Sec.8 - Does anyone know?? - Wake up Tehachapi !! - countygirl's Blog - Tehachapi News

Nov 2, 2007 at 01:11 PM : I'll show my...

I'll show my ignorance .... what's Sec 8?

Nov 2, 2007 at 01:11 PM : Low income housing. :)

Low income housing. :)

Nov 2, 2007 at 06:11 PM : No way, is that what...

No way, is that what they're doing at Pinion and Applewood, west of Black Oak??? I think I'd cry... I've walked by there a couple times and saw that it was all dug up, with pipes going in.

Nov 2, 2007 at 06:11 PM : There are actually...

There are actually alot of Section 8 homes in Tehachapi, unfortunately, they do bring down property values in your neighborhood, the people do not take care of the homes and usually have drugs, and crime associted with them, I think most people move here to get away from that element.

Nov 5, 2007 at 12:11 PM : Doesn't the...

Doesn't the section 8 housing go with the Wall Mart?They should just put it at the edge of the parking lot to cut back on the people driving under the influence.Quality of life?

Nov 5, 2007 at 12:11 PM : I'll show my...

I'll show my ignorance .... what's Sec 8?

I think its a safe bet that Lori is from the good side of the tracks :)

Nov 5, 2007 at 01:11 PM : From what I...

From what I understand, they want to put in a 80 plus sec 8 apartment complex. It would be similar to what they call "housing projects" in larger cities. It would be for low income people. But the problem is, it would attract families of prisoner's from CCI, who don't care were they live as long as they are close to mom or dad at CCI. Is this the type of families Tehachapi needs to attract? I don't think so!!!!
Another problem with having Sec 8 housing is that Tehachapi doesn't have the support system that larger cities have. Some low income families do not have a car, and there is not a bus system for transport. How are they going to go to doctor appt's, grocery stores etc.? There is not a welfare office here and Lancaster/Bakersfield is a long ways off if you don't have transportation. I'm afraid low income housing would overwhelm the small social service agencies we have here.
It is a privilege to live in a small, rural community. If we don't have the services you need, then move where they do. Don't move here and expect us to accommodate you with low income housing and services.
You think there is a drug/meth problem in Tehachapi now? Just wait until a large sec 8 apt complex is built and watch the druggies move in.

Nov 5, 2007 at 01:11 PM : Well said mom, I...

Well said mom, I totally agree with you.

Nov 5, 2007 at 02:11 PM : The City Planning...

The City Planning Commission already voted it in...and it's now a done deal! It will not even go to the City Council for ratification. We, who attended that meeting and spoke up against it, were outweighed by a "stacked deck" in the audience and the Sales and Marketing efforts (at great length) by the developers. THEY don't live here.

Too bad.

Jim Richards

Nov 5, 2007 at 02:11 PM : I'm...

I'm glad I don't live in town !

Nov 5, 2007 at 04:11 PM : Jimr- I had no idea...

Jimr- I had no idea this meeting took place. If I did I would have done everything in my power to go and voice my opinions as well. I'm sorry I missed it. My question was... is the complex in question going to be Sec.8? This is right next to the new Alta homes going in. If this is a Sec.8 complex I'm sure all those new home owners are going to be thrilled that the value of their homes just went down before they even walked through their doors!

Nov 5, 2007 at 05:11 PM : I think they should...

I think they should move the police station right into the middle of the complex. :)

Nov 5, 2007 at 05:11 PM : The powers that be in...

The powers that be in our lovely town must be collecting some type of kick-back on this sweet deal; too bad they didn't work hard enough to build a hospital instead of low-income housing .

This important issue should have been addressed by putting it to all the voters on an official ballot, not that it would do much good since we were allowed to vote for the hospital and look how well that turned out ; now "they" have moved on and down to public housing . . . can you spell and smell the gangs just cruising by. This is beyond terrible and should go to a public vote even though we were hood-winked on the hospital proposition; it looks as though the in-mates are guarding the prison, the fox is guarding the hen-house mentality once again.

Drugs, gangs, homeless people; we are now a mirror of a large town . . . it is not a pretty picture.

SHAMEFUL and very, very wrong.

Nov 5, 2007 at 09:11 PM : DonMar. &...

DonMar. I agree with you that sec 8 is not in Tehachapi's best interest. You have a way with words. I don't get the sec 8 , hospital comparison. You sound angry. Don't be angry be happy.

Nov 6, 2007 at 12:11 PM : Thank you, Gube, for...

Thank you, Gube, for the nice words. The only comparison of these two items was that I feel we should all have been given the right to vote on the Section 8 issue, especially since we were "allowed" to the vote on the newly-proposed hospital (even though it may never be built any time soon). Guess I got carried away on a vote-a-thon rant.

Thanks for the cheerful "don't worry, be happy" reminder ~ ahhhh-ommmmm.

Nov 6, 2007 at 09:11 PM : I deal with...

I deal with Section 8 every day at work in Palmdale. I could tell you many horror stories. I can't imagine it in our fine city. I moved out here to get away from all that. If they build an 80 unit complex with Section 8, things will get real bad out here. The small Tehachapi Police Dept will be overwhelmed by it. The thugs wil have a field day here. Time to move to Idaho....

Nov 6, 2007 at 10:11 PM : Unfortunately from...

Unfortunately from what I have heard that for every number of "Good" houses you have to have the "Low Income" housing. Oh and I heard a rumor that they want to almost double the size of CCI! Does that go together or what??? Gotta give the prisoners families a home you know. We already pay for the prisoner. Why not the family too!! Is this country great or what!!!! Better double or triple the size of TPD and get a City SWAT Team Study going. Gonna need it.

Nov 7, 2007 at 05:11 AM : Sounds to me like...

Sounds to me like I've got more "rough days at work" ahead of me. Glad I know the Serenity Prayer. I guess I'll have to start talking about getting more staff myself! TehachapiDad, is your employer ready for this?

Nov 7, 2007 at 02:11 PM : I agree with...

I agree with the comments here. But the one thing that always irritates me is the CCI thing. But the prison has been there since 1933 and and there hasn't been a mad rush to live in Tehachapi because of love ones in the prison. There are some, but the number of love ones who live here that has people in prison already lived here. There are quite a few of prisoners that came from Tehachapi. Now maybe that has changed drastically in past few years I don't know. But it always irritates me when I hear that the prison draws the "bad apples" from the big cities. The statistics just isn't there hold that theory.

Nov 7, 2007 at 04:11 PM : One of the reasons...

One of the reasons that CCI families haven't moved here is because we don't have low income housing and not many section 8 houses....just wait and see.

Nov 7, 2007 at 08:11 PM : Coliats I bet if you...

Coliats I bet if you asked a cop in town they will tell you that a lot of their contacts are with prison families. When the Level 4's were built and we started to keep prisoners for more then just a few years the families started to move to town. Did we have issues before? Yes I just think we have more now. :( What does the City get out of having SEC 8 homes?

Nov 7, 2007 at 10:11 PM : OU812, like I said...

OU812, like I said earlier, I agree with the fact that maybe there shouldn't be more sec 8 housing until there are more resources in Tehachapi. I just get tired of hearing the old "CCI" excuse when things go bad or people are drawing at straws. You said I should ask a local cop about the situation, but I ask you this: out of the small percentage, and I mean small, of inmates in CCI that have family in Teh, what is the percentage that those family members were already here BEFORE the inmate came to CCI? I think that would surprise you.

Nov 8, 2007 at 12:11 AM : To be frank, you can...

To be frank, you can gloss it over all you want, if sec 8 housing moves here our crime rate will double in a few years. Mark my words. I'm usually a pretty moderate guy but this is bad news for our town. Sec 8 housing brings in the bad element in volumes and more resources or not I'm all for keeping it out. The people that live in these homes don't care about their homes, families or their neighborhood. They are the wellfare, give me what I want or I will take it type of people. I'm sure there are a very few people who end up in Sec 8 housing that are not bad people but the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of them ARE. If they aren't their relatives are. If its not too late to stop this we need to. All you folks who are worried about Walmart moving into town have their priorities int he wrong place. This is the type of thing you should be worrying about if you love your small town atmosphere. It won't be a very nice place to live when you hear about the drive by shootings, dead bodies found, and drug busts every week.

Nov 8, 2007 at 08:11 AM : We already have sec 8...

We already have sec 8 housing across from west park and we don't hear of shootings, dead bodies found and drug bust every week. in fact i have not head a whole lot of bad things about the place. It all depends on the management of the place. If the management goes by the rules and evict the one that don't then i don't think there will be the problems that you all are so worried about. I have heard of a lot more bad things happening at cherry lane apt's then over in the sec 8. I agree with colitas as far as sec 8 attracting CCI family's, It wont. The sec 8 we already have has a long waiting list to get into them. Those are the people who will move into the new section 8.Their will be some trash that move in the sec 8. Alot of the sec 8 apt's will go to single moms trying to raise their kids the best way they can. you people talk about the poor like their cancer. not all poor people are drug dealers and drug addicts. People are funny. They will give food and money at Christmas's time to help the needy and poor and then blog about them being bad people that we need to be afraid of. Shame.

Nov 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM : It truly hurts my soul...

It truly hurts my soul to know that all of "those people" who are receiving Section 8 housing are lumped into one messy category. I moved here not too long ago and have been on waiting list for Section 8 housing. I am so sorry that I moved here with not much education and no means of travel such distance to a job that will pay me enough to drive, pay rent and give my child what he so desperatly needs. I am hoping that when this is built, that I may finally qualify for something I desperately need. I hope that law enforcement will do the job of keeping such "riff-raff" from giving me some kind of quality of life in this little town. I'm hoping my son will be able to play with other children in this housing area. I'm hoping I don't have to worry about him being lumped into a cluster a people who depend on this housing and I'm hoping that the City will enforce the regulations that Section 8 requires. I wonder, when you see me standing outside of Sec 8 housing waiting on my son to arrive from school, will you look at me through the same eyes of which you write about? I broght my son from a city that I'm afraid would have consumed him. I'm hoping your children who are more fortunate than my child will not have the same ideas as the parent. I don't know if I like you people. I hope to not have to ruin your space or cause fear for you.

Nov 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM : Xyla, I agree with...

Xyla, I agree with you. It will have to up to city and law enforcement and whoever is chosen to manage this housing, to keep things under control. I have found that there are areas all over this city that are out of control. The people running in and out. The children who are running amok. The "code enforcer" may need some help in keeping things enforced. I'm hoping that if you are able to move into this area, that you are able to have a safe place for your son to grow up, be safe and have fun. Not all of these people are bad people. I'm hoping you will be one of the tenants who will turn those people who are there to abuse a lifestyle provided to them that they would normally not be able to have.

No one should be lumped into one category. If you read my comment on another blog that had to do with Section 8, you will read that I am torn in my opinion of this exactly for people like you who just seem to need a break. I think a child should be able to have a nice life even if there parents are poor. And for the drug dealers/users, keep your crap to yourself. Don't expose the whole town to your sh*t. To law enforcment and code enforcer...if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, assume it's a duck pull it over, find out if it's a freaking duck and do something about it.

Nov 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM : Xyla32- Come on now!...

Xyla32- Come on now! You know we are not talking about people like you, and all of us who have spoken out against it (Sec.8) have stated that not everyone who use the system abuse it. You can judge us all you want. I'm just stating facts and I'm sorry if they offend you. There were tons of section 8 apt. and complexes in the town where my husband used to work at. They learned where they were real fast because they were constantly running there. Domestic disputes, overdoses, stabbings, you name it it happened, and this was in a place just slightly bigger than Tehachapi. I hope the best for you and your son. Hold him close.

Gube is right about Cherry Lane Estates though. They are pretty bad.

Nov 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM : Like most things in...

Like most things in life, a few bad apples ruin it for everyone. I am sure there are people who need sec8 housing that will not abuse it but the facts remain: section 8 will bring drugs/domestics/robberies etc. (Just wait and see. )The majority of people in that housing are not trying to better themselves they are just feeding off the system. They probably always have and probably always will. Regardless, even those who have a desire to better themselves have a slim chance of that happening in Tehachapi. There are very limited resources here

Where do you think these people that will live in the new sec8 will get the money to buy drugs, not from gainful employment, from stealing it from you and I. It's sad but true.

Now get back to work, millions on welfare depend on you ;)

Nov 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM : Yes, I have read that...

Yes, I have read that only 95% are drug users.

And you are wrong, I don't know that you are not talking about people "like me". I can see you driving by in your nice car and your well dressed children and looking at me like I am one of those "95%". You seem to be offended that I judge you all. I am on welfare and I have applied for sect 8 house. I live in gated community on Cherry Ln. I pay most of my check on rent. Do I have safe place for my son to play? No. Why has none of you gone up against these places. The trailer parks in this town? Across these tracks we have, have you been there. All of what you fear is here. The stabbings, the shootings, the drugs they are here. It is up to our city to open their eyes and not give up in keeping Tehachapi safe. I will do my part. I do my part. I call police and nothing happens. Drug users/dealers seem to be safe from law. Bad parenting seems to be safe from law.

Nov 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM : Gube sometimes you are...

Gube sometimes you are wacky in your comments, then other times you hit the old nail right on the head! I try not to judge unless I've walked a mile on that person's path. I'm not always successful sorry to say.

I don't know that much about Section 8, but I do know trash and crime is in any neighborhood regardless of income. Just because some cities may have trouble with their 8's doesn't necessarily mean it will happen here. We have to hope our law enforcement is up to any challenge that may arise.

Xyla, Tehachapi has really great people, don't give up on us. I'm hoping you qualify and can give your son the life he deserves and that you will come to love Tehachapi as much as I do.

Nov 8, 2007 at 11:11 AM : I have nothing to be...

I have nothing to be offended by. Like I said unless you are a drug dealer, stealing, committing fraud, not willing to work, etc. you have no reason to be offended. You've already stated you're not like that sooooooo you have nothing to be offended about. If you think that that new section 8 complex means a safe place for your son to play sorry to say think again. It will be just like where you currently are. As for the part about the police not doing anything. I have a hard time believing that. I've been witness to them taking action for neglect.

Nov 8, 2007 at 12:11 PM : That nothing is done...

That nothing is done in the places that are already here is the point. As I said above not all people who need Sec 8 housing are like that. However, if you look at Sec 8 housing ANYWHERE the fact of the matter is that these places are rife with the bad element, high crime rates and severe social problems. If there are already problems in areas that are NOT Sec 8 housing then there are some people with rose colored glasses on who think that even MORE of the same problems or worse won't arise with yet MORE low income housing. Its not about judging anyone specifically because they live there. Its just how it is and that element is attracted to a low rent environment where they can't be evicted. There are exceptions to everything, but a few exceptions does not change the situation.

Would I live in Sec 8 housing if I had no other option? Of course. Would I feel like people judge me because I live there? Probably. But I would understand why. And I certainly would not plan to live there forever. An interesting question would be how many people once on Sec 8 housing ever leave it? I don't think the idea is to live your entire life on Sec 8 housing. Everyone deserves to live in a place where its safe for their children to play. Sec 8 housing complex is not it.

Nov 8, 2007 at 12:11 PM : I too, am a single mom...

I too, am a single mom raising two children as my husband died 3 years ago. But before I had children, we made sure we were financially set. I went to nursing school (paid for by myself via student loans and grants). I used birth control to be sure I didn't have kids before we were ready. There was planning involved in having children at a time when we were mature enough and set financially enough so I didn't have work full time. We made sure we had life insurance so that if my husband died, we would be able to pay off the house and not be homeless. It's called financial and life planning. But what I see now is too many girls getting pregnant young, not having any work skills and having to raise a child in poverty. And what happens to the father--he takes off. Then comes in welfare and Sec 8 to help bail these women out. They are very necessary programs as is job training. But what really needs to be done is classes offered in 9th/10 grade that discusses how to plan your life--make goals, get job training so you can support your family if something happens to dad, don't have anymore children than you can afford, don't have kids until you are mature and financially ready, what life insurance is etc. as some parents are not teaching this necessary life skills. High schools need to offer birth control to teens to prevent teen pregnancy.

And I feel for you Xyla--raising a child in poverty is not what you wanted when you gave birth. You probably had visions of taking him to Disneyland and the beach and camping. But now, you don't have the resources and it is you and the child that loses out. But what can we do to break this cycle?

Sec 8 unfortunately bring in some undesirables. And as for the "code enforcer" Sec 8 does not pay for him. Our tax dollars from the city of Tehachapi does, per prior posts from someone who works for Palmdale in Sec 8.

Yes, I too would probably be in your shoes had we not planned out our life. After my husband died, the first 3 years were difficult.

Nov 8, 2007 at 01:11 PM : I think Xyla got her...

I think Xyla got her feelings hurt. Pointing out to her that "Common Knowledge", should have made her realize that? C'mon. I know that sometimes the way a person means for things to sound and the way it actually sounds when written, can be misunderstood. So, I'm assuming countygirl, that you didn't mean for it to come out the way it sounded.

I feel really bad for people who find themselves in a bad situation. Sometimes, it's really hard to pull yourself out of it. It makes me appreciate the fact that I am fortunate to have the things I have. To have a good job and a husband who provides as well. I'm hoping everything works out for you Xyla

Scottso, I believe Section 8 housing, is the same as any other rental agreement. I could be wrong. You are better at this than I am. As a community, we all need to stick together and contact the Housing Authority if things aren't being dealt with according to their standards. (Or is this wishful thinking on my part). : )

http://www.lawhelp.org/documents/1592516110.pdf?stateabbrev=/WA/

Nov 8, 2007 at 01:11 PM : I deleted...

I deleted it. I didn't mean for it to come off harsh, but I guess it did. I just don't understand why people take things to heart when they don't have to. I think everyone here knew we weren't lumping everyone together. No one said that ALL people that use section 8 are bad people. Of course no one is going to judge Xyla because she obviously really needs assistance.

Some reading this may think I'm sitting on my throne pointing down and judging all. The truth is I applied for low income housing about 7 years ago. I know how hard it can be. Was I ashamed of it? No. We qualified and we needed help. Did we get in? No. There was a two year waiting list. I remember driving up in our beat up LTD that had no air and a door that didn't work, and looking at all the expensive cars sitting in the parking spaces, thinking how can these people afford these cars. My hubby and I....we made it work. He kept applying and got a better job, and then an even better one. :) I worked for as long as I could before I had our first child. I am truly thankful that we didn't end up living in those complexes. We learned a lot that year about making due with what we had. It has really helped us stay within our means and keep us debt free. Would I still have the same attitude if I had lived in those complexes. Yup, because you can't deny facts.

Nov 8, 2007 at 01:11 PM : posted by gube on...

posted by gube on Nov 8, 2007 at 08:06 AM <Delete> you people talk about the poor like their cancer. not all poor people are drug dealers and drug addicts. People are funny. They will give food and money at Christmas's time to help the needy and poor and then blog about them being bad people that we need to be afraid of. Shame.

Gube, Does this include you as well? Where exactly do you stand on this?

posted by gube on Nov 5, 2007 at 09:28 PM <Delete> DonMar. I agree with you that sec 8 is not in Tehachapi's best interest. You have a way with words. I don't get the sec 8 , hospital comparison. You sound angry. Don't be angry be happy.

Nov 8, 2007 at 02:11 PM : Countygirl.....more...

Countygirl.....more Sec 8 is not what i want to see in teh. for many of the reasons already listed.I hope that who ever manages the Apt's runs the place with a iron hand. I think that there will be more good people living there then bad people. I was reacting to the tone this post took on. To me it sounded like many of you where lumping all sec 8 together with the druggies and murderers, And i felt that was unfair. It doesn't really matter what i think because from what i have heard the new sec 8 is a done deal. Like i have already mentioned it all depends on the management and right now I'm going to go with that

Nov 8, 2007 at 05:11 PM : Well I apologize if I...

Well I apologize if I sounded like one of those who were "lumping all sec 8 together with the druggies and murders." That was not my intention and thats certainly not true. I just feel particularly strongly about keeping the crime rate low around here and bringing in the sec 8 jeopardizes that in a big way. One of the reason we left the last place we lived was because of the gangs and crimes in the area and I don't want to see that happen here.

Nov 8, 2007 at 06:11 PM : Gube and DonMar must...

Gube and DonMar must be the same person. This conversation is too hokey for words. Seems OU812 is as well.

If I didn't know better I would think you both are one and the same person. I don't see these kind of remarks from the rest of the people out here. Multiple personalities posting from one person. This sounds strangely familiar. You even carry on a conversation with yourself on another blog. Shame on you!

Nov 8, 2007 at 07:11 PM : what ever Robert but...

what ever Robert but how do we know your not Don Mar or ou812. you all showed up here on the blog at about the same time.hhmmm

Nov 8, 2007 at 07:11 PM : Because you're...

Because you're the one that keeps coming up with the rude and sarcastic comments. So back at 'cha bud.

Nov 8, 2007 at 07:11 PM : bye bye

bye bye

Nov 8, 2007 at 08:11 PM : Dude get over...

Dude get over yourself. You're not lord of the blogs.

Nov 8, 2007 at 08:11 PM : Robert from now on you...

Robert from now on you may call me SIR GUBE

Nov 8, 2007 at 08:11 PM : To tell you the truth...

To tell you the truth I am RobertPrice and OU812. Robert is my real name but I hate myself and make post as OU812. It is interesting that when more then one person disagrees with people they assume that it must be one person with more then one profile. That takes a big ego don't you think. God forbid that more then one person disagrees with you. :(

Nov 8, 2007 at 09:11 PM : Yeah Gube your not...

Yeah Gube your not lord of the blogs, I am! Oh wait we are the same person so I guess you are lord of the blogs. :))

Nov 9, 2007 at 05:11 AM : posted by RobertPrice...

posted by RobertPrice on Nov 8, 2007 at 06:21 PM

Gube and DonMar must be the same person. This conversation is too hokey for words. Seems OU812 is as well.

I think that RobertPrice is suffering from paranoia. I'm up at 4 a.m and I see you posting all over the place accusing people of being the same people. LOL, stick with the topics and stop making accusations. Or.....maybe.....I'm all of those people too.

Now back to the topic. If this housing becomes a problem. We all need to get the phone number of the Housing Authority and start complaining about the management. Section 8 has guidelines that they are suppose to follow. We don't have to just let things go if they turn bad.

Nov 9, 2007 at 11:11 AM : Olivia and Big Dog,...

Olivia and Big Dog, what do you think of Sec 8 people who would let their house be the biggest eyesore on the block?, why should the rest of the neighborhood have to look at that all year long?, yard dead and full of weeds, broken down cars in the yard,trash everywhere, is this fair to the other people on the block working hard to make their house nice?,

Nov 9, 2007 at 12:11 PM : Hey Starbucks you just...

Hey Starbucks you just described my house. But then again we know were white trash. we have one broken down mini van in our yard, But the kids use it as a fort. Unfortunately fore the kids the neighbor across the street well soon be hauling that away. And there are a few other houses that look like mine. It is no secret that we are the loudest house on the block.And i know that i need to make a trip to the dump but My kid totaled my truck in the beginning of the year so Starbucks if you have a truck and you want to help out a neighbor it would be much appreciated. I have had several surgery's these last few months and haven't been able to do much. But I'm starting to heal up pretty good so hell Starbucks i think you just lit a fire under my ass. It woudn't take a whole lot to make my yard look better. Thanks

Nov 9, 2007 at 01:11 PM : Oh hell no.... If...

Oh hell no.... If these "Section 8" people were keeping me awake with their shenanigans, or having strange people coming in and out at all hours, or if they had dogs that barked day and night or kids tearing up my stuff and stealing out of my yard. I'd have a problem and report them. But I don't pay attention to people's yards and what they have in it or if they have weeds. It's none of my business. I don't understand how it is fair or unfair to another person on how something "looks". Bigdogs parents are like that. They have fits if another person parks their motorhome for too long. I say, figure something out to worry about.

Nov 9, 2007 at 01:11 PM : I agree wholeheartedly...

I agree wholeheartedly Olivia! If my next door neighbor wants to paint her house purple with orange polka dots, I don't care!

One of my older brothers is now hating where he lives...Bear Valley.

Nov 9, 2007 at 03:11 PM : Starbucks, is what...

Starbucks, is what fair? Property value? Do you enjoy where you live? Was this a great neighborhood until "we" arrived? You must be one of my neighbors. You asked me on another blog where I lived. Of course I thought it was creepy and ignored it.

You were also one of the 2 or 3 that didn't find the humor in the "bigdog abuse" case. So...I'm assuming, you have "life" issues. Why not try solving the problems that are going on inside your own head.

This is what's up? We are renters. (shame on us) we must be bad people. When we moved here, there was no yard at all, it was dirt with some of those stinky "juniper" bushes half ass planted in the yard. There was also a small pine tree that was there too. I'll get back to the pine tree incident. Anyway....we got rid of the junipers that were randomly scattered in the dirt and we planted grass. I've had a lawn for the last 5 years. The first time I was able to mow my new lawn, I bumped the little pine tree and it fell over. So...up came the poor little pine tree that never seemed to grow.

This summer is the first summer that I haven't spent evenings out in my yard watering or mowing. Why??? We had septic problems. The landlord came out and dug up the septic and had it pumped. He covered the hole and left big uneven spots in the yard. A few days later, water started seeping up through the lawn and created what I called "the swamp". Landlord again dug up a different spot in the yard and again left huge uneven spots. He treated the septic or whatever with something and now the problem is fixed. He has offered to bring in some dirt and gravel and we will hopefully have a lawn again next summer.

For the crap on the side of the house and in the back yard. We no longer have a truck as bigdog stated. We used to take regular trips to the dump. We had a friend with a truck that we would borrow at times before we had the truck. We haven't had a truck for awhile and the friend moved to Bakersfield. Yeah, our house looks like hell. We also have a mini van that is in good shape, it just doesn't run well. It's sitting on the side of our house and my boys use it as a fort. They wanted to spray paint the windows different colors, however, I limited them spray paint the inside of the windows black. They look like tinted windows. However...due to "your" little problem, I now wish I had bought different colors of paint for them to use. LOL, they also have an extension cord running to it because they like to take their tv out there and camp out. Jeeze, the nerve of us white trash sh*t.

So, I've decided in order to solve "your" problem, this is what I'm going to do....I'm going to get all the crap and pile it in the front yard and put a big ol ass sign that says FREE! Of course it will probably sit there for awhile considering it's all crap!! Hopefully you won't decide to sell soon, cause I'm sure no one will want to buy in a neighborhood where people put all their crap in the front yard with a FREE sign on it. I might go to Kmart tonight and buy 4 or 5 different colors of spray paint and have the boys go at it with the Van. They will surely have a good time doing that!

Nov 9, 2007 at 05:11 PM : I'm not sorry...

I'm not sorry that I am not a snob and believe in personal freedom. Why does society allow how other people live to affect property values? Please. If you are so paranoid about that, go live in a place like BVS where you can't fart without permission from the HOA.

The only thing that would concern me is if there were a fire or health hazard, otherwise it is none of my business.

Nov 9, 2007 at 05:11 PM : Thank you Joty. I...

Thank you Joty. I know that the outside of my house is a mess. Believe me, I go out to my garage and complain and kick things around all the time. I love having a yard. I've always had a yard. I used to manage an apartment complex and I mowed the grass, fixed sprinklers, and had the place looking nice. It took me a solid 8 hours to mow that place once a week. But that was part of my job, that's what I did. Now I work 8-12 hours a day, I'm 10 years older and last freaking thing I want to do when I have time is work more. Bigdog has been out of work for surgeries since March. He's had ankle surgery that he still going to physical therapy for and carpal tunnel on both hands in the past 3 months. I'm not paying someone an arm and a leg to do something that I'm quite capable of doing. WHEN I GET AROUND TO IT!!! If not...neighbor, I'm out all day at work, you are more than welcome to do the work for me to clean up "your" neighborhood. I'm sure bigdog would appreciate the help.

Nov 9, 2007 at 06:11 PM : I have special...

I have special permission from the Bear Valley Association to fart whenever I want.

Nov 9, 2007 at 07:11 PM : Greg, I hope you got...

Greg, I hope you got that in writing! LOL!!!