Our Best Friends Have Hairy Legs Page 8
The Home News Your Local News
APRIL 12-18, 2018
50 cents
Northampton Borough Council Debates rental Ordinance
Nazareth Area High School puts On big show with ‘Little Women’
by KERI LINDENMUTH Nazareth Area High School’s Theatre Troupe has brought the beloved tale of “Little Women” to the stage in its heartwarming spring musical. Directed by John Andreadis and based on the Louisa May Alcott novel, the musical tells the story of the four March sisters in Civil War-era Concord, Massachusetts. Their father off to war, the fiercely independent sisters and their loving mother ex-
plore family, romance, and heartbreak during a time in which society’s expectation for women was that they should be seen and not heard. It is fitting that a show about strong, independent women would feature a cast of young actresses with powerhouse voices that brought audience members cheering after every single solo. Grace Kindt plays Jo March, an Continued on page 10
By KERI LINDENMUTH The Northampton Borough Council was presented the latest revision of the borough’s proposed rental inspection ordinance during its workshop meeting on Thursday, April 5. The ordinance is intended to establish regulations for landlords, requiring that they submit registration applications and follow licensing and inspection laws. Council unanimously voted to move forward with revisions of the ordinance and prepare it for public hearing. However, despite this vote, councilmembers’ suggestions, concerns, and ideas differed greatly, with some members strongly in support of the ordinance and others expressing it may cause more harm than good.
-----------------------
This is an ordinance looking for a problem, not a problem looking for an ordinance. Councilman Tony Pristash -----------------------
“This is an ordinance looking for a problem,” said Councilman Tony Pristash, “not a problem looking for an ordinance.” While Pristash acknowledged it is a “noble cause to have the town looking good for the future,” he worried about the effect this or-
dinance would have on the residents. At least 10 percent of Northampton residents are in poverty, a majority of them renters. Pristash said that landlords are going to pass the costs of this ordinance onto those citizens. Pristash said the borough should look at enforcing regulations for “blighted properties” first. This, he said, includes homeowners. “We are now in an area we have never been in before,” he said. “[We are] adding more government to this town.” However, not all members of council agreed with Pristash. “Unfortunately, government needs to intervene at times when there are issues of safety,” said Councilwoman Judy Kutzler. Kutzler said this ordinance will hold landlords accountable for not following laws and infringing on the safety of their tenants. “A tenant should never have to worry about raw sewage coming into their bathtubs,” she said. “You people are not in reality if you think this is not happening here…There is a face to poverty.” Kutzler stressed that this ordinance is not a way to simply create a job for someone in the borough government, a rumor that has been expressed. Under the ordinance, the rental inspection fees would be $13/ Continued on page 9
Bath Area Kids’ Fishing Contest Page 2
Police Blotter Page 4
Sermonette Page 5
77th Year, Issue No. 15 www.homenewspa.com
USPS 248-700