LOST RENT: Office "Loses" Another Check

Please be advised that yet another "lost" rental payment has been declared as unpaid rent by the management office, even though the tenant delivered a check through the office mailbox slot on time.

We suggest that, when possible, tenants pay their rent in person with a witness, for the time being. A returned check from the bank as your receipt comes too late for you to ascertain if Shoreline has deposited your payment. A money order or certified bank check is only proof of available funds and not evidence that you turned in your rent on time.

According to the Attorney General's office, a landlord has the right to institute eviction proceedings even if you are only one day late with the rent (payment being due on the first day of the month). Of course, if the first day of the month falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the due date is on that first Monday.

We just need to be mindful of the rent process because the office has begun to tell people that they are planning to immediately toughen their policies.

"SWEAT EQUITY": Catch Up on Back Dues

Though the majority of our membership pay their dues in a timely manner, there are a few of our members who have fallen very far behind in paying their dues. We think we've come up with a solution to this problem which may work for all of us, and that is the concept of "sweat equity". Simply put, "sweat equity" means that people who are in major arrears with their dues would perform certain fundraising tasks which would generate money for the PCGTA and a portion of that money would then go toward helping to pay down the amount of back dues. The exact percentage of the money raised which would go toward paying down the amount of back dues would be agreed upon before hand between the member in arrears and the Dues Committee.

Please note that sweat equity cannot be used by members current or near-current with their dues payments. If you are behind in your dues and want to catch up, contact a member of the Dues Committee - Fritz Winegardner, Bill O'Connell, or Phil Salkind -- right away. Its painless and easy, and for two opportunities upcoming to implement it, see the following two items.

RETURN OF THE RUMMAGE SALE

"Vintage Stuff To Go": The Theme Park

Last summer, the PCGTA weekend Rummage Sales raised thousands of dollars that went toward defraying the costs of our legal battle. It was a relatively easy way of raising funds, requiring no other outlay from us except time.

And now, "Vintage Stuff To Go" is starting up again, but this time with a difference: On Saturday morning, July 12, it'll be time to go "Back to the Beach": every item being sold will relate to Beach Time activities. Sunglasses, trashy novels, Hawaiian shirts and big towels will be just some of the many summer oriented stuff on sale. All donations of beach or summer related material, with the exception of books, will be cheerfully accepted.

We're looking for volunteers to work the tables; this is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the "sweat equity" mentioned above, and, if we get sufficient personnel, our sales crew could be organized in shifts to make the job even more painless.

Make money for PCGTA, work off your debt, and go "Back to the Beach".

THE "PET PRIDE" PROJECT

Boston Neighborhood Groups Gather

On Sunday, July 13, from 2 to 4 pm in Franklin Square Park, neighborhood associations from all over the city of Boston will gather with their cats and dogs for a special "Pet Pride" event. Judging the pet contest will be Mayor Thomas Menino, the Boston Globe, the South End News and Glue Magazine. Many Boston politicians will also be there, as will the Piano Craft Guild Tenants' Association.

We have been asked to "cater" the event; we will be the only group there selling food, and all proceeds from our sales will go directly to us. We'll also be selling red T shirts and Soul Food cook books.

A huge turnout is expected for this event, and we anticipate a fun time as well as a "fund" (raising) time.

Contact Fritz Winegardner to volunteer to bake cookies or brownies, staff tables, or otherwise work off some "sweat equity".

PCGTA GOES TO WASHINGTON

Mr. Reno & Mr. Faust Attend Conference

Last year, the PCGTA sent members David Reno and Christian Faust to the second annual National H.U.D. Tenants Alliance Conference (the first in twenty years). David and Christian expected to listen and learn, but instead found that tenants from all over the country were asking them questions about how the Piano Factory tenants had organized themselves, and what strategies we'd used. Our two intrepid travelers ended up giving workshops instead of taking them; they presented to Congress and the Senate, and generally networked and outreached, to make our struggle nationally known and understood.

On June 20, 21 and 22 Mssrs. Reno and Faust again attended this conference as representatives of the PCGTA.

As David has said, " The builders, brokers, and real estate developers have had their say. It is time the tenants have theirs."

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Editor: Robert Deveau
CONTRIBUTORS: Jeannie Ackerley; David Reno; Fritz Winegardner