Too bad they didn't do a good follow-up to the meeting. It would be nice to know what actually got discussed. The articles leading up to the meeting gave an idea as to what problems they are trying to resolve.

In an effort to reduce illegal activities and nuisances on rental properties in Alcoa, the Alcoa Police Department is holding a "landlord meeting" for landlords, property owners and property managers today.

She [Holly Hatcher, director of community policing for Alcoa Police Department]

said the following topics are on the agenda for discussion at the meeting: drug violations and prostitution in rental homes, the responsibility of property owners within current state laws and city ordinances, stopping unlawful activity and nuisances, the benefits of cooperation and the consequences for non-cooperation.

Oh, missed that. Thanks.

Yes, it would have been nice if the article actually, you know, reported what was discussed regarding landlord rights and responsibilities and what neighborhoods can do to address those problems.

For example, I thought it was illegal to discriminate when renting. I thought you had to have a specific reason to not rent to someone, other than you just don't like them or you have suspicions about them.

I wonder if that was explained, in terms of how landlords can be held responsible and what they can legally do to make sure they are renting to responsible people?

Just yesterday I called about an apartment I saw advertised in the DT. The lady who took my call was very polite until I told her I was calling for my 25 year old son. She quickly let me know she could not help me as she rented to only older people. I was a little shocked at first, but gathered my wits and said, "Ma'am isn't it illegal to discriminate because of age?" She said nothing but I told her she'd have no problem from me but she should choose her words more wisely in the future.
My son would not want to live with senior citizens all around, but I was surprised at her lack of concern or knowledge of discrimination laws.
Maybe I am wrong and the law allows this. I am not knowledgeable about housing laws.
I should have told her his name was DeShon Hernandez and really got a rise out of her.
Maybe these meetings will raise awareness as to what the laws are and how they should be followed.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm not sure you all understand what's going on here. This information is not intented to descriminate for potential renters. This is in reference to the number of drug and prostitution houses in Alcoa that are rental homes. Receiving complaint after complaint for police to respond to the same house over and over again for the same problem, is a waste of taxpayers money. Not to mention a detriment to the community in which it is located. It's explaining that you can't just blame the renters, but also the owners for turning their eyes to illegal activity just to make a buck. The owner of the property has legal recourse to begin eviction through the courts before it becomes such a nuisance for neighbors who own the property that they live in and want a peaceful, quiet and safe neighborhood. Many of these houses are delapidated, roach infested houses, that personally I would not like to live next to. They also attract traffic at all hours of the night and bring in all types of people who end up breaking into the houses, vehicles, etc. of hard-working, law abiding citizens. So, don't make is sound as though this is some sort of discrimination because it's not. We're not talking about a rental house in St. Ives and the landlord is asking what color the renters skin is or what language they speak. Please don't make it into something that it's not.

I apologize for jumping the gun. I agree that the DT did not print much of a story. Then again, that's not uncommon for them or any other newspaper for that matter. I suppose I was being a little too defensive. Again, I apologize.
mrsbrad04