If you voted to re-elect Barack Obama as president, should your rent payments go up?
It appears possible at an apartment complex in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the manager of Casa Adobe Apartments sent a letter to residents making the threat.
According to KRDO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Colorado Springs, John Obringer recently sent out the letter that mainly focused on cutbacks on staff and maintenance issues.
The letter reportedly states:
“Due to the stupidity of the U.S. electorate, the Obama-administration’s continued assault on small business is resulting in increased taxes, regulations and mandates that are forcing the management company (B&J Enterprises, Inc.) for Casa Adobe Apartments to modify its operation to survive. This has resulted in layoffs, work-time reductions and decreased pay for workers. Consequently, the business hours are now Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please plan accordingly … We are working hard to maintain the field, cleaning and maintenance personnel in place without raising rents, but that too is inevitable due to the upcoming inflation and market forces.”
Obringer continued: “If you have any questions, comments or criticisms, please call me. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and Happy Holidays to you and yours.”
Then he added, “BTW: If you voted ‘Democrat’ on Nov. 6, please notify me ASAP so I can raise your rent first to help pay for what you asked for.”
One tenant who wished to remain anonymous told KRDO, “I think it’s wrong. That’s your constitutional right to vote for who you want.” She also claimed Obringer had previously threatened to oust her from the complex for voting for Obama.
Another tenant came to the manager’s defense, saying, “It’s just John. He’s kind of a quirky landlord.”
Residents say nothing has changed thus far, and Obringer has refused requests to be interviewed.
The issue has caught the attention of ColoradoPols.com, a political website in Colorado, which states:
“We’re pretty sure that no law is violated unless the landlord in question actually raises rents on tenants who voted for Barack Obama, which implies that he would know who they are – not the easiest thing to do with a secret ballot. So this likely gets filed with other such mindless ventings of hot air after last month’s tough election for Republicans: harmless, unless you count the source of the ‘threat’ himself, who comes off looking kind of stupid. We’d suggest John Obringer move to Canada, but he might not like the housing code.”
Video coverage of this story from KRDO-TV can be seen here:
