Letter to the Editor: Please vote yes on ordinance to require rental registration, licensing, inspections

I would like to thank the Safe and Livable Housing Committee (SLHC) for organizing the discussion on housing Tuesday night at First Christian Church. 

Six primary candidates took the time to answer questions from a panel that included representatives from the NAACP, SLHC, Q-RILE (Quincy for Registration, Inspection and Licensing Enactment) and Quincy Builds. There was a very good turnout, and we think everyone went away with a better understanding of the housing issues in Quincy and an understanding of where each candidate stood on the problems and possible solutions.

Prominent in the discussion was a city ordinance, which has been proposed by Q-RILE. As a result of a petition campaign, which collected signatures from registered Quincy voters, a referendum will be placed on the April 1 consolidated election ballot. The following is the exact language that will appear:

“Shall the City of Quincy enact the proposed Rental Registration, Licensing, and Inspection Program Ordinance for residential rental property located within the City of Quincy to require registration, regularly scheduled inspections, and subsequent licensing of said residential rental property in order to remedy deteriorating, sub-standard, unsafe and non-code compliant rental properties?”

I hope that everyone registers and votes in the upcoming primary and consolidated election. There are many issues facing voters this year, and lack of decent, affordable housing is an important one. Please vote ‘Yes’ on the referendum.

Cathy Frederick
Quincy, Illinois