S.O.S. Where is Justice? Where is Leadership? Where is Compassion?

After receiving an e-mail from a very good friend of mine about the nightmare she is going through due to the impact of the Coronavirus, I felt compelled to write this article in the hopes that it will reach the maximum number of people worldwide, especially those in position of power that can take action to rectify the injustice.

My friend is a successful professional who moved to San Diego because she found a good job there. Of course, she leased a small studio apartment with excellent amenities so she would have a pleasant place to live, intending to stay long term while she worked in San Diego. At the time, there was no clue in the air that this Coronavirus would hit. She signed the lease in good faith, and has been diligent in paying her rent monthly. But due to COVID-19 she was suddenly furloughed with no hope of being rehired. She did not make the decision herself to stop working. It was the US government that issued the order. The decision to shut down cascaded and her company furloughed her. She is not getting paid because she has been furloughed. She applied for unemployment, but this will take a few weeks before the checks start to come. She moved to San Diego because of her job and thus she needed to rent an apartment. Now as a furloughed employee without the hope of being rehired, she cannot stay at the property due to the expensive rent. All the excellent amenities have been shut down due to Coronavirus concerns, with no compensation on the monthly rent. It has become a very expensive box she is paying for. She has no choice but to start to think of moving out. Her April rent is now due, and the Property Management is showing a lack of compassion by enforcing pre-Coronavirus clauses to her possible decision to leave San Diego and her apartment due to Coronavirus. See excerpt of letter below:

Hi…….

Ok, if you want to break your lease here is our current policy. I just need you to complete the attached application and provide proof of job loss and send back to me ASAP.

See below how the lease termination is processed if approved due to COVID-19:

The Regional Manager will review the early lease termination and documentation and decide to approve or deny the request. If approved: 

• Lease termination fees will be waived (That’s typically 2 months rent).
• Move in Concession repayment will be required. (You received $3798, 8 weeks free)
• The resident will be rent responsible until a new resident takes possession of the apartment or until sixty (60) days from the date the apartment is vacated - which ever date is soonest.
• The resident's security deposit may be applied to the amount due.
• A payment plan can be made for the remaining balance for up to 6 months following the date that the apartment is vacated.

Another ironic matter. The property has a logo: Community Inspired / Passion Driven. It makes me think that they have forgotten the ‘COM’ of community that makes up COMPASSION. It seems that their passion is driven by profit, not COMPASSION.

I hope that San Diego City Manager or Mayor, the State representatives, our Congressmen and Senators act quickly to stop this injustice. In fact, if a person is in need of vacating a rental property or breaking a lease due to COVID-19, the federal and state governments should tackle the issue and make the property owners whole, not put the burden on the renter. After all, it was a government issued order that caused this ripple effect. The law should allow vacating a property with no penalties to the consumer or renter, and to be fair, it should seek ways to help the property owners.

By now, you would think and hope that all in our global communities have learned some compassion because of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. We have seen a global pandemic spreading unchecked. We have seen heroes battling this hidden enemy at the risk of their own lives. We recognize the hard work and sacrifice of the nurses, doctors, medical professionals, paramedics, fire-fighters, police officers and the host of workers in the essential services, such as grocery stores, logistics, etc. In short, millions of people worldwide are fighting to lessen the impact of this virus and to keep the many of us safe, secure, fed and healthy. Some of them have even succumbed to the enemy and died. What a tragedy!

In times like these, our humanity should reign supreme over legalistic clauses and policies. Compassion and empathy should replace greed and selfishness. Commercialism and profiteering should not be allowed to raise their ugly head. It should be stopped by all starting from the center and halls of government down to the smallest member in our global communities.

Yes, Laws and regulations have been enacted to help the masses to lessen the impact of the health pandemic and to prevent an economic collapse that could possibly lead to a greater financial collapse. Sad to say that even the laws are not comprehensive at this moment. Some groups have fallen through the cracks, albeit not intentional. Yes, it is an overwhelming task; mistakes and blind spots will be present. But when these spots are brought to the light they need to be dealt with quickly and urgently.

We live in a world of dog-eat-dog. The underdog still feels like the underdog. This should not be allowed to happen in this time of WAR against the Coronavirus. Governments should protect us, the underdogs, from the cruelty of those who are using the tyranny of contracts, clauses and policies to exact every cent out of every transaction. The big companies and agencies are cancelling contracts with Impunity. But those of us who have been injured by the shutdown cannot exit a lease or a rental contract without paying the penalty.  Where is justice? Where is leadership? Where is the protection of the frail and vulnerable in our communities, those who are simply struggling to be productive citizens of their communities? Where is compassion?

SOS…SOS…SOS

Please share this post with as many people in the hopes that my friend can find the help and rescue without paying the financial penalty while not having any income. We hope that Richmond Signature Properties can find not only the Passion for profit alluring but find the Compassion to forgo profit and help those affected by the COVID-19 appealing and enduring.