NEWS
Council gives final nod to photo rules
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- City Council to vote on ordinance aimed to protect tenants (April 8, 2008)
- Photo damage rule moves on (March 6, 2008)
- Security Deposit Interest (February 20, 2003)
- Campus-area alder tenant proposal garners mixed reactions (October 23, 2007)
by Alex Brousseau
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, a junior at the University of Wisconsin, smiled with pride Tuesday as the Madison City Council unanimously passed an ordinance aimed at furthering tenant rights.
The ordinance, authored by Judge last fall, requires landlords to take, maintain and make available upon request photographic evidence of damage being deducted from security deposits.
One of the major supporters of this ordinance was the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, represented by Executive Director Nancy Jensen.
“The Board of Directors was unanimous in its vote for support,” Jensen said. “If you cannot take a photo of it, then maybe you shouldn’t be withholding it.”
Security deposits are the residents’ money given to the housing provider for safe-keeping and insurance, should anything major get damaged, “not for nickel-and-dime items,” she added.
Several UW students — including Jeff Wright, chair of Associated Students for Madison Shared Governance — came to voice their support for this ordinance as a way to protect students against landlords looking to take advantage of the student population.
“Most students switch apartments every year and are not in position to verify physical evidence used to deduct from security deposit,” Wright said. “Students are vulnerable because most of them aren’t residing in the same residence. If there is money deducted when they move out, they are not in a position to go back and look at damages listed.”
Not all who came, however, were in support of the ordinance. Landlord Rose LeTourneau voiced opposition against the bill saying it wasn’t “common sense.”
“Landlords do take pictures of damage, especially serious damages. However, they often don’t take pictures of those that don’t photograph well, because they don’t always tell the whole story,” LeTourneau. “My primary concern … is to fix the problem, not take a photograph.”
Five alders also asked to be considered co-sponsors of the bill right before the vote, including Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, who praised Judge, saying, “The way that Alderman Judge handled and worked with the Apartment Association as well as the tenants is the answer about how we should be doing business.”
The City Council passed the ordinance unanimously, followed by much applause.
In other business, the new Hyatt Hotel was approved after almost four months of being held up through various committees. The hotel will now officially be located at 333 W. Washington Ave.
The Council also unanimous granted a liquor license for an outdoor seating area to Samba Brazilian Grill, 240 W. Gilman St. However, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, the restaurant still has “another hoop to jump through.” In order to complete their license, they have to apply for a conditional-use permit at the Plan Commission meeting on May 5.
Finally, the council also voted unanimously to effectively establish the date of the Mifflin Street Block Party by declaring the street a glass-free zone from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3 through 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 4.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 2:26am):
I LOVE YOU ELI
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 3:33am):
“My primary concern … is to fix the problem, not take a photograph.”
Wow, talk about a brilliant argument. Easy to see why this proposal passed.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 4:00am):
Critical Badger, you tricky guy.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 6:35am):
Well done, Mr. Judge.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 7:57am):
Finally! An alderperson who is also a UW student and actually does something! Too bad the same couldn't be said about Ashok Kumar...
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 8:14am):
You're the man Eli, thanks for all your hard work!
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 8:36am):
I was going to say that Eli Judge was doing a good job, since this is a good ordinance, but no man with a conscience should ever do anything that earns praise from the wickedest of all witches, Judy Compton. That the virulently anti-student, anti-renter Compton supported this probably means it's too weak and compromised. But that's based entirely on this article.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 12:16pm):
Wow, could the article be any more in love with Eli? On the other hand, the BH published ONE news article talking about Ashok's resolutions.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 12:21pm):
According to Madison.com....
"A number of people spoke in favor of the ordinance, including Nancy Jensen, executive director of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, which represents close to 1,000 apartment owners and property managers.
Jensen said it wasn't a heated issue among association members."
This definitely moved me in favor it it. If the property owners support it and students support it, why not?
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 12:24pm):
Yes, 7:57, because Austin King and Ashok Kumar never accomplished anything on campus. Ever.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 1:52pm):
Austin King wrote 8:36AM.
Austin, we know you're writing on blogs and the BH still.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 2:53pm):
Good job Eli. It's great that you did that, but you're still no Ashok.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 3:17pm):
Ashok Kumar doesn't have the opportunity to affects students that Judge does, ya funny bunch of geezers.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 3:33pm):
he has a doughey face that juts out, belies his dark and evil sunken eyes, like a mini eliot spitzer.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 3:44pm):
Don't feed the trolls.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 3:49pm):
Yeah, he's no Ashok, meaning, he's not abrasive, got more votes than Kumar, is more popular, loved by the editorial boards...
and not an epic jack ass.
So nope, no Ashok.
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 4:23pm):
So hot right now, Eli...
Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 6:34pm):
You did good Eli, but Ashok fights for radical and important change. It may make him a little less popular, but that's the kind of change we need.
Anonymous (April 10, 2008 @ 12:10am):
Cause protecting students from greedy landlords isn't "important change"...
Anonymous (April 10, 2008 @ 12:24am):
Not really. Eli fights for real, concrete victories, that make him popular, just, and awesome.
Ashok is an asshole who alienates potential allies and creates fake student groups like students for ROBBIE WEBBER. Lamer.
Eli Judge 1, Lauren Woods/Ashok/Austin 0
Anonymous (April 10, 2008 @ 12:38am):
1:52--
Because Austin is the ONLY one who writes here to support Ashok or criticize Eli... you'll probably think I'm Austin too, jackass.
Anonymous (April 10, 2008 @ 12:41am):
Am I the only one who is concerned that they seemed to treat him like a child who rode his bike without training wheels for the first time? I mean, does the de facto student representative deserve that kind of patronizing condescension?
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