Weekend, April 9-12, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal

Page 1

EASING THE BURDEN IN A BAD ECONOMY The recession-sturdy Madison benefits from strong corps of resources for homeless FEATURES

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Complete campus coverage since 1892

l

units MPM owns

MPM spokesperson said the majority of their tenants are satisfied with how the properties are managed

7

maintenance complaints

4

months later

Seven target MPM and three target other landlords of the 10 repair cases investigated

A UW-Madison student said MPM waited four months to take care of a raccoon and squirrel problem

DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

THE CARDINAL INVESTIGATES... MADISON PROPERTY MANAGEMENT An in-depth look into MPM’s housing repair practices By Ryan Hebel THE DAILY CARDINAL

The first two parts of this Madison landlord series looked closely at MPM’s subtle accounting flaws, photo ordinance omissions and controversial interpretations of “normal wear and tear.” These problems can be tricky for tenants to spot. Maintenance problems are a different story. Of the ten maintenance complaints investigated, seven targeted MPM. Maintenance complaints also targeted Apex Property Management, JSM Properties and Wisconsin Management Company. However, the strongest evidence came from those complaints against MPM. Sewage Backup Sours Trust Earlier this year, The Daily Cardinal reported a story about UW

graduate Nate Lustig, who said MPM had ignored a sewage backup in the basement of his West Washington Avenue home. Lustig said after winter break he and his four roommates alerted an MPM representative to a terrible stench in parts of the house. According to Lustig, the representative initially brushed off their concerns and told Lustig the smell was probably from not cleaning. Two weeks later, Lustig discovered that “over 50 percent of the basement was covered” in sewage backup. Lustig decided to contact the actual property owner, Dan Rigney, who called a plumber to fix the problem almost immediately, Lustig said. One week later, Rigney said he called MPM, asking them to smooth things over with Lustig to change his mind about approaching media outlets. Fifteen minutes later, Rigney said Lustig called him to say that MPM had just threatened to sue Lustig if he relayed false information to the media. Soon after the article came out,

Rigney e-mailed MPM to say he would be marketing the property himself for the coming fall to avoid tensions between MPM and the tenants. Days later, Rigney said a big snowstorm hit and Lustig called him to say MPM had plowed the surrounding two driveways, but not his. “At first, I was almost wondering if it was in retaliation or something,” Rigney said. Instead, MPM told Rigney they thought he had fired them. Although it was not his original intention, Rigney said he decided to “sever all ties” with MPM after the conversation, at least for this and next year. He said that, though he respects MPM President James Stopple as an “accessible owner” and “straightshooter,” he doesn’t think the rest of MPM’s staff shares Stopple’s vision. “Sometimes [MPM’s staff] comes across, I don’t want to say arrogant but ... they do,” Rigney said.

PART 3 OF 3

mpm page 3

ASM passes partial endorsement of chancellor’s new initiative By Rory Linnane THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Associated Students of Madison partially endorsed of the Wisconsin Initiative for Undergraduates Wednesday and resolved to create a shared governance committee to oversee the allocation of the funds if the initiative passes. “We are hemorrhaging faculty. It’s directly impacting the quality of edu-

cation,” ASM representative Jeffrey Wright said. “Something’s got to give. Students on this campus who can be giving more should be giving more.” While ASM supports the initiative’s vision, the group has lingering questions about how the initiative will operate if passed by the UW System Board of Regents in May. ASM Chair Brittany Wiegand said she hopes the partial endorse-

PAGE 4

OPINION

dailycardinal.com

BY THE NUMBERS

3,000

l

Madison Property Management responds to investigative series

ment will allow ASM to wield leverage as Chancellor Biddy Martin, who drafted the plan, continues discussion about the initiative. “If I was in her position and I had one group’s full support and another group with questions, I would pay more attention to the group with questions,” Wiegand said. asm page 3

l

PAGE 7

Weekend, April 9-12, 2009

Peterson cellmate charged with assisting in suicide Joshua Walters, the cellmate of Adam Peterson, was charged with contributing to Peterson’s suicide in the Dodge Correctional Institution in January 2009, according to a complaint filed Tuesday. Peterson, 22 at the time of his death, was convicted of killing former UWMadison student Joel Marino Jan. 28, 2008 and was serving a life sentence in jail at the time of his death. An inmate at the facility identified as “JGQ” came forward to detectives after the incident, indicating Walters told him about Peterson’s suicide. According to the complaint, Walters, 20, told JGQ he convinced Peterson to commit suicide. He told Peterson he would also commit suicide after Peterson did. The defendant said Peterson had not planned on com-

mitting suicide because his family was planning to visit the next weekend. The defendant told JGQ he helped Peterson tie the sheet to the bed, but that Peterson administered the noose around his neck on his own. According to the complaint, following Peterson’s hanging, the defendant wrapped a towel around Peterson’s neck to help him pass out. One hour after Peterson hung himself, the defendant called an officer to inform them of Peterson’s death. JGQ told detectives the defendant was “nervous” on the night of Peterson’s death and asked, “Can you get in trouble for helping someone kill themselves?” Walters faces a $10,000 dollar fine and 6 years in prison if convicted. —Erin Banco

KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Megan Sallomi of WUD’s Society and Politics Committee speaks to people on Library Mall Wednesday about combating sexual assault.

UW students participate in Sexual Assault Day of Action By Brandice Altfillisch THE DAILY CARDINAL

Tables and volunteers encircled Library Mall Wednesday for Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment’s Sexual Assault Day of Action. According to PAVE member Kari Mickelson, the main objective of the event was to promote awareness and collect pledges encouraging sexual assault awareness. “We’re just trying to get as many people as we can to sign these little pledges saying that they’ll do whatever they can to stop sexual violence, and ... get the word out and get people motivated,” she said. In addition to handing out pledges, table workers offered sexual assault awareness ribbons, informational pamphlets and free condoms. Representatives from groups including Sex Out Loud, Rape Crisis Center, Students for Social Welfare and Campus Women’s Center showed up to show their support. “I think it’s a wonderful event,” Michele Totoni, member of Students for Social Welfare, said. “I do know people who have experienced sexual

assault, so when you know somebody ... it makes all of this a little bit more personal to you.” Recommendations for students interested in becoming more involved included attending one of Sexual Assault Awareness Month’s featured events, donating time or money to the Rape Crisis Center and supporting sexual assault victims and allies. Society and Politics Committee table worker Megan Sallomi said sexual assault awareness is an issue all students should take part in. “I think that [Sexual Assault Day of Action] has significance for everyone because, whether or not you know it, we probably all know someone who’s been affected by it,” Sallomi said. “It’s a big part of our society and it doesn’t get as much attention as it should get.” According to Kelly Anderson, director of the Dane County Rape Crisis Center, coordinators of this month’s events have been “thrilled” with the campus’ student initiative thus far. Students interested in more information about future Sexual Assault Awareness Month events can visit www.danecountyrcc.org.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.