The secretary at the sheriff's department told me to take her to the hospital and call us after the doctor had examined her. I explained that we'd whisked her out the second she started to have a problem again, and that she didn't need to go to the ER. Thus the only solution, by this logic, would be to take her back into the apartment until she was sick enough to need EMS, and there's no way in the world that I'm going to go that route to get help. She said that she wouldn't presume to give me medical advice. I laughed like a crazy person. She said that there's nothing they could do and no deputies to send.
So we sat outside (it's 50 degrees) until my mom got back from seeing Gigi, my grandfather who's recovering from a broken hip and a broken should in a rehab facility an hour away, about twenty minutes later (she was already on her way home), feeling completely powerless. This is so frustrating.
This person (I don't think he deserves the title "man") was warned last night that the smoke coming through the walls was making our daughter sick (and that they intended to fix it, but were waiting on the handy man) and asked to refrain from smoking inside until they fix it. Instead he's spent the entire day filling his apartment with smoke. He's doing this with the full knowledge that this is making a child sick. And the sheriff's department won't even send someone out to talk to him.
I feel hopeless.
The managers aren't home. We don't have anyone left to call.
Our house is full of smoke. All our belongings stink.
So Paul is trying to air the place out. And I'm leaving with the girls.
This is ridiculous. I don't think I've cried this much in years.
I am so sorry. This is a health and welfare situation - you can (1) break your lease (talk to your landlord first and read the lease) or (2) fix it yourself with 24 hours notice and charge it off against the rent.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help. You guys can come stay here - but we are in Sacramento.
Febreeze with antimicrobial and allergen reducer will work miracles on the belongings.
I know this may sound a little nutty, but if you know where the smoke is coming in, would putting a fan there to, so to speak, blow the smoke back where it came from help at all? Even a couple of fans on "high" to basically keep the air-flow one direction?
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you are going through this. I hope it gets better soon!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you are dealing with this. If this happens again and you call the cops, and they tell you to go to the emergency room, you should go, whether or not Sadie needs it.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow you (or Paul) need to go down to the police station/sheriff's office and file a report (both against your neighbor and against the law enforcement). Then you need to go see a lawyer and learn about your legal rights, what you can do if this happens again and what you can do now to recover any losses or prevent this from happening again. (You can often find places that do consultations for free). Then you should contact the news station again and give them an update, on how the police continue to refuse to act and your next door drugie continues to endanger a child after he has been warned and forced you out of your home.
Prayers for you and your families safety at this scary time.
I am so, so sorry. :( I'm praying for you...this whole situation is absolutely ridiculous. :(
ReplyDeleteWere my neighbor's house filling with smoke, I might be tempted to call the fire department.... It's the neighborly thing to do, don't you think? ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut, more seriously, hang in there, my dear. God's still holding you and your family close.
PB Cookie Lady
Oh Cam, I wish there was something I could do to help. I would talk to your landlord about the fact that they are not providing a healthy or safe environment for your family, and check the landlord-tenant laws in California. I know the ones in Ohio allow a tenant to break a lease without repercussion if repeated safety issues are ignored.
ReplyDeleteYour family is in all our hearts tonight.
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I really admire you for standing up to them though and tackling this head on. I'm praying for you guys, and hope that it will all be settled soon.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what someone else has already said... you should take Sadie to the ER regardless if she really needs to or not. The more you do, the better the case you guys have in the long run.
You should threaten to sue your neighbor. What he is doing is totally a form of a harrassment, nevermind that he has a total disregard for you and your family's health. There's got to be some way you can also go after him civilly and criminally.