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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiscellaneous Correspondence 1996-5-29 (2) . . DRvin A. DeLon!! 144 W. Centennial Blvd. .c Springfield, OR 97477-2901 (541) 744-2738 May <Ifq, 1996 Mr. Don Bishof Register Guard '. Dear M~."" Bishof, I am rather distraught at this time due t~ an onslaught by the city of Springfield. I bought a house at 144 Centennial Blvd, which closed on 1-23-96. Before I bought the house I called the city planner in November of 1995, and inquired as to the prerequisites of renting to people in my home. I was told that the city didn't care as long as there were no structural changes. The city planner told me that either a corner lot, or adjacent to an alley was fine, as long as there was adequate parking. 144 West Centennial Blvd. is the only house facing Centennial on the ( block, and it is adjacent to an alley. I purchased my home while I was working at the Sutton Motel in Springfield. I had planned on moving into the main part of the home when I found other employment, as my working situation was untenable. I met with a real estate agent as I was inquiring about a piece of property in Springfield that had a three bedroom trailer, and a small one bedroom cottage. I was fired for talking to a real estate agent. I had made friends with some of the people at the motel while I was working there. The Bohls asked me if they could stay at my house, as one of them had a drug problem, was going to Serenity Lane, and wanted to get away from the motel scene. Since I had the extra room, I said yes. Due to bad credit, and a sketchy past rental record, they were stuck in the motels. The Klobus's were staying at the Sutton Motel for over a year. Janet Klobus has diabetes, one foot, and a heart condition. I felt sorry for them, they were stuck in the motel system paying $144.00 a week, which is $7,488 a year for rent. I charge them $450.00 a month, which is $5,400 a year. A large difference for a man that is 68 years old, and still has to work to survive. Craig Hamilton told me that he had to find a different place to live, because he couldn't afford to pay the $133.00 a week . . David A O"T.nug, 144 W. Centennial Blvd. ~ Springfield, OR 97477-2901 (541) 744-2738 May 2f, 1996 that he was paying at the motel. He had been there for a while, and he didn't make all that much at his job. I allowed him to stay at my house. The city inspector told me that the only people that could live ifl.~y house were my wife and I. I was told that I had to pay a $30.00 inspection fee because there was a complaint about me from Mr. Yu, my past employer, a man that has never been 1n my house. But, when Mr. Yu fired me I handed documents over to the city, showing building violations, tax fraud, and labor violations. Mr. Yu wrote a letter to the city, with no proof of any allegations. The city of Springfield rose to the occasion, and helped Mr. Yu strike back at me, a man that is under investigation by the police for alleged drug ties, under attack by Lane county legal aid for violation of the landlord tenant codes on a repeated basis, and has threatened me if I did the right thing with the authorities. The city called me back today, and informed,me that the fee was $35.00 instead of $30.00, and when the inspector came I paid the additional five dollars. Four inspectors came to my home, only one did most of the talking. He told me that the only people that I could have legally in my home wer~ blood relatives, which he said" is Pat and you." He said that my converted garage area was illegal, it was that way when I bought it, I did close a door, but he said it didn't make any difference. I repeatedly asked the man what I could do to comply, as I asked the city at first what the conditions were. He said "get e~erybody out of the house,. and then you can have it to your self". He told me that "Mr, Yu was dealing with his problem, now this is yours." Since when did the city of Springfield become the muscle for a local slumlord? The inspector told me that I had purchased a "pig in a poke", and that I was stuck. I repeatabley said that I wanted to cooperate. He told me that he wanted to see eviction notices to ::' everyone that was in the house except for Pat and I, taking all of them back to the Motel system in this area, serving Mr. Yu and his wishes. He told me, "you couldn't afford to bring everything . . David A n"T.nng 144 W, Centennial Blvd, ~ Springfield. OR 97477-2901 (541) 744-2738 Hay Zif. 1996 back to code, so you are done!' Mr. Bishof, I may not understand politics, or illegal payoffs, but I do understand trying to help people out, which is what I did try to do, This I might say, as well as myself. I cannot-a~ford this house by myself. Tom, the inspector was more concerned with telling me that the only people that could live here'were Pat and I, and that Mr. Yu was dealing with his problem, than he was in telling me what 1 could do. Mr. Yu has a lot more money than me, he owns the Mitchell, and the Sutton Motels in Springfield. Mr. Yu violates the civil, and criminal codes all the time. Perhaps he knows something that I should. Mr. Yu told me when I was working for him that if I cooperated with the police I was fired. He said "No one will cooperate with the police and work for me!" There was a raid at the motel while I was there, after they left I found a bag of what looked like drugs to me. I called the police and turned over the sock, and plastic bag with grayish rocklike stuff in it to Det. Dave, Lewis Springfield PD. I told Mr. Yu about what happened, and shortly after that I was fired fOr buying a house, at least that is what he wrote. I am a law abiding citizen. I received a permit to change my electrical service at my house, it cost me $56.00. I called the city and inquired about their rules, and was told something different than I was today. Perhaps Mr. Yu has more influence than he should. I don't know what to do. I don't want to put these good people out in the street, or send them back to the motel system. I can't afford to pay my bills with out the help from them, as I am unemployed, and looking for a decent job. I asked the inspector what I could do to comply, and he repeated blood relatives to me. I don't believe that the Federal Government has restrictions on ~hat constitutes an extended family. . . D..avi rI A DeLonlt 144 W, Centennial Blvd, 1IJ Springfield, OR 97477-2901 (541) 744-2738 Kay 21, 1996 I do not want to repeat myself, and I am rather distraught at this time, and I ramble when I am like this. If there is anything that you can do, we would appreciate it. There are a few people that this will effect, besides me. T~k you for your consideration in this matter, and I know that you have helped other people in the past, if you deem it worthy of your time, perhaps you could do something for us? Sincerely, David A, DeLong L~~