Barnhill: A landlord's view of the Tenants Union By RON LANDSMAN of the Managing Editor choices Daily News Analysis theirC 1he conflict between the landlords does n and their agents and the tenants and The their union is not a bitter fight for throug the most part, although the civility Inv occasionally wears a little thin, and Union there have been occasional clashes be- lordst tween tenants and landlords. tracts1 Nonetheless the differences between good r the two are intractable. They lie in but al differing interests that no amount of gain o civility or legalisms can reconcile. total r Someone will lose where it hurts- Her economically-when the fight is set- galism tied. And the end is not in sight yet. ed an Simply, the landlords and their said h agents, such as Apartments Ltd. Man- tactics ager Kenneth Barnhill, say they want Union the present leases - and all future Hec leases signed under similar circum- would stanes-strictly enforced. a boyc The Tenants Union says these leases werea are invalid because of the collusion buildin landlords in limiting a student's s in renting-he either meets consistent contract demands or ot live in Ann Arbor. union has tried to seek remedy gh legal and quasi-legal means. withholding rents, the Tenants wanted not only to force land- to meet their half of the con- by either keeping apartments in repdir or giving rent reductions, so to force the landlords to bar- on all terms of leases-including rent and damage deposits. e Barnhill asserts the basic le- i-the contracts have been sign- d must be honored, he claims. He he will not give way to illegal s, which he thinks the Tenants is guilty, of committing. does concede, however, that he give way to legal force, such as cott. Barnhill said that if there an effective boycott against one ng, for example, he would act. "If they were that strong-god for- bid-I would go to the landlord and tell him 'you better lower your rents,'" said Barnhill. However, Barnhill is confident that a boycott could not work in Ann Arbor. "There are too many people looking for apartments" for a boycott to be effective, he said. Since the Tenants Union cannot organize all 20,000 students who might rent apartments or houses, it is forced to act only when a situation is gelled -such as after all the tenants have signed leases and moved in. With a limited target of 10 to 30 units, the union has a very good chance of being effective. Barnhill said he would deal with all the tenants in one apartment build- ing, but within limited areas. "I am more than happy to deal with tenants, and deal collectively," he said. But that dealing would be limited to airing grievances. "I will sit down and talk with any- one on how to give better services, but it won't effect rents or terms of leases." But Barnhill's "concessions" do not concide with the tenants' demands. The Tenants Union says its demands are non-negotiable and that the strike will not end until the union is recog- nized as the, bargaining agent for the tenants, the rents are reduced, and repairs are made on the apartments. Barnhill claims the strikers are mis- directed if they blame him for the rents. "I do nothing but act as an agent of the landlords. I don't even know what per cent profit they make," he said. "I can't lower the rents. Only the landlords can do that." On the question of damage deposits, of which the union is demanding the elimination, he did say he found giv- ing interest would be acceptable to the landlords, but he didn't initiate the practice because the landlords weren't doing it when he started managing the property for them. However, he said he would be leery of agreeing to give interest on deposits now because of the situation. "As long as we're under pressure, we won't give one little bit," he said. The reason-he's been burned once. "I am convinced that we were pick- ed as the target by the Student Hous- ing Association (Apartments Ltd. was the object of a SHA strike for eight- month leases) because we were willing to talk to them, and they thought we talked out of weakness." He zwon't make that mistake again, he said. Although Barnhill did say he would bargain with the Tenants Union if it started acting like a union, even he was unclear on what he meant by that. "I don't know what they can do," he said. "They can't offer me anything in See BARNHILL, Page 3 4 ' :taiht t Vol. LXXIX, No. 70-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Thursday, August 21, 1969 Four Pages Kenneth Barnhill SEPT. 9 REFERENDUM: Rent strike County Dems blast law enforcement tax By MARTIN HIRSCHMAN The county Democratic party has urged voters to reject a spe- cial millage levy for law enforce- ment. At its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, the party's chief policy committee urged voters "to defeat the proposed special one mill law enforcement levy for the principal reason that no specific plan show- ing what the money is to be usedI for has been presented to the pub- lic." County Democratic Chairman Charles Gray said yesterday that the policy committee also felt there "didn't seem to be a need for a levy." The levy, which would provide the county with new funds esti- mated at $1,017,000, goes before the voters on Sept. 9. Gray said he does not think the Migrant wor ers Ma siriie tomato growers LANSING (A-Julian Herrera, head of the state migrant workers organization, has decided to strike against Monroe County tomato growers, informed sources reported Tuesday. Those sources indicated that support for a strike is running high among local laborers and organizers. Daniel W. Sturt, chairman of 'the State Agricultural Labor Commission, said the commission had visited the area and had found it "very tense-there was a lot of talk about a strike." The migrant workers union reportedly is preparing law suits to support strike activity, and will begin organizing migrant laborers in Texas this coming winter, in expectatiort of a protracted strike. The union hopes to enjoy an advantage over a similar strike of grape-pickers against California grape growers, who have undercut union efforts by hiring low-wage Mexican laborers. About 50 Monroe County tomato growers met Tuesday night in a closed session to discuss the crop situation and the predicted strike. Although four reporters were barred frog the meeting, sources indicated the farmers formulated no specific plans for dealing with a strike, deciding that they would "cross that bridge when they come to it." The farmers reportedly expressed disagreement with produce processors in Ohio and other parts of the Midwest because of a drop in the price paid for tomatoes this year. One farmer indicated that the rate this year was $35.50 per ton- down from $37.25 last year. While growers met in their closed seccion Tuesday night to dis- cuss the upcoming strike. Sturt announced his commission had unanimously recommended that the state enter into a cost-sharing partnership with growers to build or remodel farm labor housing. The plan would pay half the cost of new buildings or repairs where those costs were no less than $1,000 and no more than $7,000. Another measure suggested by the commission is a "tightening up" of migrant housing inspection by the State Department of Public Health. Both housing proposals, along with the finding of Governor William Milliken's Task Force on Migrant Labor will be the source of a specific legislative program to be submitted in January, Milliken said yesterday. levy will be approved. "They haven't given sufficient informa- tion to the public, so I think they'll vote it down," he said. "The same thing has happened with school millage and bond issues." The County Board of Supervis- ors approved the levy on July 22, claiming the funds are needed to maintain "a high level of law en- forcement and administration of justice." Although the supervisors did not delineate proposed expenditures, they cited the creation of three new district courts, increased work loads in all branches of law en- forcement and the "rising costs of maintaining, equipping and staff- ing the sheriff's office" as signs of additional financial need. Gray said that even if the sup- ervisors did itemize their planned expenditures, it was unlikely that the levy would receive Democratic approval. He said this would de- pend upon the specific uses of the funds planned by the supervisors. As the Sept. 9 referendum is worded, the supervisors would be given full discretionary powers in allocating the additional funds. Tuesday's action by the County Democratic Committee followed a brief report by Supervisor William Winters, who told the policy unit that there have been no indica- tions of any plan for use of the new revenue. Winters was among those supervisors who voted against approval of the law en- forcement levy. Board Chairman Bent Nielsen recently indicated that supervisor's Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee would develop programs in the near future for expenditure of the new funds. "We won't be able to spell it out to the penny," Nielsen said. "But we certainly can tell the peo- ple where the money would be going." Nielsen said some of the money may be used to upgrade the County Jail, to create more ex- tensive rehabilitation and crime prevention programs, and to es- tablish central data processing and communication for all county police. I t t lei PC lic hi ti ga St or Sh fa tu th m Bi conspiracy !case to ope n By N. R. COHODAS Preliminary proceedings in the conspiracy suit filed against rent striking tenants by seven Ann Arbor landlords will begin at 4 p.m. today in Circuit Judge William Ager's court. At the same time proceedings will begin on the counter- suit filed by the Tenants Union which charges that the land- lords have violated leases and antitrust laws. Today's activity will be largely procedural-deciding whether or not there will be a jury trial, how long it will be and exchanging lists of witnesses. Tenants Union lawyer Ronald Reosti said yesterday the Tenants Union may refuse to hand over a complete list of witnesses unless the plaintiffs -the landlords-agree to an- swer several questions pre- GOODBYE U d 4 pae Dyne eenSe, h al is going on vacation adby the defense.ThDiy -Associated Press Reosti claimed the landlords' and will resume publication ARMORED CARS patrol Wenceslas Square in Prague yesterday to clear the area on the eve of the suit is a "broad complaint" with Sept. 4. first anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. few specific names or dates to substantiate the charges. He said to prepare a case for that sort ofoia CzechlockPraguecomplaint Although the landlords initially had refused to acknowledge the m eks Cor i existence of the question, William Barense, attorney for the plain- NEW YORK W - Andrew W. affs, finally formally refuseds they Cordier, a veteran diplomat and were improper. educator, yesterday was named PRAGUE ,) - Czechoslovaks onstrators stopped to hurl paving at the police. Others tried to pile Neither attorney would say president of Columbia University. rricaded Prague streets and stones, rocks and debris at the building materials across narrow what the questions are. He had been acting president for oned riot police last night on police vehicles. Krakovska Street as a barricade In both the landlord's suit and almost a year e first anniversary of the Soviet- Eyewitnesses said the police against the water cannons. the Tenants Union counter suit,: d invasion of their country. The fired submachine guns over their An hour after the first gas and the plaintiffs are asking extensive Cordier, 68, was named to the lice fired submachine guns heads for about two minutes. water attack, the crowds return- damages. post by the university trustees. er the heads of an angry crowd. Some store windows were brok- ed and by dusk there were two The landlords who claim the ul- The appointment was recom- The hostilities erupted after - en by thrown rocks. Hours before, more major tear gas attacks in timate goal of the rent strike is mended by the University Senate, e riot squads used tear gas and the Czechoslovak army command the square and in the side streets. an attack on the concept of pri- a student - faculty - administra- gh-pressure water cannons three announced it "is standing firmly Police swung truncheons at the vate property, are seeking $10,000 tion body set up this year. mes to disperse large crowds bh'd the leadership of e party returning crowds and fired in- in personal damages and $300,000 Tod set uti r. beidelaemshiofthpay The Senate resolution requesting tthered in historic Wenceslas and the state," and was prepared capacitating gas into their faces. in exemplary damages a n d re- Cordier's appointment as presi- Iuare for a silent, passive dem- to quell disturbances if the gov- Dense clouds of tear gas drifted covery of all unpaid rent. stration marking the "Day of enent of Communist r through the square and surround- The Tenants Union is asking dent called hias made Columbia As night fell, about 500 young Chief Gustav Husak called for In a show of force, five truck- Ager set the date for prelii- young again. zchs barricadedmNaro treet, Czechoslovakia's defense minis- loads of Czechoslovak army troo ps nary proceedings after ruling Ju- HesucmejdrDtarghson-Dirk Zeh barPriaed arni three, Cecolvaighdfne i- stood by at one end of the square ly 19 on several motions from a major target of the seven-week Lres. and Yungmannova Street, and about 25 more truckloads both sides. Ager denied a motion rebellion at Columbia in the res.on anduityYungmnnsredvariStreet68 sar Wenceslas Square, with build-' nation's security can be assured were seen behind the museum. by the landlords to halt the rent spring of 1968. g materials, tractors, an over- by our army only together wi Film crews with powerful lens- strike and also denied their mo- At the time of his 1968 appoint- ned truck and garbage cans. Pcthesphecarmllsy the ov arsy.es photographed the crowds from tion f o r summary judgment ment, Cordier agreed to serve for med tck anrd garag crans. Pact, especially the Soviet army. roofs, apparently for use by the against the tenants which have one year, until a successor was rough the barricades, scattering It was a grim warning that the authorities, found them guilty of t h e con- found. At least one educator of- ost of the crowd with tear gas. Warsaw Pact armies which poured In Washington, U.S. officials spiracy and granted the injunc- fered the post has turned down ut several times the fleeing dem- into Czechoslovakia one year ago said they had information from Lion.itle job, however. could come again if the disorders See CZECHS, Page 3 - in Wenceslas Square spread tom S__ OSTERHELD RECOMMENDATION Revitalizing the Union food By LAURIE HARRIS A fight to turn the Michigan Union's food services from a $100,000 deficit to an approximate $17,000 profit is presently be- ing waged. The battle is the result of an extensive study that was undertaken last winter by Douglas C. Osterheld, assistant vice presi- dent at the University of Wisconsin. The Union board of directors had requested Osterheld to make an analysis of the Un- ions organization. Osterheld's report stated that in t h e "ac +a n in r1a rl.m..-a hrmc sanr 1.VP1 services that have been offered are all part of the effort to overhaul the Union's food services. The main dining room will no longer serve sit-down meals, explained West. He said a buffet service will be set up with "hopefully enough variety to s u i t the needs of diners." West added the dining room will be open for lunches only since there is not enough demand for breakfast and dinners. West explained people would be seated in the dining room as quickly as possible nnd nghawAr + n +hehnffet table when their for that reason, the MUG is cutting back on its old style of serving several hot dishes and vegetables. There is a demand, West said, for light sandwiches, soft drinks, and coffee. "This is the demand we hope to meet," he said. The hours of the MUG have been altered to meet the flow of people through the ar- ea, according to West. During the school year the MUG will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays; from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays; and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. West said in the off hours the vending other parts of the country. It was the second successive day police used force in the city's main gathering place. It came amid rumors that Moscow might use any anti-Soviet demonstration to force a new shakeup in the Czechoslovak leadership. Ignoring warnings from Husak. underground groups had called for observance of a passive "national day of shame" to mark the Ag. 20-21, 1968, invasion. About 5,000 persons gathered in the square to stare at the Na- tional Museum and St. Wenceslas Statue, both symbols of protest against the occupation by an esti- mated 70,000 to 80,000 Russian troops. Armored riot squad cars and water cannon trucks rolled into the square and took ;positions in AW .