Black Home Providers Contradict Racially Charged Politics Of KC Tenants

This morning we notice a return to the fold of one of Kansas City's KICK-ASS conservative tax fighters. 

Patrick Tuohey has worked for the Show-Me Institute, The Hill and now the Better Cities project.

Today, he has the distinct honor of writing the only thing in the newspaper worth reading. 

Here are the basics . . .

"Landlords are not required to participate in federal housing voucher programs such as Section 8. Landlords — or housing providers, as they prefer to be called — may base their renting decisions on prospective tenants’ income and source, credit history, prior evictions, criminal convictions or police arrests.

"The ordinance championed by KC Tenants and midwifed by the mayor would bar all of that. Many people don’t sympathize with landlords, but imagine for a moment that’s your livelihood. Your goal is to find good, long-term tenants who pay rent and who take care of the property. If you have several units, you’re also interested in people who will be good neighbors. Income, credit and criminal background checks help you find desirable tenants. They also keep rents down, because if you can avoid costly repairs, legal expenses and evictions, you can charge less. Now imagine none of those things are available to you. How would you discern between good tenants and bad?"

And of course, here's our favorite inconvenient fact . . .

"KC Tenants say the big issue is excluding tenants “on the basis of their race.” But a group of Black landlords in an email to Councilwoman Melissa Patterson-Hazley also opposes the ordinance for the same reason any housing provider would."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

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