I'm glad to hear that it worked. When people turn their backs, crime grows. And when people believe that it is the police officers' jobs to stop crime and theirs alone, crime grows. We all have a responsibility to stop crime, the police can't do it alone.

Other than trajedy, only we can change our own lives.

As far as owning and operating a business goes,you cannot be 'too' picky about your guests.As far as land owners,manangers etc goes,it is very simple,DO NOT RENT OR ASSOCIIATE WITH CRACKHEADED morons.Junkies,thieves,gangstas.If a person such as a 'land 'lord'can have a place to rent,has the intelligence to collect money on time,certainly they can see trouble coming.The point is more than half do not care.As long as that green comes rollin in..The RMSSYSTEM may sound like a good deal,yet sounds like another plea from a gov that is outpleaded already.Misery loves company and that is final..Who goes to all the damn calls for drugs,shots fired,death and destruction?Women who once were someones daughter?And now are whores on the streets?Men who were moms baby boy?Who are now shooting to death the 'enemy'in their life?Officers.How many officers deal with this destructive behavior as a neighbor?Repeatably?Not many I am sure...If the landowners who rent all these SLUMS would stop being money hungry idiots themselves,maybe a NEW NEIGHBORHOOD could awaken....I ranted,now I am through,and no offense to you for your topic.

Good rant, Redbird. Brings up some points that should never be forgotten. Greed don't get you there, it just gets you into trouble. I don't think landords can see eveything before hand, but they could be a little more curious about their tennents instead of what they say here, which is, "He/She pays the rent, that's all I care." Had the cops out at 3:00AM last Thursday here cause the neighbor's boyfriend showed up, drunk, claiming she had another guy in the apartment. Threatened to knock out all the windows of all the apartments then kill her. She's one of those who colors her hair black, wears black lipstick and black clothes. Landlord could have seen trouble coming and saved us all the drama.

First thank you..Second,it isn't only the way a person dresses or looks,MANY more factors come into light.I guess everyone cannot 'profile'though.I have natural black hair,I adore wearing black,feel nauseated wearing pastels and wear black nail polish..I listen to alot of different types of music,from classic,country,blugrass to hard core I am the devil music.I also happen to be a very loving and caring person.I am not christian either.To each their own I say.It is true that most of the time you can peg one by the outward appearance,although the safest way to judge may be ACTIONS in my eyes.Because that is usually what it all comes down to anyway.Not looks,or tastes in music or body decor,but exactly what the haides a person did wrong.

There are many people who see rentals as strictly an investment. Most large complexes are owned by groups of investors. The first group feigns shock when trouble develops in their places, and are usually in denial. The second group gives the management company a monthly operating budget and then goes to the Bahamas. Squeezed in between these two groups are the 50 units and under privately owned places, who are finding it pays in dollars and cents to run crime free places. We run credit and background checks, require continuous employment and a high income. We enforce the rules, don't put up with bull**** from anyone, and ask them to leave if they think the rules don't apply to them. It's work, and well worth it. People are very sensitive when it comes to their homes, and since they pay a lot for it, we give them the best we can. And then we refer the rejects to a less desirable neighboring city.

I think I should have put my reply down here. Sorry.

Would you refer me to a less desirable part of the city?

It's pretty much a fact of life that people are judged by who they hang out with, what they dress like, how they talk, etc. Sometimes it's not fair. We have a difference in culture here also. Here the "Darkis"--as people who dress in black, wear black finger nail polish, etc. are called--are not very nice people as a group. The have a giant attitude problem, they have issues with authority and they are surley and argumentative. I'm sure that individually there are some who do not fit this profile, unfortunately they get lumped in with the others. And when one of the them behaves like my neighbor, well, then it just reinforces the stereotype.

Our apartment complex consists of 10 apartments and we tennants run it just about like what rinkedo advocates--"We enforce the rules, don't put up with bull**** from anyone, and ask them to leave if they think the rules don't apply to them." Everyone gets along just fine. We're all friends. There's no problem with late night parties, just so long as they are on the weekend, finish around midnight and the tennant cleans up the common area afterward. Obeying the rules and being considerate of other people pays off in the long run.