How do I narc Out Stay-At-Home order violating neighbers in the SF Bay?
May 5, 2020 6:06 PM   Subscribe

Hey all, I’m in the Bay Area, and some neighbors of mine appear to be violating the social distancing orders by having guests over. I would like to narc them out without calling the cops, as they are endangering basically everyone in the apartment building by doing this. What’s the best way? The building manager? Some local services number?
posted by Going To Maine to Law & Government (16 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Depends how many folks are in your building and how likely it is to be tied to you. I'd start by calling the landlord and ask if they can email all the tenants or post a reminder in the building.

I think despite the stay-at-home orders, it's pretty unreasonable to expect nobody to ever have anyone over during all of this.

No, it's not. My neighbors have not had anyone over, because it's illegal to have people over. That's the whole thing. Don't have people over.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 6:24 PM on May 5, 2020 [48 favorites]


In Colorado we have been instructed to report violations to the county board/division of public health. Maybe start there.
posted by ChristineSings at 6:27 PM on May 5, 2020 [2 favorites]


I think despite the stay-at-home orders, it's pretty unreasonable to expect nobody to ever have anyone over during all of this.

Stay home means stay home.

You could try the non-emergency number for your area (311?). Building management will probably just put up a sign in the lobby or send out a letter to everyone, which your neighbours will ignore.
posted by betweenthebars at 6:37 PM on May 5, 2020 [13 favorites]


If they're being loud you could always call the police to lodge a noise complaint. I doubt they'll get a citation but just seeing the police at their door might spook them into compliance.
posted by egeanin at 6:41 PM on May 5, 2020


Response by poster: A small update: narcing them out to the building manager has had a moderate-to-pessimal effect, as they abruptly went indoors to hide the fact that people are over and are now probably on alert. I have heard that 211 is the number to call, but it seems to just be an automated service right now. Thanks for all your advice!
posted by Going To Maine at 6:46 PM on May 5, 2020


Got a printer? Print the pertinent rule, Maybe a note saying Please stick to the rules so we can all get this over with. Thanks, Your NeighborPost on stairwell and other publicaccess doors, mail area, etc.

This is a very stresful time. They're mostly endangering themselves, their visitors and others with whom they have contact. It's really frustrating.
posted by theora55 at 7:05 PM on May 5, 2020


I'd call the cops. People are calling the police here when idiots are throwing parties and they are being threatened with fines.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:08 PM on May 5, 2020




I’m going to go out in a limb and say printing and posting passive aggressive notes in this situation will likely piss people off. Do you know them at all? I think the neighborly thing to do would be to bring a six pack over and be somewhat compassionate about it.

They’re likely not endangering anyone but themselves and their guests as there’s no reports I know of apartment buildings being epicenters, at least in SF. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to them I think the landlord is a good option, by their nature they’re usually good with talking to people, but you know your landlord better then us.

I’m not saying their behavior is acceptable at all, but we are a week or two away from this being lifted and I wouldn’t want to raise tensions needlessly. To be clear you’re completely justified with calling 311 if you chose to do so but I’m guessing by asking here you’re looking for a less formal approach.
posted by geoff. at 8:01 PM on May 5, 2020 [2 favorites]


Best answer: Did you call 211 or 311? In SF, the number is 311.

Unfortunately, my neighbors are doing the same thing, on a deck directly adjacent to my apartment. I was *really* upset initially, but decided to let it go, in my case.
posted by pinochiette at 8:03 PM on May 5, 2020


In the old, weird days in the Bay Area, when neighbors were behaving like jackasses, my artist friends would spray their hang out spot with a layer of butyric acid. If the attraction is an outdoor space, squirt it with a Supersoaker and close your windows.
posted by Scram at 9:24 PM on May 5, 2020 [3 favorites]


Best answer: 311 is the San Francisco number; I don't think East Bay has one. For Alameda County, COVID19compliance@acgov.org is the email to ask enforcement questions. (FAQ)

I think of "small gathering with friends" as a medium-risk activity. It's low risk (for anyone else) IF they're staying more than 6 feet from everyone else, AND they clean up after themselves: Wipe down any surfaces they've touched, and so on. However, from what I've seen & heard of small parties/gatherings, that hasn't been happening.

East Bay enforcement seems to be a police matter; breaking the shelter order is a crime, and there's no specific COVID force set up to deal with it. That means (sigh) it's likely to be enforced inconsistently, based on the social status of the people breaking the rule and the individual prejudices of whatever officers take the call.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 9:47 PM on May 5, 2020


Jeez, please don't bring back the "let's stink bomb them" stuff, or at least save it for a better target. Also these people are clearly in an apartment building. Also where are you going to order butyric acid on short notice, under quarantine? Or store it?

OP, I'd want to be sure these aren't *other neighbors* before getting involved. I agree that it's concerning, but really this is an opportunity to find out who the tenants across the hall actually are.

The choice to invite other people from the building over is pretty different from the choice to invite guests to come visit, especially if these people are following quarantine guidelines otherwise.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:49 PM on May 5, 2020 [1 favorite]


They’re likely not endangering anyone but themselves and their guests

This is absolutely wrong, they are endangering themselves, their guests and everyone else that all those people come into contact with over the following 14 days.
posted by Lanark at 4:03 AM on May 6, 2020 [22 favorites]


Are you absolutely sure they're having guests over, and not providing a roof for friends who may have lost their own home?
posted by Thorzdad at 5:22 AM on May 6, 2020 [4 favorites]


The choice to invite other people from the building over is pretty different from the choice to invite guests to come visit, especially if these people are following quarantine guidelines otherwise.

That doesn’t seem to make sense to me. Quarantine is quarantine: it doesn’t matter if next door is a wall or a yard or a mile away, mixing with the neighbors breaks it.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:31 AM on May 6, 2020 [13 favorites]


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