Big Brother is watching INSIDE our homes in the People's Republic of East Lansing.

My mailbox | 4-4-02 | Dan from MI and my apt manager

[Dan from Michigan]

I get this notice today.

ATTENTION: Residents of ******** Apartmants.

RE: CITY OF EAST LANSING HOUSING INSPECTION

The City of East Lansing will be conducting their annual housing inspection (date given). During the inspection they will be checking for overall cleanliness, safety, and maintenance conditions. The following is a list of items that they have cited violations on. This is not a complete list, but the most common issues we have seen in the apartments. Please keep in mind that tickets can be written to the residents.

(listing part of the list)

2. Garbage, EMPTY BEVERAGE CANS stored in ANY location of the apartment

5. EXTENSION CORDS(Screw that) are NOT allowed....

7. TV and Computer Cords must not be run on the floor. Wires can be run up and around windows and doorways.

[Dan from Michigan]

WHAT in the blue hell is this..BS is too nice to cover this? If I wanted someone checking up on my place, I'd call mom. I don't need the damn city bureaucrats here giving me a ticket IN MY CASTLE for a damn extension cord or because I have empty pop cans on the table(which I save because of a 10 cent deposit).

My lease is up in 2003. I'll have my degree finished by then as well...then I'm getting the hell out of this city. If I'm still in the area, I'll live in Lansing instead. It's across the street anyway(I chose the wrong side of the street). I prefer Fowlerville if I can afford it. Not too far from the Capitol, and rugged individualism reigns there.

The last thing I want is some damn government bureaucrat in my house. What should I expect though when they hire idiot cops(not all of them, but one paticular one) that rule it my fault in a rear end collision(I was hit and got the ticket), and elect judges like David Jordon that agree.

Lastly, this is a reason why NOT to vote for democraps. This is a dem stronghold.

BTW - Is this even LEGAL(I'm a tenant, not an owner so I'm not sure)??? I owe the city one for that stupid accident fiacso. I'm just looking for an excuse to nail these guys. If I can get ONE opening and if I get another damn ticket, we're going back to court.

Do other areas have to put up with this? Is this only in the people's republic of East Lansing? Does Lansing have this? Do only renters have this?

One more year...and I'm outta here.

[Dan from Michigan]

Do you have to deal with city bureaucrats in your place?? Or is this a student housing thing?

[Poohbah]

Who's the landlord?

[steenkeenbadges]

Class action suit would be an appropriate response. Fight this illegal crap!

[Dan from Michigan]

DTN Management Co. A big corporation.

[The Energizer]

Yes, I have had to deal with these "inspections." I never recall seeing anything about extension cords or tv cables. Perhaps this is something new.

I think this is an East Lansing law, considering the high number of rental units. I hate it, too, and am always worried that my property will be stolen or that some "inspector" notes the stuff I have and passes it along to some criminal, etc.

[EggsAckley]

If it's student housing you live in, and if the City owns it, it's probably legal (I'm NOT a lawyer.) But if the City IS the landlord, they might have the right to do this. Personally, I find this REALLY scary. Waaaay over the top.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Seattle conducts these housing stock studies however, they have to have your signiture prior to entry. And it has to be the signiture of the tenet....not the landlord.

Just deny them entry.

[fporretto]

If your apartment is entirely a private matter, such that no organ of government was involved in providing it to you, you could tell the inspectors "Not without a warrant, buddy," and be entirely within your rights. If they were to force entry after that, you could sue the city in Federal court. However, if your housing is public housing, or is part of some public-private package deal that involves ceding your Fourth Amendment right against arbitrary searches, you might be without recourse.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[rintense]

Hey Dan-

I think it's complete BS too. But I do think it's done primarily to keep MSU student housing/frats/soroities in check. The East Lansing 'establish' residency is pretty established and snooty, so I am willing to be they had this passed to keep the college folks in line. Not sure, but having lived in E. Lansing for 2.5 years, it wouldn't surprise me if this is the case.

[spunkets]

Check your lease. The landlord is the only one that has access, if it's specifically mentioned in the lease. The only way the inspectors can gain access is to be accompanied by the landlord. Else just tell them to get a warrant.

[Mr. Lucky]

Either they have a contractual (or other consenual) right to enter or entry over the objection of the resident requires a warrant. The consent to entry must come from the resident unless the resident has contracted that right back to the landlord or some third party. The right to be free from unreasonable searches applies even in the People's Republic of East Lansing.

[Slyfox]

Will they enter your apartment if you have one of those dog-barking mechanisms that go off if the door handle is touched?

[martin_fierro]

Give my regards to Carriage Hills Apartments and to Lake Lansing -- all the jackbooted thuggery of the People's Republic of East Lansing aside, I have some good memories of those places.

[mombonn]

DTN Management Co. A big corporation.

There's the problem! My son lives in an apartment just north of Frandor, managed by a local company. He hasn't had any trouble like this at all.

BTW, did you see the piece I posted about schwarz whining about Posthumus? Sounds a lot like his buddy mclame.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Here's some information.

Here's some more

[thatsnotnice]

Yep, I can see why you wouldn’t like it. As someone who once had to do cleanup and maintenance on rental units, I can also understand why the owner would like something like that. I’ve been in many apartments where the occupants had destroyed hardwood floors - it looked like they'd ice skated on them, had literally removed all inside doors and cabinet doors and burned them in the fireplace, had kicked holes in plaster and sheetrock walls, and more. I don’t know if people damage stuff like that just for fun, or if it is simply the way they live.

[The Energizer]

I should add: the landlord is supposed to accompany the city inspector.

[mconder]

This would never stand in a supreme court case.

[HockeyPop]

Dan, one day you'll own your own home and then that's when the real misery starts.

I agree. These restrictions seem quite onerous and the permitting of the government to enter your "castle" would require at the least some reasonable notice. Landlords have a right to come onto their property to conduct inspections or to show the property to prospective tenants during reasonable hours and upon adequate notice. This is but one of many more instances to come in your life when you will feel mugged and violated. My advice is to walk over to the law school, corral a tort or constitutional law professor and explain your situation. Law students and professors love this sort of government intrusion upon one's privacy and seclusion. They know you cannot afford to mount an appropriate defense, that you live off macaroni and cheese and yours is a good way for lawyers to use up some of their required pro bono hours. Good luck and I hope you send a message to the bastards.