posted 04-04-2001 11:58 AM            

We have rain damage to our ceilings and the kitchen sink is stopped up and the guy who did the reroof left the shingles in the back yard. We have problems but we are not in immediate danger of life and limb.

So now we are to be forcibly removed, the County says we have no legal rights or recourse in this matter. They took our animals away this morning.

I wanted a lawyer to get an emergency stay so we could fix the worst of the problems and let my Mom stay in her house. But I can't get anyone to call back and time is slipping away here. They are coming in the morning.

My hotmail addy is uhuru1701@hotmail.com if anyone wants to reach me. I'm not sure when I will have access to a computer again and just yesterday after four years, I just got worker's comp to agree to train me in computers and as a web designer and I was going to be able to spend up to $16,000 in software, too. Now all of that is gone.

And I just brought my Mom home from the hospital this morning (after yet another trip to the Emergency Room).

This is going to kill her.

Sorry for telling all my woes. I wish I could make them wait just 30 days. But I need a lawyer for that. Don't have one. Have less than 24 hours to do something.

Over and out.

PEACE,
uhuru1701

posted 04-04-2001 12:01 PM            

You want I should break some legs?

posted 04-04-2001 12:03 PM            

Are there any news channels that would care about your plight or help you in anyway?

Do you have any legal aid offices where you can get free help?

posted 04-04-2001 01:43 PM            

You can use a local library's computer to stay in touch.

You have a voice, sing loud and clear.

Sombida

ps, I won't keep my # posted for long.
All the best.
S

[This message has been edited by Sombida (edited 04-04-2001).]

posted 04-04-2001 02:22 PM            

I wish I had a bag of money cuz it would definitely be yours . I'll even contact Oprah's Angel Network if you'll only email me your name , address , and a phone # where you can be reached . You've been a blessing on these boards for all of us , and it just don't seem fair since you were planning to go to school . I know your proud Uhuru , but you got to do this for your mom as much as for yourself . If you'll send me the info I'll call Oprah a million times a day if I have to !

Hang in there ,

Wanda

In case you don't have it , it's...
HoaxedTotem@hotmail.com

posted 04-04-2001 02:25 PM            

I am so sorry. You and your mother will be in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you all the best.

posted 04-04-2001 04:05 PM            

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mother at this difficult time. Stay strong.

posted 04-04-2001 05:04 PM            

Where are they going to "dump" you. Took your animals. That one would cause me to get a gun and hold them off at gunpoint. I can't even believe how fucking angry I am!

I agree with a number of people. DO NOT take this lying down. Call everyone you can tonight. There have to be some hotlines, legal and otherwise. What about the ACLU. Your civil liberties are DEFINITELY being abridged. Isn't there a friend who can take your animals. Fred, can you? That would kill me and make me want to kill this freak social worker.

What's her name and number? I can at least call and harangue her. So can other people here. Maybe if she gets enough call, she'll start to worry about her precious jobs.

Come on people. You can make a call. One little call expressing your outrage over the abuse of the system. Prayers and good wishes are fine, well, and good but they're not going to resolve this for Uh. And for Pete's sake, hasn't she contributed much more than enough to everyone here to deserve at least a call?

Call the media, Uh. One of them should pick it up. But some emergency legal clinic seems like your best bet. Doesn't anyone know an attorney in LA who could help?

I don't know what more I can do for you, Uh, but I'm sure willing to make some calls for you if you tell me who and where.

posted 04-04-2001 05:12 PM            

I saw your message and called that guy. He had some good advice but time was too short to do anything about it today. Tomorrow may be too late, but we shall see.

Everybody,

We are having a ceiling contractor and plumber show up here at 8:00 AM but when the Sheriffs show up here at 11:00, that may go bye-bye. The ceiling guy says he can fix our ceiling in one day and he'll MAKE his guys do that. I told him what Building and Safety was trying to do to us and he hates them anyway. So he's going to do his best. He'll even do the work now and wait to be paid.

I got a lawyer to talk to all these people and now they are saying that they won't actually bodily carry us out of here (I think they will) but if we do not leave, they will cite my Mother for a misdemeanor and issue a warrant for her arrest and mine as well, since I won't be vacating, either.

So they might put my 83 year old Mother who just got out of the hospital in jail and me with her if we don't leave here. But we have to be here to get the repairs made. And they won't let us stay here until the repairs are made.

But I now know the source of all of this. It's our nutty neighbor who has been trying to frighten my mother out of her home for years. After all the county people left, he sent his friend over here to ask if we wanted to sell our house now.

This guy SOOOOOO hates my guts because I'm Jewish and he's never seen a white person come here as my friend. I swear to God, I'm not prejudiced....I really, really do have white friends. They just don't come here. The neighbor hates me, I think, because I'm white with non-white friends. Plus I had my Mexican boyfriend living here for seven years. He REALLY hated that.

So we are being squeezed. I had wanted to get my Mother out of our house tonight so the Sheriffs can't get her. I still want to do that. But I can't leave her alone and yet it is physically impossible to transport all her home health equipment in one car trip. And it all has to go with her at one time. I asked them to wait until Saturday so my sister could help, but they won't. So even if we want to comply with the order to vacate, it is physically impossible to do so.

I have a lawyer who will be here tomorrow when they show up. Hopefully, the ceiling guy and the plumber will already be at work when they get here.

Thanks Hoaxed, you made me cry, you are so nice. I tried calling or emailing Oprah over a year ago for my Mom. They never answered. And this is a right-now emergency and I don't think even Oprah can do that kind of miracle. I know if she knew my Mom, a retired kindergarten teacher, that she would love her and want to help.

It's going to take some REAL angels to keep us in our home now.

Thanks everybody. You all are the only bright spot in today.

AND GOD BLESS YOU, PICKEL, FOR WRITING SUCH NICE THINGS ABOUT MY WRITING AND MAKING MY MOM HAPPY. Your words have kept her spirits up when otherwise she might be caving in right now. I may owe you my Mother's life right now. I just wanted you to know that. You've made a HUGE difference here.

God bless.

PEACE,
uhuru1701

posted 04-04-2001 05:24 PM            

The two worst things are the ceilings and then the old roof shingles against our house that we need to have removed.

Everything else all seems so petty. If I don't care that I have to reach into the back of the toilet tank to pull up the plug to flush because the handle is broken, then why the fuck does Ventura County care??????

And our kitchen sink is stopped up and the guy is fixing it in the morning.

We have 30 year old ugly stained carpeting and they don't like that, either.

It is not as though we are pack rats. We do not have newspapers stacked to the ceilings or anything like that.

Anyway, making them feel more paranoid probably will not help.

But thanks for the thought, Sachet. My kitty probably hates me now because I let strangers take him away. It was awful, he was putting his little paws through the grate trying to get to me and crying. He was so scared. He at least was man enough to defend me and chomp and scratch the animal control guy. My hero.

posted 04-04-2001 05:30 PM            

Call him and tell him you're calling to warn him because you told a number of your friends your plight and a house full of guys who live in the area got so angry that they said they were going to come over and hurt him. Seriously. When he's not looking. You tried to talk sense into them but one had been in a similar situation and his grandmother had died from a heart attack and he wasn't backing down. You're afraid they might actually carry out their threat and want to warn him to make sure to keep his windows closed and doors locked.

IOW, scare the shit out of the son-of-a-bitch. That's the only language people like that seem to understand.

Also, when things are more settled, talk to reiningirl. She, too, has a crazy neighbor who plays similar tricks.

I'm happy to hear that you seem to be making some progress. I can't tell you how angry I am about this and how much I'm rooting for you. If there's anything I can do, please just let me know. I realize that all I can do is make phone calls for you but I'll be more than happy to do that.

posted 04-04-2001 05:49 PM            

I dont understand what is going on . How can these people do this to you.

I really hope everything is okay tomorrow. please keep us posted.

side note:
this is what angers me so much about the world. people sit around and cause distress to other for no freakin reason. There are so many horrible things going in the worldright now and they are going to send a police over there to arrest your sick mother. what the hell has this world come to.

I dont get it. and your neighbor sounds like a complete ass. I really get sad when i hear about people who are treated unfairly. I dont like it at all. it hurts me.

People wonder why the world is going to hell its because people are so cruel to others. WHEN THEY DONT HAVE TOO BE

posted 04-04-2001 06:01 PM            

But Uh, are you sure they can arrest and jail you for a misdemeanor? I don't think so. I think they just cite you, much like a traffic ticket and then you have to go to court for trial. But I'm hardly a lawyer and could be talking out my ass. I'm sure Jules would know.

posted 04-04-2001 06:04 PM            

Seems to me that you just need to have your mother (now our little adopted PGL MOM)be able to stay someplace for a day or two with you while the home repairs are done or perhaps your attorney can get you a stay until he can get a court hearing and that should allow you 30 days to get the repairs completed.

don't worry too much about your animal(I had animal control take my pet once and got her back all in one piece - I think she actually liked being with a 100 animals for a couple of days, but she did come home with about 1 million flees) so don't fret that yet; the animal adjusts as soon as they come home.

Your attorney seems to be doing a good job for you and absoultley right about the law - they must give you notice; and I would ask the attorney to get a copy of the Social Workers report - you have a right to see it.

Most important right now is for you to do what is best for you and your mom, sounds like you have really taken some action and got the ball rolling which will help.

This sounds so like something Social Services does. Just last June they took my grandmother away from my Aunt and forced her to go to some care faucility and she had a heart attack while in their care and then get this - sent her back home with my Aunt - to die. Which she did die. There was nothing wrong with her before Social Services took her except she was 97 years old and she had fallen and couldn't get up (no jokes people)
so social services can cause people all kinds of problems.

You can work on the problem neighbor later, first thing is to get you and your mom safe and fix the house. Geez throw the roof tiles in his yard! (just a little joke)

I don't think press is what you need; I think you have what you need as far as an attorney and the repair people.

UHURU, YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS OKAY. YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE WILLING TO HELP YOU, LISTEN, WHATEVER OKAY. SO HANG IN THERE YOU ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AND YOU'VE GOT THINGS GOING. JUST CONCENTRATE ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

posted 04-04-2001 06:11 PM            

Thanks everybody. We're doing the best we can.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

I need a miracle.

Maybe one will still happen. You never know...

posted 04-04-2001 06:13 PM            

Again I'll qualify my lack of legal expertise, but from my experience have found that if you're lawyer is right, and it's a matter of law that you have to be issued a warning prior to an eviction, then the state's case will be thrown out. Unless they can trump up some sort of "proof" that a warning was issued. It depends on how the law reads. If they have to send a certified letter and they didn't, then there's no way they can prove they issued the warning.

I'm saying this because I won a suit on a similar issue.

The only problem is when you'll be able to win your case. If your complaint can't be settled expeditiously, then you may have to wait. And that's not what you want.

Jules, please weigh in. Am I talking out my ass here? I don't want to be giving Uh inaccurate information. I just want her to feel better and stronger regarding her position.

posted 04-04-2001 06:21 PM            

You'll get through this. Your mom, too. Trust that God does everything for a reason, even when they're really hard ones for us to figure out!

posted 04-04-2001 06:31 PM            

I think Sachet is right. You HAVE to have received a warning and given a given amount of time to repair the building. If that did not happen then you have RIGHTS TOO.

Knowledge is power. Go to http://prairielaw.Askme.com
and www.findlaw.com http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
you can search the California Code
and another thing I've done which was effective - start e-mailing every attorney with your circumstances and ask your questions and you'll get replies.
Just go to internet search and type in attorneys California and start checking lists and e-mail every single one...just copy and paste it won't take long and you'll find someone with answers.

and you can post a question at the Prairie Law and they will reseach it and give you an answer or where to find the law.

601 South Ardmore Ave.
LA, CA 90005
fax 213-385-9089

Pro Bono law office for civil rights

posted 04-04-2001 06:37 PM            

then if you feel your rights were violated and you would like to check into the civil rights factor - I will give you the name of an attorney that I know personally (he defended one of the police in the Rodney King trial and he's good; and quite handsome too baby thought I'd make MOM smile about that

Tell mom I have you and her being prayed over right now from people all over the world for a miracle tonight.

Trust in the Lord with all of your strenght and might.

Love ya,

posted 04-04-2001 06:46 PM            

I was very distraught when I heard the news. I had to come over here and give you my support. If all turns out well in this, you probably can turn around and sue the neighbor for fraudulent report to a government agency and slander. If you can find evidence that he did this, you can ahnd over the info to the same police and explain to them the conversations regarding the sale f the house.

Right now, concentrate on your mother and the safety of yourself. I hope the contractors can doa good job on the roof, check to see if you can get the carpet cleaned too. I would lend you my little steam cleaner, but I am a bit too far from you. my thoughts are with you. YOu have always been a strong supporter of everyone here with our writing and general community support. Even your website just enhances this community to great heights. You have strong love and support from us. Don't hestitate to ask us for help. If there is any PGLers in your area, contact them for support in a very trying time. If it comes down to it, have one of us help you transport some of your mother's medical equipment anywhere you want it to.

For anybody who is in uhuru's area, please offer them some of the help they need right now. If it is a meal, a nice gesture of time, or if they need some people to help them with getting that medical equipment out of that house, we are a community. All of us have benefitted from uhuru's writing, her website, or the person she is on the forums and chat. This is our chance to show her the love she has shown us.

Chereefrog
Ch�rie Sodan

posted 04-04-2001 07:31 PM            

It appears you have your "eggs" in the basket and I hope it does work out but being a homeschooling family I also know how hard it is to deal with the unrelenting "juristictional powers" of Social Services. I wouldn't be surprised they show up on your step tomorrow also...Around here we call the prosecuting attorney when they get out of line....I don't know how it is in Cal. But if you appear to be making an effort reason should waive their threat especially when other parties are present. Having the contractor's commitment personally will help.

Miracles you've asked for and I am here to say I've seen many in my life. The sovereign grace and mercy of God abounds for those who ask...I don't mean to sound like "Touched by an Angel" here, but the door has to be knocked upon before the answer can come.

Being a Christian or being a Jew, prayer always accompanies the faith and right now is the time to utilize it. Pray with your mother, she will be blessed....pray for your enemies, so the heaping coals of guilt fall upon them. The "prayer of the righteous man avails much"....those of PGL that pray now is your opportunity to rebuke the spiritual attack against Uhuru and her mother. Standing in the gap for those in need is a worthy moment. Do it!

Not my thoughts but my prayers are with you Uhuru. I have faith that this can change as quickly as it happens......God dresses the sparrow, how much more to those who are in need!

Blessings,
Motherof8

posted 04-04-2001 07:31 PM            

And maybe Oprah won't help , but INSIDE EDITION might . They eat these kinds of stories up ! 83 year old disabled woman and disabled daughter tossed out on the streets . They would have a hay day with this and probably help you out in the mean time . You should try callin them first thing in the morning , maybe they can have a crew there before everyone else shows up .
But no matter what happens , your in my heart aswell as my prayers . {{{{ HUGS }}}}

posted 04-04-2001 09:04 PM            

But the county sees us as being powerless just because we are poor. So they think they can get away with this.

The only thing that would help and it's too late to arrange this, is to have someone at Ventura County Courthouse at 8:00 A.M. when they open in the morning to file my emergency motion for a stay.

I have to stay with my Mom and wait for the workmen to come to start making repairs.

At least the lawyer I built a website for is going to be here tomorrow to intercede for us, not that I think it will do any good. The website I built for him is for his nonprofit organization that fights childhood sexual abuse. I never took any money from him because the Jewish faith STRICTLY FORBIDS profiting from (exploiting) another person's suffering. If I'd taken money for that job, God would be like TOTALLY PISSED.

So he's wanted to repay me all this time and now he has his chance. And it is also a commandment to allow another person to do a good deed for you, especially an act of charity. (Shut up, Sachet, I know what you're thinking, but I never said I was a perfect Jew).

Anyway, I'm cleaning and scrubbing and most likely will be up all night. We have two rooms that we use for storage, one for my sewing supplies and patterns and craft stuff and I have shelves on both sides of the room filled with my things. They said that was a violation. Trust me, we're not talking about pack rat crap and newspapers to the ceiling. I guess if you are a reader, and you have bookshelves, the government can come and get you. Shades of Farenheidt 451.

This is all because I am poor. I'm not whining, I can live with being poor very well. And I'm not being bitter. I'm just stating a simple fact.

PEACE,
uhuru1701

I don't know when I'll be making my last post here. Maybe late tonight, maybe in the morning.

posted 04-05-2001 03:27 AM            

If we could only get them to wait just one more day, I could get an emergency stay.

Well, good night all and I'm lucky I know all of you. I hope I'll be back online very soon.

PEACE,
uhuru1701

posted 04-05-2001 03:32 AM            

Lots of Love