Not a Word from Property Manager or C.A.T.C.H.

Above are a couple of video stills of just some of the Bedbug bites I received. I don't have any shots of the ones I got on my arms, right hand, and both sides of my BUTT!


The following are some of the random thoughts and questions I've had since my last post. I'm waiting for some contact by MB Management but to date there has been a disturbing absence of any communication whatsoever. Obviously I could just call, but that's not the point..

Some thoughts below might be redundant but for my scatterbrain it's more important to get this posted.

Questions for Southern New Hampshire Pest Control and MB Management:

1. When vacuuming should we leave the edges/crevices/heater pipe (& housing) alone?
2. Should we avoid vacuuming completely for a while?
3. There was/is a white powder-residue lightly covering all the flat surfaces. What is it? Is it harmful to electronics, photos, camera lenses, humans? What about air conditioners? (My filter was plugged-up with white powder!)
4. When vacuuming with anything but a true HEPA vacuum cleaner that white powder gets blown into the air. That doesn't seem safe, is it?
5. Upon returning to my apartment after the treatment the carpet and tile was tacky. Is it OK to mop? (I left it [for now] because I thought that by doing that it might hinder the re-emergence of new bugs)
6. It looks like my dresser drawers were treated with something. Is it safe to put clothes back into them? (I have skin problems that might be affected by pesticide)
7. Are the Endicott's laundry rooms safe to use? Were/are they infested?
8. If we have to keep clothes, bedding, towels etc. bagged, how long is it going to be?
9. In the 'follow-up' treatments do we have to follow the same instructions?
10. The initial episode was extremely difficult and tiring (physically and emotionally), not to mention disruptive and expensive.
___________________________________________

- There has been NO contact from management to date other than the instructions given to those scheduled for treatment. No apologies for the disruption and expense, no visit from management, nothing. What does that say to the residents? It says to me that management (and the company as a whole) doesn't care..... Now that I think of it there's been NO communication from CATCH either. Of course they hired MB Management to manage their properties, and naturally expect that job to be done competently. This situation is a difficult (if not impossible) one to avoid totally, but the gauge will ultimately be how it was handled.

- I would think that 'best practices' in a situation like this would be immediate contact by management, first by a quick note, and followed up with visits by management. Asking what assistance is needed if any to prepare for the pest treatment, informing the resident what help is available, and what the resident should expect as far as future communication both by management and the pest company. Also what's entailed in the treatment of their apartment both initially and in the future. Empathy for what the resident is going through and assurance that the situation is being taken seriously (followed by prompt and effective action). Apologies for the resident having their life disrupted shouldn't even have to be listed here.. CATCH should be involved in most of the above too..
_____________________________________

Other questions that need to be investigated/answered:

- Were there inspection procedures in place to identify this issue?
- When was it first noticed?
- Who noticed it, a tenant or employee?
- Was it reported by a tenant or employee?
- Once the issue was noticed what was done?
- Was the problem recognized and treated as a serious one that required immediate attention in order to avoid a full-blown infestation? The company rep quoted in the paper said that they were relying on the advice of the pest company they have used for years.
- What was the pest company initially told?
- What was the advice given to MB from the pest Co.?
- Was MB given 'options' ?
- Did MB accept the full recommendations/plan of the pest Co. ?

OR

- Did MB decide on something [less] after consultation w/ upper mgmt.? (No accusation, just wondering..)
- Did the pest Co/MB act promptly/responsibly?
- Did the pest Co. use the best/most effective treatment available?
- Was MB given the correct information in order to recognize the seriousness of the problem and what would happen if it wasn't addressed immediately?
- What was MB's [legal] responsibility regarding communication to CATCH, residents of the Endicott, and state agencies? Was it done?
- What local, state, and federal laws apply to this situation?
- Was proper consideration given (by MB) to the impact on residents, financially, physically, and emotionally given the varied conditions of the residents?
- Should MB Management or CATCH pay to replace discarded items of residents (morally/legally)?
#######################################
- (What is the law regarding this and all of the other issues? There should be plenty of precedent set in this area as it's certainly not a new issue!) #######################################
- What assistance is [required] for disabled residents to deal with this? (*is* any required?)
- What assistance is available from local organizations and agencies?
- Are there any local organizations that could assist with furniture for residents who have to throw theirs away (like Harold)? ------------------------------------------------------
Potential expenses incurred by residents:

Mattress, box spring, and pillow allergy covers.
Bags (for discarded items and for cleaned items).
Laundry.

Loss of:
Discarded items (bedding, clothes, cushions, furniture, rugs)

------------------------------------------------------
In the future:

- Should apartments be required to be [fully] inspected monthly by a pest company?
- Should residents be required to have all used furniture inspected/treated before bringing it into the Endicott?
- Do new laws need to be written?
------------------------------------------------------
Questions about Bedbugs & eradication/control treatments:

- What does the latest research tell us about the most effective methods to control and/or kill Bedbugs?
- Who is doing the research?
- Is the treatment used at the Endicott safe? ------------------------------------------------------
When thinking about everything required AFTER the fact, what mandates might be adopted to compel landlords and/or property management companies of apartment buildings to do everything possible to identify & treat pest issues like this? And what guidelines should be developed and provided that would assist them?

This issue is something I've heard and read about, but in 52 years have never experienced. I'd think that by now there would be established and effective treatments for Bedbugs. I'd also think that those involved in the hospitality and apartment rental businesses would have both the identification and treatment procedures in place as well as trade publications communicating the latest news & information.

The infestation at the Endicott is likely a failure on multiple levels. I expect that after a full assessment it will be found that the problem should have been identified sooner, taken more seriously, treated sooner and more comprehensively.

Whatever agencies are responsible for oversight should at the very least re assess their procedures to check whether there were any failures and to see if any could be improved.

If negligence is found the appropriate penalties need to be enforced.
Unfortunately it seems that most businesses only follow mandated practices when compelled* to do so and when the penalty is sufficient to have the desired effect.

It's also unfortunate that low income housing (especially when there are a number of psychiatric out-patients as residents) is all too often treated* as less important than higher income apartments. Even more unfortunate is the reliance (by some landlords*) on the fact that low income and disabled residents are much less able or likely to protect their legal rights.

I want to be fair, but I also want the responsible parties to be held accountable where it is called for, and for everyone involved to use this as a learning experience to improve actions in the future. There has to be a better way..



*[I want to make it clear though, that I am not saying that this is necessarily the case in this instance.]