Rental residences in Sanford seem to have gotten a bad reputation in recent times as evidenced by 70 percent of our citizens more concerned with code enforcement than crime. I suspect their attitude would change about crime, if they became a victim rather than it just being their neighbor affected.

I randomly chose a residential street is Sanford, and on the property appraisers website researched homesteaded vs. rental properties. That ratio is

60 percent homestead vs. 40 percent rentals.

However the taxes paid reflect a very different number. 69 percent of the money generated is produced from rentals, only 31 percent from homesteads. That’s $48,222 vs. $22,215. Surprised?

I sense a lack of pride in our city by the amount of trash on the streets on a daily basis. I do not believe that this 2006 property maintenance code that the city is considering will restore this pride in Sanford.

I also don't think that a public official would like to see an increase in code violations from 25 percent to 75 percent generated by encouraging our citizens to turn in their neighbors.

What happened to the friendly city?

Larry D. Blair, Sanford