[Slyfox]

What do I think about a lawsuit? I don't know about that. I do know that when my better half and I were starting out we qualified for a low rent apartment. I looked at a few of them and said "No Way!" They were rat traps. We bit the bullet a little harder and came up with enough money to afford a nice apartment. When we bought our first house you can bet your bottom dollar we worked like dogs to buy a nice house in a nice area. Now, why has the federal government gotten rid of the prime incentive to work for something better? It worked for me. Now, after many years of hard work to get what I have, people are moving into my neighborhood who aren't lifting a finger to have a similar lifestyle. And they don't leave their crime and their bad landscaping habits from whence they have come.

A lady I know masterminded a zoning code enforcement effort that forced a bunch of out-of-state apartment owners to fix their places or tear them down. Crime has went down since she got the city's attention about it. That may be one way to counteract some of it.

We have a neighbor from some country that likes to live in brightly-colored houses. They painted their two-story BRICK house a limey-blue green and trimmed it in a bright royal blue. We were pulling our hair out. Last week, I noticed some painters were giving it a fresh coat of dull old beige with white trim. I actually got out of my car and thanked the painters. I guess the Neighborhood Beautification Patrol must have finally got to them.

You know, back at the turn of the last century, when my Polish great-grandparents moved to Michigan, they were handed a book on how to settle the land, build a house and they were also about the local American living standards. Not only were they encouraged to learn English but they were also given a heads up on how to fit in with their new neighbors. They were taught to be good citizens.

[FreedomFriend]

There's a Mexican family in our neighborhood who painted their house some very odd colors. Granted we don't have a neighborhood association (I'm glad that we don't), I wish they would change the colors.

[Gabz]

And they don't leave their crime and their bad landscaping habits from whence they have come.

Believe me, I know exactly what you mean.

Monday I spent more than 45 minutes on the phone with the number 2 in command at the Inspections Department, after an earlier 30 minutes with an Inspector in my dining room.

Yesteday it was the Sergeant in charge of parking regulations.

Today it was the Detective in charge of the Drug Unit.

I admit, my front flower bed and herb garden desperately need to be weeded at the moment - however I at least have them. But considering the heat we have been dealing with, even the Inspector told me not to worry about it - the weeds aren't that bad - at the same time he was making notes on all the vacant units.

If it takes a squeaky whell to get the grease - I guess I'm going to turn into a 55 gallon barrel.