missy...m, my town (1/27/2009 2:36:53 AM)

I think Ms.Watts ought to be proud of herself.Too many times do you hear that in most cases the law is against the parents and just looking to take children way from the parents but she truly sounds like she is dong great work for the children.Im proud of her,keep up the good work because the children have noone really thats on their side.This was a great story one in which I have enjoyed reading.

T.B'Ville, Bartlesville (1/27/2009 6:23:28 AM)

Your right Missy. Instead of help they usually want to jump on and hurt! Good job Ms. Watts!

Mistic_wolf, tahlequah (1/27/2009 7:46:39 AM)

That landlord needs to live with out any heat for a winter and see how it feels. I think she should sue him.

dlparis, tulsa (1/27/2009 7:54:58 AM)

Kudos Ms Watts! Landlords like this should be charged, fined, somehow legally "encouraged" to do the right thing. Depriving a tenant of heat with or without a child, but definitely when a child is present, should be considered Abuse. At the very least seen as a crime under some statute.

Eric, Tulsa (1/27/2009 8:10:39 AM)

Children first!
...
..
.

justiceawaits, Claremore (1/27/2009 8:27:16 AM)

Great job Miss Watt, keep up the good work. The world needs more people like You.

Popeye, T-Town (1/27/2009 8:35:10 AM)

This is the kind of grass roots involvement that makes a difference. Thanks to Ms. Watts and Dr. Geffen and the entire crew, for bringing this program to Oklahoma and Tulsa.

Exchanging views, Tulsa (1/27/2009 9:16:30 AM)

GREAT JOB, Ms. Watts.

Frites and Mayo, Tulsa (1/27/2009 11:04:07 AM)

That is a great story. 2 thumbs up for Ms. Watts.

MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (1/27/2009 11:25:30 AM)

Love hearing about good people doin good things.

Few Clothes, Austin, TX (1/27/2009 11:25:40 AM)

Thank you for getting this family some heat.

Jay of Tulsa, (1/27/2009 11:26:26 AM)

hmm..A letter gets the point across and there's a suggestion of a law suit?? Our courts have enough to do as it is...more frivilous law suits...that's what we need..
My guess is that the landlord will not let this happen again. The landlord knows that he/she is being watched now.

Marine2003, Broken Arrow (1/27/2009 11:32:01 AM)

Stupid landlord. Let's chain him up outside today and see how he likes the cold

BayouGirl, Owasso (1/27/2009 11:38:40 AM)

There are landlords like this one everywhere. More than you think. They rent to make money and don't want to spend a penny more than they have to. It is always the renters who can't afford much that end up being treated this way!

Thank You Ms. Watts, Legal Aid and Dr. Geffen for starting this program. If more groups like this existed there would be fewer families and children having to lived deprived of the basics like a decent home and medical care.

phantom74016, chelsea (1/27/2009 12:06:03 PM)

thank you ms.watts but i'll bet that new furnace won't help when it comes time to renew the lease now the landlord has the family in his sights for eviction and a good reason to raise the rent

concernedpapa, Kiefer (1/27/2009 12:21:25 PM)

You may be right phantom74016 but I have a feeling this landlord doesn't want anything to do with Ms watt again. My guess is he/she will remain very low profile.

JuggaletteLooking4Hope 713, Okmulgee (1/27/2009 1:17:05 PM)

Not just renters of houses but apartment complexes too. I have firsthand experiences!

Graychin, Eucha (1/27/2009 1:24:55 PM)

With all the complaining we hear about greedy lawyers and frivolous "anti-business" lawsuits and court decisions, this story is a nice change.

Those of you who say you favor "tort reform" - be careful what you wish for.

Brinks Man, Tulsa (1/27/2009 3:35:37 PM)

It is amazing what a letter can sometimes do to motivate someone to do the right thing. Now if it wasn't necessary for the letter what a wonderful world this would be.

bristowbabe, Cape Girardeau (1/27/2009 4:44:45 PM)

the article is an excellent one and like others I to say great job! However, Oklahoma has a law that gives renters rights, Why did the people not check this out before waiting for the child to get sick? Are they not on HUD? then go to the local library and ask to see something that tells what rights a renter has in Okla. Don't sit in the cold and endanger your children, if nothing else call a social services office to find out what laws are available for renters. my opinion is the fault not only lies with the landlord but with the renters. Also, how did they tell the landlord? did they just comment that the furnace didn't put out much heat or did they tell him that it didn't work. My question is: just how responsible are these people for being foster parents? in my opinion, not very responsible at all. And no, I am not a landlord but I wouldn't wait until a child got sick to start doing something about a furnace not working and no heat.

paleface, Ponca City (1/27/2009 5:43:17 PM)

Good for you...
Wish you could have been there to help that 90 year old man that froze to death last week after our friendly elect. company tureed the heat off...They should have to go to the jail house for that come a 90 year old man. It was not in Okla it was in another state.

missy...m, my town (1/27/2009 6:31:37 PM)

Yep this is a dose of law thats not hard to swollow.

Kim Archer, medical writer, (1/27/2009 7:21:33 PM)

Bristowbabe,

There is no need to insult the foster parents. I had only so much space for this story, but the first of all the parents brought the child in for a checkup. I find that very responsible. Secondly, many people don't know their rights as renters and don't know that they need to write a letter to the landlord in such cases. That doesn't make them unfit parents. Third, many people can't afford attorneys for such help. Finally, the landlord sent out a maintenance man who said there was nothing wrong with the furnace. YET, it still didn't work. Thank goodness for Ms. Watts and this program.

Please don't insult people when you really don't have all the facts. We can't put every detail in a story due to space restrictions and wanting to make the story easy to read. I just wanted to set the record straight.

Kim Archer
Tulsa World medical writer

Kim Archer, medical writer, (1/27/2009 7:23:41 PM)

To edit: I had only so much space for this story, but first of all, the parents brought the child in for his checkup.

wHAT_NOW?, Tulsa (1/27/2009 9:10:58 PM)

Great story. With a happy ending. Something we haven't heard much of in a while.

Ayo, T-Town (1/27/2009 9:54:28 PM)

Thank you, Kim Archer! I'm very glad you rebuted bristowbabe. You are spot on. Thanks.

M_Conners, Tulsa (1/28/2009 11:14:18 AM)

Lousy landlords are the worst. My landlord lives in Austin and takes great care of us.

bristowbabe, Cape Girardeau (1/28/2009 7:20:19 PM)

My apology; you are right, I misunderstood it was a checkup, not illness. I have seen so many that just whine and complain but wont take the initative to try to find out if there is help. This program is indeed a blessing for many. I applaud it and you for making it known that there is help out there for those that needs it. and the landlords that dont fix their places should be forced to live in it "as is" for one year. Maybe then they would be more careful who they send out to check out problems. Again, my apologies to the parents, you and other readers. I stand corrected.

bristowbabe, Cape Girardeau (1/28/2009 7:27:37 PM)

once again, If I might say one more thing. For those who can't afford an attorney, there are legal aid programs to help, (I know, because I had to get help and I couldn't afford an attorney at the time.) and sometimes you have to go looking for it.