Slumlord Schaefer

I am the present owner of 757 S. Berendo Street. When we bought the building from Mr. Schaefer, (“Slumming It With Mike Schaefer,” by Scott Harris, Aug. 31), we found it in the condition described. But how did it get that way? The answer is bad management by the owner and abuse by the tenants.

It is my experience that when there is poor management, the good tenants will move out and the bad tenants will stay because they see it as an opportunity not to pay rent. It was not Mr. Schaefer who brought garbage to the property and dumped it in the halls. It was not Mr. Schaefer who tore holes in the walls to hide drugs and firearms.

There is a lesson to be learned here, and the judge touched upon it when he said Mr. Schaefer’s behavior showed total lack of respect for society’s concern with the human condition. There is a great lack of respect in today’s society. Not only on the part of Mr. Schaefer, but also on the part of the tenants for someone else’s property.

Jay R. de Miranda

Torrance