Thread: Infested House Lambertville, NJ

http://forum.minutemanhq.com/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=3754

Lambertville looking into house for immigrants
10 kids were among the 30 occupants
Friday, September 15, 2006
BY RALPH R. ORTEGA
Star-Ledger Staff
Lambertville officials launched an investigation into an illegal boardinghouse yesterday, where, authorities claimed, 30 people -- including 10 children -- were living in unsanitary conditions a week ago.

The state Division of Youth and Family Services was called to the home on Douglas Street after patrol officers first discovered the undesirable and overcrowded condi tions on Sept. 7, according to police.

No children were removed, police said, but parents were given specific instructions to follow by DYFS officials, who returned for a follow-up on Sept. 8.

A DYFS spokeswoman declined to comment on the specific case.

Sgt. Jeffrey Jones said the police were not legally bound to force evictions from the home, where 24 people remained yesterday.

The occupants, who said they were all Hispanic immigrants, allowed a reporter inside while they were cleaning the house, which police said was overrun by insects, filth and the stench of rotting food.

"We had to clean our house. A lot of people we had here had not paid attention to such details," said a 24-year-old Mexican landscaper named Flavio Aguilar. Agui lar said he had lived with his girlfriend and their 4-month-old son in the home for the past two months.

The boardinghouse, Aguilar said, had become nearly unlivable, because of the overcrowding and the negligence of tenants. Aguilar claimed that after the police came, the problem tenants left.

"We are grateful someone came here and confronted the troublemakers," he said.

Police said no evidence of child abuse or neglect was found when they initially came to the sparsely furnished, single-family home on Sept. 7. Authorities were called after a male tenant allegedly as saulted his nephew over a two-day period, said Sgt. Jones.

Once officers arrived, Jones said they found the home had been set up for seven living units, including one in a living room that was parti tioned off by a bed sheet, and another in the basement where a mother and her five children were living.

"It had the distinct appearance of a boardinghouse," said Police Di rector Bruce M. Cocuzza. Cocuzza likened the home to a tenement in New York City, overcrowded with immigrants after arriving in the United States a century ago.

Tenants of the home on Doug las Street told the police, through a Spanish-language translator, that they paid $300 to $1,200 to rent the units, according to Jones. The money had been collected by a "caretaker," who paid the landlord, said Jones.

Zoning official John Barczyk said he went to the home yesterday with police to investigate the overcrowding, and early findings indi cated the house was zoned as a single-family dwelling. That meant it could not legally be a multiple dwelling, said Barczyk, who declined to name the property owner while the investigation remained open.

City records showed that a summons issued by Barczyk to the property owner last month for failing to file a landlord registration identified the owner as Lawrence Steinhouse of Newton, Pa. Stein house could not be reached for comment.

While Barczyk did not name the property owner, he said the owner did come to the city after he failed to make the registration, claming he did not know of the require ment. The registration was made, however, it was found to be incor rect yesterday, Barczyk said.

Five bedrooms and 12 residents were listed for the home, according to Barczyk.

"And we know there were more rooms being used than the five that were registered," he said. "I'm declaring this was a boardinghouse."

Municipal court hearings for the original failed registration have been delayed, and Steinhouse has not yet answered the charges.

City officials insist the ordi nance that created the landlord registration requirement in March was designed to hold rental owners accountable in Lambertville, where overcrowding is a chronic problem in multiple family dwellings.

The new ordinance is enforced by inspections, which are made only when neighbors complain about overcrowding at a property. The city has received several complaints, and all but two have been unfounded, including Steinhouse.

Many rentals cater to a growing immigrant population in Lambert ville. Flavio Aguilar, who lives in the illegal boarding house on Douglas Street, said he had mixed feelings about the ordinance. He agreed that it provided accountability, but he also believed that it made landlords reluctant to rent to immi grants.

"I want a new apartment, but it is very difficult with this new law in Lambertville," he said. "Renters will not do business with illegals."

Aguilar said he crossed the border from Mexico into the U.S. five years ago.

With few apartments made available to him, Aguilar said he had no choice but to bring his girlfriend and their son to the boarding house.

Mayor Dave DelVecchio denied the ordinance was drafted to push immigrants out of local housing.

"All it talks about is standards that hold landlords accountable," he said, "And allow people to live in safe and humane conditions. That's the beginning and end of it."

"I want a new apartment, but it is very difficult with this new law in Lambertville," he said. "Renters will not do business with illegals."

This arrogant turkey admits to being illegal, yet the police didn't call in immigration officials? I find this very disturbing. How do we explain to our children that it is acceptable to break some laws, but not others? How will our young children learn to respect the rule of law and enforcement officials? I was taught to do this at an early age, but the environment, regarding the enforcement of laws, we're being forced to live in today is so hypocritical that it is getting very difficult to properly instruct our children on what is required to be a good citizen and asset to society.

A single family house with 30 people!!!!!!
Yeah, we need more of these "immigrants". I wonder what the home values in the neighborhood are down to? I hope they throw the owner of this dump in jail and then toss these characters back to their home country.

This is dusgusting, and this is the people who pick our fruits, veggies, including SPINACH? This is the poeple who care for the elites children? I don't think so sounds like they are here simply to milk the government for all they can get!

Isn't it amazing how the government looks the other way? Here is a health hazard, child neglect, etc

If it were a legal citizen the children would rightfully been taken away and the parents thrown in jail.

He been here five years and yet still lives like this. I wonder how much of his pay goes on booze and whatever. I'm sure he probably drives a Hummer! LOL

From the report:

Many rentals cater to a growing immigrant population in Lambert ville. Flavio Aguilar, who lives in the illegal boarding house on Douglas Street, said he had mixed feelings about the ordinance. He agreed that it provided accountability, but he also believed that it made landlords reluctant to rent to immi grants.

"I want a new apartment, but it is very difficult with this new law in Lambertville," he said. "Renters will not do business with illegals."

Aguilar said he crossed the border from Mexico into the U.S. five years ago.

With few apartments made available to him, Aguilar said he had no choice but to bring his girlfriend and their son to the boarding house.

Mayor Dave DelVecchio denied the ordinance was drafted to push immigrants out of local housing.

Making it very difficult to live in towns as an illegal is a a good strategy for municipalities to pursue! YAY!!!

Overrun with insects, let me guess, COCKROACHES!!!

Yep it does seem to be a problem when they are rented to. Every complex here in Oregon who has a past of renting to illegals has a cockroach problem.

I was thinking that the enviromentalists are so huge on getting rid of non-native plant and animal species in this state, that they would be making a stink about the cockroaches being introduced into Oregons non-cockroach enviroment? But no they have never once talked about it.

Hmmm...maybe someone needs to make an issue about it?

If Americans were doing the same thing they would have been arrested and their children would be in DYFS custody.

City records showed that a summons issued by Barczyk to the property owner last month for failing to file a landlord registration identified the owner as Lawrence Steinhouse of Newton, Pa. Stein house could not be reached for comment.

Unless this house is being rented without the owner's knowledge, it would appear he is a slum lord.

La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar.........

but the illegals can walk--right back to the border--pronto.