Ten Worst Properties Letter to Worcester Magazine

WOMAG’s “Home Sweet Hell Hole” cover story, November 22, 2006, brings attention to absentee landlordism, a phenomena all too common in Worcester, and one that has a disproportionate impact on Worcester’s District 4. All ten properties highlighted in WOMAG’s cover story are found in District 4, where Barbara Haller resides as District 4 City Councilor. I often wonder what the district would look like if more of her energy was spent on holding accountable neglectful absentee landlords, supporting and advocating for tenants who live in substandard housing close to her home. Picking on the poor and blaming social service agencies and homeless shelters for District 4’s problems is easy. Taking a deeper look and holding absentee landlords accountable for dangerous, rodent infested, unsafe properties is hard. We need leadership in District 4 that takes neglectful absentee landlordism seriously and advocates for more funding for Worcester’s Health and Code Department to havethe resources intact to deal with the severity of this problem. We need leadership in District 4 willing to confront those who own property and are abusing the fundamental rights of residents in order for District 4 to recover dignity long lost to investors looking to make a buck. Jennifer Solin