Crazy fun times in Capitol Hill and Mediationland

This is kind of a two parter, here, but the theme is the titular "crazy fun times" ... actually it isn't. There is no theme. I am lying. I hope you don't feel too betrayed. Still it seems like this is one of those kind of bizarre weeks.

The squatters are still about and causing havoc in the form of police cars and fire trucks loitering outside our home on a regular basis. Here I recreate for you a string of emails about the latest excitement last night:

Thank you to whoever called the police today.  I talked to one of the officers as I drove in.  (There were at least four police cars and a fire truck if you missed it.)  He said that the place is a big hazard and there will be a fire if the owners don't take proper action.  He said we should call 911 every time we see someone there.  He said they may not always go in and get them out, but the greater number of calls the higher the situation will escalate so that they take action against the owners.   He also recommended that we go into the East Precinct during the day and talk to the CPT (community protection team).  This team works at locating owners and somehow initiates a fining process against the owners (I assume by working with the city.)  The earliest I could go into the precinct is Thursday.  I will plan on doing that unless someone with a more flexible schedule wants to do it sooner.

*****

I stopped off at our neighbors on the corner this evening and had them call the police as I was in and out this evening. The squatters are holing up in the basement so you can't see lights on in the house as easily...if you look closely though, you can see lights on in the basement on the south side of the house. If you see ANY LIGHT, call the cops. The owner is living with her brother nearby, a forecful call to the realtor is in order. When I talked with her last I said " this is my problem and now it's your problem, you need to fix this!" She got a handyman out to board things up that day. Frankly we can do this too, however I don't have any plywood that could go over the broken kitchen window.

****

except, the water is off, the toilet is full and they've been using the floor instead, some things can't be unseen...or unsmelled. And, the house is wired like a bomb to begin with....none of this bodes well.

****

It looks as though either SPD or SFD used a door to board up the kitchen window, a fix that will work for about 30 seconds when the squatters come back and break a new window. I'll call the agent in the morning. grrrrrr

 I didn't notice the fire engine this time, but did peak out the window at the six officers wandering around the property with flashlights, breaking things and apparently boarding up windows. I feel like I'm in a very boring episode of COPS living on my street.