EDITORIAL: Give JSU a break on ordinance

July 25--C'mon, Jacksonville, this shouldn't be difficult.

A tornado four months ago ripped through the city, destroying homes and apartments, ripping roofs off businesses and making an ever-loving mess of Jacksonville State University's campus. Only by the grace of God did the death toll come in at zero.

No one recovers from these disasters without teamwork, sweat equity and assistance. No one. Jacksonville's rebirth -- the city's and the university's -- wouldn't be where it is today without insurance claims, Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, state assistance and pro bono help from neighbors galore.

So consider us flummoxed, and a little bit disappointed, by the debate in Jacksonville about the need to temporarily relax the city's ordinance governing how many people can live in rental homes. The City Council absolutely should grant JSU's request for an 18-month moratorium on the rental ordinance so that students can find housing before the start of the fall semester.

JSU's request is reasonable, logical and sound. Denying it would hamper JSU's recovery and seriously endanger the university's town-and-gown relationship with the city.

Tim King, JSU's vice president for student affairs, made the university's case at Monday's City Council work session. JSU records show that around 150 students remain on a housing waiting list bloated by the March 19 tornado. King told the council: "Uncommon times call for unconventional responses -- if the tornado hadn't happened I wouldn't be here, but the tornado did happen. We have students who want to come back to school ... will you let them?" JSU President John Beehler was blunt. "Give us a chance and help us recover," he said.

The city has every right to install laws that fairly govern its affairs. But nowhere in JSU's request is there a condemnation of the city's ordinance, which was passed in 2011 because of resident complaints about overcrowded rental properties and noisy neighborhoods. And nowhere in the request is there a wink or nod toward a permanent reversal of the ordinance. All JSU and its Board of Trustees are seeking is a year-and-a-half break to aid their recovery from the storm and help students locate housing in the next few weeks.

This isn't rocket science. The City Council should briefly relax its ordinance and assist JSU's recovery. And JSU's students who live off campus should follow a few basic rules: Don't be stupid. Don't be a nuisance. And be nice to your neighbors.

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