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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts) Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:14 AM Dec 2012

Colorado Springs apartment manager threatens to raise the rent of anyone who voted to re-elect Obama

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
A Colorado Springs apartment manager threatens to raise the rent of anyone who voted to re-elect President Barack Obama.

John Obringer sent out a letter to his tenants at the Casa Adobe Apartments on Wednesday. The letter was addressing cutbacks on staff and maintenance issues.

"Due to the stupidity of the U.S. electorate, the Obama-administration's continued assault on small business is resulting in increased taxes, regulations and mandates that are forcing the management company (B&J Enterprises, Inc.) for Casa Adobe Apartments to modify its operation to survive. This has resulted in layoffs, work-time reductions and decreased pay for workers. Consequently, the business hours are now Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please plan accordingly ... We are working hard to maintain the field, cleaning and maintenance personnel in place without raising rents, but that too is inevitable due to the upcoming inflation and market forces," writes Obringer.

"If you have any questions, comments or criticisms, please call me. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and Happy Holidays to you and yours," continues Obringer.

Then he added, "BTW: If you voted "Democrat" on Nov. 6, please notify me ASAP so I can raise your rent first to help pay for what you asked for."

http://www.krdo.com/news/Obama-supporters-fear-their-rent-will-rise-after-manager-makes-threats/-/417220/17613718/-/m6i1d0z/-/index.html

22 replies

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Colorado Springs apartment manager threatens to raise the rent of anyone who voted to re-elect Obama (Original Post) The Straight Story Dec 2012 OP

Hope he likes explaining a lot of empty apartments to the owners. hobbit709 Dec 2012 #1

I've no clue about alternatives in Colorado Springs, but it sounds like it's time to move. Scuba Dec 2012 #2

Yeah, "I don't care if it's unprofessional, 'cause it's not like you can just move right away" JHB Dec 2012 #7

I'm baffled... Scootaloo Dec 2012 #3

Kiss the right asses. hobbit709 Dec 2012 #4

As a management company, I don't think the tenants are their actual customers... JHB Dec 2012 #8

Exactly.. sendero Dec 2012 #11

And These Increased Taxes And Regulations Are??????? KharmaTrain Dec 2012 #5

Something about lease agreements being legally binding contracts, renter's rights... Scootaloo Dec 2012 #6

The Lawyers Will Love These... KharmaTrain Dec 2012 #9

What a dumbass! GoCubsGo Dec 2012 #10

i would do it.. frylock Dec 2012 #20

I guess he'll also blame Obama if he gets fired over this. tanyev Dec 2012 #12

He'll blame Obama if the sun rises in the east. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2012 #13

And how does he plan to access that information? nt LWolf Dec 2012 #14

I'm going to guess his new job will mean paying rent himself Coyotl Dec 2012 #15

I'd be surprised if anyone in Colorado Springs voted for Obama. JaneyVee Dec 2012 #16

my friend lives in the springs.. frylock Dec 2012 #21

Be very surprised. I have several friends and family members living Autumn Dec 2012 #22

I would politely ask him just what new tax increases and regulations have happened in the last month sinkingfeeling Dec 2012 #17

Maybe we should all start calling there and asking him that & tell him we voted Obama The Straight Story Dec 2012 #19

That's why its so important that our ballots remain secret. slackmaster Dec 2012 #18

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)

1. Hope he likes explaining a lot of empty apartments to the owners.

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:22 AM

Dec 2012

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

2. I've no clue about alternatives in Colorado Springs, but it sounds like it's time to move.

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:27 AM

Dec 2012

JHB

(37,161 posts)

7. Yeah, "I don't care if it's unprofessional, 'cause it's not like you can just move right away"

Reply to Scuba (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:46 AM

Dec 2012

BTW, company website:

http://www.bjapartments.com/

Since this is a management company, it might be worth looking up who actually owns those properties (i.e., B&J's actual customers).

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)

3. I'm baffled...

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:39 AM

Dec 2012

How is it that people who have no idea how to run a business, keep ending up in charge of businesses? Becuase I see about nine damn things wrong there - even without adding in my politics. First and foremost, slashing your business hours and punishing your customers is not a good way to generate income...

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)

4. Kiss the right asses.

Reply to Scootaloo (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:40 AM

Dec 2012

JHB

(37,161 posts)

8. As a management company, I don't think the tenants are their actual customers...

Reply to Scootaloo (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:49 AM

Dec 2012

...that would be the property owners who they do the managing for.

Still shabby for an outfit that claims "30 years of experience as property management", but the distinction is worth noting. B&J's incentives are not necessarily tenant-centric,

sendero

(28,552 posts)

11. Exactly..

Reply to JHB (Reply #8)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:56 AM

Dec 2012

... and the actual owners of the property might not find this sort of "management" tenable.

KharmaTrain

(31,706 posts)

5. And These Increased Taxes And Regulations Are???????

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:40 AM

Dec 2012

<crickets>

Another doofus throwing a hissyfit cause the world won't spin in his direction. Sucks to be him and sure looks like he sucks at being the "businessman". I'm sure there's a couple of lawyers looking at his statement with stars in their eyes. He (or his bosses) may end up paying far more in legal and settlement costs than they would in whatever modest increases they may encounter. Once again we see that the "party of business" is clueless when it comes to actually managing money...

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)

6. Something about lease agreements being legally binding contracts, renter's rights...

Reply to KharmaTrain (Reply #5)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:43 AM

Dec 2012

Stuff like that.

KharmaTrain

(31,706 posts)

9. The Lawyers Will Love These...

Reply to Scootaloo (Reply #6)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:52 AM

Dec 2012

I know in my state you can't arbitrarily raise rent during a lease...you can only do so with a brand new lease agreement. Any breach not only would open the door to lawsuits but also enable those whose rents were raised to move out before their contract is up. As we've seen with others who have thrown these type of tantrums, it's just stupid and costly business.

Cheers...

GoCubsGo

(32,086 posts)

10. What a dumbass!

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 08:56 AM

Dec 2012

This idiot actually thinks people will come out and admit something that will get their rents raised? I hope every last one of his tenants finds a new place to live. Their landlord is mentally ill.