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Show Page 2 - S. L. Neighborhood News Advertiser Rents Soar (cont'd.) to $125 range, it has been done with little justification on the owner's part. Whatever reasons theirs might be for an increase they ' are not clear to the renters who must pay more. Many tenants when interviewed expressed a willingness to pay higher rent if their places were improved. Promises made by certain landlords to that effect too often are not kept. The discussion of what constitutes fair and equitable rent goes on for miles with each landlord-tenan- t relationship having its own twists and turns. What needs to be decided is how to protect the renter without providing the landlord with an undue loss of income. No easy answer is in sight. Efforts to pass a uniform landlord-tenan- t act prescribing a formal contract agreement protecting the rights of both owner and renter failed in the last session of the State Legislature. Its backers are optimistic a new and better act will be approved in the next regular session-fa- r away in Spring, 1975. Several low income housing projects are underway in the Salt Lake area and local rent subsidy programs are available on a small scale. These will alleviate the housing problem a little but not enough. The situation is larger and Street Cleaners years ago. "White Wingers" are City Tradition by Tim Funk became too much for them to bear. In spite of that, he remembers They are a city tradition-th- e men cleaning the streets with their push carts and brooms. Many native Salt Lakers can recall when they wore white jackets and were known as "white wingers." In early city days, with paved streets becoming more common proudly how Salt Lake was acclaimed nationally for its established. As the "watchdogs of cleanliness" it was their duty to keep the local streets respectable. The division began "sometime impeccable condition. Things have changed since those early days when the big clean up scoops had wooden wheels and most of the White Wingers were over retirement age. Big street sweeping machines now do the largest part of the work in the residential areas leaving the heart of the city to a persistent band of in the 1900's" says Albert White Wingers. and horse traffic leaving its dominant trace, the White Wing Division of the Salt Lake City Streets and Public Improvements Department was permanently more critical than current Donelson, governmental efforts can handle. Tenants for the time being must fend for themselves. Their best bet in dealing with unfair rent foreman with several decades of street department service. Donelson took the whitecoats off his men "about 1940" after continuing ridicule of the "manure brigade" look thei r sanitary jackets practices is group strength says Craig Peterson, a Legal Services attorney with much experience in such matters. Legal action is fine says Mr. Peterson but usually the renter can't wait six months for a legal decision. He needs adequate housing now. Mr. Peterson favors group action through tenant unions and organizations set up to support cleanliness. Many cities modeled their street-cleanin- g operations after Salt Lake's, he recalls. His men were always pleased when a visitor commented on the city's a past White Wing Their numbers have gradually dwindled until there are now seventeen of them. They do basically the same work their forerunners did seventy years ago. Most have a cart and broom to clean the gutters, drains and corners. Two "hydrant men" flush the gutters daily and a garbage truck crew hauls off the three to five tons of trash collected Often they have found wallets, money, jewelry and watches and occasionally the owner has been located. everyday. Each man on the broom clean sweeps five to six square blocks and its side streets each day. The work is never finished. A street cleaned one day needs it One woman, remembers again the next. The battle continues there are people and the wind. Of all the things the White Wingers face, the wind is the chief enemy. A good lazy breeze can undo eight hours work in a minute. White Wingers are afoot in the unpredictable extremes of the local weather. Whether blistering hot or freezing cold they perform their task keeping the drains open, the gutters unobstructed and corners free of debris and ice. In their travels up and down the city streets the White Wingers have had their small adventures. as long as Street cleaners today. property. protect himself arise, he says. necessary function a the daily city operation. As Mielo Zolentakis, present White Wing foreman, says, "the city is always going to look better as long as you have a man with a broom and a cart." in New Chairman Elected May 5. He replaces Dr. Sherman Dickman, former Chairman. Dr. Klass is a faculty member at the University of Utah where he has held an appointment to the doctoral program in the School of Social Work since 1971. Prior to that time he was on the social work faculty at California State Men Keep City Clean Need Housing Help? Rent troubles? There are several sources of assistance and advice. Call any of the numbers listed below and see what they can do to help. -- clsims Mr. Peterson. It would eliminate many of the problems that typically White Wingers perform Trustees, effective -- Having such a list is the most important thing a tenant can do to more than ever. Parenthood State Board of "neutral position" between then tenant and landlord. It makes both parties responsible in writing for their defined roles as owner and renter. If a disagreement arises the lease calls for a board of arbitration to settle the matter. Another feature of the lease agreement is a checklist on the condition of the apartment when the tenant first moves in. It provides a true record for any later discussions dealing with the rental that the visibility of the white coat in street work was appreciated Chairman of the Planned dealings with landlords. There are presently five tenant unions in Salt Lake City. A model lease agreement has been drawn up for tenant union members, which according to Mr. a One unfortunate White Winger was killed many years ago when a car backed up and hit him. After Dr. Morris Klass was elected renters in their Peterson, establishes Donelson, contacted the division after loosing her false teeth. The dentures were located by a White Winger, sweeping his way south and returned to their rightful place. -- -- Salt Lake Tenant Organization, 297-718- 6 Central City CAP 363-459ask for the Housing Aide 3, Legal Services, 328-889- 1 Apartment House 355-327- 6 Assoc. "According to modern ideals it is not sufficient to have a 'City Beautiful'; it must be a 'City Cleanly' and a 'City Sanitary' as well. Salt Lake is all these three kinds of a city." "Under the jurisdiction of the Department of Streets and Public Improvements, the 'White Wings' perform an important function in the city's welfare and incidentally provide acceptable employment to old men who have become incapacitated for heavier work. The force consists of about seventy men ranging in age from 60 to 85 years of age, the monthly payroll averages about $3,500. Equipped with their pick up carts, they have become familiar figures throughout the paved district of our city and do very effective work in keeping the street in good order." Salt Lake City's Municipal -- Record, October 1 0, 1914- - University at Fresno. Dr. Klass has been active in many professional and civic pursuits: He is President-elec- t of the Utah State Conference on Social Welfare, member of Community Services Council Planning Committee, consultant to Big Brothers of America in Utah and consultant to the Volunteer Services Department of the Division of Family Services, member of Youth Services Council at the Salt Lake Jewish Community Center and a member of Professional organization. A native of Kansas City, Missouri and a World War II veteran. Dr. Klass is married and has two sons, ages 1 6 and 1 8. In his leisure time he enjoys gardening, dancing to rock music, ceramics, painting and woodcraft. |