Pointing the finger

A lot of finger-pointing is taking place between HPD and apartment complex owners, and City Council is trying to mediate. Half the homicides reported over the Thanksgiving holidays occured on apartment property.

Council is looking at implementing a tiered rating system for apartments, based on apartment size compared to the number of police calls, with varying security measures those complexes have to take, depending on their rating. Many apartment managers disagree with that tactic, though:

"It is putting it on the apartment complexes rather than the police," said Susan Manuel, manager of the Forum Apartments in southwest Houston, which staffs security daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Staffed security only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.? Maybe it’s even too dangerous for the security officer to be on the property after dusk. Another apartment owner says he’s paying $4,000 each week for additional security.

Houstonist thinks the rating system is a good start. Owners need to take more responsibility on the safety of their complexes and tenants. After all, we bet most of the owners of these crime-ridden apartments wouldn’t dare step onto the property themselves at night.