I've started getting acquainted with neighbors ever since I got vaccinated a few months ago. I moved into the neighborhood just as Covid was starting, so I really haven't engaged too much outside of people immediately around my place. Anyway, there's this one neighbor a block or so over. I'd run into her when walking to the gym, because I'd generally pass her place just as she was leaving to walk with a relatively new baby.
She seemed ok in passing at first. But, then my old social services spidey senses started tingling. I'm about 80% certain she may be a total sociopath. The more she shared about her life, the more I kept thinking, "Hoo boy." To the point I'd start leaving ten mins later or ten mins earlier just to avoid running into her. Her life is a whole crazy thing.
She started telling me how great the moratorium on evictions was. She hadn't paid rent since last spring. I raised an eyebrow. I cannot imagine rent on a house out here is even remotely cheap. But she seemed to take glee at this. Like she was pulling one over.
I have no idea how the moratoriums work. I thought we were still under one. I told her she should be careful. Inside my head, all I could think was, "Do you know how many people need this or they'd be completely screwed, and you're just screwing someone out of money just because you can?!" Oh, I was fuming every time she brought it up. Also, why was she telling me this? Is this something you really want a new neighbor to know about you? She cheerfully declared, "It's not like they can do anything to me!" with a shit-eating grin.
Cut to about two weeks ago. My early morning walk over, and lo and behold, sheriff's cars outside her house. The next morning, all her cars were parked out in the street instead of the driveway. I learned from her neighbors that two younger guys were illegally subletting rooms in the house - she had led them to believe she owned it. She was just pocketing their rents. Boy were they surprised when the sheriff showed up.
On my way home yesterday, there was a U-haul in the driveway.
I honestly don't know what she was expecting. I feel terrible for those two guys.
So many people are genuinely struggling to keep a roof, and she pulled that. I'm getting worked up just typing this out. She's the kind of person Republicans will point to, screaming, "See! People don't need this relief! They're just taking advantage!" Just like they're now doing about unemployment.
And Bay Area being its usual self, housing prices are going through the roof. How my house gained 18% in value, in one year, during a pandemic, is absolutely beyond me. What are people going to do if they get evicted? Shit's not getting any cheaper. If they can't afford things now due to pandemic related difficulty, what are they going to do after?
Sigh. This whole situation is about to suck for so many.
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