LANDLORD CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR NEIGHBORHOODS' DECLINE.(MAIN)

Byline: SANDRA M. COLATOSTI RENSSELAER

I would like to comment on your (Feb. 23) article about landlord Roger Ploof.

Landlords who fail to screen prospective tenants properly and are willing to rent to anyone hurt not only private homeowners, but also other landlords who own rental property in the same neighborhood.

The introduction of undesirable people into a neighborhood affects property values and makes it difficult for other landlords to rent to more suitable tenants.

However, most of the properties owned by Mr. Ploof were already located in troubled neighborhoods when he bought them. Many were nothing but boarded-up, deserted …