Clarifying CO Legislation
Editor:
In response to growing safety concerns, Sen. Jim Mathias sponsored a bill during this year’s Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly that puts in place new requirements regarding carbon monoxide detectors in certain rental units. Local media outlets have covered the passage of Senate Bill 182 (Public Safety – Rental Dwelling Units – Carbon Monoxide Alarms) extensively.
While our senator’s efforts and success should be very much applauded, the local real estate industry feels that many media outlets have withheld a very important element of the bill – these detectors are not required in all rental units. Certainly there are some municipalities that do require detectors in all rental units, but this Maryland law specifically states that it only applies to “a dwelling that relies on the combustion of a fossil fuel for heat, ventilation, hot water, or clothes dryer operation.”
We have confirmed with the senator and with the state fire marshal that the new law only applies to units containing carbon monoxide-emitting devices and/or have an attached parking garage. Installing detectors in rental units that do not contain appliances emitting carbon monoxide would not be practical.
The Coastal Association of REALTORS® thanks Sen. Mathias for this bill and will continue to educate its membership so their clients are safe and their businesses continue to contribute greatly to the economy on the Lower Eastern Shore.
Joseph Wilson
(The writer is the chair of the Coastal Association of REALTORS® Government Affairs and RPAC Committees as well as a member of the Board of Directors.)
President Is Culpable
Editor:
What happened in Texas to the police being shot and killed and wounded I blame on the President of the United States.
President Obama has let too many out of prison that are illegal. I feel that there is no way for the police or the people to know who is legal and who is not.
I don’t feel President Obama is protecting me or anyone in the United States by letting all the illegals run around the United States. I believe the immigrants that are coming into the United States should go to Ellis Island, like they did years ago, for a background check to see if they qualify for American citizenship. The United States should talk to the Mexican president and close the borders on both sides.
In Chicago, illegals are selling drugs and a lot of black people are getting killed because of this and it seems like nothing is getting done. The black communities don’t want drug dealers either.
When I was working for the Anne Arundel police department there were drug dealers going into the communities and the people got with the police and got the drug dealers out of their communities.
The police provided a Youth Activities Summer Program with the opportunity to enjoy recreational and educational events. There should be a volunteer support service to help get drug dealers off the streets and out of good communities.
Richard Ruzicka
Selbyville, Del.