The lady may be as prejudiced as you said, but???
 

Red flags were every where in the story (by the way, you are a very good writer and probably need to be writing a story for the movies out there in California where the movies are made). First, the lease was renewed MONTHLY, which should have been a big "WHY" right off the bat. Secondly, you paid the utility bills in the owner's name as if you didn't exist in any form or fashion (did she ask you to pay in CASH ONLY, too?). Thirdly, the fact that you paid over $900.00 per month meant to me that you were in the upscale part of town, since those are New York City prices. Fouthly, the lady drives a white, Rolls Royce and the house was in a college community in the Hills, which could be why she used the month to month contract so she could get you out of the house if an up and coming new professor came to the school and needed a quick place to stay, since accommodations for obtaining lodging was very limited (small town). Fifthly, you parked the police cruiser in the open in the upscale community, where most folks who live in places like that seem to feel "immuned" from law enforcement once they get into the community and openly smoking illegal products is ordinary and openly routine, but then the kids drive around the block and you have the police cruiser just sitting there and freaking everybody out, since these people aren't used to the police being that close, UNLESS, a burglary is in process or a suspicious car entered the neighborhood or something like that; and they probably complained to the lady behind your back to help speed up getting the police cruiser out of the neighborhood. Sixth, it is implied to me that you were working on old Mercedes diesels and the lady drove a Rolls Royce and probably everybody else in the neighborhood drove something new, and they didn't take kindly to seeing you working on your old car all of the time, I guess, since it probably reminded them of the old days and the hard times they had before they got their big break to move up town or up city. Seventh, then you said Tameka being black was the problem, you guessed and suspected. Eighth, you said Tameka had two dogs and a cat. Etc.

My snynopsis is this: Tameka probably was part of the problem, if the lady was really prejudiced. But I would guess that it had something to do with those dogs and the cat in the lady's house. She couldn't have dogs and cats fuming up the house and or the yard so that the next tennant wouldn't want to live there after you moved on. My new neighbor moved in and thought it was ok to just turn her ordinary, plain Jane, dog loose to run the neighborhood EVERYDAY, unchecked as if the dog was a kid and a family member that all the other people in the neighborhood should be happy to see the dog running around and digging up flowers, scratching holes in the lawn, and worst of all, dropping "poop" on your lawn and when I mentioned that I was not going to tolerate that and would call the pound, which she had accused me of during the first month she moved in, not after me spending six years to get the grass to finally grow; and then the neighbor casually asked me did I see the dog leave the poop, which really pissed me off. I detest being asked a stupid question during a "serious" situation! Anyway, when the rental lady saw the animals running through her rental property the very first time she came to check on "her property" and if she was really prejudiced and saw that Tameka was black would have put icing on the cake, so to speak; prompting her natural instinct to save her property by getting you and Tameka and especially the dogs and the cat away from there as soon as possible (ASAP).

BenzDiesel

Fair enough, based on an outside observation, but.....
 

Benz: You are very observant, but you are most unfamiliar with our geographical setting, the rental agreement and the cost of living.

First of all, thanks for the compliment on my writing. I have written technical articles for the local Valley Oak Porsche Club of America and the local BMW Owners Group. I have been a police officer and police administrator for the past 13 years. My specialty is writing department policy and procedure manuals, injunctions, abatement programs and I have also served as Public Information Officer, writing and disseminating press releases.

First and foremost, Visalia is a town of 121,907 people in a totally flat section of California's San Joaquin Valley. The primary source of revenue in this region is agriculture (citrus) produced by farm labor. The elevation is 440 feet above sea level. Annual precipitation is 11.03 inches and average temperatures range from 98° in the summer to 37° in the winter.

The sales tax rate is 7.50% and the average property tax rate, to include local public safety bonds, is about 3,600 yearly. The average home price gain over the past 2 years has been 26.67% and increasing.

There are (4) junior colleges and technical institutes, (7) movie theatres, (28) bars, (14) golf courses, (4) country/racquet clubs, (13) Libraries, (10) public parks, (1) museum and (108) restaurants. Nude and/or topless bars are prohibited by local ordinance.

The local police department has 100 officers and operates on a $21.5 million annual budget. Officers responded to 99,820 Calls for Service in 2004.

Through the first six months of 2005 there were 2,148 crimes reported, which were broken down as follows: 4 homicides, 24 rapes, 92 robberies, 352 aggravated assaults, 639 burglaries, 439 grand thefts, 598 auto thefts and 18 arsons. The primary law enforcement concern in the community has been the emergence of gang activity over the past decade.

Police officer salaries range from $44,029 to $47,858 annually.

The median income is approximately $44,558 to $68,533 and the average home price (4 bedroom 2 bath new construction 1642 sq/ft) is $285.00. An average home payment is around $2,000.00 monthly and the average rent for a 3 bedroom house is generally $1,200.00 a month.

The local community college is situated in the center of town and is not anything like having a state university nearby. The only hills are the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range about 44 miles to the east in Three Rivers, California.

The house we rented was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath built in 1970. It had terra cotta tile floors and was in very nice condition. The Dog and 2 cats were signed into the lease agreement.

In the end, there is no way to justify the discriminatory actions and harassment of the landlord.

Hopefully, these details will clarify your perception...Bert

Also, you must take into consideration that the cost of living in California is considerably higher than it is in Alabama, or Texas. For example, the kind of house you could get here in Houston for $900.00 per month is larger than a $900.00 per month house in California. $900.00 per month may sound upscale to us, but may be the median price for a nice house in a middle class neighborhood in California.

Well Bert, I'll admit that some people are just that way.
 

But also know that prejudice can be meaningful only if someone has "control" over you and can limit your upward mobility or even your current sustainablity by throwing monkey wrenches into your best, layed out plans. But if I signed a month to month lease, I would do it only if I would be the one expecting or anticipating to leave on a moment's notice, 30 days in this case, like one would expect to do living in an extended stay hotel. And even though the dogs and cat were written into the lease, the lady could have didn't really believe that you had animals and still signed a month to month lease. Or didn't think the animals at the time of lease signing would be inside house pets. Or since she drives a Rolls Royce, she thought your animals were of the caliber of the ones that you see on those tv shows where the dogs be competing for cash prizes and trophies. The $1200.00 per month "rent" there was surprising, as well. Primarily agricultural based communities usually have below minimum wage workers making up a VERY significant percentage of the community and is part of what the President is currently trying to make law to keep it that way (paying people to do jobs other Americans are not willing to do for such paltryly low wages). So, I know that $1200.00 a month for these individuals is far worse than a New York City price to stay somewhere. Also the $68,000.00 median income means nothing to me, since people like Bill Gates are averaged into the numbers with the regular folks, which skew the numbers to the point of being absolutely, meaningless, in terms of meaning anything in terms of knowing how the money is spread out among the people. Anyway, my guess that you being a police officer and is associated with the U.S. military, you aren't really concerned about this issue as some others without your "inside" connections would be, in terms of being discriminated against. And Tameka working on becoming a doctor isn't too worried either, knowing that this same lady might end up on her operating table one day and have to hope that Tameka is straight up, in terms of prejudice. Also, in the final analysis, you have to admit that the house was the lady's, and she has earned the right to do with it in any manner she pleases, even if her actions and decision making looks suspiciously discriminatory on the surface. Now, she shouldn't be able to have those same ideas over at the government supported community college where she works.

BenzDiesel

I hope you file a complaint with the proper authorities concerning the actions...both of commission and omission... of the judge in your case.
Judges are only former lawyers...and can be bought or influenced by many different types of factors..... and the reactions of the lawyers in that county to working on your side may be a big clue as to the judge's actions.... which should not go unpunished.
This sounds like a good case for a good reporter... like 20/20 or Dateline...

I don't disagree. But every community has people who do whatever
 

they please and nobody is going to go against them on issues such as this; regardless, to include judges, the police, the doctors, the lawyers, most preachers, school teachers, city council persons, etc, etc..

BenzDiesel

Around me you would pay $1,200 for a one bedroom apartment.....$3,000 might rent you a single family home.

$1,200.00 is actually cheap for a 3 bedroom here...
 

Benz: Although this geographical area is known for its agricultural nature (think Tulare Farm Equipment Show) the area is made up of of mostly growers/land owners and not the workers. They tend to live in small communities in the county.

Yes, the woman was able to do what she pleased, but it will not come without a price. perhaps a drop in the bucket to her, but a nice contribution for us to be assured...Bert

I'm sure at come point she will need the services of the local constabulary and they will be well aware of what she did to one of their own. :D

And I'm sure they will handle the matter with none other than full resolve, BHD. Police actions get a lot of scrutiny generally, in California some exceptions migh be small towns or townships (or a big city like San Francisco!)

Listen, you all think this is a write-your own tv drama script?

The idea of putting chemical substances in her Rolls was bad enough (stupid actually!) but we aren't in Texas and this isn't a television story, fellas!

Lets get back on the subject, that is sorry to learn of your misfortune, Robert. I'm glad I didn't drop down there on my way to Bakersfield for a muffler I still need, to discuss my 617 (its been awhile, remember?) That would have been at the onset of your "problem".

Do everything you can to document the matter and hope that someday someone else does the same thing and it comes up on a desk of somebody that cares and can do something to punish that individual!

Randy Leo why is that stupid? Because what you say goes on record and people, police, terrorists, everybody can read posts even years from now (unless the server crashes again!) and make implications.

You ain't getting anything without chalk lines on the floor in the city for that!:D

$1200.00 a month will buy you "TWO" nice single family homes in this area.
 

But Bert, I know that deep down, you can't have any hard feelings against that lady. I don't know her reasons, but she has some to even think of offering a month to month lease on a house. It might be that she just didn't want anybody to get comfortable living in her house. Anyway, I'm glad you have a good attitude about it, now, but would bet that the lady had you highly upset there for a while during the time you had to sleep on somebody else's floor while your possessions were in storage at a price of over $200.00 per month that was at least the cost of a utility bill in a big house in this area. Also, I know you wouldn't just let the lady's house get burglarized if it was happening all because of a little misunderstanding such as this. She must didn't know that you were a member of law enforcement, since the police cruiser was always gone when she came by and let herself into the place.

BenzDiesel

People suck, period. I am very sorry to hear of your troubles. Some A-holes hate for no good reason. I think it is bred into them, or they learn this sad race hatred from their parents. I shocked my own parents when a teenager. They asked me if I would marry a black woman. I said, "I will marry anyone I fall in love no matter what their skin color is." Sorry to hear of your woes. This rich lady will be like the rich doctor who caused me 21+ surgeries. They have the money to bribe judges and it happens all the time. I was offered over 6 figures to settle my case and I turned it down. They even took me to court to try to force me to take a settlement I refused. I stupidly thought truth would emerge at my trial. Not to be. The judge "Neal" in MA refused to allow my lawyers to use the expert witness for the doctor who butchered me own published medical journal papers. They would have proven conclusively that he lied to the jury which he did. I say this to promote the fact that money buys and wins over truth in a lot of court rooms. I suggest you just move on and not waste any more money fighting that scum bag in court. She has the deep pockets to get away with anything. In my case I am now approaching 2 years since paying $5,200 for the transcript from my trial. I am told I have an automatic second bite at the apple due to the gross misconduct at my trial. To be honest had I known it would have been this long (11 years) since he butchered me I would have simply damaged both doctors who falsified my medical records. I would have been out of jail by now. John

I gotta agree here.
Some people are genuinely good all the time with momentary lapses in judgement or just have a bad day. So there are times when good people aren't.
There are other people who are just sick, twisted, racist, road ragin, tab walkin, stereo stealin a**holes. These people have lapses in badness and for a few minutes or a couple days a month they're nice. Not good-but nice.

Sounds like this landlord is part of the latter group.

I'm sorry this is happening, just remember that if karma isn't INSTANT, it still will come. The longer it takes, the harder it will be for them.

G

I knew enough Cops to know that as much as they go out of their way to protect one of their own during much wrongdoing...(I know this first hand and know a Leiutenant in the State Police who plowed into a woman stopped at a red light at 60 mph and they would have charged her if there wasn't a lot of witnesses who raised hell about it being the cops fault, he was a neighbor of mine)

But they also will drag their feet when someone has played one of their own like she has needs them. And I know in Cali the sort of games they play over "resisting arrest" with certain Motorcycle gangs. I knew a retired Cali State Trooper. So it happens more often than they want to be known. And not just in backwater towns.

Not that every cop is bad....becasue they aren't...but there is a handfull in every squad that will let things like this influence them more than it should.

They do whats required...just as if you had to deal with a very unpleasant customer. You will do what you have to but you aren't going to fall over yourself to go the extra mile if you get my meaning. Its human nature. And I admit being guilty of doing it as well.