WILKES-BARRE -- Landlords with properties in Wilkes-Barre had sharp words on Tuesday for the city's mayor. He took aim at them in response to the recent rash of shootings.
It also comes after police made an arrest for another shooting in the city.
On Monday, the mayor spoke about gun violence in the city and said landlords could do more to help. But Tuesday, landlords told Newswatch 16 they are not the issue.
A rash of shootings in Wilkes-Barre over the past several days has sparked concerns from residents and city leaders. At a news conference, the mayor said landlords should do more to help the city.
“The city landlords and property owners must be aware of who their tenants are,” Mayor Tom Leighton said.
But the mayor's tough words fell short for Jim Straub. He manages properties in Kingston, Forty Fort, and Wilkes-Barre. He's also a board member of the Wyoming Valley Real Estate Investors Association, a group that represents landlords.
“If they want to honestly get to the heart of this thing, they should reach out to the property owners. Not make the property owners or the managers the bad guy,” said Straub.
Straub says tenants are not usually the problem, but the people tenants may invite over. And he says, laws don't make it easy to kick out problem tenants.
“I can't get rid of a tenant in less than 30 days. It's just impossible. I have to go through a complete legal procedure. It costs me hundreds of dollars,” Straub said.
But while Straub says he works with community leaders in Forty Fort and Kingston, he says he's been trying for several years to open a dialogue with Wilkes-Barre.
"Wilkes-Barre doesn't want to hear from anybody,” Straub said.
Folks said city and community leaders should work to find a solution.
“More involved, more hands on, more responsibility for the people in the community,” said Angel Jirau of Wilkes-Barre.
“It's about your community. Everybody should watch out for each other,” said Bridget Adams from nearby Forty Fort.
Straub says that dialogue needs to start with the city.
“Something has to be done,” Straub said. “It has to be a cooperation between everybody.”
A man was shot on South Street in the city last week. He died at the hospital. Two people were shot outside a club on South Main Street. Another man was found shot to death inside a house on Carey Avenue. Then two people were shot at Interfaith Apartments off Coal Street over the weekend and a man was shot on South Welles Street early Monday morning.
