Over the week-end, a friend and longtime PMFA reader contacted me with a question that he would like to pose to others in the neighborhood. What happens if you yourself follow all the Covid-19 restrictions, wear a mask when you go out, and don't allow anyone into your apartment, but your landlord or fellow tenants seem to throw caution to the wind by inviting guests and hosting gatherings?
Here is his question to others:
How are people managing the shared responsibility of preventing the spread of the pandemic while complying with the lockdown restrictions known as PAUSE there where they live?
That is, how are your readers (as tenants or renters but also building owners and property managers) approaching the lockdown and social distancing? Do they see it as a shared responsibility or is up to each person to decide whether not to comply? For example, does your building have a coordinated policy?
And if so, do the policies or practices align with PAUSE and Matilda's Law (the city-wide restrictions) and are all of the tenants in regular compliance?
Tenants in our building are very good about sharing the responsibility for keeping the building clean and as germ-free as possible. We all wipe down door handles, we all wear masks and gloves when using the common areas, we all make space for each other. on top of that, most of us meet up outside our building for the 7PM "clap because we care" where we all maintain social distancing. It all adds up to helping everyone feel that we are looking out for each other.
I know other buildings have similar set-ups but i'm curious how many of your readers are using practices like these or if it's a sticking point for some people?
With that in mind, what happens when tenants don't get with the program? What if it's not the tenants or renters who are the problem but instead it's an owner who is also a tenant?
I'd love to know how your readers are managing these concerns and how they feel about all of this?
Furthermore, if tenants / renters / landlords don't comply, how are people handling that? What's the right balance between "live and let live" and "shared responsibility" and what ethical concerns are they dealing with so that we can all get through this pandemic without getting sick?
For example, (1) what happens when a tenant won't wear a mask or take protective measures when using the common areas (like the stairwell, the hallways, the entry ways)? (2) what happens when tenants won't collect their mail or deliveries or even take out their garbage (because they don't want to leave their apartment)? (3) what happens when a tenant regularly hosts gatherings?
The PAUSE restrictions are very clear - NO GATHERINGS of ANY KIND for ANY REASON, in particular no gatherings between people of different households (even if they are from the same family) - it's simply not allowed because it creates too much risk of contagion by introducing potential new vectors for the spread of the disease.
I know of circumstances where tenants regularly host gatherings and outdoor get-togethers where social distancing is not practiced and not only does it seem very unwise, it also seems very disrespectful to all of the people on that block who comply with PAUSE and Matilda's law and have been doing so during these last two months.
Why do some people act like they are the exception and therefore give themselves permission to ignore the rules?
How does this affect the others who have made a lot of sacrifices as part of complying with the rules?
Of course, there's also the reality that a significant number of people simply don't believe the COVID19 is dangerous. they question the very need for restrictions of any kind.
This is not meant to be a debate about how the lockdown is affecting businesses - we all know it's bad, and we all know that businesses in our neighborhoods are really hurting, but that's a separate conversation.
This is a question of how renters and tenants, building owners and landlords are handling the restrictions and guidelines in the buildings where they live.
Thank you.
How about it? Have you had issues with a landlord an/or fellow tenant not being as careful as you in your building? How have you handled it? Is this a bigger issue in brownstones/townhouses or does it affect larger buildings as well?
.JPG)
