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Refined pitch City produces video, heads to churches with 'the correct word' on apartment inspection ordinance
STAFF WRITER WAUKEGAN — A bilingual newsletter is literally in the mail and an informational video is said to be 90 percent complete as the city enters a new phase in its rental inspection program: public relations. "Whenever you start a program, you're going to get a little backlash," Mayor Richard Hyde said Monday. "I think it was partly, a little, our fault that the word didn't get out to the landlords and, more importantly, to the tenants." Hyde's comments came as he and Building Commissioner Chuck Perkey met at the Waukegan Public Library with local religious leaders, another component of the new information campaign. Though the attendance was relatively sparse, Perkey made an open offer to speak before church groups to repeat what was said Monday. "We want to put the word out — the correct word," said Perkey, echoing past complaints by city officials about the controversy that has surrounded the 2-month-old inspection ordinance. Passed by the City Council last year, the ordinance calls for the annual inspection of all of the estimated 12,000 rental units in Waukegan, using a procedure employed in other large communities and tested in the courts. Officials say the program is randomly administered and only targets life-safety issues. Critics, including the Lake County Apartment Owners Association, have decried it as a burden to property owners and an invasion of privacy to residents. Responding to such criticism, Hyde ordered Building Department officials to stop the inspections and review procedures in late February. Some observers viewed that move as motivated by the then pending municipal primary election. Whatever the case, the city has resumed inspections and Hyde reaffirmed the city's commitment to them Monday. "This program is not going to stop. We are going to refine it," said Hyde. "We're going to fine-tune it so people realize we're not witch hunting anyone with this." Hyde added that apartment owners, tenants and local real estate agents will be invited to participate in an ad hoc committee with city officials to review the program and suggest modifications or improvements. The council enacted one revision late last month, allowing properties in strong compliance to be inspected every other year rather than annually. Monday's presentation appeared to be for a mostly receptive audience. Among those attending were the Rev. Mike Boehm, representing Holy Family and Immaculate Conception churches; Jarius Pratcher of Pentecostal Chapel; Bolivar Rodriguez of Latin Pentecostal Church; and Cel Guzman of Apostolic Assembly Church. Guzman said he feels the community needs to be better informed on the program, adding that the city has been perceived as "the bad guys." "I'd like to have the people in our church be informed, because I don't want anything to turn into a funeral," said Guzman, adding that he feels the bilingual video program is one key to getting the message to as wide an audience as possible. Perkey said the video is nearly complete and that more than 5,000 copies will be produced. The newsletter — "Waukegan's Rental Inspection Program: In Informational Bulletin" — was reportedly in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service on Monday and was expected to be sent out early this week. Along with a general description of the program and a statement of its intent, the six-page newsletter includes statistics compiled from the January inspections, showing 2,486 units inspected and 1,150 of them failing for one violation or another. Though most of the violations were described as minor, the figures show that inspectors uncovered 15 illegal dwelling units, including 10 basement apartments. On the last page of the newsletter, the city printed a "consent to residential unit inspection form," which gives the city and the property owner "entry, and if required, re-entry to the above unit for purposes of compliance." Hyde said measures like these were undertaken after officials realized word wasn't getting out through traditional methods, such as media channels. "We tried working through (the media). Well, what's our next step?' " Hyde said. "We're going to the churches, and we are going to go to the churches, believe me ... We want the ministers and priests and rabbis to go back to their congregations and tell them about this program."
03/11/03 |
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