I was speaking to my acquaintance Martha in the hallway yesterday at La Pew. She's lived here for about 10 years if not more. She said that the last maintenance team were known for stealing from the residents and that the old management team blew the residents off when they'd complain.
Management would suggest that tenants were going crazy, or just being forgetful, and that "Maintenance would never ever steal from tenants"
This is the first time I've ever heard of a tenant who had the guts to take maintenance staff to court.
Apparently, Edith (an ex tenant, senior citizen) moved to county section 8 and then took La Pew maintenance men to court. Martha doesn't know what the outcome of the case was. I told Martha that I"m afraid to go to court against the current maint. staff because I'm afraid to have a case against someone who has a key to my home.
THis morning, I saw Sharon in the laundry room. She confirmed that the halls and laundry rooms in our bldg. are terrifyingly dangerous and that she also dreads doing laundry.
I tried to figure out a way around this problem, I have a rental car once a month, and I could go to the laundromat then, however, I can't stand the idea of only doing laundry once a month.
Showing posts with label section 8 housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label section 8 housing. Show all posts
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sunday, November 4, 2007
"get out while you're still alive" 11/5/07
I am so terrified of being murdered that I have stopped sleeping. I have been conducting a very aggressive housing search for the last 9 weeks, to no avail.
I had a bit of a nervous breakdown last night and called a friend in Brooklyn, MD. who said I could stay with him in an emergency situation.
Problem is in Brooklyn, MD I could not survive without a car. So even less of a life than the life I already have. But if I drop my section 8 apt. that will give me a better chance of being able to get a car more quickly in that I'll have a few months in Brooklyn where I won't have to pay rent..................
This really, really sucks. I'd feel safe at this friend's house, I just wouldn't have a life.
I had a bit of a nervous breakdown last night and called a friend in Brooklyn, MD. who said I could stay with him in an emergency situation.
Problem is in Brooklyn, MD I could not survive without a car. So even less of a life than the life I already have. But if I drop my section 8 apt. that will give me a better chance of being able to get a car more quickly in that I'll have a few months in Brooklyn where I won't have to pay rent..................
This really, really sucks. I'd feel safe at this friend's house, I just wouldn't have a life.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Day to day survival in La Pew Apts.
For the last year, I have made every attempt to follow chain of command regarding problems that arise here. The staff here are ridiculously unprofessional and disrespectful to the tenants.. You already know from my previous postings that little by little my belongings have been disappearing.
I didn't want to believe that maintenance staff were responsible for these burglaries. But I know of 3 other people in my bldg. who have had their stuff stolen. When I was doing laundry recently, my male neighbor nonchalantly said: "Yes, maintenance love to steal from us: meat, canned goods, c.d.'s, cash, jewelry, anything of value!"
I replied: "Me too, did you call the cops?" "No." He replied.
I thought, why in the world are you just taking this! You're a large burly man, and you too are afraid to report this? Geez. He ran off a list of people and what has been stolen from them.
Over the course of the last year, I have spoken to and written to a number of people over at Hud, (Housing and Urban Development , they administer the Section 8 program of the federal govt.) I've gone in person to the management team downstairs, I have gone to the police, (who will rarely write up a report) And I have even considered restraining orders.
Management will not permit us to install a deadbolt or to change the locks, and I have feared using my name in official reports since the maintenance man all have keys to my house and can retaliate with rape, murder, or whatever they like. Needless to say, I don't sleep much. I have boxed almost everything up, to reduce it's likelihood of being stolen. I plan to box everything up except one carload.
When I talked to the head of HUD about a week ago, she said something very surprising. She said: "All I can do is ask management when their team enter tenant's apts!" I thought, this is incredulous. It says on the website that we should call the 1800 # for HUD if the apts. are being mismanaged. The website also says that mismanagement is very common.
I'm coming closer and closer to my breaking point with all of this. Today, someone knocked on my door at 10:30 in the morning. I was not expecting anyone so I did not answer my door. The maintenance man simply walked in when I didn't answer. He said he needed to change the filter! I was furious, as this happens all of the time. I told him he was going to have to come back. I called the office (normally I don't because they are so abusive and non-responsive to us) and talked to the assistant manager. I told her "No more coming into my home without giving me adequate notice
." "Well, that isn't going to happen!" she replied. So, for the first time, I went to the head management team who oversee managers in my building. Thank goodness, the woman was very professional and compassionate. I told her that I had been doing everything anonymously for fear of retaliation, but that I just can't take this anymore. I told her the whole story of the last year of stealing, and how staff just come and go as they please. She said, not only is it not acceptable, but she wants me to buy a videocamera and set it up in my living room! I will consider this, but in the meantime, I will probably put everything in storage and keep looking for a new place. I've been working my ass off for 12 years for a better life. Wish me luck!
I didn't want to believe that maintenance staff were responsible for these burglaries. But I know of 3 other people in my bldg. who have had their stuff stolen. When I was doing laundry recently, my male neighbor nonchalantly said: "Yes, maintenance love to steal from us: meat, canned goods, c.d.'s, cash, jewelry, anything of value!"
I replied: "Me too, did you call the cops?" "No." He replied.
I thought, why in the world are you just taking this! You're a large burly man, and you too are afraid to report this? Geez. He ran off a list of people and what has been stolen from them.
Over the course of the last year, I have spoken to and written to a number of people over at Hud, (Housing and Urban Development , they administer the Section 8 program of the federal govt.) I've gone in person to the management team downstairs, I have gone to the police, (who will rarely write up a report) And I have even considered restraining orders.
Management will not permit us to install a deadbolt or to change the locks, and I have feared using my name in official reports since the maintenance man all have keys to my house and can retaliate with rape, murder, or whatever they like. Needless to say, I don't sleep much. I have boxed almost everything up, to reduce it's likelihood of being stolen. I plan to box everything up except one carload.
When I talked to the head of HUD about a week ago, she said something very surprising. She said: "All I can do is ask management when their team enter tenant's apts!" I thought, this is incredulous. It says on the website that we should call the 1800 # for HUD if the apts. are being mismanaged. The website also says that mismanagement is very common.
I'm coming closer and closer to my breaking point with all of this. Today, someone knocked on my door at 10:30 in the morning. I was not expecting anyone so I did not answer my door. The maintenance man simply walked in when I didn't answer. He said he needed to change the filter! I was furious, as this happens all of the time. I told him he was going to have to come back. I called the office (normally I don't because they are so abusive and non-responsive to us) and talked to the assistant manager. I told her "No more coming into my home without giving me adequate notice
." "Well, that isn't going to happen!" she replied. So, for the first time, I went to the head management team who oversee managers in my building. Thank goodness, the woman was very professional and compassionate. I told her that I had been doing everything anonymously for fear of retaliation, but that I just can't take this anymore. I told her the whole story of the last year of stealing, and how staff just come and go as they please. She said, not only is it not acceptable, but she wants me to buy a videocamera and set it up in my living room! I will consider this, but in the meantime, I will probably put everything in storage and keep looking for a new place. I've been working my ass off for 12 years for a better life. Wish me luck!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
THE INN AND BACK
3/24/07
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Singly checking into a hotel room with six way full length mirrors gives one plenty of opportunity for self reflection at every angle!"
3/25/07
GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND THE "UGLY AMERICAN"
These are things that I experience daily. Gross incompetence at almost every level. Whether it's ordering a bagel at a restaurant, or trying to find out the process I should follow to appeal a decision that was made by the Motor Vehicle Adminstration just to be told "there is no such thing as an appeals process."
The following happened on my second day at the Inn.
One of the female guests was mulling around the cafeteria choosing her breakfast items. All the while she is talking on her cell phone complaining to her "phantom" friend about her "dismal" lack of choices! "This is ridiculous, I need black tea and there isn't any. This is unacceptable" Indignantly turns to custodian. "All these teas, but none are black. Where is the black tea?"
custodian: "The Inn isn't allowed to carry black tea!" (authors note: this is what I mean by gross incompetence, he doesn't honestly thing we'll believe that, does he?")
guest: Complaining on cell phone and to custodian at the same time: "That's it, I've had it! I'm cancelling the room!"
me: I'm thinking, "What?! are you crazy?" Why don't you just politely ask the manager if there is any black tea anywhere, and if not: "Could the Inn please consider carrying it in the future?" Reader, I then out of curiousity went to personally inspect this "dismal" tea situation. 16 TYPES! There were 16 flavors and this woman cancelled her room! If this isn't the epitome of "The Ugly American" I don't know what is!
3/26/07
It's Monday. I was hoping that I'd catch up on my sleep at the INN. But the steel hotel room doors slam shut at approximately 30 second intervals! This vibrates the furniture and jars me awake, just like at home! So, I'm still exhausted. But, I'm sure at some level the change of environment helped, at least some.
To take public transit home would save me 25 dollars. But I fear being robbed because I have a full gym bag with me; so I am forced to take a taxi. It's quite a sad state of affairs when it is too dangerous to wait at a bus stop, or ride a bus in broad daylight because you know you have a high chance of being robbed if you are carrying any possessions at all!
I asked the hotel if they could reccommend a taxi service where the drivers drive safely. I said: "Please don't call Jimmy's cab, I've had nothing but bad experiences with them." She said, o.k. I won't. 10 minutes later my cabbie pulls up. I get in and we have pretty enjoyable conversation except that he makes a cell phone call every 10 minutes or so-and or ANSWERS a call every 10 minutes. He does not have a hands free device.
We get to my house, and he asks if I have a few minutes to keep chatting. I reply: "Yes"; because my intuition tells me that outside of his driving, he is a safe person. Then, he pulls off with me still in the car! I was surprised but not scared. He didn't ask me per se if I'd like to keep him company on his runs. He asked if I had a few minutes! So, after he pulls away I decide not to protest, as he says: "I have a couple of runs to make."
Well, Mac* was not speeding when he took me HOME. But it was a different story on this second run. But what's worse is HE FRICKIN' FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL! Can you see why I am desperate for a car?! I have bad experiences with 99% of the people who I am forced to ride with! Luckily, he woke back up before totally crossing into the opposing lane of traffic! I don't want a car, I NEED A CAR, BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE A LONG HAPPY LIFE! So, I will put "car" on my blog wish list!
BACK "HOME"
I was always afraid of what would happen to my apt. if I left for an overnight. The 3 days worth of newspapers were piled up in front of my doorstep. Ironically, since I was gone over the weekend, I had the least chance of getting robbed again because (in theory at least) the maintenance men are off from work, and they are the ones who are stealing from us. I had only been home 1/2 hour when management left a letter under my door. "PLEASE COME TO THE OFFICE"
Management controls our lives 24/7. We have cameras all over the entire bldg. watching our every move. They leave us letters with instructions, on average, 3 times a week. They leave us letters telling us that "they might come into our apts. at any time between 2/14 and 2/28" for example. So I am always on high alert between 8 and 6 monday thru friday. They treat us like it's their apt. not our apt. So management is robbing us blind, then ordering us to come to the office! I am fed up.
So, I wrote the following reply directly onto the letter they sent me: "PLEASE, GO TO HELL." Of course I filed it away I didn't deliver it!
3/28/07
I'm pretty sick of restaurant food. So I walked to Giant and bought some salmon and mayo. On my walk back from Giant I saw the bus driver drop off a woman at a spot that they normally refuse to drop off at. I recognized her from aorund the 'hood and on the bus. Turns out she lives in another HUD bldg. also run by La Pew. (yes, la pew, just like peppie la peu)
I told her about how maintenance steals from us tenants regularly. She stunned me when she said "Yes, they stole 200 dollars from me and I've hired a lawyer, I am sueing them!" YIPPEE! FINALLY SOMEONE BESIDES ME HAS TAKEN SOME ACTION! I "pray" that these maintenance men get fired and quick. I feel like such a prisoner here. Not safe in my home, not safe outside! Desperate to get out either way.
3/30/07
Maintenance saw me get on a bus today. That's very bad news, because that gives them "license" to go into my home, steal and intimidate. So, I set up a trap of sorts that would allow me to tell whether they have been in my home or not. Sure enough they were. I called 311. (non emergency police)
Officer H. would not dust for fingerprints or write up a report even though I have evidence that they were in my home. Officer H. said: "You'll just have to move. I can't do anything to help you. You have no "proof" that they were here. I showed him the evidence and he said, "that's not good enough, if you're not sure that there is anything missing from this specific day then there is nothing I can do."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Singly checking into a hotel room with six way full length mirrors gives one plenty of opportunity for self reflection at every angle!"
3/25/07
GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND THE "UGLY AMERICAN"
These are things that I experience daily. Gross incompetence at almost every level. Whether it's ordering a bagel at a restaurant, or trying to find out the process I should follow to appeal a decision that was made by the Motor Vehicle Adminstration just to be told "there is no such thing as an appeals process."
The following happened on my second day at the Inn.
One of the female guests was mulling around the cafeteria choosing her breakfast items. All the while she is talking on her cell phone complaining to her "phantom" friend about her "dismal" lack of choices! "This is ridiculous, I need black tea and there isn't any. This is unacceptable" Indignantly turns to custodian. "All these teas, but none are black. Where is the black tea?"
custodian: "The Inn isn't allowed to carry black tea!" (authors note: this is what I mean by gross incompetence, he doesn't honestly thing we'll believe that, does he?")
guest: Complaining on cell phone and to custodian at the same time: "That's it, I've had it! I'm cancelling the room!"
me: I'm thinking, "What?! are you crazy?" Why don't you just politely ask the manager if there is any black tea anywhere, and if not: "Could the Inn please consider carrying it in the future?" Reader, I then out of curiousity went to personally inspect this "dismal" tea situation. 16 TYPES! There were 16 flavors and this woman cancelled her room! If this isn't the epitome of "The Ugly American" I don't know what is!
3/26/07
It's Monday. I was hoping that I'd catch up on my sleep at the INN. But the steel hotel room doors slam shut at approximately 30 second intervals! This vibrates the furniture and jars me awake, just like at home! So, I'm still exhausted. But, I'm sure at some level the change of environment helped, at least some.
To take public transit home would save me 25 dollars. But I fear being robbed because I have a full gym bag with me; so I am forced to take a taxi. It's quite a sad state of affairs when it is too dangerous to wait at a bus stop, or ride a bus in broad daylight because you know you have a high chance of being robbed if you are carrying any possessions at all!
I asked the hotel if they could reccommend a taxi service where the drivers drive safely. I said: "Please don't call Jimmy's cab, I've had nothing but bad experiences with them." She said, o.k. I won't. 10 minutes later my cabbie pulls up. I get in and we have pretty enjoyable conversation except that he makes a cell phone call every 10 minutes or so-and or ANSWERS a call every 10 minutes. He does not have a hands free device.
We get to my house, and he asks if I have a few minutes to keep chatting. I reply: "Yes"; because my intuition tells me that outside of his driving, he is a safe person. Then, he pulls off with me still in the car! I was surprised but not scared. He didn't ask me per se if I'd like to keep him company on his runs. He asked if I had a few minutes! So, after he pulls away I decide not to protest, as he says: "I have a couple of runs to make."
Well, Mac* was not speeding when he took me HOME. But it was a different story on this second run. But what's worse is HE FRICKIN' FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL! Can you see why I am desperate for a car?! I have bad experiences with 99% of the people who I am forced to ride with! Luckily, he woke back up before totally crossing into the opposing lane of traffic! I don't want a car, I NEED A CAR, BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE A LONG HAPPY LIFE! So, I will put "car" on my blog wish list!
BACK "HOME"
I was always afraid of what would happen to my apt. if I left for an overnight. The 3 days worth of newspapers were piled up in front of my doorstep. Ironically, since I was gone over the weekend, I had the least chance of getting robbed again because (in theory at least) the maintenance men are off from work, and they are the ones who are stealing from us. I had only been home 1/2 hour when management left a letter under my door. "PLEASE COME TO THE OFFICE"
Management controls our lives 24/7. We have cameras all over the entire bldg. watching our every move. They leave us letters with instructions, on average, 3 times a week. They leave us letters telling us that "they might come into our apts. at any time between 2/14 and 2/28" for example. So I am always on high alert between 8 and 6 monday thru friday. They treat us like it's their apt. not our apt. So management is robbing us blind, then ordering us to come to the office! I am fed up.
So, I wrote the following reply directly onto the letter they sent me: "PLEASE, GO TO HELL." Of course I filed it away I didn't deliver it!
3/28/07
I'm pretty sick of restaurant food. So I walked to Giant and bought some salmon and mayo. On my walk back from Giant I saw the bus driver drop off a woman at a spot that they normally refuse to drop off at. I recognized her from aorund the 'hood and on the bus. Turns out she lives in another HUD bldg. also run by La Pew. (yes, la pew, just like peppie la peu)
I told her about how maintenance steals from us tenants regularly. She stunned me when she said "Yes, they stole 200 dollars from me and I've hired a lawyer, I am sueing them!" YIPPEE! FINALLY SOMEONE BESIDES ME HAS TAKEN SOME ACTION! I "pray" that these maintenance men get fired and quick. I feel like such a prisoner here. Not safe in my home, not safe outside! Desperate to get out either way.
3/30/07
Maintenance saw me get on a bus today. That's very bad news, because that gives them "license" to go into my home, steal and intimidate. So, I set up a trap of sorts that would allow me to tell whether they have been in my home or not. Sure enough they were. I called 311. (non emergency police)
Officer H. would not dust for fingerprints or write up a report even though I have evidence that they were in my home. Officer H. said: "You'll just have to move. I can't do anything to help you. You have no "proof" that they were here. I showed him the evidence and he said, "that's not good enough, if you're not sure that there is anything missing from this specific day then there is nothing I can do."
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