Letters to the Editor
Codes officer needs to work on attitude

This is in response to last week's letter from Pat Eaton concerning Bath's deplorable housing. I would like to thank you, Pat ,for pointing out the other side of this situation. All I hear about is how the landlords are working together to screen new tenants to eliminate the "bad seeds" that are continuing to grow here in Bath. Who's screening the landlords? Now, I'm not referring to all landlords in the Bath area. There are some very respectable and caring individuals who actually care about the health and safety of their tenants. I'm referring to what I would call slumlords. You guys know who you are. Who holds these people accountable for their actions? Are they allowed to violate every code in the book with no worry about repercussions from their actions or lack thereof?

I know there is a code enforcement officer who's supposed to help keep the village a healthy and safe place to live by keeping people like this in check , but honestly , it's obvious to me and many others that the man doesn't even come close to doing his job. He has no public relations skills whatsoever. He intentionally intimidates, demeans, threatens, and generally treats tenants like some form of sub species. The ironic twist to all of this is the man doesn't even live in Bath, or even in Steuben County. He lives in Penn Yann!!! It seems to me that by his attitude and his actions, he could care less about the health and safety of our community. You should really get into a different line of work that more suits your personality. Maybe something like a traveling saleman.

Politics and friends in the right places are the only possible way that this man could have been appointed. It's time for people to wake up. It's time for a change. The tenant screening program will help tremendously, I'm sure, but a little cleaning of your own backyard wouldn't hurt either.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Hall
Bath