Thursday, April 9, 2009

A Deeeluxe Apartment In The Sky

This caught our eye in a Chi-Town Daily News article about families relocating from Cabrini-Green buildings:

Peter Holsten, developer for Parkside of Old Town, confirmed that three of 412 [W Chicago Avenue]'s families have moved in so far, and more applications are being processed. In order to move in, Holsten says, residents have to pass a credit check, criminal background check and drug test, as well as a review of work history and a home visit and interview.

So, if the ill-conceived current Wilson Yard housing plan ever sees tenants, we'd expect these same stringent screening procedures in Uptown for those $400,000 low-income rentals. Right, Pete? Right, Ald. Shiller?

14 comments:

  1. "Holsten says, residents have to pass a credit check, criminal background check and drug test, as well as a review of work history and a home visit and interview."

    The operative phrase being "Holsten says". I hope this procedure actually is being followed. But, forgive me if I'm not taking his word for it. We've been told many things about WY that have subsequently been changed or proven untrue.

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  2. I won't believe Helen or Peter if their lips were notarized.

    Usually when their lips are moving they are either stumbling, bumbling or flat out lying.

    Remember movie theaters and Target?

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  3. Is a Jefferson's reference really appropriate?

    George and Wheezy were able to prosper with their own dry cleaning stores during a bad economic time and purchase a house in Queens.

    After a few more years of success, they were able to sell their house to Gloria and Mike, and move into a luxury condo downtown.

    In both instances they were owners.

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  4. Helen and Peter should have to take that criminal background check. Dollars to doughnuts they both fail.

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  5. The background check would only reveal any past indiscretions.

    Not the type of indiscretions that Helen doesn't want the IG to uncover.

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  6. Yo - do you understand the use of ironic pop-cultural references in contemporary discourse?

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  7. I do.

    I also understand the difference between earning a deluxe apartment in the sky via hard work and sacrifice, and having one handed to you.

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  8. Really? You think it's good to require a drug test before getting an apartment? How many of you had to do that to get your place? Or maybe that level of privacy invasion is only appropriate for poor people.

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  9. Or maybe that level of privacy invasion is only appropriate for poor people.

    It's appropriate for anyone who gets any sort of funding from the government to be drug tested.

    Drug testing for Section 8 is no different than when I was subjected to drug testing while in the military (joined to pay for college).

    Don't want to be drug tested? Don't ask for the public's money.

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  10. If my parents were footing the bill for me to live in a $400K apartment and demanded a drug test from me...that's their right.

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  11. aymino, if you would like to spend $400 grand to build a house and give it to a crack whore, more power to you. I don't. If that crack whore wants to spend the $750 grand that same house would cost market value, they can pass on the drug test. Personally, I think any person who is on welfare should get drug tested monthly in order to receive that check. I also believe they should be forbidden alchohol and tobacco products, but that's just me protecting money I have earned with my own bare hands and am now giving, free and clear, to someone who, in way too many instances to count, is just lazy with a life of "get mine first" to go with it.

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  12. It's appropriate for anyone who gets any sort of funding from the government to be drug tested.

    hmm... so we should drug test all those college students getting federal financial aid? How about the execs for corporations receiving bailout money? Or how about we say that the FDIC will only insure deposits for those willing to be drug-screened?

    I'm sorry but I'm just not comfortable with having to prove that I only use approved drugs before receiving services from the government.

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  13. yeah...if there were a cost efective way to screen all applicants for all tax funding, I'd be for it. People on the public dole should be held to as high a standard as I was. To wit, once I earned my own money I could spend it however I wanted. As long as Mom and Dad provided food clothing and shelter, they made the rules. Period. I had the choice to opt out; I chose a little less freedom then to acquire greater freedom later.

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  14. I've got no problem with any of your examples, aymino. I'll go a step further -- I've got no problem being drug tested for my private sector job. They pay me under the condition that I submit to and pass drug tests. If I want to work there, that's part of the gig. I accept it.

    If someone's gonna get a $400K apartment for $100 a month, rather than a hefty $3000 mortgage payment, I think submitting to a drug test for the privilege is also part of the gig. Accept it, or find somewhere else to live.

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