Landlord of Opportunity

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 12/15/2005 | Leslie Wolf Branscomb

[gwb2OO4]

Nick Inzunza, mayor of National City and candidate for state Assembly, passionately talks about how hard he works to improve the lives of poor people by giving voice to their struggles.

He has publicly taken credit for investing the millions he has made in real estate "to create affordable housing in the inner city."

Nick Inzunza purchased this Barrio Logan duplex in 1995 and transferred one of the properties to his wife Tuesday. Inzunza and his wife own mostly duplexes, many on dead-end streets overlooking freeways. None shows outward signs of renovation or improvements. What Inzunza never mentions, though, is that nearly all of the properties, with more than 100 rental units, have been the subject of lawsuits, complaints by tenants and code enforcement investigations.

"Excessive rats," one woman wrote to a judge. "Cockroaches ... crawl on bed and on the baby," wrote another. "Toilet broken. My kids had to walk to Burger King to use the public restroom," still another said.

The complaints are similar: no heat, no hot water, no screens, no smoke detectors. Broken windows, broken stove, broken shower, broken toilet. Rats, ants, roaches.

All of those who spoke up were evicted.

[gwb2OO4]

Typical Democrat - a "man of the people" who rakes in millions as a slumlord, and evicts anyone who complains.

[detsaoT]

Shades of Al Gore... ;)

[bkwells]

Inzunza is part of a politically active family of Democrats with deep roots in South County.

8th paragraph into the story and is party affiliation is finally mentioned! Of course, I don't think too many are surprised that he's a RAT. Which, BTW is fitting since his building have rats!