JUSTICE.
After a great deal of thought, we have decided upon a Course of Action.
First, the bad news: we do not have the resources to sue the landlord who opened the wall between two businesses, or the business neighbor who moved into our space, or the city whose lack of enforcement of any kind of criminal law or civil codes made this epic thievery possible. Encouraged, even?
But we do have one thing that even this corrupt little hamlet cannot take. Freedom of Speech.
It turns out that the law protects and reinforces my right to give my opinion on public social media forums. And that is precisely what I am going to do. As long as I do not threaten, yell, or use profanity–my own three eternal rules for life. (I consider them sacred and inviolable when dealing, for example, with Customer Service people; their job is hard enough.) But, as I said, if I stick to those three rules, I can go to the city's website. I can explain what happened, and I can make the parties involved look like the corrupt dirtbags they are.
So, I realize that this may not be the same as getting a windfall settlement for a lawsuit. But it is something. Let me tell you why. Here are my reasons.
1,) I have lived long enough in this city to know that image and appearances are everything to the villain of the story (the wealthy landlord). Being criticized publicly on the city's Facebook page will drive him crazy.
2.) I believe that my pursuing this course of action can lead to a template, if you will, for the legions of citizens who live in this country and feel that they are bullied by governing factions of their town or city. For example, important rulings by powerful courts secure me the right to tell my side of the story on social media. Not only will this warn people of the dangers of this town and its powerbrokers, but it will give other people the tools to fight corruption in their own towns.
3. Sharing the ugly truths on the city's social media will create an awareness of the very real physical dangers faced by the average citizen, the average tourist, even, because the buildings are unsafe. This is always the way of it: there is an unspeakable tragedy, brought about because of ignoring codes and inspections. Everybody beats their breasts and promises change. But then, oh then, it goes back to the same old same old.
4. Last but most certainly not least: I am committed to taking on a second job so that I can afford to sue. But unless this particular issue is out there and being watched by some portion of the public writ large, I am afraid for my own safety, once I take action and piss people off–if "somebodies" out there aren't watching, to see what happens. To make sure that it is fair. To make sure that I am safe.
After a great deal of thought, we have decided upon a Course of Action.
First, the bad news: we do not have the resources to sue the landlord who opened the wall between two businesses, or the business neighbor who moved into our space, or the city whose lack of enforcement of any kind of criminal law or civil codes made this epic thievery possible. Encouraged, even?
But we do have one thing that even this corrupt little hamlet cannot take. Freedom of Speech.
It turns out that the law protects and reinforces my right to give my opinion on public social media forums. And that is precisely what I am going to do. As long as I do not threaten, yell, or use profanity–my own three eternal rules for life. (I consider them sacred and inviolable when dealing, for example, with Customer Service people; their job is hard enough.) But, as I said, if I stick to those three rules, I can go to the city's website. I can explain what happened, and I can make the parties involved look like the corrupt dirtbags they are.
So, I realize that this may not be the same as getting a windfall settlement for a lawsuit. But it is something. Let me tell you why. Here are my reasons.
1,) I have lived long enough in this city to know that image and appearances are everything to the villain of the story (the wealthy landlord). Being criticized publicly on the city's Facebook page will drive him crazy.
2.) I believe that my pursuing this course of action can lead to a template, if you will, for the legions of citizens who live in this country and feel that they are bullied by governing factions of their town or city. For example, important rulings by powerful courts secure me the right to tell my side of the story on social media. Not only will this warn people of the dangers of this town and its powerbrokers, but it will give other people the tools to fight corruption in their own towns.
3. Sharing the ugly truths on the city's social media will create an awareness of the very real physical dangers faced by the average citizen, the average tourist, even, because the buildings are unsafe. This is always the way of it: there is an unspeakable tragedy, brought about because of ignoring codes and inspections. Everybody beats their breasts and promises change. But then, oh then, it goes back to the same old same old.
4. Last but most certainly not least: I am committed to taking on a second job so that I can afford to sue. But unless this particular issue is out there and being watched by some portion of the public writ large, I am afraid for my own safety, once I take action and piss people off–if "somebodies" out there aren't watching, to see what happens. To make sure that it is fair. To make sure that I am safe.