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In private practice,
Anderson has been involved in virtually every kind of case
seen in Municipal Court – disputes between landlord and
tenants and those individuals before the Court for Housing
Code violations of various sorts.
“I have multifaceted
experiences of handling cases in [Municipal] Court,” says
Anderson pointing to his opponent’s deficiencies in the same
legal arena. His opponent, Joe Howe, is the endorsed
Democratic candidate and a prosecutor with Municipal Court,
a background, says Anderson – with all due respect he adds,
that has not prepared him for Housing Court. “Joe Howe’s
tool bag has only one tool – a hammer. As a prosecutor he
has no experience in landlord/tenant stuff.”
Toledo Municipal Housing
and Environmental Court was established in 1987 in order to
consolidate all criminal and civil housing and environmental
cases into a single session of court. McConnell has served
as the judge there for the past 18 years and is barred by
his age from running for another term.
One of Anderson’s chief
concerns about the Court is its handling, now and in the
future, of cases involving blight or potential blight caused
by vacant buildings and lots. He applauds the progress that
the Lucas County Land Bank has made in clearing vacant
houses.
Most recently, however,
with respect to vacant lots, he has voiced his concerns
about the way the case of Thomas Jackson has been handled by
the City. Jackson, an urban farmer, has been cited and fined
for the manner in which he has handled mulch – wood chips –
on his lots.
“What do we do about
vacant lots? That’s blight also – it’s a situation where the
lot is not serving a function, not helpful to youth or the
beautification of a neighborhood. Folks like Thomas Jackson,
who have taken those abandoned properties, getting them
cleaned up – it’s my position that they should be encouraged
and supported and applauded – that is exactly the type of
energy we need to be doing city-wide.”
The Housing Court under
Anderson’s direction – should he prevail in November – would
be generally supportive of those efforts to improve property
“and would not be looking to be punitive,” he says.
Nevertheless, he would
fully expect no one to be “disrespectful of the process.”
“I’m hoping to change
hearts and minds about our properties and neighborhoods and
our city. I want to bring a contagious love for our
neighborhoods and city. It’s going to take everybody to do
their best and be their best – I don’t think we are getting
that now.
“Some things are being
over-enforced, some things are being under-enforced.
“If a mom and pop don’t
understand that they need a permit to fix the back railing
and he’s out there with his circular saw and an inspector
rolls up, puts a stop work order on it and says ‘you gotta
go get a permit’ … I’m not crazy about that.
“On the other hand, if a
contractor who’s not getting licenses and is doing those
kinds of nickel and dime jobs for neighbors and not holding
up his end, I want him to do it the right way too.
“We have to find that
sweet spot.”
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