Apartrment complex evicts several residents for not calling 911

[Liberal_in_LA]

Women evicted for not calling 911
Bizarre violation may leave women homeless

ATLANTA -- Several residents of an apartment complex in northeast Atlanta say they're being evicted for not calling 911 after seeing illegal activity take place outside their apartments.

Eight women who live at The Village of Bedford Pines at Boulevard and Rankin said they all received the same eviction letters with the same reason given.

Latonya Wilson said she has seen men outside her apartment engaging in illegal activity, but the few times she called police the criminals learned it was her and threatened her and her three children.

Another resident, who didn't want to be identified, asked, "Who am I to get up and look out my window and say, 'I'll call the police on you.' I ain't fixing to tell nobody nothing. They already threatened me. They threatened me twice."

Wilson said she just keeps her children locked inside her apartment at all times to ensure their safety. She said she doesn't understand why it’s her job to call the police on what's going on outside her apartment.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/29276174/detail.html

[GreenStormCloud]

1. The police can't give personal protection to everybody.

People must look out for their own safety. They should be armed. Those residents, if legally able, should get CCWs and actively carry at all times.

[Bunny]

2. Because shootouts with drug dealers when there are children nearby

is always a good idea.

[KansDem]

4. Especially in a state that will execute you based on recanted heresay...

Did I say "execute?" I meant "ceremonial homicide."

[Missy Vixen]

7. +1

Contrary to popular belief, guns don't solve every problem.

:eyes:

[GreenStormCloud]

28. So letting drug dealers shoot at them while unarmed is better?

You seem to think that if the residents didn't have guns then the drug dealers would not have guns. That is naive in the extreme.

[hedgehog]

3. Boy, howdy - residents of the poor sections of town armed with

guns and protecting themselves rather than demanding better police protection. That's a wonderful idea!

:eyes:

http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/

[LoZoccolo]

5. That data specifically covers a city that has banned handguns. n/t

[hedgehog]

8. But it does illustrate the effect of widespread gun use.

[LoZoccolo]

10. By outlaws who have a virtual monopoly on gun possession. n/t

[GreenStormCloud]

29. Even the best police protection isn't enough to guarantee...

...everyone's personal safety. Those seeking revenge will simply wait until the cops are somewhere else and then attack. Ultimately everyone is responsible for thier own safety.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Sure, a full fledged shootout will be best

:sarcasm:

Nah be better if they had more police patrols. It would also drive the Ilegal activity away but that means a three letter word.

[GreenStormCloud]

35. Being defenseless against crime is better?

More police patrols would only result in the criminals behaving while the police car drives past. As soon as it was gone they would resume their drug dealing, or their reveng attack, or whatever else they were doing.

Usually criminals retreat quickly when they meet with return fire. They aren't combat soldier trying to take an objective, they are thugs trying for an easy win.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. I'd like to live in that fantasy world

But having worked the streets I know better.

So with that, have a good day.

[GreenStormCloud]

47. So you do hold that being defenseless against thugs to be better. N/T

[pacalo]

9. If all people should be armed, why should they be concealed?

Let's all wear holsters & shoot it out when necessary like the Old West. Living in crossfire would make me feel a lot safer.

:sarcasm:

[GreenStormCloud]

30. The genuine Old West had a much lower crime rate than today.

And the Old West had a lower crime rate that the Eastern cities of the time. There are numerous states that allow open carry of guns in holsters and they haven't developed shootouts everywhere as you fear. You would be extremely safe in those states.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. And a much lower gun ownership too

Oh never mind.

[GreenStormCloud]

45. Bellesiles was proven to be a liar.

Both the James gang and the Dalton gang were shot to pieces when the townspeople discovered the banks were being robbed and defended their town from the outlaws. That would have been impossible if gun ownership and carrying was anything but common.

[unblock]

12. a gun in the hands of a witness to criminal activity would have helped how, exactly?

claiming things would have been different if the VICTIM of a crime had been armed is one thing, but claiming things would have been different if WITNESSES were armed (especially concealed) is another thing entirely.

does a mere witness have any right whatsoever to pull a gun on a couple of people they suspect are conducting a drug deal?
aside from asking that ordinary citizens put themselves and their family in the direct line of fire, what if they're wrong?
what if one of the parties is actually an undercover cop?
what if they're part of a documentary or something?
what if it's not actually drugs they're trading?

and hey, if a landlord can evict them for not calling 911, couldn't a landlord just as well evict them for shooting, or at least waving, a gun on the property?

[GreenStormCloud]

32. You have a very active imagination.

The armed witness would still call 911. Then if they are later attacked they would have the ability to fight back if they are later attacked.

does a mere witness have any right whatsoever to pull a gun on a couple of people they suspect are conducting a drug deal?
No, the witness should call 911. The gun is for self-defense if later attacked. We who own guns are NOT wannabe cops.

aside from asking that ordinary citizens put themselves and their family in the direct line of fire, what if they're wrong?
So it is better to be unarmed if the drug thugs attack later?

what if one of the parties is actually an undercover cop?
what if they're part of a documentary or something?
what if it's not actually drugs they're trading?
That's for the 911 response team to deal with. The armed witness calls 911 and reports what they see. If someone wants revenge later when the cops are gone then the armed witness can fight back.

Amazing how many people here think that being defenseless and helpless is somehow a good thing.

[unblock]

43. i never said being defenseless and helpless is a good thing.

my implication was simply that being armed with a gun is usually of little help, at best.

or, to use your phrasing, amazing how many people here think that being armed is somehow a virtually perfect cure for every dangerous situation.

[GreenStormCloud]

46. If you are against gun ownership, which you are, then the only alternative...

...is defensless and helpless. Being armed, combined with training and situational awareness helps greatly. They won't solve every situation, but they do give you options other than begging a drug dealer for mercy.

[unblock]

50. what makes you think i'm against gun ownership?

i'm just saying that it isn't for everyone and it doesn't look like it would have helped in this situation.

the idea of a gun ownership is to protect yourself and your family. but it's only one part.
whether you have a gun or not, a big part of protecting yourself and your family is avoiding making yourself a target.
this is why people quite understandably choose to avoid criminals, especially ones who are or are likely to be extremely violent. arming yourself MAY help if you are FORCED to be involved with criminals (e.g., if they break into your house) but it doesn't affect the wisdom of avoiding the situation if possible.

[abelenkpe]

17. crazy. nt

[GreenStormCloud]

33. Why is being able to defend oneself crazy.

Crazy is thinking that a drug dealer bent on revenge will somehow become gentle if one is defenseless.

[msongs]

20. they should walk around with guns out and pointed at all times and warn people to keep away lol nt

[GreenStormCloud]

34. That is called brandishing and is a felony. N/T

[JVS]

23. They'd better check their leases to see if they're permitted to own firearms.

[GreenStormCloud]

36. Such clauses are probably unconstitutional. N/T

[JVS]

37. Such clauses are fine

[GreenStormCloud]

49. Maybe. I'm not a lawyer. It would be an interesting court case.

I think there may be a case against HHS over this for forbidding guns in welfare housing.

[Rabblevox]

11. I pray the women have a good lawyer, they should make bank on this. /nt

[Demoiselle]

14. I do too.

I am assuming that these women don't live in a luxury high rise.. and their actions (lack of actions) are the only option they believe they have to keep their families safe.
Yet another example of the iron law that applies to the poor: Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
I am getting very very sad about my country.

[MADem]

13. I don't get it--is that in their lease, that they are "required" to call 911 if they

see what they believe is illegal activity? Is there an employment contract between the residents and the management of the facility?

I don't see how the corporation running the complex can prevail.

I hope some nice private attorney in a silverback-laden, high-end practice takes this baby on for the pro-bono publicity. I think it would be a slam dunk.

[Rabblevox]

15. There has been a ton of case law on this, and the apt. owners are toast...

No citizen is ever legally required to expose themselves to danger. Not even to pick up the phone to call 911. And no way would a sane lawyer put that in a lease agreement.

I don't know enough about the case to comment on ethically what the women should or should not have done, but legally, they are rock-solid.

[MADem]

16. I have no personal understanding either--all I can say, though, is, that

if the apartment facility had a concern about illegal activity, they should protect their assets by hiring a security guard with a finger that can poke out Nine Wun Wun on a cellphone, not beat up on their residents.

I think it's reprehensible that they are exposing the apartment renters to additional stress through their threats and bullying, on top of having to live in an unsafe neighborhood.

[LanternWaste]

19. In my case, it's in the lease...

In my case, it's in the lease; and before moving in, I checked with the local PD who assured me that for the most part, the 9-11 call would be kept as confidential as possible. Also, the local PD has an agreement with the apt. complex, and uses one of the apartments as a 24-hour mini sub-station.

I'm comfortable with it, and despite the complex being in "that" part of town, it's quiet, safe and well-maintained by mgmt., and the people living there do our part too.

However, it was originally in the lease, and was pointed out to me just prior to signing (almost as though it were a selling point, which I guess it is). If these guys were evicted for dis-obeying non-lease policy, I'd bet good money they have a strong case.

[JVS]

22. If you don't mind me asking, how was that worded in the lease?

[treestar]

27. And how could it be proven in the court, however worded

It would take proving that the person saw the activity. And should have known it was illegal.

[Occulus]

31. That can't be legal.

I'd check into that. If you were in the shower or sleeping with a light on and a gun went off or someone was dragged off into the bushes or stabbed or something, you could be found in violation and get evicted.

"as confidential as possible" still potentially puts you in danger or face eviction. Check into it and get a lawyer to send a letter. It just cannot possibly be a legal clause in any lease.

[MADem]

41. I am flummoxed--how can a landlord make you work for them?

I can see not allowing people to trash "your" apartment, but if people are conducting criminal activity in the parking lot, that's a horse of a different color, IMO.

[SwampG8r]

51. yeah i dont get it either

i have seen successful suits over the owner of a properties responsibility to provide minimum security in a parking lot
seems like the owner is liable for an environment that allows drug dealers to work... not the renters
they need counsel

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. If the landlord feels that strongly about it, why doesn't he set up his own

cams and monitor the situation from his house? Sounds like he would be doing his tenants a favor.

[JVS]

21. Pass the popcorn.

[Synicus Maximus]

24. This is just wrong and it is a HUD property.

[treestar]

25. Is that in the lease?

What kind of a reason for eviction is that? There must be a legal basis for an eviction. Not paying the rent and a few other things.

[WinkyDink]

26. That landlord is going to pay big-time.

[Mimosa]

40. Not enough info contained in the WSB TV report

Did any of the 'Bedford Pines' apartment residents even show a reporter the alleged eviction notice?

Without knowing why these residents are really being evicted, our opinions would be based on hearsay. I'm sensing something's not right about this report.

[MADem]

42. You might be right. The only thing I can suspect, if this is allowed to happen, is that some of the

"illegal activity" wasn't happening 'on the complex grounds' but in the apartments of the residents being evicted--i.e., someone was cooking up some shit in the kitchens, or divvying up the crack on the kitchen table, or selling drugs out of the living rooms, or something on those lines.

[Selatius]

44. I can solve the problem: FREE RENT TO ANY OFFICER WILLING TO LIVE IN APT. COMPLEX.

Seeing police officers in and out of the complex constantly should shut up the drug dealers.

[GreenStormCloud]

48. That amounts to a tax on the apartment complex owners.

It would likely also be ineffective. The drug dealers would quickly learn his schedule and know when he was gone.

[Selatius]

53. Well, if I were an apartment complex owner, I wouldn't mind two or three officers living inside.

It's a peace of mind you really can't put a price on. (edited for spelling)

[pipi_k]

54. One would think so, but...

sometimes that sort of thing goes on right in front of the cops.

One large city nearby has a police station in an unsavory part of town (as do so many others). Right across the street are apartments where all sorts of illegal stuff goes on. Sometimes it even happens in front of the police station itself.

The presence of the police isn't exactly a deterrent for a lot of criminals...

:shrug:

[pipi_k]

52. Something doesn't smell right about this...

for one thing, how would anyone...including the apartment manager(s)...KNOW what someone else did, or did not, see?


For another...how would anyone KNOW whether someone else called 911 unless they demanded those calls from the police dept., AND, how would anyone KNOW who called (or didn't call) if someone reported anonymously or gave a fictional name?


Once again, we have only one side of the story, although admittedly, the eviction notes do give the same reason. But maybe that "reason" was not the real reason.

[MADem]

55. I am wondering if some of the illegal activity happened WITHIN THE WALLS of the evicted tenants'

apartments....that's the only thing that makes sense.

Example--someone selling crack keeps the stash in Granny's living room, and replenishes it as he sells it. That way, if he's caught by the police, he can say the amount he is holding is for personal use.

[pipi_k]

57. Yep, that's about the only thing

that would make sense to me, also.

Because, like I said, how would management know what someone else saw or didn't see OUTSIDE their own apartment walls.

It would make more sense that it was happening in those apartments and someone else reported it...not the tenants involved. They wouldn't necessarily have to be involved in the activity itself, but just knowing about it would make them responsible, and that's the only way management would know those women hadn't reported it.

[Mimosa]

56. Liberal in LA, this story is FAKE

I've been trying to get more follow-up.

http://www.google.com/search?aq=f&hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&btnmeta_news_search=1&q=Village+of+Bedford+Pines

There is no follow up from the original source or any other.

This is BAD JOURNALISM, akin to publishing a rumor, any rumor, with no backup.

WSB-TV ought to be ashamed. Even a puppy dog new out of college 'journalist' should have asked to see the 'eviction papers'.

[AverageJoe90]

58. Is Atlanta run by Rethugs now? n/t