Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2007 > August > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDo’s and don’ts of homeownership should be taught
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Do you have time to be bothered by an old lady?”
An 81-year-old woman was on the phone. She’d called for help with some problems in her neighborhood, Beaver Bend Estates, a 41-house subdivision off Beaver Ruin Road.
This widow asked that I not disclose her name but said she was speaking on behalf of elderly women who live in the neighborhood. Their issues are familiar to many. There’s the house with anywhere from 10 to 14 cars parked in the driveway and yard. And one whose owners put French doors on the garage and may be using it as an apartment.
None of this may seem particularly egregious — unless you live next to it.
Related link: Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services 2007 Youth Survey (PDF)
In the past, I’ve written about the need for us to stay put, to work with our homeowners groups or bond with other caring neighbors to fight decay. But there’s a vital piece to this puzzle that, as far as I can tell, is still missing, and even though it’s a dicey subject, it needs to be addressed.
People of all ethnicities violate laws related to overcrowding, junk vehicles, outdoor storage, commercial vehicle parking and other issues. When I went on a tour of Beaver Bend with the senior citizen who called me, she made a point to say that a white homeowner was one of the chief offenders.
Often, though — and if you’ve ever witnessed Recorder’s Court, you’d know — violators are recent arrivals. Immigrants. Generally, Hispanics.
In their defense, some may be first-time home buyers or urban dwellers, ignorant to the do’s and don’ts of homeownership. Perhaps they need to be taught.
Too bad Latino advocacy groups don’t make this a pillar of their community service. And if they did, Gwinnett would be ground zero for teaching and training. Maybe, in the big scheme of things, knowing that it’s illegal to park a dozen cars in a front yard isn’t a top priority. But in Gwinnett, a destination point for immigrants, it’s an important issue, because not knowing leads to dislike, anger and misunderstanding.
On its Web site, the Latin American Association lists several programs offered to help Latinos reach self-sufficiency. Programs that build families, lead to employment, even homeownership.
But I didn’t see any class or information about taking care of that home and assimilating into the community once the organization teaches participants how to get it financed and purchased.
On Friday, I called the LAA and left a detailed message on what I was doing for the person who handles media calls. Her voice mail said she was available, but I never got a return call.
When it comes to neighborhood cleanup, Paul Allen of Norcross looms large. He’s tried several times to get Latino advocacy groups on board, to help the cause. A few years back, the Mexican Consulate of Atlanta sent an interpreter to attend a homeowners meeting.
Besides that, “we’ve had zero response,” Allen told me in an e-mail.
“I just want them to realize that my neighborhood is not Tijuana, nor will it be allowed to become such.”
In a neighborhood where buyers of existing homes tend to be Hispanic, that’s what an 81-year-old woman is trying to prevent, too.
— Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
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Comments
By Kathleen
August 12, 2007 7:06 PM | Link to this
I’ve thought about this subject before after representative from the county code compliance office visited a block party in my neighborhood. They left pamphlets in English and Spanish. How hard would it be to make this information available at closings? Many violators don’t realize they are breaking a law. Just a thought.
By Michael H. Smith
August 12, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
Too bad the socio-ethnocentric Latino advocacy groups don’t make condemnation of illegal immigration a pillar of their community services.
Now you can say the subject just got dicey.
It is ridiculous to think an immigrant or “homeland invader” whose first step into this country is an illegal one, cares in the very least if that the next step they take will violate another pet-peeve law, so long as it doesn’t get them deported.
Look I’m going to lay this on the line about certain people like Ms. Shore and Mr. Jerry Gonzales and for a few others unaware. To people like, Ms. Shore and Jerry Gonzales and others of like minded ilk it is “Mi Sangre” ( my Spanish blood) that must be respected and protected. To yours truly and others of like minded ilk it is “Mi Ley” ( my U.S. laws) that must be respected and protected.
Now that is the piece of the Hispanic puzzle that is really missing in this discussion. You cannot legally assimilate illegally into America. As an immigrant you can no longer think “Mi Sangre”, you must think “Mi Ley”.
So don’t’ expect the Latin American Association, MALDEF, La Raza and GAELO to work with most any of us Gringos, Mr. Badie, when they actively advocate for illegal immigration and for the corruption in the countries most responsible for producing it.
The only “code” they will not violate, is the one of “Mi Sangre”.
By nwkerr2005
August 12, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
Why exactly would they respect the ordinances of a city if they disrespected the soverienty of a whole nation? They are illegal. Punish the employers and they will all go home and make Mexico a better place to live.
By Michael H. Smith
August 12, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this
Punish the illegal alien employers, punish countries like Mexico with harsh diplomatic sanctions and revocation of trade agreements, make it functionally and financially impossible for illegal aliens to live in this country and punish all of our U.S. politicians who preach the cheap labor gospel of, “Leave no American job behind!”
By Bruce Wilcox
August 12, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
Come on folks the county is doing all it can. It will check to see if any company that does business with them hires illegals, if they do they MAY lose their contract. They MAY make it a law that single family houses are actually used as single family units and not boarding houses. We have a QOF unit, came in like a lion and if you can find it you’ll see it is just a lamb.
Why should Latino advocacy groups get involved when the county has it under control? Or if they do get involved they will get attacked for aiding illegals.
As far as “harsh diplomatic sanctions and revocation of trade agreements”, they have oil, that ends that idea. And now this administration wants to send billions in $$$$ to fight the drug trade in Mexico, problem is half the government is in the drug trade.
We have some elderly neighbors in our area we watch out for, all it takes is a few good men, too bad it doesn’t seem like there is any over in Beaver Bend Estates.
By homeowner
August 12, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
Regarding immigrant homeowners, it’s unfortunate that they don’t understand the laws, hoa covenants, etc. Perhaps it should be their closing attorney’s responsibility to be sure they understand what they are buying into?
Ignorance is not an excuse, however. Immigrants do understand money, especially if they are employed and own a home. They learn quickly when they’ve been assessed with a violation fine.
We have a hispanic man who lives in our n’hood. He has his own business. How can you run a business if you claim to have difficulty understanding the language? He had not paid a penny towards hoa fees. At one point, he rented his house out to 6-8 men, as if it were a boarding house. The yard was overgrown, a truck was parked on the grass, cars were everywhere and an unregistered one sat in the driveway.
The letters from the hoa went unanswered, even those sent certified. However, he quickly understood the language when he was slapped with fines by the city for various code violations, followed by a visit from the sheriff’s dept. The boarders moved out and he moved back in with his family, and his home is now well kept. Perserverance paid off.
Speaking from experience, the biggest code violators in our n’hood are renters, and not necessarily immigrants. Know who the property owners are. Don’t waste time whining about renters, go after the property owners. Research the tax assessor’s records. If the house is not owner occupied, the owner has to supply the tax office with a current address, and I think it is all a matter of public record, although I am not certain of that fact. Our hoa covenants specifically state that investment owners must supply current contact information.
By Michael H. Smith
August 13, 2007 2:51 AM | Link to this
Funny folks, I see the county QOF units all the time. Never had the City of Lawrenceville police or city QOF fail to respond to a noise violation of someone playing music too loud. Complained about the QT “day labor” parking lot on Hwy 20 south and today that parking lot only has QT customers, without the eyesore of loiters.
And MALDEF a “socio-ethnocentric” Latino advocacy group – listed on the Latin American Association’s links page - only attacks this county and our commissioners for trying to gain some control over the negative impacts of illegal immigrations and for only complying with federal law in hiring and in awarding contract practices.
America depends more on Venezuelan oil than oil from Mexico so that ends that load of balderdash – FOLKS! By the way, Mexico has tried to use their oil as a bribe for accepting illegal Mexican immigrants.
All it takes is keeping up the fight against blight and voting a few politicians out of office who excuse enforcing the existing laws.
Too bad we don’t have American Hispanic voices locally speaking out like those of, “You Don’t Speak for Me”:
http://www.dontspeakforme.org/
All the legal Spanish speaking immigrants need is the right - Sangre - voices talking to the legal immigrants from the Hispanic culture for them to assimilate into America.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 13, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Smith stick to the subject instead of attempting to refute me, you tie up the discussion and always come out looking foolish.
Paul Allen, the same that is mentioned in this column also has complained about the QOL units as have many others, if only you would actually read others opinions.
And about oil, Canada is our biggest supplier, Mexico second with 1.617 million barrels per day.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oilgas/petroleum/datapublications/companylevelimports/current/import.html
The web-sites you use even have funny names, the “don’tspeakforme” org. yet that is exactly what you are doing, parroting every line fed to you? I’ll stick with the fact FOLKS.
By Akagi
August 13, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Do you expect people not aculturated with suburban life to follow the norms of such by simply giving them a piece of paper at closing telling them they need to cut the grass and not park their cars on the lawn?
A good number of native born Americans are given the covenants at closing and they don’t abide by them either.
By Paul
August 13, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
Once yet again, indeed, there were some serious startup problems with the QOL, but these are being addressed and are well on their way to resolution.
Yes, this was a great topic, and back to it for a change of pace, the point was that it would be so vastly much better for the advocacy groups to actually do something to assist those that they claim to speak for, rather than to merely watch for lawsuit opportunities. How much better would we all be if they would help to educate instead of to justify the gross social misbehaviors via legal means.
By Pompano
August 13, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Thanks Rick - this is perhaps the best editorial in the AJC this year. I can’t believe the Politically Correct AJC actually published it!
By Michael H. Smith
August 13, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Bull carp Wilcox, you never stick to the subject. No one looks more foolish on going off topic than you.
Mr. Badie questioned irresponsive Latino Advocacy groups in association to Paul Allen not your off topic whine about the QOL units.
Yeah try sticking to the facts and topic.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Usa/Oil.html
Notice the graph, U.S. crude oil imports.
Only recently has Mexico overtaken Venezuela and we actually import more oil from Saudi Arabia than Mexico according to this DOE report:May 2007 Import Highlights: Released on July 31, 2007
From Crude Oil Imports (Top 15 Countries)
Country May-07 Apr-07 YTD 2007 May-06 Jan - May 2006
CANADA 1,821 1,909 1,841 1,868 1,755
SAUDI ARABIA 1,574 1,458 1,402 1,457 1,422
MEXICO 1,461 1,460 1,469 1,576 1,668
VENEZUELA 1,232 1,182 1,103 1,169 1,186
The link to this will not post.
I speak from real life experiences from working with many Spanish speaking immigrants as you have never done. Feed on that one awhile and parrot some more off-topic Democrat talking points in support of illegal immigration. Better yet, change the subject again to something like Iraq as usual.
Meanwhile I’ll just keep exposing MALDEF, La Raza, and the Latin American Association for what they are, socio-ethnocentric groups that promote and protect illegal aliens whose interest is not on assimilating legally into America, to the detriment of counties just like Gwinnett - FOLKS.
By Reba
August 13, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
I would love to see City of Lawrenceville start making new customers review the QoL requirements, then sign a waiver indicating they are aware of QoL ordinances - keeping grass cut, no cars parked on grass, single families in homes zoned single family residence, no broken windows, no peeling paint, etc. Our utility bills have plenty of room to add a message each month with a reminder of QoL ordinances. I’d even love to see non-QoL reminders written on the bills, especially the ordinance about nuisance noise.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 13, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Now, now Smith no need in getting cranky, I had to deal with immigrants in, as you refer to it a civil service job, as a firefighter all the time. So that can not be an issue.
Now Smith you’re the one that suggested we sanction and revocation of trade agreements. I just correctly stated it will never happen because Mexico is a major supplier of oil. You’re just upset that I proved that Mexico did indeed supply more oil than Venezuela, even more than Saudi Arabia if you knew how to read the graphs.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/
Just put in imports by country of origin.
As far as Mr. Allen, I must have him confused with a gentleman of the same name who appeared on Channel 2 last week about the inaction of the QoL unit to a problem house in his neighborhood.
Now you want Latino advocacy groups to teach illegals to become better, more acceptable illegals. As I said before, the groups will get attacked if they help them, they’ll get attacked if they don’t.
We have blamed the feds, the state, the county, even other? So about the only ones we haven’t blamed are the Latino advocacy groups, may as well throw them in the pot.
What is the new motto, “Not deportation, but education”?
By ATICO
August 13, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
If we are going to blame the lack of “how to take care of a home” on education then we are in deep Doodie.
It seems we blame all the ills of this country on education. In Georgia the white out of wedlock birth rate is 35%, the black 65% and the Hispanic 20%. How can I apply for a tax refund for all those wasted education dollars thrown at these birth problems.
Education sometimes just does not work, however, common sense and pride work 100% of the time.
Evidently it is difficult to have pride when your move here from a hut that has a mud floor, open fire to cook over and candles to light up the dark. It takes time, but they will learn if their neighbors push a clean up agenda, and a law enforcement officer visits them often enough.
I sure do not advocate throwing more education tax dollars at illegal immigrants for this minor inconvience.
By charliejoe
August 14, 2007 12:10 AM | Link to this
ATICO,
I doubt I will be the only one confused by your entire entry. What are you saying? Where did you get your statistics, BTW? What is a minor inconvenience? what does a open fire to cook over have to do with Corona bottles in the yard and pushing your shirt over your belly to rub it so the mamis will see how rich you are that you can afford to get fat? See how making various non sequiturs gets confusing?
By Michael H. Smith
August 14, 2007 3:18 AM | Link to this
Oh I’m the one who is cranky Brucie? You must be confused? Oh I see, only you have a right to be confused? And by the way your funny link didn’t have a graph so enlighten me with your brilliance and wonderful wealth of knowledge again – NOT!
You should learn to read Bruicie. Here’s the deal, Mexican oil has nothing to do with this blog topic but for the sake of argument get this little tid-bit through that thick spot between your ears. We the U.S. do not need Mexico 1/1000th , as much as Mexico need us and our economy just to survive. That includes their oil you are so overly impressed by. You bet Mexico should face harsh sanctions like those placed on Cuba, which would seriously cut into their once number one source of foreign revenue - even as great or greater then their oil revenues - in the form remittances sent back home from the U.S., to force Mexico into socio-economic reforms and to stop violating U.S. Sovereignty.
Yeah you really should learn to read Mr. Confused. This is the Paul Allen referenced in this blog:
When it comes to neighborhood cleanup, Paul Allen of Norcross looms large. He’s tried several times to get Latino advocacy groups on board, to help the cause. A few years back, the Mexican Consulate of Atlanta sent an interpreter to attend a homeowners meeting.
This isn’t WSB-TV2, it is the AJC Badie blog. Are you lost… maybe you just need a seeing eye dog?
And no blind and clueless, I don’t expect these socio-ethnocentric Latino advocacy groups to do anything in regards like you suggest I’ve said. In very fact if you would learn to read, what I said as it turns out, my words were the exact opposite of your pitiful attempt at re-write. These socio-ethnocentric Latino advocacy groups will do absolutely nothing that will threaten the very illegal immigration they advocate for in their illegal alien amnesty agendas.
What is in TJ should stay in TJ and what is in the Barrios south of the border should remain in the Barrios south of the border, not brought into this country or this county. We are America not Mexico or any other Central American country. We don’t need their culture, we have our own. We don’t need their language, we have our own. We don’t need their customs, we have our own. We especially don’t need their illegality or trashiness, when we have more than plenty of our own already without having their’s forced upon us.
And we certainly don’t need their labor when we can legally get as many people from around this “diverse world” as we really want or actually need that would give anything they got just to come to this country legally and respect everything about America willingly: Culture, language, customs, laws, even county ordnances, you name it.
If someone cannot immigrate legally, accept America as is, respect our laws as they are, live to the standards set by our communities and assimilate as an American: Then they need to get out and stay out!
The new motto is the same as the old motto of enforce the laws and all the blame on government has been rightly placed.
By Norcross-neighbor
August 14, 2007 6:05 AM | Link to this
Does anyone know how back yards are to be kept? If you are seeing messy back yards (litter, bottles, cans, clutter) can you complain to anyone or do the rules only apply to the front yards? We have hispanic, black and asian neighbors and by far the asians deem themselves to be very messy and their yard is disgusting. I’d love to complain but don’t know if I have any rights. Our yards butt up to each other so I get to look at the trash every time I go outside to enjoy my yard.
By LG
August 14, 2007 6:24 AM | Link to this
Norcross-neighbor,
Email www.gwinnettqualityoflife.com
They cleaned up my neighborhood.
By LG
August 14, 2007 6:24 AM | Link to this
Norcross-neighbor,
www.gwinnettqualityoflife.com
They cleaned up my neighborhood.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 14, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Norcross-neighbor unless the backyard poses a health or safety risk I do not see how the county has any right to dictate it’s condition or use. In this country private property use to be just that, what’s next the county white glove inspection team?
Me confused Smith, nay, nay, I quote you, ” punish countries like Mexico with harsh diplomatic sanctions and revocation of trade agreements”, it doesn’t seem like it has much to do with local Latino advocacy groups? Maybe your speech writer missed this item in the article, “she made a point to say that a white homeowner was one of the chief offenders”, now you want a Latino advocacy group to speak to them, for what, teach them Spainish? Thus Mr Allen and the QoL unit.
Mr. Smith, if you paid more attention to the article and what others write instead of being ruled by your need to best me, you may not come out on the short end of the stick all the time.
By Paul
August 14, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Yes, Norcross Neighbor, trash in a back yard is in fact a health hazard to those around it (if nothing else, safe haven for all manner of critters), and you have rights as well - blow ‘em in to the county!
No, Bruce, no mention of QOL dysfunction was made in the WSB TV piece - just so happens I was there when I said what I said. The interview lasted around 20 minutes, about 15 seconds was aired.
I recognize your penchant for always being right and not allowing facts to get in the way, but not this time either - sorry.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 14, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
“I had been filing complaints for several months about the knee-high yard and general state of decay of the house”…well Paul, would you tell me where I am wrong?
Woody’s blog…
“By Paul August 7, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Way to go, Angela! On a related note, we learned again last evening that the best way to instantly resolve problems like those noted herein is to point a TV news camera at them. I was in a WSB spot last night regarding the tagging of an abandoned house. I had been filing complaints for several months about the knee-high yard and general state of decay of the house, all to no avail. Send one news crew out and SHAZAM - action at last! The reporter was amazed that our side of the subdivision (opposite from where this toilet was located) seemed to be in a completely different world - quiet, well kept, etc. The moral of the story is don’t give up, even just one person can make a huge difference.”
By Paul
August 15, 2007 6:27 AM | Link to this
Really thick, aren’t you? Last try - note the last part of the story, “QOL gives 72 hours for compliance” - duh? Once more again redundantly, the startup problems are being addressed, most admirably. Sorry you didn’t like the ending, but sometimes things do work out. Stay tuned - the public will see more from them very soon.
By Michael H. Smith
August 15, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Mr.Wilcox you are so pitiful there is nothing to best. Enjoy your delusions and keep thinking you have really accomplished something by acting your abnormal self. What I said stands for any sensible person to read. Of course that would not be you.
Yeah Paul, Brucie really is thick.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 15, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Just honest Paul, give it a try sometime. YOU me boy called a television story to whine about, as you say now, nothing? In your own written words you tell a completely different story on Woody’s blog. Let me get this right, you whined for several months, but “QOL gives 72 hours for compliance”, do the math. Stay tuned, how can I, the story keeps changing dailey. And Paul where is this magical, “note the last part of the story, “QOL gives 72 hours for compliance”?
Oh Mr. Smith calling me Brucie now, I see you’ve moved up to the second grade level stings now, wounded as I am be, I am glad to see we are starting to make progress. And look you even made a new friend.
By Paul
August 15, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
For those of us not frozen in time, what happened when is of key interest – you’re missing the sequence plus most of the story, as usual. Anyway, you are perfectly free to sit on the sidelines, cast what you wish to believe in concrete, refuse to ever waver from that for any reason, and expend energy griping and arguing but doing nothing to change the way that things happen for the better. A few of us still choose none of those, as they accomplish less than nothing – like wasting precious time, for example. Those that can and will, do – those that cannot or will not, blog. Time to move on.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 15, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
As I said before Paul we have never been introduced, so unless you’re some kind of a stalker, you have no idea of where I go or what I do. Sorry I bruised your ego, I know how important it is to you.
My work is finished here.
By Chuck
August 15, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Paul - I located that house after the story ran and have checked on it every now and then. I noticed that it was painted over within 72 hours, just as the QoL said it should, and has stayed clean since. I figured out “YKW” and you were right – it’s beginning to work, and thanks for the push!
By Betsy
August 15, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
Me three, Chuck - I agree. Paul stayed on topic and kept it non-personal and non-paranoid. Whew, weird or what?
By Bruce Wilcox
August 15, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this
By Paul August 15, 2007 6:27 Really thick, aren’t you?
Now you will find no insult by me, but maybe Pauls fan club can explain what I seem to be missing. For three months he complained and no action was taken, it was so bad he contacted a local television station, after it was aired action was taken and the problem corrected within 72 hours. Now if I read this correctly, three months of complaining and having it aired on television would give most sane citizens the impression that the QoL unit wasn’t on the ball. But finally after all that hassle the problem was fixed in 72 hours so we should all jump for joy for what a wonderful job the QoL unit does. Now I wish someone would point out what I missed?
By Joe
August 16, 2007 6:09 AM | Link to this
Actually, I live in the next subdivision over, and it was the gang problem that was being referenced - the comment was regarding the Gang Unit, but then again, I was there for the interview too, and I have a digital rip from the piece if you need it. Give it a rest and get a clue Brucie - sometimes even you bark up the wrong tree.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 16, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
Thanks Joe, that is all that was needed, not very difficult was it? Where I was confused is Paul has complained before about the QoL unit and wrote this, “filing complaints for several months about the knee-high yard and general state of decay of the house”.
At least now I know the proper way to report a problem, if it’s tagged report it to the Gang Unit, wait several months and then call channel 2. The Qol unit doesn’t do tagging.
What do you call your gang, The Rightous Ones? And there is no need to attack me, I just get a kick out of you guys.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 16, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
Oh and Joey, do you have a collection of Pauls clips? Brucie, man you boys do crack me up.
By Betsy
August 16, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Be careful - y’all have emotionally scarred Bruciekins.
By Bruce Wilcox
August 16, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
Stop, stop, y’all killin me.
By Ralphie
August 17, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
Gee, I thought you said “My work is finished here” but it looks as though everyone has long since left your lonely little mud puddle. Me too - have fun!
By Bruce Wilcox
August 17, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this
Now Ralphie, how can I finish when you asked me a direct question? I only respond to childish name calling, group hugs and direct questons, anything less would be impolite, wouldn’t you agree? Gee I never get invited to those group hugs? Any more questions Ralphie?