FERAL ROOMMATES

The best way to get to know someone is to live with them.   Living together can be a great experience, a so-so experience, or you could discover that you are living with the roommate from hell.

Here’s a profile of a bad roommate:

·     They pay the rent and/or utilities late (or not at all);
·    Their pets chew the baseboards and moldings and YOU repair them;
·    Their dogs poop and pee on the carpet – regularly;
·    They elect you the resident house cleaner and dishwasher;
·    Your personal property is damaged or stolen by your roommate;
·    They tell you  - the day before - that guests are staying for a week!;
·    Their bedroom could be nominated for “The Hoarder Show.”

Think that I’m over-exaggerating?   I’m not.  Really, I’m not!

Caveat emptor – let the buyer beware!

Before being stuck with the roommate from hell (or somewhere in-between), do your research.

• Ask for landlord references for your roommate and call them!
• Ask for former roommate references and call them!
• Run a background check for evictions, criminal records, judgments, etc.
• Get a friend to “vet” your roommate;
• Develop a Roommate Agreement and specify:
• Who does the cleaning and when?
• How utilities get paid and when?
• Each person’s share of the monthly rent
• Overnight guest policy
• Common areas and areas solely dedicated to (a)specific roommate(s)
• Noise level
• Parties, etc.

Discuss the agreement with your prospective roommate BEFORE you live together.  If you can't work things out now, this is a great indicator that you should NOT be roommates.

BUT, then there is the prospective roommate who will agree to anything and breach all agreements once you live together.  Why?  Perhaps they can’t secure an apartment without your credit record or career standing; and you unwittingly sign a joint lease agreement.  Once you’ve signed a joint lease, you will “be on the hook” for the full rent and utilities and your feral roommate will be riding on your coat-tails.

Once you have vetted your prospective roommate, enter into a formal Roommate Agreement before signing the lease agreement.  See the right side of this Blog for sample Roommate Agreements.

And when you and your new roommate(s) finally do reside together, I hope that your shared living experience is as “heavenly” as possible.

P.S. Feral means “not domesticated” or “suggestive of a wild beast.” 

LIGHTING THE WAY

YOU can report maintenance issues to CalTrans via the link below:

Reporting Problems to CalTrans

And, here's the complaint number for our street lights being out and CalTrans response:

"Thank you for submitting a Maintenance Service Request through the Caltrans Web site. Your request will be addressed by the local Caltrans district, and you will be contacted with the status within ten days. If you want to communicate with us further about this request, please refer to the assigned ticket number.
MSR Ticket Number:	548883
Date Submitted:	2013-02-28 10:19:05
California County:	Alameda
State Highway Route:	24
Nearest Town or City:	Berkeley
Nearest Cross Street:	Caldecott Lane and Tunnel Road
Mode of Transportation:	Walking
Direction of Travel:	Westbound
Time Situation Noticed:	8 pm - 9 pm
Type of Situation:	Other
Nature of Situation:	Street lights operated by CalTrans have been out for two weeks. I noticed, last night, that the lights are also out along the highway 24 entrance off Caldecott Lane. Oakland Public Works referred the issue to you on 2/25/13.
Geographic Location of Situation:	120 to 150 Caldecott Lane, Oakland, CA 94618

AN ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE?

On Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, Public Works of Oakland closed the complaint about street lights, Number 414094.

Why, when the street lights are still not working?

Lights out on Caldecott Lane
and Highway 24

Because the street lights on Caldecott Lane stretching from 120 to 158 Caldecott Lane are NOT the jurisdiction of Public Works.

OK, then, whose jurisdiction do they fall in?

Answer: CalTrans

And when will the lights be turned on?

“Give CalTrans a few weeks…”

So, I called CalTrans at the number provided by Public Works, spoke to a human who recorded my message, and then? 

Perhaps we need a soothsayer to learn if (and when) the street lights will be turned on…

KEEPING AN "EYE" ON CRIME

As of February 2013, Oakland has rolled out a new on-line crime report which you can access to determine the types of crimes that occurred in our neighborhood and the dates that they occurred.


See: CrimeWatch

Or for daily email updates, sign up to: SpotCrime

Hmmm. . . I wonder if Illegal Dumping makes either crime register? 

FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS

Many tenants on Caldecott Lane have pets.  As pet owners, we have more limited rental options than other tenants.  But we sacrifice for our pets – they are members of our family.

As pet owners – for at least some of us – our love of animals extends to feral cats.  And, there are small colonies of feral cats living on Caldecott Lane.

Animal Control endorses the Trap-Neuter-Release program (TNR) and recommends “Fix our Ferals,” a non-profit organization in Richmond that will neuter or spay feral cats for a nominal charge.  Moreover, the cat will be given a rabies and feline leukemia vaccination, a dose of Revolution for fleas and worms, and can be micro-chipped.

A cat that has been "fixed" will also have one ear "notched" to alert feral cat caretakers and veterinarians that the cat has already "participated" in a TNR program.

An excerpt from Oakland Animal Services (e.g. Animal Control) follows:

“FERAL CATS

Oakland Animal Services supports trap, neuter, return as a means of controlling the feral cat population...For information...please contact the Fix our Feral’s hotline at 510.433.9446.”

To learn more about feral cats, see:  

Oakland Animal Services

Fix our Ferals

EastBay SPCA

National Organization Promoting the TNR program: Alley Cat Allies

Hillary Clinton once said, “It takes a Village” to create change.  We may not be a “village” but we are a community of tenants with Caldecott Lane in common.  Working together, we can endorse and implement the TNR program and – for the love of all animals – extend our community to these cats that may have been born a feral or have become feral through abandonment, eviction, or foreclosure.

If you are interested in implementing the TNR program on Caldecott Lane, please email: tenantsofcaldecottlane@gmail.com

LANDLORD TENANT RELATIONS "STOOP" TO A NEW LOW

BECOME EMPOWERED TO CREATE CHANGE

Have you discovered that there are an insufficient number and/or size of garbage containers provided for your building?

When you look outside your windows, do you see:

• ·         Construction debris?
• ·         Discarded sofas?
• ·         Abandoned vehicles?

Are the street lights frequently dark at night?

Does your utility bill seem exorbitantly high?

If you have recently moved from Caldecott Lane, have you received an accounting of your security deposit deductions?

Are you wondering what “pet rent” really is?

Or what a “garbage collection fee” is?

These and other issues will be covered in this blog.  You'll learn who to call for help and how you can take initiative to solve some issues on your own or with other residents and neighbors. 

Become empowered to create change!

CLICK IT TO FIX IT! 

I was astounded to receive the following e-mail after using the Widget at the bottom of this blog, and reporting that the Street Lights are out. . .

Your issue STREET LIGHTS OUT has been publicly documented.

Street lights have been out for over 1 week from 120 to 150 Caledcott Lane, Oakland, CA 94618.

35 people received this email including 4 public watchers. 

Public Watchers who received this message:

• City of Oakland
• Oakland Police Department
• Oakland Metropolitan Chamber
• Oakland
• SF Gate Greater Oakland Area

You can create a watch area for the public official you feel responsible by going to www.seeclickfix.com/fixers and attaching their email to their area of responsibility. 

You can always update the issue here.

The SeeClickFix Team

MOVING OUT, WALKING AWAY, AND LEAVING PROPERTY BEHIND

The Volvo, shown below, has been sitting on private property at 130 Caldecott Lane, Oakland with windows open, and doors unlocked for 10 months.

This car was made inoperable in a collision.

Dogs have deposited “droppings” in front of the car and leaves have gathered there.

Having read about the Abandoned Vehicle program, the vehicle was reported to the Oakland Police Department during the second week of January 2013.

The vehicle was tagged on 1/16/13 and both the property owner and the vehicle owner were notified. The deadline to address the issue of abandonment expired after 1/26/13.

However, the Volvo is still claiming possession of the property while owners of operable cars fight for a parking spot . . . 

As to the abandoned motorcycle at the back of 130 Caldecott Lane, it has been removed but the underbelly of the simulated leather sofa is still exposed to the elements, and lays amid construction debris.

But we won't "abandon" our efforts and neither should you!

Click HERE to report an abandoned vehicle to the Oakland Police Department or to read about the procedure.

LIGHTING THE WAY - WHO TO CALL WHEN THE STREET LIGHTS ARE OUT

The City of Oakland is pioneering new ways for us to report street light outages, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, and blight.  You can use CLICK-FIX to make a report and even to upload a photograph about the issue.

I used CLICK-FIX for the first time today to report the fact that the street lights are out spanning from 120 to 150 Caldecott Lanes.  In fact, I simply made a report using the WIDGET at the bottom of this blog where a new COMMUNITY ACTION WATCH group site was created.

This is what the City of Oakland says about Street Lights:

"There are over 36,000 street lights throughout Oakland's city streets. The primary purpose of urban street lighting is to produce safe and comfortable vision during the night on public streets and sidewalks. The benefits of such lighting include reduction of accidents, facilitation of traffic flow, promotion of nighttime operation of businesses and industries, enhanced neighborhoods and increased personal safety and security of the public.

We strive to provide timely response and to repair street lights within 15 days of receiving information that a street light is out.

These street lights are governed by City of Oakland Street Lighting Warrants and Outdoor Lighting Standards (Oakland City Council Resolution No. 77571 C.M.S.)

To request a street light modification (add new, remove, increase or decrease street lighting), please contact the Public Works Call Center at (510) 615-5566 or email pwacallcenter@oaklandnet.com."

Street Lights and Public Works in Oakland

POISON OAK

Did you know that Poison Oak may grow just outside your building on Caldecott Lane?

Hanging Poison Oak Vines

Over 80% of the U.S. population is sensitive to the oil emitted from Poison Oak.  Depending upon the sensitivity of the individual, the allergic reaction can be mild to severe causing swelling, rash, incessant itching, and sleepless nights.

If you think that you have been exposed to this noxious weed, immediately wash:

·         Yourself,

·         Your clothes,

·         Your shoes, 

Your backpack and anything that may have picked up the plant oil.

Use a wash like “Technu” or Fels Naphtha soap.

Wash clothes in hot water with a strong detergent.

Take an antihistamine like Allegra or Claritin to quell the allergic reaction.

It can take up to 72-hours for a rash to appear.

If your reaction is severe, you may need to receive a prescription for prednisone and cortisone creams to “dampen” the itch.

OAKLAND MUNICIPAL CODE, TITLE 8, 8.18.060 - Noxious weeds.

Every person who shall permit to mature on any land owned, possessed, managed or controlled by him or her, or who shall knowingly sow, or disseminate or cause or permit to be sown or disseminated, or shall sell or in any manner dispose of or cause to permit to be sold or disposed of, or shall transport or convey or cause to permit to be transported or conveyed into the city, any seed of the Scotch or Canada Thistle, the Russian Thistle, the Mexican Cocklebur, or any noxious weed, whether such sowing, selling, transporting or conveying be alone or in hay, grass, grain or in any manner whatsoever, is guilty of an infraction.

WATERWAYS versus CREEKS

STORM DRAINS AND CUTTINGS

Did you know that behind each of the buildings at 120 and at 142 Caldecott Lane there is a storm drain which is located on city property?

The drain at 120 Caldecott Lane runs out to Caldecott Lane under the sidewalk between the buildings on 120 and 130 Caldecott Lane.

The drain at 142 Caldecott Lane runs underneath the building.



Photos show “cuttings” from vegetation placed in the drain ditches which lead into the storm drains.

After recently conducting an inspection for blight at these four buildings, the city building inspector notified Public Works to schedule a clean-up of these drains.

Here's what the City of Oakland says about Storm Drains:

"Do your part to prevent a flood!

Remember, never put leaves, grass clippings, oil or trash into the drainage system! And never dispose of those items in the street, because debris could be swept into the system by storm water. Such actions may result in serious flooding during a rain storm. See also:

• Volunteer to Maintain-A-Drain or Stencil Curbs
• Storm Drainage Design Guidelines
• Landslides or erosion on private property (CEDA Building Services)"

Complaint Numbers

120 Caldecott Lane: 447127

142 Caldecott Lane: xxxxx

Storm Maintenance

Storm Maintenance Crews

Click here to Report a Problem to Public Works

PETS AND PET CLEAN-UP FEES

Many of the tenants on Caldecott Lane own pets.

If you are a dog owner, did you know that to keep your dog in Oakland, your dog must:

·         Be licensed?

·         Have a rabies vaccination?

·         Be micro-chiped?

See: Dog Owner Requirements

As good tenants and pet owners alike, we need to work individually and collectively together to responsibly care for and clean-up after our pets.

While some landlords may attempt to impose pet clean-up fees in lease clauses to encourage dog owners to clean-up after their pets, there are actually stiffer penalties imposed by the Oakland municipal code as follows:

OAKLAND MUNICIPAL CODE –TITLE 6, ANIMALS 6.04.070 - Dogs at large

D.      Picking-up. All dog guardians shall pick up after their dogs. Dog guardians shall immediately remove their dog's feces on any public or private property, other than the dog guardian's private property, and then shall dispose of the waste matter in an appropriate trash receptacle. Any person who has custody or control of a dog in a public place is encouraged to carry disposable bags, or a device for picking up and removing dog feces. The City of Oakland encourages the use of biodegradable disposable bags for this purpose.

E.       Enforcement. A violation of the above subsections (A—D) is an infraction as defined at Section 1.28.020(B). This subsection (E) is enforceable by the Oakland Police Department or other authorized city of Oakland employee. See Section 1.24.020(A). Offenders are subject to fines.

F.    Fine Schedule. A first offense shall be punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00), a second offense within a period of one year shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00), and a third or subsequent offense within a one year period shall be punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00). As set forth at Section 1.28.020(B) "any violation beyond the third conviction within a one-year period may be charged by the City Attorney or the District Attorney as a misdemeanor and the penalty for conviction of the same shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than six months or by both.

Cat nap

OAKLAND MUNICIPAL CODE - TITLE 6, ANIMALS 6.04.070 - Leash Law:

A.      Leashed. All dogs shall be leashed and securely and continuously held by a responsible person when on public property. All dog guardians (owners. caretakers, dog walkers) must keep the dog securely on a leash no further than six feet away from a responsible dog guardian, and the leash must be securely attached to a collar or harness at all times when on sidewalks, streets, alleys, parks or other public property. Chain leashes or tethers are prohibited. Dogs may only be off leash on private property where permission from the property owner permits the dog to be off-leash, or in designated off-leash areas (See Section 6.04.080) Dogs left unattended and attached to any stationary object on public property for more than fifteen (15) minutes are considered at large dogs and are subject to impound. (See Section 6.04.210 .

SHRINKING GARBAGE CONTAINERS – RISING COLLECTION FEES

Collecting garbage is serious business.

Collecting garbage is an important requirement for the provision of adequate sanitation.
     

Providing adequate sanitation to tenants is necessary to be in compliance with California’s Health & Safety and Civil statutory codes.

If you believe that there are an insufficient number of garbage containers for your building, report “inadequate sanitation” to the City of Oakland Building Inspector at: (510) 238-3381.

Call Waste Management. 

Waste Management

To get through the voice-mail system at Waste Management, select:

·         Residential customer

·         New Service.

Explain that you live in a multi-unit building, there’s garbage piling up outside the containers, and you believe that there are an inadequate number of garbage containers.

Waste Management will conduct an on-site survey and examine their records concerning the amount of “overages” charged each week for your unit.  An “overage” is a financial charge for each garbage bag left outside the garbage container.

Garbage collection fees are negotiated rates and can be ascertained via the following link:

Garbage Collection Negotiated Rates

But, make no mistake about it.  We, as tenants, have a responsibility to keep costs down by reducing waste and by recycling responsibly.

RECYCLING

California Waste Solutions is the firm that provides recycling to tenants on Caldecott Lane.  

Be sure to follow the guidelines outlined via the link below, and note that there are GREY and GREEN recycling containers.  GREEN recycling containers are for food waste and recycled materials contaminated with food.

Green Containers

Grey Containers

PARTICIPATE in our SURVEY.  You can find our survey link at the top right-hand corner of this blog.  Click on the link and tell us about your garbage collection fees.

BLIGHT ON CALDECOTT LANE

WHAT IS BLIGHT AND HOW DO I REPORT IT?

According to the City of Oakland's Community and Economic Development Agency, blight includes inadequate sewers and street lighting, dilapidated housing, unsanitary buildings, illegally dumped trash, and graffiti.

YOU can report blight and the city Building Inspection Department will investigate.  

Blight on Private Property:

If the inspector determines that there is blight on private property, the inspector will

post a "Blight Notice," send the property owner written notice, and provide the property owner no more than 30 calendar days to clean up the blight.  If the property owner fails to clean up the blight, the City can impose a fine, fees, and contract with a third party to remove the debris.

130 Caldecott Lane: 1300579

Blight on Public Property:

The property line for the buildings at 120, 130, 142, 150, and 158 Caldecott Lane are essentially marked by retaining walls and sidewalks behind the buildings.  The City of Oakland owns the remaining land which stretches back to Hiller Road.  There is a considerable amount of construction debris, pipes, scaffolding, chain link fence, and discarded sofas that have been illegally dumped on public property.

Tracking Complaints about Blight:

Click here to find: Complaints Made about Blight

120 Caldecott Lane: 446689
142 Caldecott Lane: 446691

ILLEGAL DUMPING:

Did you know that, provided with evidence of illegal dumping, that the "dumper" can be fined $25,000 and/or go to jail for up to one year?  See California Penal Code section 374 et. seq.

Post "Illegal Dumping" signs on City property and help Oakland combat blight.

Click here to learn how to: Report Illegal Dumping

Get involved and Adopt-a-Spot from Public Works.  If we adopt public property on Caldecott Lane and organize a few spring days for clean-up, the debris will be moved sooner than Public Works can schedule clean-up, and Public Works can provide a haul-away service for the debris.

Click here for: More About the Adopt-a-Spot Program

BECOMING EMPOWERED TO CREATE CHANGE

Have you found that there are an insufficient number and/or size of garbage containers provided for your building?

When you look outside your windows, do you see:

•         Construction debris?
•         Discarded sofas?
•         Abandoned vehicles?

Are the street lights frequently dark at night?

Does your utility bill seem exorbitantly high?

If you have recently moved from Caldecott Lane, have you received an accounting of your security deposit deductions?

Are you wondering what “pet rent” really is?

Or what a “garbage collection fee” is?

These and other issues will be covered in this blog.  You'll learn who to call for help and how you can take initiative to solve some issues on your own or with other residents and neighbors.