight for the policy.
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-play-city-of-greensboro-for.html
The RUCO board has traditionally been stacked with people associated with the real estate industry, who have made no secret of their desire to eliminate the program. Members of the board are appointed by council members, who are, in turn, generously supported in their election campaigns by people employed in the real estate industry.
N&R exiles to the limbo of its proprietary e-reader an article on possible changes to RUCO, so I'll summarize it for you:
RUCO seems to work pretty well at its objective of making rental properties safer and more livable, and people who advocate for renters like it a lot, but some landlords and politicians don't like it as much so it might get changed.
http://edcone.typepad.com/wordup/2010/08/ruco-1.html
George Hartzman, referenced TREBIC influence; spoke to the representation and makeup of the RUCO Board; harming poor renters; and the makeup of the Greensboro Landlord Association.
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/from-minutes-of-city-council-of-city-of.html
Highlights of Googling "Skip Alston" and RUCO
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/highlights-of-googling-alston-and-ruco.html
If Skip Alston was/is a slumlord, and Robbie Perkins company funds TREBIC, which wants to gut RUCO...?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/if-skip-alston-wasis-slumlord-and.html
Ed Cone's RUCO Linkfest all found at Ed Cone's Word Up: Please answer the question Ed
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/09/ed-cone-ruco-linkfest-all-found-at-ed.html
Mark Sutter on Greensboro's Slumlords who fund City Council
Nancy Vaughan doesn't give a shit about the conditions the people who make them live in.
City Council is owned by developers and real estate rental folks,
but our local news outlets won't report it
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/04/mark-sutter-on-greensboros-slumlords.html
If Skip Alston was/is a slumlord, and Robbie Perkins company funds TREBIC, which wants to gut RUCO...?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/if-skip-alston-wasis-slumlord-and.html
"Other RUCO Task Force members include Lisa Dellinger, a TREBIC representative and residential property manager for Koury Corporation; Bobby Akin of the Greensboro Landlords Association and former owner of Reliant Properties; and Jeffrey Sims, a private landlord and a local bank employee. Sims also represents the RUCO advisory board on the task force."
Carolina Peacemaker, August 4, 2010
http://www.carolinapeacemaker.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=104603&sID=4&ItemSource=L
There is something wrong with our government
if there is little to no opposition?
The RUCO taskforce met at the office of a special interest lobbyist,
TREBIC's Marlene Sanford, who was a member of the the RUCO taskforce
"...the Greensboro Landlords Association, whose members belong to the industry that is most directly affected, have made it clear that would like nothing better than to have the ordinance wiped off the books. They’re joined by the Triad Real Estate and Building Industries Coalition, or TREBIC, an umbrella organization that represents trade associations and member companies in fields related to development, construction, real estate brokerage, property management and banking across Guilford County.
TREBIC President Marlene Sanford said her organization’s membership is unified in opposition to RUCO.
...Sanford said TREBIC has advised the city of High Point on how to deal with substandard housing, suggesting “that they target those problem properties with all the resources they need. And not waste resources on the other 90 percent of rental units, like Greensboro’s RUCO program does.”
A task force of the RUCO Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on Friday at the headquarters of TREBIC for the purpose of gathering “information for modifications to the RUCO ordinance,” according to language in a city notice.
Sanford has argued that the current ordinance is unnecessarily costly to local taxpayers and unfairly burdens good landlords who take care of their properties.
“In a nutshell, it wastes resources on the 90 percent or more properties that are in good condition,” she said. “So far, the city has spent almost $3 million, inspecting about 35,000 rental units, at least 90 percent of which don’t need it. They could have pummeled the problem properties for less than a million dollars and gotten them cleaned up in a fraction of the time.”
http://yesweekly.com/Greensboros-RUCO-among-handful-of-proactive-rental-housing-inspection-programs-across-state-a14313/
"A recent report that Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan wants to explore the possibility of revising the city’s RUCO program — that’s an acronym for Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy — and go back to a complaint-driven system pricked my curiosity about whether the units at JT Hairston Memorial Apartments have a RUCO certificate and whether reports of bedbug infestation there would constitute a violation."
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/09/nancy-cries-ruco.html
.
.
"Councilmember Bellamy-Small requested additional information about Item #7, ordinance amending the Chapter 11 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances with respect to Housing Code – abolish RUCO Board.
Mayor Perkins stated that there was a speaker to the item.
George Hartzman, 2506 Baytree Drive, expressed opposition to the abolishment of the RUCO Board and attributed the loss to lobbying efforts by TREBIC.
Council discussion focused on the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants; that violations would continue to be addressed by the Minimum Housing Standards and the Human Relations Commissions;
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
21 FEBRUARY 2012"
.
.
Eric Ginsburg on the Agapions and etc..., who Greensboro's City Council let get away with murder
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/05/eric-ginsburg-on-agapions-and-etc-who.html
.
.
"Mayor Perkins stated that this was the time and place set for a public hearing to consider ordinance replacing Chapter 11 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances with respect to Housing Code – Post RUCO changes.
City Manager Roth explained the background of the item and deferred to staff for presentation.
Planning and Community Development Director Sue Schwartz presented the item; explained the history of the item; clarified the basic objectives of the ordinance which balanced the needs of the landlord, tenant and community; and addressed the new criteria associated with non-compliance and reinspection fees.
Mayor Perkins stated there were speakers to the item.
...George Hartzman, 2506 Baytree Drive, spoke in opposition to the process of reinstating the post-RUCO ordinance.
Councilmember Abuzuaiter made a motion to close the public hearing. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson; the motion was adopted by voice vote of Council.
Council discussed the item; spoke to the stakeholders who were involved in the taskforce; expressed support for improving the housing stock; and to make regulations that were in the best interests for residents; and thanked the taskforce for its support and input during the process.
Councilmember Bellamy-Small made a motion to adopt the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson; the ordinance was adopted on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Abuzuaiter, Bellamy-Small, Hoffmann, Johnson, Kee, Matheny, Perkins, Vaughan and Wilkins. Noes: None.
https://greensboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
.
.
And they covered their asses well after doing nothing;
7 MAY 2013; Mayor Perkins introduced a resolution in opposition to House Bill 773.
City Attorney Shah-Khan explained that the issue with the bill was that it served to erode the City’s ability to inspect rental units; follow up to changes in RUCO in 2011; outlined the requirements of the bill; voiced concern that the bill would remove the police power of the City to carry out inspections; reduce the City’s reach of inspections going forward; that the Post RUCO Committee had been working on a solution for the City for creation of a new program to comply with state law; and that the bill was currently still in the Committee.
Beth McKee-Huger, 408 Woodlawn Avenue, spoke in favor of Council’s opposition to the bill; spoke to the health and welfare of residents; housing conditions; and urged Council to vote in support of the resolution.
George Hartzman, 2506 Baytree Drive, referenced TREBIC influence; spoke to the representation and makeup of the RUCO Board; harming poor renters; and the makeup of the Greensboro Landlord Association.
Mayor Perkins corrected for the record that he had voted for the establishment of RUCO, had served on and supported the Board as the RUCO Council representative; and that Mr. Hartzman was factually incorrect.
Council discussion included concern that the delegation had not reached out to Councilmembers prior to writing and introducing the bill; respect for Representative Hardister; that they did not want poor housing conditions for renters in the City; referenced good landlords; and a conversation with Representative Hardister.
Councilmember Vaughan moved adoption of the resolution. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson; the resolution was adopted on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Abuzuaiter, Bellamy-Small, Hoffmann, Johnson, Kee, Matheny, Perkins, and Vaughan. Noes: Wilkins.
127-13 RESOLUTION OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 773
WHEREAS, House Bill 773 was introduced in the General Assembly on April 10, 2013, titled “Local Gov'ts/Bldgs/Structures/Inspections;” and
WHEREAS, House Bill 773 will serve to amend Section 160A-424 of the North Carolina General Statutes, which permits municipalities to carry out inspections “for unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in buildings or structures within its territorial jurisdiction;” and
WHEREAS, in 2011, the General Assembly approved changes to Section 160A-424 that led to the City being required to dismantle its Rental Use Certificate of Occupancy (“RUCO”) inspection program in order to comply with state law; and
WHEREAS, the City is diligently working on creating a new RUCO program that would comply with current state law and serve to protect the health and safety of Greensboro’s citizens; and
WHEREAS, House Bill 773 in its current form, will serve to further erode the ability of all North Carolina local governments to inspect rental properties, and erode the City’s police power granted by N.C.G.S. §160A-174, and
WHEREAS, House Bill 773, if enacted, may negatively impact the health and safety of those who rent, as opposed to own, their housing;
WHEREAS, local governments have an obligation help protect the health and safety of all its citizens, regardless of whether or not those citizens live in rental housing or own their homes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GREENSBORO CITY COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Greensboro City Council is opposed to House Bill 773 and any other legislation that attempts to further erode a city’s ability to inspect rental housing units to protect public health and safety.
2. The Greensboro City Council is convinced that local solution arrived at by an open, collaborative process is preferable to a legislative directed process that negatively impacts local options for rental housing inspection programs.
That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President Pro Tem of the North Carolina Senate, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, and to the Chair of the Guilford County Legislative Delegation.
(Signed) Nancy Vaughan
.
.
5/15/2013 Senate Ref To Com On Commerce
https://www2.ncleg.net/BillLookup/2013/h773
.
.
And then;
"When the NC General Assembly voted in June to amend the state’s rental inspection law, it appeared to spell the demise of RUCO, short for Rental Unit Certificate of Occupation, a model program in Greensboro that proactively inspected rental properties...
The Greensboro City Council has drawn heat for opting to remain silent on the issue on the eve of a critical Senate vote.
...The new law amended a section of state law pertaining to building inspections in cities and counties, prohibiting them from making periodic inspections for “unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in buildings” without reasonable cause.
...the statute amended by the General Assembly refers to “building inspectors” while the statute that provides the enabling authority for RUCO refers to “public officers.”
...Nancy Hoffmann [who is now a landlord]...said RUCO had been successful and had improved the city’s housing inventory, but she appreciated that landlords might have a different perspective.
Jim Kee and Zack Matheny...echoed criticism that city staff is inspecting the same properties over and over again.
...Robbie Perkins said, “It’s hard to cry over spilt milk. If the state legislature decides they’re going to put a program out of business, then they’ve got the authority to do that. I think the question is, where do we go from here?” Perkins proposed reducing the territory for which each inspector is responsible..."
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/07/is-ben-holders-contract-with-greensboro.html
.
.
In 2014, Our elected leaders were comprised of Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Mayor Pro-Tem Yvonne J. Johnson, Councilmember Marikay Abuzuaiter, Councilmember Mike Barber, Councilmember Jamal T. Fox, Councilmember Sharon M. Hightower, Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann, Councilmember Zack Matheny and Councilmember Tony Wilkins
Who did nothing.
of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances
with respect to Inspection Fees and Civil Penalties
assessed under the RUCO Ordinance.
Willena Cannon, stated she was a RUCO Board member,
voiced opposition to the proposed amendments to Chapter 11
and requested that a policy be developed to remove a landlord serving on the RUCO Board
who was not themselves in compliance to be removed.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
10 NOVEMBER 2009"
Councilmember Wade placed ...reappointed Mike Barber to the RUCO Board
Councilmember Perkins seconded the motion which was adopted by voice of Council.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
3 FEBRUARY 2009
"Councilmember Matheny ...reappointed [Real Estate Broker] Todd Rotruck to the RUCO Board,
...and appointed Jeff Nimmer [Marty Kotis] to the Minimum Housing Standards Board.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
18 November 2008"
.
.
From: Marlene Sanford - TREBIC (E-mail)
To: Knight, Bill; "Trudy Wade"; Mary Rakestraw; Danny Thompson; Kee, James; Zack Matheny
Cc: "Jon Lowder"
Subject: Council Agenda Item 44 - RUCO
Date: Monday, June 06, 2011 4:34:33 PM
Importance: High
You may have on your agenda tomorrow night as item 44
a resolution asking you to oppose Senate Bill 683/House 554 Residential Building Inspections.
We respectfully ask you NOT to pass the resolution.
Contrary to what you will hear from GNC and GHC,
S683 and H554 would not
“eliminate proactive inspections by every county and municipality in North Carolina”,
or “end Greensboro’s Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy ordinance.”
The bills absolutely do allow local governments to have proactive inspections
on problem properties.
...Deadlines and fines are the real teeth of Greensboro’s RUCO ordinance,
and we support them.
They added a requirement of 2 or more violations to be able to assess fees.
Paul Meyer
Chief Legislative Counsel
NC League of Municipalities
It is the threat of these fines that probably have been helpful
in reducing the number of substandard housing cases the city has on record.
...the claim that RUCO has “reduced substandard housing in Greensboro by almost 50%”
is not accurate.
Greensboro’s RUCO program involves inspecting every single rental unit in the city.
After 7 years we now know that about 90% of them have passed with flying colors,
while, sadly, the 10% that are problem properties still have problems.
RUCO’s universal inspection approach has actually delayed cleanup of the city’s housing,
wasting time and money on the other 90% - including even luxury apartments.
The bills would absolutely allow the city to target proactive inspections
on fixing the problems and fine the bad actors.
Marlene Sanford"
From: Mary Gwyn
Subject: Please support safe and affordable housing in Greensboro and NC!
VOTE AGAINST Attachment 44 tonight!
Date: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 10:53:02 AM
Councilwoman...,
We need your help!
As a manager of rental housing in Greensboro,
I have tried to support RUCO for years, but the program
has been fraught with problems since its inception.
You have the opportunity to help make rental housing safer and more affordable in Greensboro,
and save Greensboro tax payers millions in tax dollars.
...After 7 years we now know that Greensboro spent nearly $3 million inspecting about 35,000 rental units,
but STILL has problem properties in the city.
...one City Inspector told me in confidence that he knew the program was not effective,
and that he had opposed it within his department.
The vast majority, almost 90%, of rental units properties passed with flying colors,
and more than one third of the violations were caused by tenants.
...because this “universal” inspection approach is overly ambitious and unwieldy,
bureaucratic inefficiencies took even more focus off the real work to be done
- improving the 10 percent of housing that is substandard.
The current RUCO program has had problems like reinspections of good properties
that have to be done solely because the city lost the RUCO records;
enforcement mistakes like neglecting to enforce the “repeat offender” portion of the ordinance;
staff making a fine 12 times higher after the appeal period ran out;
scheduling inspections on exempt properties;
and inconsistent interpretation of the ordinance and the maintenance code.
Not only has this wasted tax dollars,
but Landlords have also wasted tremendous sums of money dealing with red tape
and unnecessary inspections – real money that pushes up real rent rates.
We want safe and affordable housing in Greensboro,
and today is your opportunity to make a step toward that!
Please VOTE AGAINST this proposal!
Mary
Mary Gwyn, CPM
Chief Innovator
Apartment Dynamics
From: Paul Meyer
To: Schwartz, Sue
Subject: RE: S 683
Date: Friday, May 27, 2011 10:17:12 AM
Sue
We met with interested parties yesterday,
and it became clear to me the extent of bad blood.
Greensboro was at the top of the hit list.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the Gboro program has resulted
in any positive results for safe housing.
A woman named Miranda(?) with black curly hair argued improvements in housing
were unrelated to RUCO program.
...Thanks for your help.
Paul Meyer
Chief Legislative Counsel
NC League of Municipalities
From: Channel Reynolds [mailto:cjeffries6@northstate.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:31 AM
To: 'Beth McKee-Huger'; 'Michael Pendergraft'
Subject: RE: RUCO meeting in Raleigh TOMORROW
Greetings!
It should be noted that the current 2% sampling that we do for follow up inspections
was a compromise struck with stakeholders.
The ordinance initially had reinspections every 4 years.
Please let me know if there is any other data you need or in other formats
Sue Schwartz, FAICP
Interim Director
Planning & Community Development
From: Turner, Denise
To: Young, Rashad; Scott, Andrew
Subject: Fwd: Sb 683
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011 7:22:07 AM
Rashad/Andy, I know the below referenced bill
would have a negative impact on our RUCO policy
if not make it obsolete altogether.
I believe TRBIC is very much in support of this change.
From: rick sandler
To: Vaughan, Nancy
Subject: RUCO/State Legislation
Date: Monday, April 11, 2011 2:45:27 PM
Nancy,
Dawn Chaney asked me to send you the following information.
She'll probably be calling you in the next few days.
...There's a bill working it's way through the legislature that would prohibit RUCO
and RUCO like ordinances state wide.
I'm sure it's no surprise that I'm in favor of such legislation
and so is the Greensboro Landlords Association.
...It is our position that RUCO is an extremely inefficient and expensive way
to achieve the desired objective.
...It would eliminate the needless and costly inspection of the 95% or more of units
that pass on the first inspection.
My hope is that you, and Council, will choose to remain neutral
and not take a position either pro or con on the pending legislation.
From: Wegner, Doug
To: William Whaley; lteague@co.alexander.nc.us; Jimmy Lloyd
Cc: Diane Meek; Frank Park; Norton, Lisa
Subject: RE: House Bill 554
Date: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 2:36:20 PM
William,
I briefly read this. I think it is a reaction to RUCO.
From: William Whaley [mailto:wowhaley@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 2:25 PM
To: lteague@co.alexander.nc.us; Jimmy Lloyd; Wegner, Doug
Subject: House Bill 554
Gentlemen:
Pleasetake time to read the attached House Bill.
If this Bill passes in its present form
the Legislature will set life safety back over a hundred years.
Thank You,
Carolina Code Studies & Consulting
Building Performance Institute Certified Building Analyst
W. O. Whaley
.
.
Greensboro’s RUCO among handful of proactive rental housing inspection programs across state
RUCO Facts and Figures
http://littleurbanity.blogspot.com/2010/08/ruco-facts-and-figures.html
Mayor Knight made a motion to appoint Councilmember Perkins to the RUCO Board;
the motion was seconded by Councilmember Wade and adopted by voice vote of Council.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
16 NOVEMBER 2010
Cover up by the City of Greensboro on the fire at 3100-E Summit avenue which killed five kids
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/06/cover-up-by-city-of-greensboro-on-fire.html
Justin Outling and the Agapion's
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/06/justin-outling-and-agapions.html
What Richard Barron didn't mention in his News and Record article on Greensboro, North Carolina being the 7th largest renter eviction city in the nation, compared to the very media's often comparison; Greenville, South Carolina; Remember RUCO mayor Vaughan?
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-richard-barron-didnt-mention-in.html
Councilmember Rakestraw
...made a motion to appoint Dawn Chaney [Landlord] to the RUCO Board
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
2 AUGUST 2010
Deep background on the Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy program (RUCO), which the NC Realtor's Association liked Robbie and TREBIC getting rid of
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/10/deep-background-on-rental-unit.html
Koury, TREBIC and RUCO: What could Regulatory Capture look like?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/09/koury-trebic-and-ruco-what-could.html
Who did Greensboro’s Landlords Association PAC donate campaign cash to in 2009, and who do they want to castrate RUCO?
http://triadwatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-did-greensboros-landlords.html
"Editorial: The RUCO shuffle
Last summer, the Greensboro City Council effectively let the clock run out
on a successful and proactive rental unit inspection program
by not lifting one finger to defend it.
The council tabled a vote on a motion to support the program, called RUCO,
or Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy,
the day before a legislative vote in Raleigh and did not revisit the issue.
...For whatever reason,
the majority on this council simply lacked the will to fight for the policy.
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-play-city-of-greensboro-for.html
The RUCO board has traditionally been stacked with people associated with the real estate industry, who have made no secret of their desire to eliminate the program. Members of the board are appointed by council members, who are, in turn, generously supported in their election campaigns by people employed in the real estate industry.
N&R exiles to the limbo of its proprietary e-reader an article on possible changes to RUCO, so I'll summarize it for you:
RUCO seems to work pretty well at its objective of making rental properties safer and more livable, and people who advocate for renters like it a lot, but some landlords and politicians don't like it as much so it might get changed.
http://edcone.typepad.com/wordup/2010/08/ruco-1.html
George Hartzman, referenced TREBIC influence; spoke to the representation and makeup of the RUCO Board; harming poor renters; and the makeup of the Greensboro Landlord Association.
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/from-minutes-of-city-council-of-city-of.html
Highlights of Googling "Skip Alston" and RUCO
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/highlights-of-googling-alston-and-ruco.html
If Skip Alston was/is a slumlord, and Robbie Perkins company funds TREBIC, which wants to gut RUCO...?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/if-skip-alston-wasis-slumlord-and.html
Ed Cone's RUCO Linkfest all found at Ed Cone's Word Up: Please answer the question Ed
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/09/ed-cone-ruco-linkfest-all-found-at-ed.html
Mark Sutter on Greensboro's Slumlords who fund City Council
Nancy Vaughan doesn't give a shit about the conditions the people who make them live in.
City Council is owned by developers and real estate rental folks,
but our local news outlets won't report it
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2017/04/mark-sutter-on-greensboros-slumlords.html
Highlights of Googling "Skip Alston" and RUCO
If Skip Alston was/is a slumlord, and Robbie Perkins company funds TREBIC, which wants to gut RUCO...?
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2013/06/if-skip-alston-wasis-slumlord-and.html
"Other RUCO Task Force members include Lisa Dellinger, a TREBIC representative and residential property manager for Koury Corporation; Bobby Akin of the Greensboro Landlords Association and former owner of Reliant Properties; and Jeffrey Sims, a private landlord and a local bank employee. Sims also represents the RUCO advisory board on the task force."
Carolina Peacemaker, August 4, 2010
http://www.carolinapeacemaker.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=104603&sID=4&ItemSource=L
The first duty of government
is to protect the powerless against the powerful
Code of Hammurabi
There is something wrong with our government
if there is little to no opposition?
The RUCO taskforce met at the office of a special interest lobbyist,
TREBIC's Marlene Sanford, who was a member of the the RUCO taskforce
RUCO is gutted, and more people were harmed,
and those responsible are unaccountable.
"...the Greensboro Landlords Association, whose members belong to the industry that is most directly affected, have made it clear that would like nothing better than to have the ordinance wiped off the books. They’re joined by the Triad Real Estate and Building Industries Coalition, or TREBIC, an umbrella organization that represents trade associations and member companies in fields related to development, construction, real estate brokerage, property management and banking across Guilford County.
TREBIC President Marlene Sanford said her organization’s membership is unified in opposition to RUCO.
...Sanford said TREBIC has advised the city of High Point on how to deal with substandard housing, suggesting “that they target those problem properties with all the resources they need. And not waste resources on the other 90 percent of rental units, like Greensboro’s RUCO program does.”
A task force of the RUCO Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on Friday at the headquarters of TREBIC for the purpose of gathering “information for modifications to the RUCO ordinance,” according to language in a city notice.
Sanford has argued that the current ordinance is unnecessarily costly to local taxpayers and unfairly burdens good landlords who take care of their properties.
“In a nutshell, it wastes resources on the 90 percent or more properties that are in good condition,” she said. “So far, the city has spent almost $3 million, inspecting about 35,000 rental units, at least 90 percent of which don’t need it. They could have pummeled the problem properties for less than a million dollars and gotten them cleaned up in a fraction of the time.”
http://yesweekly.com/Greensboros-RUCO-among-handful-of-proactive-rental-housing-inspection-programs-across-state-a14313/
"A recent report that Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Vaughan wants to explore the possibility of revising the city’s RUCO program — that’s an acronym for Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy — and go back to a complaint-driven system pricked my curiosity about whether the units at JT Hairston Memorial Apartments have a RUCO certificate and whether reports of bedbug infestation there would constitute a violation."
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2014/09/nancy-cries-ruco.html
.
.
"Councilmember Bellamy-Small requested additional information about Item #7, ordinance amending the Chapter 11 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances with respect to Housing Code – abolish RUCO Board.
Mayor Perkins stated that there was a speaker to the item.
George Hartzman, 2506 Baytree Drive, expressed opposition to the abolishment of the RUCO Board and attributed the loss to lobbying efforts by TREBIC.
Council discussion focused on the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants; that violations would continue to be addressed by the Minimum Housing Standards and the Human Relations Commissions;
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
21 FEBRUARY 2012"
.
.
Eric Ginsburg on the Agapions and etc..., who Greensboro's City Council let get away with murder
http://greensboroperformingarts.blogspot.com/2018/05/eric-ginsburg-on-agapions-and-etc-who.html
.
.
"Mayor Perkins stated that this was the time and place set for a public hearing to consider ordinance replacing Chapter 11 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances with respect to Housing Code – Post RUCO changes.
City Manager Roth explained the background of the item and deferred to staff for presentation.
Planning and Community Development Director Sue Schwartz presented the item; explained the history of the item; clarified the basic objectives of the ordinance which balanced the needs of the landlord, tenant and community; and addressed the new criteria associated with non-compliance and reinspection fees.
Mayor Perkins stated there were speakers to the item.
...George Hartzman, 2506 Baytree Drive, spoke in opposition to the process of reinstating the post-RUCO ordinance.
Councilmember Abuzuaiter made a motion to close the public hearing. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson; the motion was adopted by voice vote of Council.
Council discussed the item; spoke to the stakeholders who were involved in the taskforce; expressed support for improving the housing stock; and to make regulations that were in the best interests for residents; and thanked the taskforce for its support and input during the process.
Councilmember Bellamy-Small made a motion to adopt the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson; the ordinance was adopted on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Abuzuaiter, Bellamy-Small, Hoffmann, Johnson, Kee, Matheny, Perkins, Vaughan and Wilkins. Noes: None.
https://greensboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
.
.
And they covered their asses well after doing nothing;
7 MAY 2013; Mayor Perkins introduced a resolution in opposition to House Bill 773.
City Attorney Shah-Khan explained that the issue with the bill was that it served to erode the City’s ability to inspect rental units; follow up to changes in RUCO in 2011; outlined the requirements of the bill; voiced concern that the bill would remove the police power of the City to carry out inspections; reduce the City’s reach of inspections going forward; that the Post RUCO Committee had been working on a solution for the City for creation of a new program to comply with state law; and that the bill was currently still in the Committee.
Beth McKee-Huger, 408 Woodlawn Avenue, spoke in favor of Council’s opposition to the bill; spoke to the health and welfare of residents; housing conditions; and urged Council to vote in support of the resolution.
George Hartzman, 2506 Baytree Drive, referenced TREBIC influence; spoke to the representation and makeup of the RUCO Board; harming poor renters; and the makeup of the Greensboro Landlord Association.
Mayor Perkins corrected for the record that he had voted for the establishment of RUCO, had served on and supported the Board as the RUCO Council representative; and that Mr. Hartzman was factually incorrect.
Council discussion included concern that the delegation had not reached out to Councilmembers prior to writing and introducing the bill; respect for Representative Hardister; that they did not want poor housing conditions for renters in the City; referenced good landlords; and a conversation with Representative Hardister.
Councilmember Vaughan moved adoption of the resolution. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson; the resolution was adopted on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Abuzuaiter, Bellamy-Small, Hoffmann, Johnson, Kee, Matheny, Perkins, and Vaughan. Noes: Wilkins.
127-13 RESOLUTION OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 773
WHEREAS, House Bill 773 was introduced in the General Assembly on April 10, 2013, titled “Local Gov'ts/Bldgs/Structures/Inspections;” and
WHEREAS, House Bill 773 will serve to amend Section 160A-424 of the North Carolina General Statutes, which permits municipalities to carry out inspections “for unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in buildings or structures within its territorial jurisdiction;” and
WHEREAS, in 2011, the General Assembly approved changes to Section 160A-424 that led to the City being required to dismantle its Rental Use Certificate of Occupancy (“RUCO”) inspection program in order to comply with state law; and
WHEREAS, the City is diligently working on creating a new RUCO program that would comply with current state law and serve to protect the health and safety of Greensboro’s citizens; and
WHEREAS, House Bill 773 in its current form, will serve to further erode the ability of all North Carolina local governments to inspect rental properties, and erode the City’s police power granted by N.C.G.S. §160A-174, and
WHEREAS, House Bill 773, if enacted, may negatively impact the health and safety of those who rent, as opposed to own, their housing;
WHEREAS, local governments have an obligation help protect the health and safety of all its citizens, regardless of whether or not those citizens live in rental housing or own their homes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GREENSBORO CITY COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Greensboro City Council is opposed to House Bill 773 and any other legislation that attempts to further erode a city’s ability to inspect rental housing units to protect public health and safety.
2. The Greensboro City Council is convinced that local solution arrived at by an open, collaborative process is preferable to a legislative directed process that negatively impacts local options for rental housing inspection programs.
That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President Pro Tem of the North Carolina Senate, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, and to the Chair of the Guilford County Legislative Delegation.
(Signed) Nancy Vaughan
.
.
5/15/2013 Senate Ref To Com On Commerce
https://www2.ncleg.net/BillLookup/2013/h773
.
.
And then;
"When the NC General Assembly voted in June to amend the state’s rental inspection law, it appeared to spell the demise of RUCO, short for Rental Unit Certificate of Occupation, a model program in Greensboro that proactively inspected rental properties...
The Greensboro City Council has drawn heat for opting to remain silent on the issue on the eve of a critical Senate vote.
...The new law amended a section of state law pertaining to building inspections in cities and counties, prohibiting them from making periodic inspections for “unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in buildings” without reasonable cause.
...the statute amended by the General Assembly refers to “building inspectors” while the statute that provides the enabling authority for RUCO refers to “public officers.”
...Nancy Hoffmann [who is now a landlord]...said RUCO had been successful and had improved the city’s housing inventory, but she appreciated that landlords might have a different perspective.
Jim Kee and Zack Matheny...echoed criticism that city staff is inspecting the same properties over and over again.
...Robbie Perkins said, “It’s hard to cry over spilt milk. If the state legislature decides they’re going to put a program out of business, then they’ve got the authority to do that. I think the question is, where do we go from here?” Perkins proposed reducing the territory for which each inspector is responsible..."
http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/07/is-ben-holders-contract-with-greensboro.html
.
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In 2014, Our elected leaders were comprised of Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Mayor Pro-Tem Yvonne J. Johnson, Councilmember Marikay Abuzuaiter, Councilmember Mike Barber, Councilmember Jamal T. Fox, Councilmember Sharon M. Hightower, Councilmember Nancy Hoffmann, Councilmember Zack Matheny and Councilmember Tony Wilkins
Who did nothing.
Audrey Berlawitz, spoke to concerns of the lack of progress
and makeup of the post RUCO Study Committee;
lack of tenant representation on the committee;
voiced that renters wanted to be part of the board;
and asked for a post RUCO ordinance with ‘teeth’.
City Manager Denise Roth advised Council that the board’s preliminary findings
would be completed and brought to Council shortly;
spoke to upcoming opportunities to engage stakeholders and renters to ensure their input;
and continued discussion prior to the presentation of an ordinance
which would involve the public.
City Manager Roth was requested to coordinate engagement and involvement of all stakeholders
on future ad hoc committees similar to the post RUCO Board going forward.
Mayor Perkins voiced the importance of the strides made by RUCO;
and concerns with backsliding of the City’s housing stock.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO, NC
16 OCTOBER 2012
§ 160A-424. Periodic inspections for hazardous or unlawful conditions.
(c) In no event may a city do any of the following: (i) adopt or enforce any ordinance that would require any owner or manager of rental property to obtain any permit or permission from the city to lease or rent residential real property or to register rental property with the city, except for those individual rental units that have either more than four verified violations in a rolling 12-month period or two or more verified violations in a rolling 30-day period, or upon the property being identified within the top ten percent (10%) of properties with crime or disorder problems as set forth in a local ordinance;
