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Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 02:03 AM Jul 2014

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.

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Neighbor problem. Ideas? (Original Post) Are_grits_groceries Jul 2014 OP
If they are transient offshore or newly arrived workers, I'd be worried about a bedbug infestation. TheBlackAdder Jul 2014 #1
Seriously? Are_grits_groceries Jul 2014 #2
I didn't get the impression you were worried about the workers, since you remain silent. TheBlackAdder Jul 2014 #5
Ah, but there's the rub. Are_grits_groceries Jul 2014 #8
The chance of them being illegal is remote. Does the landlord know of the subletting? TheBlackAdder Jul 2014 #16
Um, no. mahina Jul 2014 #10
Because they've transported them from another country. nt TheBlackAdder Jul 2014 #17
I don't believe you were wrong in highlighting their ethnic background, it helps to give possible Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #3
I think you did the right thing, Suich Jul 2014 #4
Despite your good intentions of not being nosy, you do need to bring this issue to the TexasTowelie Jul 2014 #6
I agree with this assessment Skittles Jul 2014 #9
The line between "taking care of" and "exploiting" can be a thin one Warpy Jul 2014 #7
The workers are undocumented and are working for the room REP Jul 2014 #11
I was wondering if they could read it. Are_grits_groceries Jul 2014 #12
Different cultures have different practices. Rhinodawg Jul 2014 #13
True. Are_grits_groceries Jul 2014 #15
I am going to contact a national organization. Are_grits_groceries Jul 2014 #14
There is some kind of guest worker program through the government where American businesses jwirr Jul 2014 #18
Seems all you really know is that a shrub smells like grease. flvegan Jul 2014 #19
Most likely they are indentured for about 5k apiece. I would be careful of being a grease target. CK_John Jul 2014 #20
Let a progressive group observe malaise Jul 2014 #21

TheBlackAdder

(28,076 posts)
1. If they are transient offshore or newly arrived workers, I'd be worried about a bedbug infestation.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 02:22 AM
Jul 2014

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.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
2. Seriously?
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 02:32 AM
Jul 2014

I don't want bedbugs, but that's the last thing I am thinking about. If they are transient workers, how are they being treated? Are they being paid correctly and not working hellish hours. Are they healthy?

As I said, they could be on the up and up with no problems.

TheBlackAdder

(28,076 posts)
5. I didn't get the impression you were worried about the workers, since you remain silent.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 03:01 AM
Jul 2014

You probably don't see them because they are working 16 or more hours a day.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
8. Ah, but there's the rub.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 03:25 AM
Jul 2014

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.

TheBlackAdder

(28,076 posts)
16. The chance of them being illegal is remote. Does the landlord know of the subletting?
Fri Jul 4, 2014, 03:41 PM
Jul 2014

Most rentals expressly prohibit long term guests or subletting the apartment.

I've read the prior comments by you, and something still doesn't add up.

===

In any evenmt, you could subject the apartment complex to tens of thousands in remediation efforts, since the removal of bedbugs in a single residential house could top $10K. All of your posessions and those of any of your visitors, or neighbor's visitors, could also get compromised.

mahina

(17,506 posts)
10. Um, no.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 04:44 AM
Jul 2014

Why would you think that newly arrived workers would be more likely to have bedbugs than anybody else?

Uncle Joe

(58,112 posts)
3. I don't believe you were wrong in highlighting their ethnic background, it helps to give possible
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 02:40 AM
Jul 2014

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.

Suich

(10,642 posts)
4. I think you did the right thing,
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 02:50 AM
Jul 2014

especially since you gave them alternate ways to dispose of the grease/oil.

A little guidance might go a long way, in this case.

TexasTowelie

(111,321 posts)
6. Despite your good intentions of not being nosy, you do need to bring this issue to the
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 03:07 AM
Jul 2014

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.

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
7. The line between "taking care of" and "exploiting" can be a thin one
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 03:19 AM
Jul 2014

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.

REP

(21,691 posts)
11. The workers are undocumented and are working for the room
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 05:50 AM
Jul 2014

I have known other restaurant owners with the same setup. They pay the workers little, saying the room is part of their pay, and they are likely fed at the restaurant and worked like dogs.

The other bad news is the workers probably don't read English.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
12. I was wondering if they could read it.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 06:15 AM
Jul 2014

I am going to think of a way to talk to them and see if the do jot speak English.

I am not going to take forever to do something. If they are being exploited, I want to stop it. However, I want to have a little more info before I sct.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
15. True.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 06:39 AM
Jul 2014

However, pouring out grease outside is not one that should continue. I thought that this might be something they did wherever they are from.

Are_grits_groceries

(17,111 posts)
14. I am going to contact a national organization.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 06:37 AM
Jul 2014

The Asian-American Legal Defense And Education fund.
I hope they can tell me who to call in my area. A nongovernmental Asian group that can help them is the best bet IMO. I couldn't find one in SC.

Hopefully, this way will provide somebody who can find out about them in a positive way and not scare the bejesus out of them. It may also give them a support system and provide access to people who can help them in a variety of ways.

If they are ok, then no harm, no foul.



jwirr

(39,215 posts)
18. There is some kind of guest worker program through the government where American businesses
Fri Jul 4, 2014, 04:05 PM
Jul 2014

can bring temporary workers into the country to work for them. They often house them together like that.

When this happened in my community it was a hotel that had them working ridiculous hours for little pay and living in over crowded conditions. They were just kids. Our churches invited them to church on Sunday and the union members got word of what was going on. We helped them find other jobs and screw the company brought them over for slave labor.

Be snoopy. If this is what it looks like to me they are trapped in a really bad situation and cannot go home to their own countries until they have stayed in the worker program so many months.

It has been some time ago so I cannot help you with the actual name of the government program. Sorry.

flvegan

(64,389 posts)
19. Seems all you really know is that a shrub smells like grease.
Fri Jul 4, 2014, 04:24 PM
Jul 2014

You know who has allegedly done this, dumping their garbage on what seems to be common elements. You left a note. Hopefully the grease dumping stops.

The rest, as you said, speculation. Until something else appears off, leave them alone.

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