In a message dated 2/14/2007 2:34:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
In reference to "calling L&I" on your "neighbors" it is not what we should promote as "neighborly behavior". The appropriate response is to talk about snow issues at your block meeting or in advance of a storm, circulate flyers "asking" everyone to try and shovel their walk and when others are not done, pitch in and do theirs as well. When their is a chronic problem perhaps with an absentee landlord the block or neighbors should send a letter notifying the entity of the problem and requesting a formal response. If there is no response, then..call L&I. Everybody knows what the city code says and what responsibility suggests. They don't need the local vigilantes, whether polite or dime-dropping, to remind them. So instead of all this nice-nice good-neighbor suburban crap, and instead of calling L&I -- which will mean that someone sends them a notice sometime next August or September, I have a better plan. Have one of the UCD trucks hang around the emergency room of one of the nearby hospitals. When someone comes out with an arm or leg in a new cast, hire him or her to sue the bejabbers off the offending property owner as if the precipitating incident happened on that person's unshoveled, dangerously slippery sidewalk. UCD can take them there, supply the witnesses, than -- since they happen to be parked on the street -- get them back to the hospital or take them home, as appropriate. Even if the owner is covered by liability insurance, there's bound to be some soul-searching, worry about the insurance company not covering the accident because of negligence, a high deductible, increased rates later, etc. And, if the person with the broken arm or leg happens to be from the low-income segment of the extended community, just think -- it'll be like hitting a jackpot at one of Pennsylvania's new slot parlors, and the medical bills will be handled, too. Always at your service with great ideas ® brand resident and housing provider, Al Krigman
