Some years ago when I attended my first tenant meeting @
KMHC I sat quietly and listened to what’s going on. At the end of the meeting I complimented the
staff. Then I got a warning from a
veteran tenant “You haven’t been here long enough, just wait for the next
meetings.” Sure enough he was correct.
later I noticed a negative pattern developing at tenant meetings, the staff ignored tenant
opinions and suggestions and were basically getting the brush off. Being treated like children doesn’t go well
with tenant Native Elders.
Listening to staff quoting petty rules and regulations were
boring and tiresome especially when it had nothing to do with me. I’m not
interested in hearing who’s not paying the rent on time or who’s not taking the
trash out correctly. I felt these issues should be addressed to the tenant directly
and privately. Like one tenant said “Same old shit every meeting, nothing
changes”.
Back when Ingrid Nosel was an outreach worker we had a
private screening interview she mentioned tenant meetings are mandatory I found
this to be strange but never gave it much thought. It wasn’t until later I
found out her statement was false. At
the time my objective was to sign the lease and move in.
For the record I voluntarily show up at tenant meetings because
I care where I live and the tenants
around me and not because UNH’s say we must. For the greater good if I had to lock horns with
the HSC to get my point across, so be it.
The KMHC tenant
meeting concept is a total failure on Thursday we received a newsletter
there will be no tenant meetings until the female staff can figure out a
solution. This means we’ll have to wait for hell to freeze over. :P
Instead KMHC will issue and deliver Newsletters to each
tenant in 3 month intervals. First of
all Newletters are considered grey literature “informal written material” so I won't be waiting in anticipation for the next issue. I see where this is going UNH’s doesn’t want
to hear tenant complaints, concerns and suggestions in an open forum. After briefly scanning the newsletter the
objective is to inundate us with their archaic rules and regulations without opposition.
My fellow tenants can do whatever they want with the
newsletter. They can make paper
airplanes aim it at the office and hope for the worst or toss them in the
recycling bins located in the middle of the KMHC hallway or wrinkle up the pages
and use it as toilet paper. :D
As for me I stapled the newsletter and boiler letter with a
note addressed to the HSC. I wrote “Return To Sender” then slide it under the
office door.
Thank you to the mystery tenant who delivered the fresh delicious pizza to my door last night. :)
Happy Holidays!
tk
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