Dear editor:
I am writing in response to your editorial dated April 3, 2002. The editorial states, "the ordinance does not appear to concern lower economic incomes sections of the town..."
Any ordinance dealing with housing issues passed by the City Council applies to all properties within the city limits of Muncie, not just the Ball State area.
What is really disconcerting to me is the implication that as mayor I am targeting Ball State students unfairly. Let me explain the situation. Under the present ordinance there is not a requirement for landlords to provide parking for renters of their properties.
How many Ball State students rent a property, do not have a place to park and then are ticketed by our code enforcement officers? One provision of the new housing code, for units converted after passage, would require a landlord to provide one off-street parking space for each tenant.
The new provisions would also require landlords to provide tenants with a list of their rights as renters when signing a lease. The No. 1 complaint I receive as mayor in reference to rentals is inadequate and illegal parking. The new housing code will address this and to the benefit of the renter and the surrounding neighborhood.
I would like to inform everyone that the subcommittee of the City Council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed changes to the housing codes at a date to be announced.
I would like to encourage anyone with an interest in this issue to attend this meeting. Improving the housing code will benefit the city, responsible landlords, tenants and the neighborhoods.
Thank you for allowing me to respond to your editorial.
Dan C. Canan
Muncie mayor
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