In our daily lives we're expected to blindly follow the mass and comply with orders from the above. In my case that's from Housing, Code Enforcement, the County Health Department, Police, Fire and other agencies.

Recently Los Angeles changed the way people dispose of food products. We can not long place food scraps into our common waste trash bags and throw it out into the Black Bins. Instead we are told to throw the raw food products (Fruit, Meat, Fowl, etc) into the Green Yard Clipping Bin--without any containers. So Composting will be easier to achieve.

By dumping food waste into out Green Bins, that are not air or water tight, it will attract all sorts of flying bugs -- that in turn lay eggs and worm larva will flourish.

Then tenants lights will attract these flying bugs into their units, the screen mesh isn't narrow enough to limit microscopic flying insects.

So I got multiple violations from the City. #1, TENANTS are NOT putting all of their scraps into the Green Bins, educate them. #2, Your food scraps are attracting insects, please resolve this before we issue a $200 first time fine. #3, Move your trash bins away from tenants windows.

Next you are not allowed to take out your trash bins until 6PM on the day before collection. And after the trash has been removed from the bins, they must be back on your property before 9PM the same day.

Sell and move.

With all of the hassles, red tape and politics,

why stick around to live / work in misery,

At one time I could sell and get market value. But since ALL tenants in an apartment building have to earn over $60,000, or the city won't allow a developer to demolish and build townhomes, etc, values have declined 50% on those types of properties.

I live in Los Angeles, too, in Northridge, just like you, Robert. But I haven't seen any of the negative effects that you are claiming.

The purpose of the composting program is NOT so that "composting will be easier to achieve". It is so that perishable wastes can be kept out of places like open landfills, and instead turn them into a new recycled material that helps offset the production of climate changing methane greenhouse gas.

Its also not a city policy. It is a statewide policy. If you don't like the weather, why don't you do something about it? Well, while the rest of the country (world) complains about hurricanes, floods, ice storms, tornadoes, CA is actually doing about it, and now.

You are stuck in the old-time world, unable to see the future, even when it is right in front of you. CA is the world's 5th largest economy, only after China, while Japan and Germany are in danger of being surpassed by The Golden State (which is ONLY a state, not a country). Thats not just a coincidence. Perhaps by limiting your point of view to that of an advanced handyman, you are unable to see how CA is the most advanced state in the Union. The outstanding universities, the advanced science capability the policy-making structures. The Swedish teenager only complains to the rest of the world, Its only CA that is actually doing something about it. The research, the technology, the policies, and the enforcement of lazy landlords like you, Robert, are all hard at work in CA, busy solving problems to advance our society.

I don't see any flying bugs, eggs, larvae, or any other downside to the program. If it does happen, you can be sure that a CA scientist will be there to solve the problem. The problem of vehicle air pollution was solved long before I got to CA (47 years), we also do computers, software, AI, space travel and also music, dance and cinema.

You're too lazy to get your tenants to recycle their trash in the new way. These problems of getting your tenants to cooperate are easy to solve, if you educate your head and use it.

Today's morning news talked about NYC compost program being the largest in the world. They did say there was a smell associated with the composting trash so I would think if it was left under a window that it might start smelling like rotting eggs - well since it might be rotting eggs.

I understand Robert you are not happy with being told what to do. So I guess you have to make a decision on what you want to do. Enjoy the city oversite or reinvest in a less restrictive environment. Things haven't suddenly become the way they are in SoCal.

So its a populist movement that is causing this year's weather disasters?

Poor RobertJ.

That nasty old city is after him again for requiring him to do something.

What he doesn't like, of course, is anyone telling him what to do, so he demonizes them as being after his money.

Of course, we all have our rights and responsibilities, and the city should and will go after those that shirk their responsibilities. If the effort of being a landlord is too much for you, you should consider not being a landlord.

No one is ordering Moshe or Robert to live where they do. I prefer to have Moshe another 8,00 miles further away. People are allowed to have an opinion (unless of course you were a former president).

Moshe you can believe anything you want. I still will probably not agree with you. Looks like those who didn't follow Bruce Norris research are paying a nasty price. You are allowed to disagree with him as much as you can disagree with me. Largely, investors create their own good or bad luck. Likewise everyone is free to claim weather disaster to blame why they are where they are.

Back in '85 our neighbors lost it all in a tornado. You create your own good luck - or you don't

***Green Yard Clipping Bin--without any containers. So Composting will be easier to achieve.***

I don't know if this is practical or not.

Could you purchase lids for these Green Bins and attach the lids to the Green Bins with a chain or something similar so at least renters would be able to cover the waste and perhaps help with the flies and odor?

***#1, TENANTS are NOT putting all of their scraps into the Green Bins, educate them.***

Could you send all your renters a note letting them know of this requirement via e-mail (read receipt requested) or certified mail? Then at least you would be able to send a copy of your "renter education" to the people who are threatening to fine you.

Perhaps install super duper garbage disposals so none of the scraps end up in the wrong trash?

***#3, Move your trash bins away from tenants windows.***

Can you re-locate them?

"Who thinks they can control Mother Nature ?"

I do. and so do most other scientists.

There is no "Mother Nature" just like there is no Santa Clause. Scientists know what physical conditions promote and cause physical phenomenon,including weather, and sometimes even know how to change those physical conditions to promote different results. And more knowledge is being acquired all the time.

We know that dropping silver iodide crystals from an airplane into certain clouds can create rain. A company in Florida has demonstrated that a certain type of oil slick that can be dropped into the ocean from aircraft can sometimes dissipate hurricanes. We know that reduction of greenhouse gases can affect global weather patterns.

We don't need to control "Mother Nature". We need to create the necessary conditions to negate weather extremities, so that we don't need to depend on Deities, special rain dances or the tooth fairy to protect us from the elements.

Have you tried sugar rather than vinegar. Meet with the city and ask how they would handle the situation so they know you are trying.

Me, I would send a note to the tenants to make sure they know what the requirement is. My lease clearly states tenants are responsible for following laws. If they don't and I get fined then I bill them for the fine plus a handling fee.

Bruce Norris-Great guy. Went to a lecture of his back in 2005, Sell Your Worst Properties before the market tanks.

Then a few years later we got together to discuss our results. I sold high and then then waited to buy low. On his advice making over 3M. He on the other hand made 10's of M on lots and then building.

It's not that I don't want to listen. It's just the City doesn't allow for one's life. When my dad was dying in the hospital, the City didn't care and wanted to complete a Code Violation, which was just made up to grant the city extra revenue. They lied and said they sent me out a notice, they sent it to the prior owner, for 8 years before, lying once again. I lost days I could spent by my dads side and he died in a coma. For that I hate them. I investigated and found mass corruption.

Life is the sum of multiple choices for those who believe in creating your own good luck.

You can do the right thing,

You can do the wrong thing,

But understand that doing nothing,

Is normally the wrong thing.

RobertJ:

I'm genuinely sorry about your Dad.

But your complaint about the City not allowing for your life is kind of immature. The City is a very large, impersonal organization, with lots and lots of diverse procedures and affairs, and they are very impersonal. They really aren't set up to stop what they are doing in order to worry about your personal life. [Actually, they are, because you can always get delays and postponements for matters that interfere with your personal life. See your City Councilman.]

When you say, "When my dad was dying in the hospital, the City didn't care and wanted to ...", did you really expect the City to stop in their tracks for your "life"? Actually, did you even ask them to? Actually, Los Angeles City is pretty good about that. Its The County of Los Angeles that is really dysfunctional.

Robert, you really don't know how to proceed in your landlording. You ought to get yourself an attorney, not to sue anyone, an attorney who knows how to "fix things" at City Hall. There are attorneys who specialize in that. With your Dad being ill, you could have spun all of this headache off onto the attorney, for a price he would have come back with a settled solution to your problem, maybe even one that would be more satisfactory that you were able to accomplish yourself. Make friends with your City Councilman, Give him a little money for his campaign, once in a while. And let the "fixer" attorney handle your city problems. You'll probably save you money which will cover his fees. You'll live longer.

Robert, DON't YOU UNDERSTAND that there are people who make a living from solving problems like yours? GET ONE OF THEM!!!

If you don't know how to solve these problems yourself, then get someone who does.

Bureaucracies work that way.

Yes Moshe, you are 100% correct. So with some of my tenancy issues I wanted to hire the "Best" Eviction Attorney around.I consulted their staff, other attorneys with that firm. At the moment they have around 28 attorneys on staff. So I asked the golden questions and got this response.

When a landlord calls up and speaks with an attorney, they are advised to "Sign the client up"! Collect the eviction fee's via credit card and file the case.

I asked for the numbers.