To the editor:

Your Nov. 13 article “Rental homes bring unwanted changes for some neighbors” highlighted some of the problems in residential neighborhoods. Trash is one of those problems. When trash is reported, property owners get a letter from the city asking them to pick it up, then after two weeks if they haven’t, another letter threatening action such as picking it up and billing them – in two more weeks. So the cheapest thing for them to do is to clean up at most once a month if someone complains.

Last summer an ordinance with a shorter fuse was proposed by city staff, but the whole matter is in limbo. This city is very shy about setting up consequences for bad behavior.

Adrian Melott,

Lawrence