Responses to "a letter to a heartless landlord"
Friday Oct 10 1997
<kolin@verso.com>
To me, your letter indicates frustration venting, not anything that
actually might dissuade a landowner from moving in. Why don't you try
tipping a bit of the hand you have (ie the possible illegality of the move-in),
rather than trying to fight the system? More gets done from the *inside*.
Also, as an idea, why don't you make the move-in less appealing, such as
actually filing a complaint about the steps with the housing board?
Call the fire inspector, the electrical inspector, and let them *know* you are
going to do it ahead of time. Anything that they find must be corrected
before a new tenant moves in... you could drag this out for months,
because, remember, posession is 9/10ths of the law... After doing this,
you can then go to the housing board and say that the *real* reason for the
move-in is to avoid doing the necessary repairs for a tenant.
Your letter's attempt to take a passive-resistance stance just won't work
without years of protest and petition, even in the most tenant-friendly
city in the entire United States, San Francisco (As a NYC land-owner, I know!).
It will take a riot, and Tompkins Square took YEARS to develop.
Finally, and I've got to admit this, why *shouldn't* the land owner be able
to do with the land what He/She wants? It isn't personal, it's just
business, and after all they didn't *steal* anything - they paid for it
fair and square. Unless you're willing to reject capitalism/the free
market, your arguments don't hold weight.
I DO agree that it is perhaps unethical, but not illegal, to evict a tenant
for family move-in without paying moving expenses (btw, they have to live
in the apt. for at least two years, so a large law suit looms if they move
out sooner - let them know that you know this, and will be watching
vigilantly). Why don't you ask them to be compensated in return for not
causing any 'problems' with the move-in? Would this satisfy you?
What have you got to lose?
In any case, I wish you the best of luck... My New Yorker's advice to you:
Don't get mad, get even.... use the system to YOUR advantage!!
After all, all's fair in love and war...
Kolin
"He who cannot obey himself will be commanded." - Friedrich Nietzsche
email kevin@whisperdesign.com
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