A Racket Against Rachmanism
Peter Rachman, a landlord in London during the 1950s and 60s, was so despised that a word was coined to describe his strain of poisonous neglect.
The Oxford Dictionary defines Rachmanism as “the exploitation and intimidation of tenants by unscrupulous landlords.”
His properties were notorious, as referenced in the single “Sheriff Fatman” by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, with the lyrics:
There’s bats in the belfry. The toilets ain’t healthy. Here comes Sheriff Fatman.
Rachman inspired numerous songs and built the modern stereotype of a wicked landlord.
Although Iowa City might have its own Rachmans, handling the conflict between landlords and tenants is about as effective as trying to eat soup with a fork.
Author's summary: Rachmanism remains a problem.