cens-less-ness

census quandry:

the management company, by law, is required not to give out tenant's information.  the u.s. census bureau, by law, is allowed to get tenant information.

this is quite the dilemma.

i also encountered my greek friend today.  he told me that hungry people are the smartest.  i told him that i would believe that.  he said that i had no idea.  i told him i was a social worker who worked with refugees.  he told me i was young and i can't know anything until i see it.  i told him i'd been in the garbage dump neighborhoods of tijuana.  he scoffed, shook his head said, "you're beautiful.  have a nice day."

i also encountered an apartment that, for the SECOND time, had their television playing loudly when i knocked on their door.  upon my knocking, i could hear them come to the door, i saw the light change in the peep hole and i heard them go back to wherever they were.

then i kicked the doorknob until it came off and the door swung open.  i pinned the non-compliant man to the wall with my u.s. government #2 pencils, stuffed his mouth full of questionnaires and got all the information i needed from his drivers license.

...

not really.  i did politely knock again and say, "this is leah from the u.s. census.  is anybody home?"  i mean, of course someone's home, but i'll play the sweet and innocent card as long as possible.  nothing.  i almost said, "i am going to keep coming back until you answer my ridiculously easy questions." but maybe i'll save that for next time.