Should the Zimmerman case make Neighborhood Associations

[TorchTheWitch]

23. so what if he was a renter?

I'm a renter. Never in my life would I ever be able to afford my own house. There's nothing wrong with being a renter rather than a home owner. Just because you don't own the home you live in doesn't make you any less worthy of the same safety that people who DO own their homes are entitled to, nor should it exempt them from participating in Neighborhood Watch since us renters are just as much community members as home owners, and some of us stick around longer than a lot of home owners.

On my street which is half owner occupied with the other half being renters, it's the renters that are more careful of their behavior, how they take care of the rental property, how they get along with their neighbors, etc. because as a renter you can be booted out of the house at any time and for just such issues. Landlords don't WANT tenants that have problems with the neighbors, don't keep the property immaculate, and tenants are basically at their mercy as to whether or not the landlord is willing to keep them as a tenant. As a renter you have to work a hell of a lot harder at being a good neighbor than a home owner does since us renters are subject to losing our ability to live in the home while home owners have the safety of being the home owner so that they don't have to worry about whether or not they're a good neighbor, whether they let their home go to rack and ruin, etc. for the simple reason that because they own the home nobody can kick them out. Renters also pay the same as owners in taxes since that amount is calculated into the rental charge.

Shame on you for disparaging renters! It's horribly offensive and damned bigoted.