“Have not” doesn’t mean “works not”

Mr. Lewis writes about what he calls "single-family residence neighborhoods," apparently basing his comments on his own neighborhood [“Poor and Poorer,” Aug. 18 Xpress]. Implicit in his comments are some generalizations about "renters" and what he calls "have-nots."

He notes that he has been troubled by "at least" five houses that have been rented to "several unrelated occupants". He doesn't mention how many houses in total there are in his "neighborhood" (20, 50, 200?), or how many rental units house "unrelated occupants." He also doesn't mention if any dwellings housing a single family have been problematic (grass too high).

I grew up in a rental apartment and don't feel that being a renter sharing space with others in a single building makes one a worse person than an individual who resides in a single-family home that he or she owns.

[Lewis] also contrasts what he calls the "have-nots" with "folks who've worked hard.” I know "folks who work hard" who I would call "have-nots," so I don't consider that a valid contrast. "Haves" and "have-nots" or "folks who've worked hard" and "folks who haven't worked hard" are valid contrasts.

I do [agree] that neighborhoods [can] be nice places to live in. As a neighborhood advocate, he can help strengthen ties between his fellow residents, helping to solve problems.

— Stephen Rinsler
Arden

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.