August 7, 2000

To My Fellow Residents

This note is to call for moderation in response to a series of complaints about our circumstances at Council House. Although each of us probably has one or two ideas that might improve our lives at Council House I believe that most of us are generally content or pleased with its operation. By comparison to all other local facilities similar to Council House. Council House is far superior in every way. We don't need to fix "what ain't broke."

Our Board is free to convert Council House at any time to unsubsidized status and rent our units at market rates. I for one, appreciate that our Board has not chosen to do so. I also appreciate that our Board has remained tolerant of recent and persistent criticism.

Rather than proposing improvements or change in a collaborative and conciliatory manner, the recent criticisms have taken an unhelpful. antagonistic, histrionic, insulting, rageful, [sic] threatening, and alarmist tone. The complainant has made sexist observations about over-weight women and otherwise used his verbal agility unconstructively. In short he has had a series of verbal tantrums, which he has inflicted on all of us and our Board

lf. as alleged, we might benefit by reconsideration of Board policy around our meals, due process provisions, or grievance procedures, then let's approach these matters in a respectful and orderly manner.

Similarly, if noise has been excessive, then a remedy can easily be sought though a conciliatory process of problem-solving. lf our Board has sometimes not responded with sufficient promptness, then a simple and courteous request will produce improvement better than insults and histrionics.

Perhaps the complainant has psychological disorder that results in incessant rage and hostility. Its effect on the rest of us is to erode our tranquility and damage the quality of our lives. We don't need it. It is not welcome. and I invite the complainant's attention to the availability of other living facilities where he might be happier. If psychological disorder is the root of the complainant's invective. then the remedy might be medication and psychotherapy. which I recommend.

In any case. further malcontent [sic] histrionics should be ignored and we should all express our embarrassment to members of our Board.