I think the City of Columbia's new idea to require a business license for anyone renting out a residential property is ridiculous. It's not the $11, but the principle.

Let's think back to how this all began. Many months back, yet another murder occurred at a large housing complex that accepts federally subsidized Section 8 vouchers. After looking into why the complex didn't have quality security, the city learned that HUD doesn't require owners who accept vouchers to provide it. So, unlike the local Columbia Housing Authority who provides its own security at all of its public housing communities, most of the out- of- town corporate owners of these subsidized properties choose to save money by not.

Since they can't change federal law, the city then had the idea of requiring all owners of rental properties over a certain size to implement an absurd amount of security, including 24- hour armed guards and video surveillance, which would have cost the property owners thousands of dollars and potentially lead them out of the affordable housing business completely, thus leaving the poor on the streets.

Now they've somehow rationalized that since so many of these large property owners live out of state, all landlords in Columbia should be required to obtain a business license in order to rent out even just the other half of the duplex where they live.

Well, I am that landlord! I own one, two- story property in Rosewood where I rent out the top half, provide ample security, and already pay a higher property tax rate at 6% than the 4% required of residential owners. Why should I have to get a business license to rent out half of my own house?

The city says the new licensing is necessary so that they can have a local contact person on file in case of emergencies. Well, here's an idea: Require the out- of- town owners to have a local contact on file! Or, here's a better idea: Why doesn't the city just do its job and police all our neighborhoods, even the bad ones, instead of making every single landlord in and out of the city pay for the problem!

And what exactly will the $11 and having a local contact person on file do to combat violence in these large communities anyway? Will this local person make the drug dealers and gang bangers go away? Of course not! The city should use the tax dollars it already gets to protect these poor neighborhoods, just like it does more affluent ones like Shandon and Heathwood.

I hope every landlord in Columbia will attend the public hearing at 9 am January 21 at City Hall to protest this outrageous infringement of homeowner rights!
Josh Hamrick
Columbia