It’s Over

Hi folks. Unfortunately, I have lost the battle and the new mailboxes are in the lobby, ready for use tomorrow. As you know, I’ve been against this from the first I had heard of it and nobody in my building, had backed me up on this. They had allowed this to happen and this all stems from the August 2022 stoppage of door-to-door mail delivery. It was resumed for me, but that didn’t change a thing to the word any planned changes. I believe that this is done a long time ago, way before the stoppage and the whole Canada Poast being scared to come in and deliver a mail, is a ruse. They know damn well that mail delivery is a tough job and when they’re delivering to an apartment building like the one I live in, the postman is going to run into all kinds of people and the same with other types of delivery people, who whether it’s delivering food, groceries, a package, or anything at all. I did not buy that our federal postal carrier is scared to come in and deliver our mail to our doors and I still don’t.

Before noon, I had a knock on my door telling me that they had a key for my mailbox and to further add salt to the wound, I was busy doing something important which needed my full attention. Anyway, it required my ID and that was it. Unfortunately, I can’t go down and see the mailboxes right now because, there’s a secret meeting going on. Who knows what skull Duggery is going on behind closed doors.

I hope to get a look at the new mailboxes, because I want to know what I’m dealing with. I was told there will be braille on them, but I wanna know what I’m up against, where to insert the key, how to open my mailbox and most importantly, where my mailbox is located. I want to know so that I can go there quickly, get my mail (if I have any) then go back to my apartment without fuss or people falling all over me, wanting to help me. I don’t trust anyone who lives here, because (by default) everybody is a little bit off, including myself.

Again, I still feel the same as I did back when I had found out about this unwelcome change and I am making no bones about it to anyone who dares to cross me, who lives in my building. I may not yell and scream, but I will tell people exactly how I feel that this was planned and this is dangerous. The fact like I get into the place where the mailboxes are, by simply pushing a plate in order to open the door is telling. It doesn’t make a difference if it is my key fob to get into the building, which would also open the door because, I’m guessing the mailboxes will be on the timer like the laundry room is. That room is open at a certain time and closed at a specific time and I expect that the room with our “secure” mailboxes are located will also be open and closed at a specific time. After all, the male carrier has to come in and give us our mail. Am I right?

I am angry about this because I had no say in the matter, similar to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where the Vogons come to blow up the earth and Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz makes an announcement that they are doing so, regardless of anybody’s feelings. Oh yeah, when people complain, he says that they had plenty of time to voice opinions and frankly, that’s bullshit. I believe that this is also bullshit that this is happening in our building too, but no planets are being vaporized, but something is being forced down my throat which I had no wish to happen. I can’t do anything about it except make peoples lives hell as best I can, without being a total asshole. The people o which I speak, are the ones behind closed doors, making decisions without our involvement or input. I shouldn’t have been surprised that this woud go through easily, because everyone else who lives here is afraid, or just take things as they come. You can only do the latter for so long, before you are completely inconvenienced and your life is turned upside down. The Covid pandemic comes to mind, but this involved everybody in the world. This concerns a building of people who live here because they don’t have all that much money to begin with and just changing things on the fly because those who make decisions can, is not right. We are nothing but a toy and we do not matter to anyone, except ourselves. The fact that the city of Toronto manages our building and many others under the Toronto Community Housing portfolio, is simply bad. They could do whatever they want and be accountable to nobody. When people complain, those at the top cna simply say nothing and move on with their lives, because they live in mansions. All right, they may not live in better living circumstances. First, our bus stop was taken away and now this? What is next? They can do whatever they want like move people out for no reason and this create chaos because they can. They don’t care who they hurt, as long as it’s not them and if people die because of this, oh well it isn’t anyone important who is on any board of Directors. Lset anyone thinks I have anything against people who are involved with such secretive groups I don’t. I don’t like them and I consider them unsavory, but I realize that they are doing something and depending on what it is, it may better or worse than our lives, either individually, or collectively.

Something else which harshes my mellow about what has happened, is that I was the last to know, similarly to everyone on Earth, when the Vogons came down to say hi and tell us that we are all about to die. I had found out about the mail delivery stoppage from my neighbor, who told somebody else about what happened and not from the people who were supposed to tell me these things (i-e) my building’s Super. He had informed me of many things, but there was no phone call, no email about my mail not being delivered to my door, before I had emailed my city Councillor. Then and only then, was I informed and that is simply wrong. I have lived where I have been for 23 years and still, people are negligent and informed me of important matters? This is simply not right and whether there is brail on the mailboxes makes no difference to me, because of the people who live here. Like I said, by default everybody is a bit off and because I’m blind, everybody’s going to want to help me and the fact that I am being kept out from being able to get a look at what I am dealing with, is also not right. Next, I expect us to get new doors on our units without a cubbyhole and I hope that happens very soon and I am the first to know about it, before everyone else. Sadly, I don’t think I will be ahead of the curve on that one and as usual, left behind on purpose.

Anyway, I am only going along with the new mailboxes, because I have no choice in the matter. I was left in the dark on purpose and those in management do not give a shit. I will get down there and give my new mailbox a try at some point and I will not be doing a further post on the mailboxes after this. Simply, because there is no point. I have lost, they have won and they are now probably celebrating their victory over the little guy and that is because of how little resistance there was, except for myself. I had a friend who tried to help, but unfortunately he got involved too late and so, it’s over.

Not Giving Up

Hi folks. I’m sorry to have to start off the new year with another complaint or grievance, no matter how you look at it. I am very upset that things with the mail delivery fiasco have turned for the worse. Obviously, door to door mail delivery has stopped in all units in my building (including mine) and the mailboxes in the lobby are going up and nothing has been done to stop it. Why has this been allowed to occur? What is the ultimate goal of the new mailboxes? What is the ultimate goal of this planned stoppage of mail delivery before August 2023? You see, I believe taht this had been in the works from the time new management had begun to take over our building and the fact that this building and others like it in Toronto are being managed by the city is certainly a red flag with blood on it. Shame on my fellow residence for rolling over.

The reason for this post is two-fold in that I believe that the mailboxes are unnecessary and putting them in the lobby is dangerous. Does the phrase actions have consequences mean anything to any of us who are reading this post? If not then you should know that the building I live in is spending money the city of Toronto does not have, in order to change behaviour of residence. Also, I believe that eventually, the doors are going to be changed in our units and the doors with the cubby holes will be replaced by doors with nothing, except the door with a handle and locks on either side. If I am right, nothing can be delivered to us, much less envelopes to residence who live in the units. By the way, the city of Toronto is about $1 billion in debt and yet this is going ahead anyway?. No, not the changing of the doors and locks, but the allegedly secure mailboxes.

The other reason for this unflattering post is because of something someone had said as I had come in from doing shopping for something I needed, on the Wednesday before Christmas. I was told that I would have to go to the office, to sign a consent form, that mail should be delivered to my door. It’s not right that mail delivery is being held hostage from me, or anybody who lives in my building. Mail is essential and mail delivery is a right, which I have and the same with everybody else. The fact that my mail is being held hostage, unless I go to the office and sign a consent form is simply criminal.

Oh, about the new secure mailboxes in the lobby, even if there is braille on the mailboxes I am still against it. A friend of mine who lives in the building (a floor below me) told me about the braille and it doesn’t change my mind. I refuse to waiver from my position, that this idea of the secure mailboxes are a stupid idea. I mean, they will be located in an area (namely the lobby) as people are either entering or exiting the building. Also, because I’m blind people think (by default) that someone like myself (or my friend) may need special help because of our Disability. No, the people who need special help are those who make the decisions and I believe that this whole sham was planned by Toronto Comunity Housing a long time ago. The Canada Post is scared to deliver our mail line is a line of something, but it isn’t the truth. Of course, people are going to deny that Toronto Comunity Housing is no party to this, because they want us to shut up and be happy. Well, I’m not happy and especially that this was done behind my back and with no warning, from those who are supposed to inform me of goings on in the building, which are of great importance. The whole thing is a car crash waiting to happen.

It is my right and a human right to be informed and frankly, management has dropped the ball and are going to continue dropping the ball, with the newly secure mailboxes in the lobby. It makes no sense and not even having braille on the mailbox is going to make me think otherwise. The fact that I was told nothing and I had to find out about the mail delivery stoppage from my neighbour talking to someone else is bad and as I said, dangerous. I use that word because withholding information from me is certainly that and I shouldn’t have to crack heads, in order to get information in my inbox, again and again. This vital information should have been told to me, without any hesitation, back in August and I am very disappointed in management, who should all be fired. This is not personal and I am not saying this lightly.

By the way, the problem with the supposedly secure mailboxes in the lobby is a problem, because other people are in the lobby exiting and entering the building and too many people are going to want to help me. Why? For their own validation and let us not forget, that by default everybody who lives in the building is a little bit off in one way or another. What I’m saying is that there are people who have issues whether they be mental, addiction, disabilities or something else which makes them do things that they shouldn’t. Some people have issues with alcohol and drugs and yet, our management (in its infinite wisdom) is allowing the mailboxes to go up in the lobby? Don’t they realize that some people may have nefarious wants and needs and these mailboxes could be easily smashed with a hammer. Also, someone could rip off the label where braille would be, or they could rub out the dots and there goes any independence I have, when navigating toward my own mailbox. Also, others may see me as a threat when looking for my own mailbox as I’m feeling for my particular box. They may not understand that I’m only looking for my own and I have no business trying to break into somebody else’s box. Unfortunately, those who make the decisions do not think of details like that or consider that there are people who have issues and not always mental, but also age. I’m 50, but there are others who are both younger and older than me and some who speak English as their second language. Obviously, details don’t matter to those who make decisions and who are in positions of power.

I feel that this needs to be dealt with swiftly by people who serve and not by people, who only work in this building, or who manage it. If there are security guards lurking, they could accidentally get the wrong person who lives in the building and harass them, before realizing their mistake. I may be coming back to check my mail and I could be harassed by either a resident, or a security guard who wants to show off his muscle by picking on someone who only lives in the building and is kinda short in stature. Apparently, management does not think of these things before making decisions and frankly, shame on them for dropping the ball without apology. Will I sign a consent form? I don’t know but if I do, I will sign under my own terms and three words will apply to them. Those three words are do not disturb if I’m signed the consent form, they must not disturb me by knocking on my door when delivering an envelope, they must not tell me they’re delivering it to me personally and obviously, their job is too shove the envelope or package through the door and walk away. There is no need for bombast, no need for flash, no need for Pyro, no need for anything if I decide to be grudgingly roll over.