Court Hearing II

The reason why life is daring is because life is unpredictable. Can you believe that Frankie didn't appear to the hearing although he himself filed the motion? If he didn’t want to show up, why did he file the motion? Just to annoy or harass me?

Today I went to the court to keep PPO. I found that “T” was already there for me. Isn’t it nice and kind of her? Anyway…  It was 9:00 am. My eyes kept staring at the courtroom door. What if Frankie appears? But he didn’t enter the door. I anxiously waited for the judge, but the judge didn’t show up. 10 o’clock… 11 o’clock… Frankie didn’t come into the courtroom. “T” told me, “What if Frankie comes to your house?” Oh… no way… But wait a minute… we all are here, in this courtroom and Frankie knows well that my house is vacant now. Gaaak… Finally the judge showed up and sat on the bench. My case number was so behind. People were arguing before the judge. One man argued that the woman bit him and the woman argued that she got hit until her eyes were blurred. Anyway… there were many human stories. Now it was my turn. Since Frankie didn’t appear, I could keep my PPO without argument. Thank God.

Can you imagine? “T” asked her mom “B”, so the old lady “B” patrolled my house 2 times when we were in the court. Maybe it sounds funny or paranoid. But Frankie was a source of our fear and frustration and we want to be safe. I don’t know how I can show my appreciation to “B” and “T”.

Court Hearing

We feel angry when someone hurts us or treats us unfairly. When I think of Frankie, honestly, I feel angry. One of my most disliked things is to waste time. I waste so much time and energy because of Frankie. Tomorrow I have to appear to the court because Frankie filed a Motion to vacate PPO (Personal Protection Order). Frankly if Frankie has no intention to come back to me to harm or hurt me, what is the reason of his filing of Motion to lift PPO? It’s really stressful and time consuming to prepare for the court hearing. And why should I spend another couple of hours in the court due to Frankie? But I have heard that a Russian squatter was stamped to death by the property owner.  His dead body was found 11 days after his death. I’m not sure if the property owner was charged for a murder. Compared to that, isn’t Frankie lucky enough to be here? Anyway… I wish I can keep PPO at tomorrow hearing. 

Criminal Mind

What is a criminal mind? With good reasons, I had to bump into Frankie many times, and the acts of Frankie were truly ill and repulsive. But many of Frankie’s acts were perfectly legal, although he crossed the border numerous times. I asked myself many times, “What makes the acts of Frankie perfectly legal?”

In modern society we’re judging crime based on the man-made rules and laws. When someone breaches the rules or laws, s/he is guilty for a crime. But we all know human life is not so simple and with that reason we have great sympathy to Jean Valjean and consider “Les Misérables” one of the greatest novels, since it gives us a good opportunity to think about laws. I also want to point out that law lacks morals and the ability to consider the complicated human circumstances.

American rules and laws allow squatting. Frankie was supported by laws and protected under the wing of those laws. Thanks to Frankie, I realized how a crime could be perfectly legal. No matter what the law says, Frankie’s acts were based on the criminal mind. I want to ask again, “What is a criminal mind?”

Criminal Mind is an ill will to harm or hurt someone although there is a way to opt out. Criminal Mind tends to create hells unnecessarily. His/her ill acts are not coming from human instinct to survive or from a basic urgent necessity. For example, a soldier kills an enemy on the battlefield. We don’t call him a murderer, not only because he was empowered to kill enemy, but also because his situation is urgent survival situation - if he doesn’t kill his enemy, he must be killed. But when a soldier kills an unarmed civilian without an acceptable reason, we call him a murderer because there exists a way not to do so and it is his willful choice and abuse.

With the above reason, I believe that Frankie’s acts were made by criminal mind. If Frankie had no job, no place to go, and was in urgent need, we cannot simply call his squatting criminal. But Frankie’s squatting was not made in urgent need. Most of all, when I asked him to move out, Frankie became well aware of that my family and I suffer from his squatting and threatening.

However, Frankie acted as if it was his right to squat in my house and intentionally gave as much damage as possible. Today’s laws cannot distinguish between “criminality” and “illegality.” Frankie’s acts based on the criminal mind and its criminality was perfectly legal until he threw the fuel on us and was finally charged.

Laws alone cannot lead our society. Again Criminal Mind wants to create hells unnecessarily on our earth. What is our counter act? Where is our counter power?

American Squatter

When I had to struggle to pay the bloody rent every single month, I asked myself numerous times, “Is housing a commodity or a basic right?”

Mostly we consider it in both ways. That’s why we agree to provide housing at below-market-rates to certain people in need. President Obama also once declared, “it is not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours.”

I think America is one of the most ideal places in the world to squat. In America, squatting has either been tacitly permitted (policemen not evicting squatters) or openly accepted (some cities placing portable toilets and security guards near encampments, a Congresswoman encouraging squatting in foreclosed homes).

Of course, living as a squatter is not always an easy option. Some are squatting in a poor condition property – no water, no power, no toilet, the bath in the kitchen and winter is unbearably cold. But like my squatter Frankie, some are enjoying a free living in a fully furnished house, having hot water, heating and power. Frankie threatened me to stay away, not allowed me to access the house while his utility bills were stacked up to me. He not only enjoys using utilities, he can use them for free while the property owner pays for everything. When I cut the grass, he either called the police against me as a trespasser, or enjoyed my work sitting on the porch smoking his cigarette.

Some squatters like Frankie attempt to take over private homes, temporarily left vacant, and enrage the sense of fair play. Such valuable & generous opportunity (Squatting) shall not be abused to protect the innocent & genuinely needy squatters.

Is Squatting a Movement for Housing Justice?

Right now 2 police officers came to me to investigate Frankie’s PPO violation. They’ll issue a warrant against Frankie due to his willful PPO violation. I told them that it would be basically a simple matter if Frankie moved out peacefully and expressed my sorry for wasting so much public money due to this case. (The police came to my house over 20 times) The police laughed and said, “You’re the first person who worries about public money.” Anyway… they said a warrant against Frankie would be issued.

I want to forget Frankie, but my situation doesn’t let me to forget.

I myself once had such difficult time to pay the rent. Every month I had to pay about one third of my income just for the living space and it was pain. But when I ask myself, “Will you squat in someone’s house?”, my answer is, “Maybe no.” The reason of my “No” is not only based on my lack of ability or courage.

America is one of the richest countries, accustomed to surplus. We have a surplus of food, clothes, materials and a surplus of real estate. 14 percent of living units in America are vacant at the end of 2010 with some reason. Families and individuals who can no longer afford the cost of living may throw a question, “Why not use them?” But I want to throw a question, “What if the property owner doesn’t give you consent?” I’ll make clear that when the owner gives consent, it’s not squatting anymore.

Most of Americans have a surplus of food, clothes or materials in their basement or garage. Can we use them just because the owner doesn’t use it now? Can we step into their garage and grab something with an excuse they don’t use it? We don’t and we can’t. Then why and how is such grabbing allowed for the real estate under the name “squatting”?  Can the basic right to personal space bloom based on the squatting? I don’t think so because a squatting is based on the damage and nuisance to the property owner. There exists no mutual consent. That’s why we need to create other and better options for the people who need a home.

When Frankie needs a home, he should have talked to me to find out a way. Frankie cannot just demand to live here. Can Frankie’s squatting be justified as a lawful movement for housing justice? I think not. Many historical revolutions began underground but none of them succeed when it’s unfair. Our history itself shows that justice always works with time.

Dear Frankie,

Dear Frankie,

I never met a person who was so mean and disgraceful to me like you in my life. I still think of you because the business between you and me is not finished yet.

I have read the motion to terminate PPO you have filed. You still wrote this property as “my house”. I don’t understand how you can still claim it’s your house. How can you stand face to face before me yelling and shouting at me, considering what you have done to my family and me? I must ask you, “Did you kill Jerry? And after Jerry’s death, did you believe that the house is yours now?” If not, what is your ground of belief that this house is your house? I must tell you that this house didn’t even belong to Jerry, it was the property of Jerry’s sister “B”. You picked the wrong card.

When I offered you to talk, you refused and even sneered at me. But I’m still asking you to focus on your future, not me. You’re acting as if you have a power over me. But you don’t. You did what you wanted and gave us enough hurt, pain and damages. Even if such things are allowed by your moral value, it’s not allowed by the universal system. You’ll receive what you did. Please don’t come back and forget the PPO. Put your whole energy into building your future in a better way.

Thank you, Detroit Police Dept.!

My pain and suffering due to Frankie Walton comes from everywhere. When Frankie came back, he made a big mess with the trashcan. The police officer “P” advised me to keep the trashcan inside because Frankie could set fire in the trashcan. Oh… maybe… I pulled the trashcan into the backyard. My pain is… today is garbage pick up day. I usually put out the trashcan on the street Monday night. Sounds funny, but I’m afraid- what if Frankie comes back to snatch the trashcan or set fire in it… I set the alarm clock 4:30 am and I woke up with zombie mood to put the trashcan out. As soon as it was emptied, I put it back inside. “Must I worry about the trashcan? Can I have any peace, Frankie?” I was screaming.

But my family and I truly want to show our appreciation to Detroit Police Dept. When such hectic and funny things happened, the neighbors said, “It’s Detroit!” But I cannot be so cynical because I see the police patrolling this street last night, paying extra attention. I know that they’re doing their best to keep Detroit a safe place despite of millions of tasks and incidents. I’m sure that Detroit Police Dept. has much more works compared to other quiet suburbs.

Anyway… Frankie keeps bothering, harassing and threatening my family and me. And the police can’t stop him, but it’s not their fault. I think Frankie now believes that if he harasses me, successfully runs away before the police arrive, then he is safe. We’ll see if Frankie’s belief is warranted.

Frankie Comes Back

I think I was too naïve. I never imagined that Frankie could dare come back and try to enter the house. But he did. On 8/5/12 at 11:30 pm Frankie came to my house. He checked up the front door key and left. I know that he again disobeyed PPO. However, I didn’t make a police report because I thought he is already on the edge. I hoped he’d never come back because he confirmed that the key is changed. I was wrong. Tonight Frankie came back at about 8:30 pm. Of course, Frankie again attempted to enter the house but couldn’t enter. When Frankie failed to enter the house, he turned over the trashcan and emptying out the trashes on the ground to make a big mess. I stopped him and picked up the tipped-over trashcan. And I immediately called 911. Frankie kept throwing the trashes, swore that he’ll come back and ran away before the police arrived. I evicted Frankie. I obtained PPO. Legally Frankie shouldn’t come back to my house or approach to me. But he was doing repeatedly, already 3 times. Now what more can I do?

Clean UP Frankie’s Mess

Finally we could see the basement floor. It’s really a nice and solid basement. 5 days long we pumped out the water and clean up the basement. It’s unbelievable $360 water was used to fill up this basement. 

I found that Frankie cut the cords of all the electric appliances like freezer and dryer so that we can’t use them. Frankie really did hard work to give us as much as possible damages. With time and through this experience I can see how evil can be our human nature. I still don’t understand why Frankie was so mean and evil to us. He stayed 7 months there for free. What could he expect more? Anyway… I’m so tired and exhausted to clean up his mess. 

Detroit Water Commissioners

When my squatter Frankie Walton was consuming a mysterious amount of water, I called and even went to the Water department to try to shut off the water. But they refused my request because a squatter was living there. Sounds humane. Now as soon as Frankie is gone, I have received Water Shut Off Notice. They threatened to shut off the water if I don’t pay the unpaid water bills by 8/13/2012. There are $361 unpaid water bill.

I went to the Water department today. I was ready to argue. I asked them before to shut off the water, and they didn’t shut off. The Water department was well informed that a squatter was using the water without intention to pay the bills and the property owner wanted to shut off the water. Based on such facts, is it totally my responsibility for the water bills the squatter used? If the Water department wanted to exercise humanity, they should pay for their good will. At least they should decrease the amount for a fair compromise. Of course, they didn’t decrease a single penny, proving their humanity was made based on the owner’s sacrifice.

I even argued that I am a human being too like the squatter. I’m now living in that property. If they can’t shut off the water just because someone is living there, how can they shut it off now? Isn’t it a clear contradiction? They said they could shut off based on the unpaid bills. What a paradoxical policy? Is the property owner just a good meal? I had to pay the bills to avoid shut off. But public policy should be based on the mutual consent to obtain public confidence. People will get resentful when they experience such absurd exercise. Again… they didn’t shut off because a squatter Frankie was living there despite my several requests. If so, how can they shut off despite the fact that I’m now living there?

Frankie Attempts to Terminate PPO

I am truly disgusted at my squatter Frankie Walton. I never saw such ugly and mean human being having no consciousness. Today I have received a court hearing date from the Court. Frankie Walton filed a Motion to terminate PPO (Personal Protection Order). If Frankie has no intention to approach to me, if Frankie has no intention to come to my house again, why does he need to terminate PPO? What is his goal of his Motion to terminate PPO? Does he dare think his threatening and assault don’t justify PPO? Now I realized that my battle is not over. Frankie is still willing to come back to my house and is ready to harass me again. Now the hearing date is 8/29. Who willfully disobeyed the PPO was Frankie Walton. Now I’m very determined to win this battle because there must no more victims by Frankie Walton. Frankie is now well equipped by his ill know-how- how to misuse and abuse our generous legal & police system. Frankie must not harass the people anymore.

Entering the House

At last I entered the house yesterday, on 8/7/2012. Since Frankie didn’t surrender the key, I had to break the key to enter. First, when I entered the house, it was sooooo hot due to heating. Yeah, yeah… heating on this hot summer day. I first turned off the heating. Next, I couldn’t enter the basement. The basement was filled with water. I realized why and how Frankie used the water 6 more times than Jerry.

Luckily I had a pump. I brought the pump and pumped out the water all day long. Over

$300 water bills are stacked up and the water was used to fill up the basement to damage the house. I still have to pay $300 water bills and it’s really an unfair game. Next, I found the kitchen cabinets have no doors. Of course, I once heard hammering sound all evening long and my mystery “what sound is it?” was solved. Of course I have to clean up & fix. If there was no Frankie, I wouldn’t have such unnecessary works, unnecessary spending of money and unnecessary delay. All right…. What should I learn now from my experience? Hate squatters? No way! I still believe we must help each other because we’re humans born with something to do for this world, most of all, for our own life.  

By the way, I have changed the locks. 

What Makes Frankie an Unsuccessful Squatter?

My drama seems at an end now. I think (I hope) my squatter Frankie won’t come back to my property anymore. That’s all I want. Today I just collapsed. I was so stressed and nervous for the past 2 months long. If this battle continues, my health couldn’t bear it. I was diagnosed with a serious illness last July and had to have major surgery 2 times in last August. I’m still in recovery stage, and Frankie was a great pressure for my health. But my soul can’t allow Frankie’s unfair and ugly acts.

Despite my personal suffering and agony, I still consider it’s American beauty. In what county can a squatter call the police because the owner cut the grass? In what county can a squatter claim a right to the garden? Frankie even threw fuel on me at midnight. What does Frankie have more to do? America still has a rich soil where every seed is allowed to grow. Some people may ask how such things happen in this civilized country? I would answer it’s possible because it’s America. It’s not an issue of America’s rich soil, but an issue of each individual’s seed.

Squatters exist in many developed and developing countries. They may believe they have a right to make use of abandoned/unoccupied property for their survival. But I don’t think most would act like my squatter Frankie Walton. I know there might be some worse squatters than Frankie. But Frankie always intentionally harassed and hurt me. When I think back now, I realize Frankie might have believed that he would possess the property forever if he successfully harasses me and makes me give up.

Now Frankie is an unsuccessful squatter. The reason is simple. Frankie Walton was NOT a genuine & innocent squatter. We cannot live only by eating honey. Life demand us some level of sweat and hard work. If you want to squat, you need to confirm if the property was abandoned and perform your duty & responsibility - taking care of the property- as a resident. If your neighbors know you work hard to take care of the property, they’ll like you and you have some credit (of course, don’t say that you’re squatting. Having no money, no place to go, is not a sin. Act like a normal resident.) When the owner comes to you and asks you move out, you have the minimum defense and some basis to deal with them. A genuine & innocent squatter means (1) having no place to go; (2) having no money to buy or rent home; (3) walking into an unoccupied an/or abandoned property; (4) and staying without owner’s permission and without paying rent; (5) but taking care of the property.

I still don’t enter the property to comply with the eviction order. Honestly I don’t expect the inside of the property is fine. I’m ready to fix and clean up. But at least the property is Frankie-free.