Historical September 1990 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
You choose just the right house you want to live in. You sweat blood out of turnips to make it your home. Then a house, invariably the one right across the street from you, starts going from rack to ruin. Maybe it’s not a crime, but it ought to be. Truth is, that sort of mess often is the forerunner of “real crime:.
And so it is hats off to the neighborhood crime prevention committees who make those creative attacks on “the brickeaters:’ the “thuglets:’ the derelict landlords, and the just plain thoughtless slobs.
Some efforts have paid off fast, others are more long-term and tedious.
All of them needed someone to start the effort and help, at least get things organized and rolling. Briefly, here are some examples: A buddy system.
When you’re wakened by loud boisterous people or horn honking, having neighbors who will agree to come out with you to ask your neighbors to “keep it down:’ This can even be a system of documenting when you’ve been disturbed and giving one person on the block the job of kindly notifying the “disturber” and requesting their consideration.
If the block can meet and agree to some “block rules:’ you’ll be doing terrific.
If “the problem.’ adamantly refuses to subdue the noise then calling the police to underscore your seriousness may help.
If this doesn’t cause a change in behavior, do consider prosecuting and have an agreement with other neighbors that they will share the responsibility of prosecuting with you. Don’t be mean, vindictive, or inflexible. Just be honest about the concern, be clear about your expectations, be creative in your approach to solving the problem, be open to a win/win solution, and stick with it until it’s resolved.
There have been a lot of successful landlord stories…landlords who appreciated being informed, being the “go-between:’ being given ideas from committees, neighbors or other landlords about good tenant screening, good tenant contracts, and good tenant referrals.
Sometimes a call to give support and elicit cooperation can go a long way.
If your neighborhood association does not have a crime prevention committee, Operation Safestreet encourages you to start one. Then give us a call at 622-3444 and we’ll be there to help.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 1990.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1990_09.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 5.
