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The Lakewood Times

APP Reveals Lakewood Slumlords

1/27/2013

14 Comments

 
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The APP has written an investigative article revealing the slumlike conditions of much of Lakewood's rental housing. The article is reminiscent of an infamous article that was written by Village Voice magazine that discussed orthodox Jewish slumlords in particular. The cover of the magazine (above) very plainly pointed out that (like Hebrew National hot dogs) we must answer to a higher authority. In bold type on the cover it said plainy, 'HOW CAN A RELIGIOUS PERSON JUSTIFY BEING A SLUMLORD?' That article was exceptionally embarrassing. Almost all of the worst slumlords in New York were of the Jewish Faith, and most were identified as orthodox.  

For years, Lakewood has looked the other way as we allowed people in our community to take advantage of the need for low income housing by renting out homes in substandard conditions, and allowing tenants to sublet rooms to many families under one roof.

The APP investigated random homes that were obviously not in habitable condition, yet occupied by many tenants. Their findings were not shocking to the average Lakewood resident. 
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-An Asbury Park Press investigation found a number of rentals in Lakewood lacked basic permits, were overcrowded, infested with roaches and put their tenants, their children and first responders at risk of fire, electrocution and other hazards.

The Press randomly visited rentals in immigrant neighborhoods and found most had multiple families living in homes built for single families. Yet township records show that just three properties were cited last year for overcrowding violations.

Less than a week into his first term as Lakewood’s mayor, Albert Akerman, reacted with surprise to his town’s low violation numbers. But Committeman Meir Lichtenstein and former mayor Robert W. Singer acknowledged that its staff may not be enough for this township of 90,000 people.

In its investigation, The Press found:

• Just one of the 11 homes The Press visited had a valid certificate of occupancy, the town’s guarantee that a home is safe to live in that also establishes how many people may live there. One of the homes later obtained a certificate of occupancy.-
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These numbers were not at all surprising. The inspection department has basically given up on giving out violations to certain people.

The inspection department, like many other departments in our town, do as they are told (but that is a whole other article). They have no mandate to routinely inspect older homes. This laisez-faire attitude is just another black eye to the image of Lakewood.

Unfortunately we only have two eyes and we used those up long ago.

We need to ask our committeemen to require housing inspections once a year on all homes and businesses that were built before 1990. Older homes pose special risks and need repairs and upkeep. 

As a landlord myself, I now appreciate the strict laws of Los Angeles county that inspect my properties regularly. They keep me informed of any damages tenants have done, and force me to keep my buildings maintained which increases their value and prevents me from causing any harm to tenants or my people's good name.
14 Comments
bb
1/27/2013 10:41:52 am

I'm very surprised that APP ran a story like this....

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Y
1/27/2013 11:03:02 am

Someone definitely getting their pockets lined,,, Inspectors are bound by law to investigate these issues maybe its time for county officials to step in

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b
1/27/2013 11:04:02 am

so lets see if anything changes ,its been this way for years ! NO ONE SHOULD have to live under these conditions! I would like to know how anyone gets a CO for not only disgusting but incredibly unsafe dump like this . I can tell you this is not just an aberation but is common place and like the headline says those who can make a differance turn a "BLIND EYE" TOTALLY DISGUSTING , LAKEWOOD CLEAN UP YOUR ACT !!! one more thing those living in TENT CITY are probably better off

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BF
1/27/2013 11:05:14 am

Recently the inspectors have been busy over at tent city handing out violations to the homeless camp. To bad they are not concerned about the poor who have to accept any sub standard living condition. They have time to harass the tent city people as they want to move them out of Lakewood, however the ones that can line their pockets can have rentals without CO's and proper inspections. An investigation into the Lakewood politicians would probably be a great idea.

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PA
1/27/2013 11:05:51 am

The story gives names and addresses of known criminals..Will law enforcement do anything with this info?

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A B C
1/27/2013 08:49:12 pm

It's obvious that almost all I the comments are posted by the same person

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Janice Urbsaitis
1/27/2013 09:03:05 pm

Lakewood has been guilty of all charges in this article for years. It will continue to be this way. Since 2005, I have attempted to call attention to these abuses, as have several other Lakewood residents and they continue because Lakewood is corrupt. And will continue to be. This town has no regard for its taxpaying citizens. You will find abuses all over town, including Seminole Dr.

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anonymous
1/27/2013 10:17:31 pm

The tax paying politicians in Lakewood don't know which way to turn. Those of us who elected to stay see the erosion of property values due to poor control over slum landlords!

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To be fair
1/27/2013 10:35:22 pm

I pnce rented a house to a nice immigrant couple with 2 kids. When i came back the next month to collect rent there was evidence of many more 'nice' people living there. I told the tenants it wasnt allowed. They said they would leave. Next month same crap. Sold the house.

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bs
1/28/2013 04:17:45 am

The inspectirs were advised to look the other way dint kid yoursekf. They know what is out there but cant act on it. Even if there are only 2 inspectors they can inspect 2 to 3 houses per day. At 200 working days a year, how many inspections and violations can they make if they are allowed to? Quite a lot

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ps
1/29/2013 09:40:25 am

There are more than 2 inspectors. There are housing inspectors, plumbing inspectors, electrical inspectors, etc., etc. Everyone is being lied to.

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VERY GOOD IDEA
2/7/2013 11:07:01 am

that house is in horrible shape and should repaired.but if a land lord would have to fix all the abuses the tenant causes,and have to pay for them there won't be one landlord left in town.all my houses are inspected and i wouldn't get away with a house like is shown on that video it should be condemed.i wouldn't even let my house get that bad.by the way are all the rentals in masa umatan?i think not.a lot of this talk about slumlords is discrimination.lakewood doesn't want lo yahudim to rent in lakewood.

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VERY GOOD IDEA
2/7/2013 11:20:47 am

P S ARE ALL THE HOUSES FROM MASA UMATAN INSPECTED?they better be, because they will be if we hear anymore about slumlords. .shut down the real slumlords i can't beleive houses like that are allowed to exist.if you call the right people in the township they will close that house out and put the tenants out too.and if you are going to harass landlords who rent lo yahudim,.you frum landords will get inundated with them.

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JaneDoh
8/6/2019 04:23:10 pm

These rentals are inspected yearly if the renters receive Section 8. Everything needs to be clean and in working order, inc. screens on all windows, locks on doors, vents inspected etc. Why aren't Lakewood rentals up to par???

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