- Type: Individual
- Hall of Fame: Madison, WI
- Year Inducted: 2022
Ray Peterson
Ray Peterson was a retired slumlord from Madison, WI. His legacy as a slumlord was so notorious that he was written up several times in local media, fined, and eventually forced to sell his properties. His collection of properties was dubbed “Petersonville” and consistently failed city inspection standards. Peterson considered himself to be a neo-liberal philanthropist- he was often quoted as saying he provided low income housing for people who otherwise could not find it. In other words, Peterson was a predatory slumlord who exploited the working poor. Peterson was inducted into the Madison, WI Hall of Fame in 2022.
- A plethora of building inspection complaints
- Violations from peeling paint to electrical issues to dated smoke alarms
- Failure to complete necessary repairs in timeframe allotted by the city
In his heyday, Peterson owned at least 44 run-down properties across Madison, and up to 72. It is estimated that he drew down $430,000 a year as a professional slumlord and racked up some of the most egregious housing offenses in the city of Madison.
- “Mr. Peterson is in the top one percent of case generators for city of Madison building inspection” – Madison Housing Inspection Supervisor quoted in 2015.