The Towerlight, November 17, 2003

tl20031117-000 "ml TDenihb Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com g Monday, 11/17/03 Experts stress facts of assault 5 Doctor presents lesson on STDs 5 Vocals/Chords' varies jazz styles 13 'Glass' shatters audience trust 14 Departments Opinion News Campus briefs Nation 2 5 6 6 Arts 13 Entertainment briefs 14 He Says She Says 14 Now Showing 14 Sports 20 In this corner 20 Athlete of the Week 18 Face-Off 18 Classifieds 16 Rental debate splits neighbors Council to vote on bill requiring registration of rental properties Cailin McGough The Towerlight The Baltimore County Council will vote today on a bill that would require landlords in six Towson neighborhoods to register with the county or face penalties. Proponents of Bill 103-03 say it would enable the county to better enforce codes in order to improve deteriorating neighborhoods. But many in opposition call it a thinly-veiled effort to discour-age landlords from renting to students. The debate took shape last week in a work ses-sion Wednesday afternoon, where Fifth District Councilman Vince Gardina, who introduced the bill, argued for its approval. He criticized landlords for greediness and said a number of problems come from irresponsible ten-ants. He cited loud parties, police calls and parking on lawns, in addition to violations of zoning, health and livability codes. ""Many of the renters are students who are very young, away from home for the first time. They don't care what the place looks like, but they're right next door to somebody who's lived there for 50 or 60 years who cares very much what the neighborhood looks like,"" he said. Bill 103-03 expands a rental registration pilot program in effect in east Baltimore County to include Towson Manor Village, Burkleigh Square, Ridgeleigh Manor, Oakleigh Manor, Rodgers Forge, and Aigburth Manor. If the bill passes, property owners would have until February 1 to obtain a rental housing license. The license, for which there is an application fee, must be renewed after two years. Failure to register would result in a $1,000 fine. Tenants violating capacity codes could also be fined $200 a day. Community associations are very strongly in favor of the bill, Gardina said, because ""they're at wits end."" Don Gerding, zoning chairman for the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations, said the bill would give communities a way to get at landlords who rent to too many people. He empha-sized that the bill does not target apartment com-plexes with proper zoning. Rental registration will help to correct capacity violations and prevent renters from creating a ""slum area"" in neighborhoods. Many students share space to try to save money, he said. ""It brings your cost down but it puts wear and tear on the community. The community relies on its tax base for services,"" he said. Students have a responsibility to know what local codes are, Gerding said. ""We've been to court too many times. We've seen too many students walk out of there whipped See BILL, page 7 Lisa Johnsan'The Towerlight Work is done Sunday on a Linden Terrace rental property which houses several student tenants. Today High 61 Low 48 Tuesday High 62 Low 58 Wednesday High 62 Low 43 Thursday High 56 Low 41 f ) fftodis Friday High 58 Low 45 "