Immigrant Homebuyers See Bias Against Many Relatives Sharing the Same Roof

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Thursday, January 10, 2002 | JONATHAN KAUFMAN

[Pelham]

" I love the smell of curry in the morning, it makes me think of Victory"

[FITZ]

They were American as far as I was concerned.

It's like one of my Hispanic friends ---her family has been here at least 5 generations, her mother rented a house to a woman and her 2 children who all came from Mexico. Pretty soon they were shocked by how many people were living in that house. What was originally one small family turned into dozens of people crammed into one small house but they quit paying rent ---so she was finally able to have the sheriff get them out.

[CurlyDave]

There is another side to this little nightmare. I am a part owner of a building with 18 studio apartments--definitely low income, but we try to keep it up & make improvements, it is the nicest one in the neighborhood.

At least 5 or 6 times a year we will get a situation where a couple, maybe with a baby, rents an apartment. Next month the in-laws come to live with them, and the month after, a relative or even a boarder. All this in a studio apartment.

Well, sooner or later the Health Department comes by and says we have to get them to reduce the occupancy to 4 or less people. So, we talk to them, some comply. Some don't. the ones that don't we send an eviction notice.

As soon as they get the eviction notice they scream "discrimination" and go straight to Legal Aid. Legal Aid (our tax dollars at work) goes to court and gets an order that we can't evict them. Then the Health Department (more of our tax dollars at work) goes to court and gets an order that we have to "abate the nuisance".

Now we have one court order that says "no eviction" and a different one that says "get them out".

Typically, right around here is when the rent stops being paid.

The only way we have ever found to resolve this & obey all the different court orders is to *bribe* them to leave. Talk about a shakedown.

These days the going rate is forgive all past due rent plus $1000 "move out incentive" to find another place.

[Calico]

If they are here illegally, by all means, O-U-T with them. Also, I can understand a limit on occupancy of the building itself. I just think a law about where you can sleep is not the way to word it because then the next law will have to limit the number of people who can sleep in a bedroom. Then, Child Services will be inviting themselves over for a nice little visit when your toddler crawls in bed with you.

As to many families [or a big extended family] living under one roof, I remember several years ago, when I worked leasing apartments, my apartment manager made some special provisions for a family of refugees from Bosnia. They immediately went to work at whatever jobs they could get--even though one had been a doctor and one a professor, they mopped floors, etc. Eventually, they improved their situation, and their quarters became less crowded. They were some of the best neighbors I ever had, and they made fabulous Baklava :) I am convinced it all depends on the individuals.

[MissAmericanPie]

Beats eating catus, lol.

[mrustow]

Thanks, Sabe. Very important stuff!

The plan to give priority to a group of Arab and Muslim men over other foreign nationals has raised concerns among some Arab American and immigrant advocate groups that the Bush administration is practicing racial profiling in its war on terrorism. The vast majority of people ignoring deportation orders are Hispanics from Latin America.

Yeah, what we need to do is focus on Ecuadorean absconders, that way we'll sure to find lots of terrorists. Better still, Polish absconders! And leave those Arab absconders with criminal histories from terrorist nations alone! (Don't you just hate it, when the authorities focus on a guy just because he comes from the Sudan, has a few arrests and felony convictions, ties to terrorists, and had the bad luck to skip out on a deportation order?! I mean, if that doesn't prove that America is a racist nation, nothing will!)

Justice officials, including Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, have repeatedly denied that ethnicity plays a role in their anti-terrorism strategies.

Way to go, General. Lie, lie, lie! You're really helping your credibility, pal!

[Joe Hadenuf]

It's time to admit we are witnessing something like the fall of Rome. You might as well sit back and watch the show. Have a cerveza and some guacamole.

You bet. this invasion has gone way past places like Texas, Cal, Florida, etc etc. Now ILLINOIS is experiencing our immigration "free for all".

Your right, it may be to late to fight this or attempt to stop this immigration madness. Maybe its time to just protect ourselves and our families and forget about voting etc. We have been yelling and shouting for years now about this immigration madness while our corrupt, so-called leaders completely ignore us.

Maybe its time to just give up. How do you fight this, while our own government supports and encourages this massive invasion?

[NYCVirago]

At least 5 or 6 times a year we will get a situation where a couple, maybe with a baby, rents an apartment. Next month the in-laws come to live with them, and the month after, a relative or even a boarder. All this in a studio apartment. Well, sooner or later the Health Department comes by and says we have to get them to reduce the occupancy to 4 or less people. So, we talk to them, some comply. Some don't. the ones that don't we send an eviction notice.

Four or less in a studio department? That sounds like a more-than-reasonable Health Department regulation. I would think 2 would be the limit!

[NYCVirago]

And, of course, I meant "apartment" instead of "department."

[Pelham]

I can't think of any way to fight this anymore. Tried every way there is. But you know- the big difference between our current crop of "conservative" leaders and Benedict Arnold is that Arnold was an American hero before he betrayed his country. This new bunch skips the hero part and goes directly to treason.

[Pelham]

You're supposed to remove the thorns from those Prickly Pears before you eat them.

[junta]

bump These PC idiots will get this crap and more they just need to wait a few more years when this country is dominated completely by the Third World.

[MissAmericanPie]

Not if your on a diet, you leave them on.

[ppaul]

Interesting. Notice the place where the story takes place? Elgin, Illinois. Not exactly a Mexican border town or California, Texas, or Arizona. This is happening in the heartland, the midwest. I remember stopping in Elgin about two years ago. Elgin, at one time, was your typical midwest, Illinois town, grand old frame homes, big shade trees. Typical Americana. Downtown Elgin today? Leettle Meheeco. The stores (ahem! I mean "tiendas") are all plastered with signs in Spanish, not English. If you didn't know you were in Elgin, Illinois, you'd swear you were south of the border - in Mexico. This amazing transformation has occurred almost overnite. It started about ten years ago, and accelerated during Slick Willie's term in office.

[ppaul]

SO. CALIFORNIA - Highway sign, Interstate 5 between LA and Mexican border.

:

[primeval patriot]

How does a person qualify for a $150k mortgage with a monthly income of $300?

[ppaul]

BUMP

[ppaul]

" I love the smell of curry in the morning, it makes me think of Victory"

Actually, it makes me think of the lobbies of the many small roadside motels in Oklahoma.

[ppaul]

Thanks for the ping.
See my reply #54 & 55 above.

[Sabertooth]

And, of course, I meant "apartment" instead of "department."

Sure you did.

Happy New Year, Virago!