* News Star Editorial Says...

... "Remove landlord from advisory council. We don't want these kinds of landlords in our neighborhood."

That was how one Rogers Park (24th) District police beat facilitator characterized the community's reaction to Jay Johnson, the Rogers Park landlord who faced a court date this week to answer for citations for 46 building code violations at 1638-42 W. Jonquil Terr. and 7700-06 N. Marshfield Ave.--the scene of a Sept. 3 blaze that killed six children.

And we couldn't agree more.

It's up to the courts to determine Johnson's long-term fate, but we have a strong suggestion for his immediate future: Alderman Joe Moore, 50th, should remove Johnson from the alderman's Zoning and Land Use Advisory Council.

To say that Johnson's presence on this advisory council presents a conflict of interest for Moore is a vast understatement.

Johnson has contributed thousands of dollars in campaign funds to Moore, which is not illegal, but which certainly creates the kind of questionable circumstances that would not exist if Moore had never taken a penny from an advisory council member who is also a developer.

Johnson's less-than-stellar reputation as a landlord makes the council appointment all the more reckless.

He is winding his way through court for citations issued at the Marshfield building. And this isn't the first time Johnson, who owns six Rogers Park properties offering subsidized housing, has landed in housing court.

Another of Johnson's buildings at 7722-34 N. Ashland Ave. was found potentially in violation of the city's Drug and Gang House Ordinance in 2005, as part of a multi-tiered process for resolving the building's deleterious impact on the neighborhood.

And a Johnson-owned property, the Howard Theatre Apartments at 1615-43 W. Howard St., in the Howard-Paulina TIF District subsidized by $3.7 million in property tax money, was cited between 2001 and 2006 for code violations including a defective emergency call system in the elevator, damaged flooring, roofing and door frames, and rodent infestation.

And at the Marshfield property, the Chicago Fire Department inspection showed that the apartment was found to be without a working smoke detector, prompting the families who lost children in the fire to file a civil suit against Johnson and the other building's owners.

Is this really the best candidate Moore could find for a council that makes recommendations on important zoning issues impacting the entire ward--some of them concerning affordable housing? If so, we seriously have to question Moore's judgment as an alderman. And if not, we seriously have to question Moore's reasons for appointing Johnson to the committee.

Moore, who is facing an April 17 runoff against Don Gordon, would serve his constituents--and his campaign--well by removing Johnson from the advisory council as soon as possible.

Residents of the 49th Ward should let the alderman know that they insist on this long-overdue measure that is quite simply the right thing to do.

Johnson should not have a presence on this advisory council.

Blognotes: Pick up your own copy of this weeks Pioneer News Star before Alderman Moore snatches up all the copies for himself.