“These people are on crack” . . .
My lawyer exclaimed! And in that it ended how it began — an empty overture with the weight of a fortune cookie and the promise to match. Same goes for “Let’s do better by being better” — as if you can magically embody “being better” simply from a slogan.
MY RENT = SERVICES RENDERED:
THAT’S THE DEAL!
These people have no such notion! The operative part of management is “manage”: “to handle or direct with a degree of skill.” Since RPM Living bought Broadstone in the summer of 2024, what I witnessed ranks with the worst management I’ve ever seen. Some circles are not burdened by squaring their walk with their talk. They seem to think that advertising virtue equates to embodying it. A lot of that goin’ around! “Let’s do better by being better” is in the trash room right where it belongs: Next to the chute stamped with “RUBBISH.”
That same emptiness applies to glossy overtures on Go Green: “Encouraging” us to use our own cups even after they stopped providing any.
Platitudes about “protecting the planet” do not make you worldly any more than slogans about “being better” (never learning anything while acting as bastions of virtue on everything).
My objection was not about making some sacrifice, but rather that you eliminated the cups entirely (in your cavalier approach I would come to know all too well). A small supply for guests & the occasional need doesn’t seem like much to ask. I bought my own cups for that occasional need. Even used my reusable stirrer sticks to chip in for the cause.
I compromised — you didn’t!
Cutting out 90% would seem like pretty good progress in your purpose, but you just had to have it all. After being blown off by email (in which I offered ideas to address my concerns): I’d had it with this crew getting off scot-free for “small acts” devoid of compromise or concern. Anyone sincere about “being better” — wouldn’t have turned right around and pulled the same stunt again (only much worse).
Between their clubhouse clock-lock with a mind of its own, buying my own coffee cups, and the multiple times I found the restrooms locked during the day — forgetfulness from locking them at night (a policy thoughtlessly put in place without notification or explanation of any kind):
There’s only so much love I could take!
I have also checked our key system to ensure that the time is synced appropriately for the clubhouse hours 10:00AM-10:00PM. As your new management team, we are dedicated to addressing your concerns effectively. Your insights will be instrumental in helping us enhance our community for everyone.
— Office Manager / July 9, 2024
A year later that problem persists — so we have very different definitions of “dedicated,” “ensure,” and “effectively.” Just like we’re worlds away on “Every Detail Considered” and what it means to manage.
When you start injecting an agenda into the deal, you damn well better be willing to compromise. Their obstinate refusal to do so set in motion a chain of events that would eventually get me evicted: For accidentally brushing up against a girl’s jacket (which in the world of woke — equates to “aggressively grabbing her arm and causing her pain”). As I didn’t grab the leasing agent at all, that’s one helluva leap to get to aggressively. And the only “pain” involved here is how painfully obvious it is that they retrofitted my reaction to being falsely accused — to manufacture a moment that didn’t happen.
That probably would have been pretty clear on this camera — had we gotten the f#@king footage like I repeatedly pleaded with my lawyer to do (“emphasis on the ‘F'” — as their beloved witness loved to say). Why consider the criminal offense of filing a false report — when it’s so much more satisfying to seize on the offense of my profanity in the face of this fraud:
Complainant was assaulted by suspect complainant stated. Suspect grabbed her left arm and she felt pain.
— Police Report Summary
DISCOVERY 101, Anyone?
“You’re a witness to this!”
What guy in the world would eagerly point to the female standing by her side and say that — if anything in the same galaxy as “aggressively grabbed” and “pain” took place? Even without the video, it seems like a witness who was standing right behind her and couldn’t corroborate that I touched the agent at all (might matter in this thing called “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”).
I honored that oath, the judge didn’t!
After denying my right to a jury trial, he rubber-stamped his judgment without anything remotely resembling judgment. Sound consideration accounts for things that don’t make any sense (like assaulting someone you’re not even upset with):
This is not about you and I’m not upset with you!
If you act like accidental “contact” with the touch of a feather amounts to assault (while someone’s simultaneously saying their frustration is not with you): You’ve waived your right to courtesy in the “Conduct” clause. I hardly invented the universal gesture of putting out your hands to put someone’s mind at ease. Any decent human being (let alone someone’s whose job by definition includes de-escalating discontent): Would allow for harmless mistakes to happen.
But Anything Goes in a place that doesn’t frown on falsely accusing tenants of assault and lying to the police. Not to mention the staggering hypocrisy of expectations on being “courteous and reasonable” — then crying foul when someone calls you out for showing nothing of the kind.
Conduct. You agree to communicate and conduct yourself in a lawful, courteous and reasonable manner at all times when interacting with us, our representatives and other residents or occupants. Any acts of unlawful, discourteous or unreasonable communication or conduct by you, your occupants or guests is a breach of this Lease.
Addendum for Truth in Advertising:
Even if we’re deceitful in our intentions to take away services (then take away even more and deliberately don’t tell you), fail to keep you updated when we don’t deliver on our promises, falsely accuse you of assault and lie to the police about you: We have the right to do it all (and don’t forget — we love you). Just ignore the unconscionable lack of courtesy & reasonableness in our affection.
And if you don’t, we’ll be sure to find a judge who will.
On a previous Saturday afternoon, I approached the agent about the bathrooms (as politely as humanly possible, I would add). Though it was her responsibility, I wasn’t upset with her then — just as I wasn’t upset with her the day of my doom. In a world spinning its wheels on symptoms of problems — my interest has always been in the roots: As in the people who put this asinine policy in place and didn’t bother telling anyone. I only found out when I stopped by to ask the manager about it — after finding them locked one night out of nowhere.
She cited “security concerns” and that they were implementing an app to auto-unlock all common areas. As their new initiative was only a few months away — I decided to be flexible and not make a fuss out of it. I politely raised the possibility of an emergency scenario though. I wasn’t thinking about someone really needing to go, but rather something like swallowing pool water:
The way she blew off the very notion of an emergency just astounded me, so I didn’t bother explaining what I was getting at. I’m hardly the only one who didn’t approve. A fellow tenant told me she wouldn’t want her pool guests tromping through her place to use the bathroom. I love people pointing out things that didn’t come to mind. That manager has no such notion, but she talks a good game:
Your insights will be instrumental in helping us enhance our community for everyone.
Take note of this illuminating exchange that took place 14 days before the collision that was coming. Does this strike you as someone with any faith in my insights being considered (let alone being instrumental)?
Me: With my concerns on the bathroom and clubhouse and such — I don’t see you getting that package
My friend: It didn’t say it had to be a POSITIVE review!
Me: WELL PLAYED!
Hence the operative words — “This is not about you and I’m not upset with you!” About that collision: The office manager testified so proudly: “I’ll be right there!” to comfort her crying colleague. Yeah, to do what you do best — look at things in the most myopic manner imaginable and call it day.
If there’s a security problem and you wanna solve it with a new system, have at it — but in the meantime, I’m willing to risk it (like we all do in facing the inherent risks that come with living). And lo and behold, guess what agrees with me?
That lease you love to cite when it serves you and ignore when it doesn’t:
Neither Owner nor any Owner’s Representatives is responsible or liable for any loss, damage, or injury which might sustain as a result of the use of common area & common area equipment. Resident agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Owner and Owner’s Representatives and assigns from and against any and all claims or demands, costs or expenses, arising out of or in any way related to the use of common areas including, but not limited to, any personal injuries damages, or other losses which may be sustained as a result of use.
WHAT GIVES?
Not you — not ever!
I wouldn’t give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn’t have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a — a little lookin’ out for the other fella, too.
That 3 months came and went without a word — and still I was patient in my unrequited kindness. As I’m apparently the only tenant who cared enough to question your Machiavellian methods, it seems some courtesy was in order to contact me about the delay in that ever-elusive app. Better yet, how about telling all the tenants why you’re locking doors on the down-low? Perhaps by making it official for all to see: Your crew would take their jobs more seriously by unlocking them during the day . . .
Until your app for that arrives to relieve them.
The agent testified that she didn’t remember me bringing this up before. That I believe, as right in tune with the times — every exchange is entirely transactional to her. It would be unthinkable for me to make a mistake and not at least say, “Sorry about that” (on even the smallest of missteps). But to a mentality like hers — all that matters is moving on from the moment:
Just unlock the doors and forget about it.
Anyone with a work ethic and any notion of accountability — would have conscience kick in at some point. Simply saying “Sorry, I got wrapped up with some customers and it slipped my mind!” would go a long way in smoothing things over. And the bolder version of “Sorry about that, won’t happen again!” — would work wonders: Not only by building character, but also sending a message of caring for your customers.
But if ya really wanna be bold and go for gold:
Look, I’m sorry I forgot to unlock the restrooms — it won’t happen again. And while I know what you were trying to do (and I understand it was an accident): Please don’t touch me again. But I will follow up with the office on Monday about your concerns and see about the status on the app implementation.
Got it! We’re good — have a nice day!
Alas, America has other ideas:
So I’m taking some liberties with this theme called “Brute” — so fabulously fitting for a nation that no longer has any sense of itself. With a slight change in “Strength in Simplicity” in the opening image, I’m pointing out the power of systematic oversimplification. The outcome of this façade is all around you in a cold and calculated mass of emptiness:
A structure calibrated for you to find comfort in chaos. All for the glory of the powers that be — who couldn’t care less about you (even as they express their love for you).
Like those who circled the wagons around her, the witness went out of her way to emphasize anything that painted me in the worst possible light (while not giving an atom of weight to critical facts that don’t comport with their claims). I saw no difference in discernment in His Honor — who made a mockery out of that oath as empty as “do better by being better.”
Glued to the letter of the law on the lease in a “landlord-friendly” state — he was unmoved by obvious inconsistencies and this company’s complete lack of “courteous and reasonable manner” in creating this collision. I’m equally against the idea that a state that would lean toward tenants, as being predisposed to any party flies in the face of Lady Justice.
Like the judge being predictably unbothered by opposing counsel not telling us about the trial date until a few days before: Giving us no time to submit any exhibits and all that discovery we didn’t get. Never mind they’re required by law to let us know. Naturally, they claim they just found out themselves, but in light of how these professional liars operate:
If you believe that, you might as well believe I yanked her arm right out of the socket.
Let’s Take Two Pieces of Testimony and Try to Put Them Together
The witness testified that I was “inches from her face.” If that were true — that footage would have been Exhibit A (and yet they didn’t even submit it). Secondly, since I wasn’t even upset at the agent until she acted like I assaulted her — I wouldn’t have been “inches from her face” before then. And after that look of wickedness wielded with “Don’t touch me” — I wouldn’t have moved a millimeter in her direction after backing up a few feet.
So exactly when did this “inches from her face” take place? It didn’t!
Human nature has a habit of injecting the atmosphere of the world around you — thereby clouding the picture of what’s right in front of you. Right on cue with #MeToo: If the complaint comes from a girl and you’re a guy, you’re guilty as hell. Even for politely asking a colleague for some patience: If a female takes offense and storms off to cry about it, surely the man made her. Pay no mind to her state of mind — with a patently obvious history of hypersensitivity and erratic behavior.
A female Project Manager went ballistic about that Analyst the day before — I just tried to mediate.
Pay no mind to that either — just put a feather in your cap for empowering women (never mind you’re doing the exact opposite when you wanna right the wrongs of the past with new wrongs in the present). A lot of that goin’ around too! As much as I’m disgusted by the leasing agent and her lies: I don’t fault her nearly as much as those who are really doing her harm by wrapping their warped reality around hers.
I’d have to be The Flash in the flesh to inflict all this trauma without the witness seeing it. Speaking of flesh. My attorney asked her if she sought medical attention (or if anyone suggested she should). Nice work on that second part — I hadn’t thought of that. So he had his moments (and a demeanor I liked from the start). But he spreads himself too thin and shouldn’t have taken my case if he can’t handle the minimum requirements of communication & due diligence he owes his clients.
She answered “No” on both counts (which speaks volumes for a company consumed with covering their ass). Even more telling was what she said about having no bruise (but with a contorted twist): She testified that she didn’t have a “visible bruise,” but “maybe a bruise on the bone.”
I don’t have the words, but for the scolding she had comin’ to her — this guy does:
TOUGH LOVE USED TO BE TIMELESS
Now everything’s an assault on increasingly fragile egos. As I stand with Shakespeare, I’m in good company in keeping with timeless truths America made outdated. But in my mind, his words would be equally true no matter who wrote them: Just as this bit below by another famous figure no longer with us. At the time — they pounced on him for thinking for himself, but that’s all been washed away. Now he’s forever celebrated for his skills, inspiration, and impact he made on the world of sport.
And now we’ll never know how he could have changed the world — had they been inspired when it mattered most.
I won’t react to something just because I’m supposed to, because I’m a [does it matter?]. That argument doesn’t make any sense to me. So we want to advance as a society and a culture, but, say, if something happens to a [does it matter?], we immediately come to [their] defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we’ve progressed as a society?
Well, then don’t jump to somebody’s defense just because they’re [does it matter?].
If the cops show up at your door in the wake of woke, I assure you — you’re gonna hope it doesn’t matter. When it hits home, you’ll come to know how critical it is to see things as they are, not as you imagine them to be. Alas, like everything else these days, things that once meant something — now mean nothing:
However wrong it was to rob me of my jury trial: If the judge denied it on the basis of my attorney’s ineptitude and gross negligence, I could see that on the basis of this (which I just found out a few days ago):
My perception that you couldn’t — originated around the erratic arrival of the Justice of the Peace trial. Even with short notice, we had no trouble getting a jury. Since my attorney told me it would be weeks before a date was set, I had a moment of respite. A moment — as it was one day later! I don’t fault him for being wrong about something he’d never seen — I fault him for flagrantly failing to learn from it and the mounting costs of being woefully unprepared.
Not to mention he damn well should know what took me seconds to Google.
The haphazard way in which we “won” at Justice clouded the journey all the more. I don’t think the plaintiff ever had any intention of going to trial that day, so when I declined their 60-day deal — they gave us the judgment with an automatic appeal. That provided a boost of confidence we didn’t earn — and while we relaxed for a time, they engineered the outcome with a bench trial. They went out of their way to ensure I didn’t get a jury at County Court (with my attorney’s help, it turns out). Their dishonest tactics don’t excuse the nonchalance in his approach that paved the way for the win.
He acted like it would be a breeze on the basis of what he knows about cops: That at minimum — they would have cited me with something had they thought for one second that I actually assaulted her. Except this is an eviction case that was rigged with the illusion of assault (thereby coming with complexities he seemed oblivious to).
I am not without fault, for the writing was on the wall all along:
When I showed up at his office and had to remind him what my case was about — I should have walked out the door and almost did. But in the midst of people taking pleasure in promoting lies, I found a sliver of hope in someone who saw the truth. That he believed my story before I even told it struck me as wildly premature though (and another red flag of many more to come). Almost every exchange was done in a shorthand manner that never led to substance. It was like pulling teeth to get answers out of him, and it confounds me to no end that I couldn’t get my hands on the very things he should be seeking without being prodded to do so.
Incredibly, he once said something along the lines of: “I’d have to send someone out and that would cost you.” Jesus, that’s the job — and I already agreed to that in the retainer (another deal unhonored by a mile).
I thought we’d made a breakthrough at Justice when I handed him the police report summary outside the building. His eyes lit up with what he had in his hands and how I framed my argument for its use. It’s about time — since I’d sent the summary twice before by email and provided a printout in my piles of preparation. Strangely, I was doing all the preparing — which I wouldn’t mind so much had he actually looked at it.
What part of “Please read it prior to our meeting on Monday” do you not understand?
He flipped through my materials, spotted the bit about coffee cups, and instantly scoffed at how it would be seen by a jury. Is this a law office or social media? I expect that crap from automatons with the attention span of a child. I just thought a lawyer would respect his intelligence enough to process information prior to casting judgment on how the cups are connected to what happened here.
I know how some will see it . . .
But if it comes up, it’s your job is craft an argument on what they should see.
It’s not about the cups, but rather how it’s tied to the history of unacceptable behavior by this company. And since I took the manager to task on this topic last summer — it’s vitally important to understand all aspects of the story so you’re not caught off guard (as in, exactly what happened). This guy gets the judge to shut down that avenue — then blows the barricade wide open for them to frame another incident in their favor:
Contorting the truth in a kangaroo court that caters to their kind — where technicalities & lies go a long way while the whole truth goes nowhere.
Instead of admitting he f#@ked up, my attorney played it off like he meant to do that. You meant to let that Junior Associate make a fool out of you? I knew the second you opened a door you’d just closed — he’d walk right in. I’d welcome that had my lawyer listened to me when I repeatedly tried to tell him what could happen (and how we could use it to our advantage to paint a more complete picture).
As opposed to the pixels preferred by opposing counsel.
It’s impossible for you to fathom how sickening it was to watch that office manager with a split personality (warm & open in one way and ice-cold & calculating in another): Put up her hands to portray “Go Green” as she gutted the truth without mercy. With that look of immaculate innocence on her face — she sold it like I stormed into her office simply because of a sign and my hidden stash being stolen.
That someone felt the need to take my cup in a cabinet was the larger issue in question (a need they created to “protect the planet” with their goddamn greed).
According to the witness, the agent was a “true professional” for “remaining calm.” According to reality, the witness is wrong! First off, that “calm” trope is as trite and intellectually lazy as it gets. Secondly, she has no knowledge of the glaringly obvious patterns of behavior by a person who doesn’t care about her job or the customers that provide it.
From the first moment I met her she was cold as ice — and equally frigid in my handful of interactions that followed.
So that “calm” is a completely unfeeling employee — devoid of empathy or any concern about her responsibility. That became abundantly clear the day my care package went missing without a care: Missing in the Mailroom: What Professionalism Really Looks Like and What it Doesn’t
This — is how a real pro rolls:
My Lawyer Barely Opened a Box
With his history of meetings falling far short of even the most bare minimum of expectations, I wasn’t about to go to another until he told me what it was about. Incredibly, he had the nerve to cry foul about my cooperation — threatening to withdraw as my attorney if I didn’t show (which was a gift I should have taken).
Keep in mind — this was sent on a Friday for a trial on Monday which we just found out about on Thursday.
From: rmemmer@att.net rmemmer@att.net
Sent: Friday, May 9, 2025 10:53 AM
To: [My Attorney]
Subject: RE: please address each of my questions prior to meeting today
I’ll be there, but let’s be clear about cooperation: At every turn, it’s been like pulling teeth to get answers from you (which is demonstrably provable by our history of exchanges). And since you’re in the business of considering evidence, you should consider that before you start lecturing me about cooperating with you.
“This conversation is not just about ‘switching lawyers.’ This conversation is about the plans going forward.” That’s precisely the point: To properly inform me of what we’re meeting about. But instead of just telling me what’s going on (so I can properly prepare for our meeting) — I had to pry it out of you (at which point I could start thinking about things that I might not have thought of in your office at 2:00):
At which time, too much time has been burned by your kind of “cooperation.”
“These people are on crack”
That’s amusing but doesn’t help me! Are they “on crack” for their $4500 insanity of failing to give a 60-day notice after they kicked me out? $1900 Relet Fee? $2800 that includes “Jury Preparation” after robbing me of my jury with your help? Can they legally evict someone and railroad ’em all over again for not giving notice? I figured I’d find out in a call that never came.
In light of his underwhelming performance, what was I on for thinking that it would?
“This is going to be fun!”
He said with inexplicable confidence in kicking their ass. Since it was clearly the other way around — I thought you might like to make amends by helping me fight those fees and file a defamation suit against the agent. I wanted a new lawyer but had so little time before the due date. When I couldn’t find anyone in time — I paid them and parted ways with him.
Imagine if today they just decided to close all amenities after business hours (without notice or explanation of any kind). After all, if they have the right to do that with one, why not all? But just how far can their “rights” go and still be a business? They violated the lease by locking those restrooms without even attempting to justify it. As “security concerns” are already covered in the lease — that’s a clear breach in contract in my eyes. I’m hoping there’s an attorney out there who sees the same (on that front and this one):
She’s lying about the assault and no rational person would argue otherwise.
That’s clear foundation for a defamation suit against her, but it just now hit me how it applies to the apartment as well. Not simply because of the Assistant Manager’s imbecilic sign below. But rather that they know what’s on that surveillance video — and it damn sure doesn’t reflect the poppycock she’s peddling. She knowingly misstated facts by the use of “women” alone (never mind it never happened in the singular form either). Does she strike you as someone interested in the whole truth (or any truth, for that matter)?
As I would tell this story to the whole world if I could — I find it amusing that she thinks I’d been scared off by her childish antics on a sidewalk. Blurring out her face is a courtesy for those who showed me none. As much as I’d love to expose these frauds in full view for what they deserve — I don’t roll that way. On all my sites I mask the identities of those whose behavior I bring to light (the only exception being public figures).
My aim isn’t to make people look bad — it’s for them to stop looking bad!
To ascertain the truth on any topic: If you’ve got something concrete to go on — that’s your point of entry. By all means, keep the door open in every direction. But by nailing down the definitive first, it paves a clearer path to all the rest. This country does the exact opposite on everything:
Lumping it all together and never even approaching where you should have started in the first place.
My ideas are hardly revolutionary. Long before brain imaging to understand human behavior, we already had all the tools we needed for a hopeful humanity. We didn’t take advantage of the gifts were were given, and what a shocker — we don’t make good use of those fancy new insights either.
The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion . . . draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects or despises . . . in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination the authority of its former conclusions may remain inviolate.
— Francis Bacon, Novum Organum Scientiarum, 1650
With the infinite wealth of wisdom available in books, movies, and music (along with what we can learn from each other): You’d think we’d be living in a very different world by now. But instead of building on the gifts we’ve been given, we squander the very things we revere. What’s the point of being inspired if you don’t act on the inspiration?
When I saw 12 Angry Men in high school, it was a life-altering experience (same goes for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington): Each one a masterclass in educational entertainment.
People make mistakes, could they be wrong?
Juror #3 (Lee J. Cobb): Hey! What is this? Love your underprivileged brother week or somethin’?
Juror #8 (Henry Fonda): I’m just saying a coincidence is possible
Juror #3: And I’m saying it’s not possible!
And I’m saying that last line embodies what America has become. He might be right — maybe it is “love your underprivileged brother week or somethin’” (but he doesn’t know that for certain). As the story unfolds, you find he’s got some history shaping what he sees. He’s carrying a heavy load with a lot of baggage blinding his view, but little by little — he allows others to break down those barriers.
That’s a helluva lot more than I can say for the hermetically sealed minds at this apartment and America as a whole. An eviction on my record and those savages getting their fix in fees — don’t even come close to what bothers me most:
The lie of it all — and the fantasyland people fashion for clinging to beliefs that cannot survive scrutiny. A ton of that goin’ around!
Sounds of Silence:
The Deafening Noise of a Nation Decades in Decline
As in what it takes to understand . . .
Every single story, slide, image, title, caption, quote, and how it’s all connected in the video above (which captures the essence of what I’m out to say and do).
