The owner of my apartment building invited a couple of activists from Madison to spend the day here yesterday signing up low income tenants for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program. "Gee," I thought, "he's never done that before." Then I found out why the sudden interest in the welfare of his poorer tenants: he's going to get "free" refrigerators and a new boiler for the building if enough tenants sign up.As a result of the "stimulus," the US government (i.e., the taxpayers) will buy my landlord dozens of energy efficient refrigerators and install a new energy efficient boiler. I figure that's worth tens of thousands of dollars. That's just in one building. He owns at least a dozen. And he's just one landlord out of how many in this country?
My landlord is a millionaire many times over. I do not begrudge him his money. He inherited most of it, but has also earned quite a bit. He works hard and he is successful. That is the American dream. What I don't understand is why US taxpayers should subsidize improvements to his properties. When I questioned the wisdom of this, one of the Madison activists was all over me like stink on poop. She jumped right into my face and yelled, "We are putting hundreds of thousands back to work!" I didn't argue. The fangs came out instantly and it wouldn't be in my best interests to go against "free" money for my landlord.
I hope your grandchildren enjoy paying for my landlord's property improvements. I hope that "free" money brings jobs and prosperity and peace to Racine. I know my landlord is feeling more prosperous these days. How about you?
And I'm the unpopular one by wanting the rich to pay taxes. They already have accountants manipulating their incomes. They have corporate welfare like this, but the little people that make less than 150k year come out of the woodwork to battle for the Rich. it makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteBe happy for your millionaire landlord. If you tell yourself enough times, it might eventually be true. Just like the hood winked Wisconsin Tea Party. whups, my mistake, "Tea party." It's not really a movement, it's an event...
I consider my landlord to be a pretty nice guy. He likes to do a lot of the repair work himself and he is very down to earth and approachable. Again, I don't fault him for this. I have learned that perhaps only 1% of the population are truly people of conviction rather than convenience. No matter what their purported beliefs or values are, they will ALWAYS go for the cash. He's no different than the municipalities that grab up and waste the stimulus dollars because if they don't, someone else will. Again very, very few people actually have the courage of their so-called convictions. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if my landlord is a die hard Republican, but he's not going to pass up a Democratic windfall, even if it further damages our country. That's the way most people are: selfish.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me is that our money is pissed away like this by lying, thieving pigs (BOTH parties) who tell us that they are working for us. They are steaming piles of fecal matter and should be flushed away as soon as possible.
Well, in all fairness, I think I need to make a comment. The reason that the landlord gets all these 'free' refrigerators is because the tenants pay their own electric/gas bill...the new energy-efficient appliance is supposed to save the low-income tenant money.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in this business in Racine, all we received were:
light bulbs that cost three times as much to replace and burned out within one month! Good thing about them was that the tenants didn't steal them because they didn't fit into standard light fixtures.
The waterheaters were wrapped in insulation.
Hot water pipes were also insulated.
And the ever famous 'programmable thermostat' that not one tenant knew how to program! These were normally broken within a short period of time and we replaced them with the standard, turn it up, turn it down type or rotary one.
And as a result of participating in this program, we had our identity stolen.
While your landlord is rich, Orbs, a lot of them are not.
There are all sorts of programs out there...windows, insulation, on/off timers for the waterheaters. I have to admit the 'refrigerator' one is a new one to me.
As I recall 2/3's of the tenants had to qualify as low-income...but this is going back a while now, things could have changed. So if 2/3's of the people in your building are low-income, yes, he gets them for that building. All buildings must qualify individually.
Additionally, low-income homeownerss are also eligible for these perks...they just need to research them. Your local utility company normally puts notices in the utility bill on a regular basis.
I think the activist was a little heavy handed, when she could have explained the entire program to you calmly. She didn't create the program, it has been around for years and years and years. This is just the 'updated' version.
Now if by some chance, the tenants do not pay their own utility bill, I think someone is defrauding someone!
'homeowners.' Oops...this published without me doing anything...Zoltar, you screwing with me?
ReplyDeleteI know that WHEAP has been around for years. However, new refrigerators and furnaces were not offered until the stimulus handouts were enacted.
ReplyDeleteI also understand the concept that an energy efficient refrigerator means lower energy costs for the tenant. However, the tenant does not own the refrigerator. When the tenant moves out, the government bought refrigerator stays whether the new tenant is low income or not.
We do not pay gas bills. The building is heated by gas and that is included in the rent. When they put in the new gov't bought boiler, I doubt our rents will go down.
Again, I don't blame my landlord for anything. I just don't see why US taxpayers should pay for new refrigerators and a boiler for his building. I suppose the most energy efficient thing to do would be to tear the building down and put up a new one. Maybe next year's stimulus will pay for that. And put us all in hotels while we wait.
I am low income. The energy costs of my 14 year old truck are insane. When will the government buy me a new, energy efficient truck?
I hear what you are saying, Orbs. The furnace thing has been around for a while...but you had to jump through hoops to get one. And those were not for apartment buildings...Duplexes at the max might qualify.
ReplyDeleteWe paid the gas bill on our one building and we sure weren't offered any incentive for that...they did not offer us a new boiler...I think our monthly gas bill was around $1,000 at that time (12 years ago or more).
I truly understand what you are saying...I'm not sure I would agree with giving out new refrigerators either. And the boiler, well, that floors me!
It was my understanding that all these programs were to benefit the low-income tenant, not the landlord.
http://homeenergyplus.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1585&locid=25
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't that appear as a link? kk???? Help!!!!!
This is the link that describes what your landlord is applying for. It's the fact sheet. I think what you have seen is just an 'evaluation' of the property at this point to see if it will qualify. Seems like there is a bunch more that they may or may not do to the building if it is granted eligibility under this program.
Fair or not fair? Who knows. Seems like the middle class person should be eligible for some of this as well...I did notice that the income levels for eligibility have been increased from the past year...In reading the balance of the info, I see that if you exceed the income levels, you can ask to about the .
ORBS, I'm glad you brought this up....some of our folks might be eligible for help in some areas. WHEAP(Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Programs)might be able to help one of our own.
By the way, if your building qualifies, they can't raise your rent for a year!!!!! That's the good news.
The name of the program for those who exceed the income levels is: "Targeted Home Performance with Energy Star Program."
ReplyDeleteI have no idea where that went...I typed it in and it went into cyberspace.
http://homeenergyplus.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1585&locid=25
ReplyDeleteSpending tens of thousands of tax dollars to replace this building's boiler will not help any low income person one whit. That is a lie. I am so sick of lies...
ReplyDeleteNo, it won't...I don't get that part....I get it in the areas where it saves the tenants money, but this seems to benefit the landlord only. I would like to know what the thinking is behind that.
ReplyDeleteI was going to comment on this from the poor person's point of view but my comment would have been too long. Boy...was I mistaken. I'll just say that everytime some assistance is offered I go for it. I am old and poor and I have paid taxes longer than any of you so in a way I am entitled. If millionairs can get it so can I. BTW with all the assistance I get I am STILL paying taxes. This free-bee stuff is different for different people. And of course you always get the cheaters. They make me look bad.
ReplyDeleteA little addendum..While I was talking to the hospital they refer to me as a 'charity' case. I know it's true but that word hurt. Oh well..I won.
ReplyDeleteSassa, apply....all that can happen is that they say 'no.'
ReplyDeleteWordy...me, wordy...LOL....
I wonder if I can rent my house out to myself????
ReplyDeleteBefore you do, SER, make sure you qualify for all these freebies...only 3,000 bldgs in the state will get the benefit!
ReplyDeleteSer..rent out each room. They must be available to a bathroom with running water and have a window and 3 outlets. I once looked at an apartment that had only one outlet in the kitchen. WOW!
ReplyDeleteSER, rent your house out to yourself, then apply for benefits as both a landlord and a renter. Win win.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic and discussion. I hadn't heard of this...well, since I am not in Wisconsin, that's not surprising. Wonder if they did something similar in Az.
ReplyDeleteThe whole stimulus program seemed a little unseemly to me. It may have had the potential to do some good, but I was concerned about all the different interests competing for the bucks which might not go to places that really did that much good. The whole thing just had a very unseemly feel to it.
I work every day. My refrigerator is starting to leak water occasionally when the freezer defrosts. It would be nice if the government thought about all of us hard working people who don't have extra money to throw around.
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ReplyDeleteSorry, kk, but the middle class has to support the leeches on top and the leeches on the bottom, so shut up and go back to work.
ReplyDeleteAh... no wonder I can't sleep at night.
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