Welcome back. Hope your weekend delivered peace, tranquility, rest, relaxation and victory for which ever sports team attracts fanaticism. Our last interaction involved a house on Franklin St. where hoarders exited a residence packed with trash, a situation that needed a five-man crew to clear in four hours. Workers removed enough garbage to fill three truckloads from the house and backyard.(L.A. Parker/The Trentonian) That moving out moment occurred last Tuesday and two days later fortune arrived. We broke for the weekend with introduction of the non-landlord. It’s just about 1 p.m. Thursday when a Caucasian man arrives on the steps of 138 Franklin St. He denied being the landlord but identified himself as “the manager” of the property. First, city records show the home lists as an LLC, or limited liability company, which provides a kind of legal shield for landlords. This setup fosters a kind of six degrees of separation scavenger hunt should tenants attempt to find out the actual names of their landlords. Even if a person had a landlord standing just paces away, he could claim an alias of property manager, jackal or shapeshifter. Still, finding this person connected to 138 Franklin matches imagined joy found in catching a leprechaun with all his magical charms intact, discovering a unicorn in woods cleared near the Delaware River, or seeing a street sweeper hug a cluttered curb in Chambersburg. I pinched myself, an act of self mortification that almost caused unconsciousness, then screamed ‘Eureka’, with all the euphoria that comes with seeing a real, live property manager. (Okay, I’m probably overselling this). We skip the BS. Straightaway, he heard my 25-year affiliation with The Trentonian. “Oh, you’re the guy,” he offered. In Trenton, it’s a badge of honor to know that self-exiled landlords and local politicians become familiar with a personal desire to hold them accountable for their roles in allowing tenants to accept deplorable living conditions. Of course, tenants have a responsibility to maintain conditions of their living space. Still, expectations here hopes landlords make timely inspections to protect their properties and the safety of tenants. Unfortunately, many landlords or LLCs, care only about money. Only two ways exist for a house to fill with such an amazing amount of belongings — bad tenants and disinterested landlords. “It wasn’t that bad,” the property manager offered. Mind you, he had not appeared on trash day. He heard about the three truckloads of trash then said, “Well, we’re going to try to find you some better tenants.” Trucks and workers finally departed nearly four hours after beginning to clear out a rental home on Franklin St.(L.A. Parker/The Trentonian) Sheesh. He did not understand his role in this extremely disappointing affair. A regular inspection can prevent deterioration of properties and assure that no violations of occupancy occur. In this specific case, the property manager might have discovered that tenants operated a catering service and sold meals to the public. A neighbor said phone calls were made to City Hall about the suspected activities. If inspectors did come, they found not even a hint of garlic inside the house. The property manager heard one promise — “You’re not renting this house without an inspection.” That promise got his back up. “Why are you being so aggressive,” he said. First, this was no loud exchange. No cussing. No threats to his safety. And, he heard that I had not moved or shortened distance between our physical space. It’s amazing the perceptions that develop when people stand up for their rights. “Where do you live, anyway,” he continued. My index finger pointed to the house across the street. Couple of beautiful mums and other plants out front, a potted Montauk Daisy plant that greets visitors on the porch. A rental. A call to City Hall delivered an Inspections employee who spoke with the property manager. Plus, a previous complaint produced three fines for various code violations at 136 Franklin St. With more than half of Trenton residents living in rental properties, the time has arrived for revolution, to demand better oversight and the right to healthy and well-maintained living spaces. Yes, this initiative recognizes that tenants have a responsibility to do their part in keeping households and streets clean. We can win this fight with citizen action, improved inspections, and support from city officials. Please, accept an invitation to meet back here Friday for details regarding how residents can begin to reclaim their blocks. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].