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Councilman Oh at Northwood Civic

Councilman Oh stopped by the Northwood Civic meeting on November 21st and talked about his proposed legislation to help homeowners who have been victimized by squatters.  The system at present is an embarrassment in that squatters essential have a green light to steal you home.

One thing he pointed is that this is not a case of poor, homeless people who happen to find a vacant, open house to live in.  It is often a planned, organized assault on a house that is targeted because the culprits know how to play the system.  Once they break in to your property, you call the police and they decide they can’t determine who is in the right so you have to go to the expense of the legal system to get the bums out of your house.  Oh’s bill would simplify and speed up that process and put a penalty on the thieves.

When the bill came up for a vote in committee on November 6th, it was tabled for what were called legal concerns.  It is due to be tinkered with and then come up for a vote again.  Let’s hope it does.

In other news at the meeting, Terry Heiser continues to work on traffic issues in Northwood.  There is not doubt that his excellent work on this issue has resulted in improvements where for years no progress could be made.

The conservatorship of 1301 Wakeling after numerous court appearances went through and that property is being rehabbed and will go up for sale as a single family home.  No thanks to the owner, another blighted property is being improved.

The next meeting of the Northwood Civic Association will be on November 19th at Simpson Recreation Center, 1010 Arrott Street.