Are_grits_groceries (15,178 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025188071
Neighbor problem. Ideas?
Last edited Thu Jul 3, 2014, 03:43 AM - Edit history (1)
I was cleaning out my car when a neighbor I know saw me and motioned me over. He pointed to a bush outside the front of the apartment building. He told me that some Asian tenants upstairs dumped their cooking grease on it.
I looked and you could see the grease on the leaves. There was also an unpleasant smell that was still at a low level. It's so hot down here that the bush might just fry up all by itself. Leaves and branches....Yum!
At any rate we tried to figure out what to do. I wasn't about to call management or report them to our environmental and health agency(SCDHEC). I have a cousin who works there and he would know exactly what to do. I just want them to recycle the crap properly and not outside.
I decided to write them a note and tell them not to do that anymore in any place. Then I said my brother had a tracking dog who I WOULD call to find if there were other places it had been dumped. Lies like a rug I does. I also printed 4 basic instructions about what to do with it. I taped it on their door.
Of course there is a twist. An Asian woman walked by while we were talking. After she left, he told me that she had rented the apartment and used to live there. He said she owned a restaurant and was letting her workers live there. I have no idea how many people live there. I still don't want to narc on them. It is hard getting any decent place to live without front money for rent and deposits.
Of course, my mind races and I wondered if she was taking care of them or exploiting them. That's another can of worms. She picks them up and brings them back so their transportation is limited. I rarely see any of them and have no idea if they speak English or if they are citizens. All my surmises are leaps of my imagination. However, problems you see in larger places can crop up anywhere.
If any tenant did that I would have done the same thing if I heard the same story about them. Now I am wondering about myself and if highlighting the Asian part is legitimate factor or am I guilty of being a meddling bigot with my own issues. I believe that I think too much.
For right now, I'm just going to pay attention and see if I can pick up any clues about them. Calling management is still out of the question unless something is seriously wrong. I really don't care if she is just helping them out with a place to live even if she is breaking the lease. They may in fact be known to management and be listed on the lease.
Dumping grease has got to go though.
Edit to add:
Most of what I know comes from another person. I don't know him well enough to judge how truthful he is. I need more into I can rely on.
Jesus wept. Some people just can't help but be busybody assholes.
TheBlackAdder (882 posts)
1. If they are transient offshore or newly arrived workers, I'd be worried about a bedbug infestation. You have no idea what's in their luggage, the furniture they obtain, the mattresses, etc. If bedbugs enter you apartment / condo complex, that whole block will be affected.
But there is nothing wrong with letting thousands of illegal aliens cross the border! Barry says so!
Are_grits_groceries (15,178 posts)
8. Ah, but there's the rub.
If I report them, they may end up worse off. Getting caught up in our system of justice isn't a good thing a lot of times.
As I said, right now I have no idea if they are just being helped by the lady renting the apartment or being exploited. They could be related to her. I need to know more before I bring management or Johnny Law into this.
Talking to gawd and everybody isn't necessarily the best course of action. I just learned of this and my silence means I want to know a little more before I make noise.
So please don't assume my silence means that I don't care about them.
Are you kidding? Getting caught by ICE is the best thing for them! Free stuff, bitches!
Uncle Joe (29,147 posts)
3. I don't believe you were wrong in highlighting their ethnic background, it helps to give possible
explanation to their actions.
Different cultures, culture shock and adapting to more modern technology or ways to dispose of waste.
I believe you did the best course of action in leaving the note.
Just monitor the situation and if it doesn't stop bring it up directly with the restaurant owner.
I believe the note and if need be talking to the restaurant owner will prevail, the grease dumping will cease.
Thanks for the thread, grits.
Besides, Asians mostly vote REPUBLICAN.
TexasTowelie (9,836 posts)
6. Despite your good intentions of not being nosy, you do need to bring this issue to the
attention of management since they are creating a fire hazard and public nuisance with the odor. There are too many health and safety issues that could come into play when people who are not listed on the lease are allowed to occupy an apartment. From a legal perspective, they could be using the apartment for drug manufacturing or human trafficking purposes. I'd also wouldn't want you to feel any responsibility if something occurred at that apartment because you kept silent. Let the management of the complex handle the situation--that is what they are paid to do.
Sex-working drug making Asians voting for Republicans!
Warpy (77,192 posts)
7. The line between "taking care of" and "exploiting" can be a thin one
Workers can work 2 or 3 jobs, getting 4 hours of sleep a night. They do this to save their money so they can start to afford this country. And yes, they try to learn enough English to get better jobs than washing dishes and busing tables 20 hours a day.
You don't want grease dumped on the shrubbery. It's a fire hazard as well as a health hazard. The note was a good first step. Their "minder" is going to have to talk to management and tell them what your note says about dumping grease. The super probably doesn't want it down the drains, either.
Too bad you can't connect them with somebody running his diesel car on old Fryolator oil.
Wasn't Warpy the one who turned in one of her own tenants for child neglect?
