Phillip Retuta's Blog

The Life and Times of a Filipino-American

  • Blog Home
  • Main Site
  • Resume
  • Portfolio
  • Comic
  • Dog
  • Instagram
  • Contact

August 18, 2020 By Phillip Retuta

The City That Never Is Helpful (At Least Its Officials).

My Furbo dog cam is powered on, and I can see my vacant apartment.

Day 154 of self-isolation and Day 15 of being displaced.

So I’m still stuck here at Tien’s apartment after we were evacuated. Back at my own apartment, the power is on, but the water and gas are still shut off by the city. I’ve been on a text thread with my neighbors, and we’re all wondering when the hell we’re going to be able to get back in our apartments.

We’ve all been in contact with our landlord, and he says it’s up to the Department of Buildings inspector to come to our building and say it’s okay to move back in. I’ve been on a personal quest to contact the department myself, but the phone number they supplied never picks up and their voicemail is full.

At this point, I decided to email my district’s councilman, Robert Conergy Jr., to see if he can help. I explain the situation, that we’ve been displaced for two weeks in a pandemic and are at the mercy of NYC to send an inspector. I wanted to know if there’s anything he can do for us, as constituents. 4 days pass, and I don’t get a response. Needless to say, I’m very disappointed at my hyperlocal local government now, and I will not be voting for him next time he’s up for reelection.

I’ve even tweeted at and DM’d Mayor DeBlasio and the official NYC Department of Buildings Twitter account, with no response. I shouldn’t be surprised; the DoB Twitter has like no posts or doesn’t follow anybody.

The good thing about this situation, though, is that I’m closer (distance-wise) to my friends’ apartments and more bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. My social life (well, socially-distanced social life) is a bit better, though I do miss my quiet neighborhood. It’s a trade-off, for sure: in my own apartment, I’m able to concentrate on hobbies and personal projects. However, I am physically distant from friends and super popular bars and restaurants. Here, it’s the opposite: a 5-minute walk to everything and everyone. Still, in this temporary living situation, I feel like I’m a guest at someone else’s apartment — which, technically, I am.

My apartment is my home.

Fingers crossed that the city will get off its ass and finally let us back in.

Filed Under: Home Life, New York City, Ramblings

    Welcome


Born 1983. UX/UI and Digital Designer. Illustrator. Dog Owner. Coffee Enthusiast. Pizza Lover.

I love over-thinking the simplest of things and making stuff at every waking moment: comics, food, videos, photos... you name it. This blog is a record of my work, my exploits, and my philosophical, political, and psychological ideologies. So enjoy reading my dumb ideas and inane rants that I'd otherwise be ashamed to verbally speak out in public.

    Find Me Elsewhere

GhostPotato
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Vimeo
Flickr
Tumblr

Twitter Twitter

  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.24: Have Dog, Will Travel. https://t.co/ns4aJIYl7d, 19 hours ago
  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.23: Last Day of Dog Training/Meeting Up with a Co-Worker at Fort Greene Park. https://t.co/y2sVYKkeox, Jan 24 21
  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.22: Listening to Records (and Sometimes Dancing) By Myself On Friday Night. https://t.co/906QXa1R9z, Jan 23 21
  • Phillip N. Retutahttps://t.co/PZjdKAIjEf, Jan 22 21
  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.21: Doughble Trouble. https://t.co/ci5Q0sd5RW, Jan 22 21

Recent Posts

  • Thoughts on Dying, Death, and the Leftovers.
  • To Be Vaccine and Heard.
  • Nico Calendar 2021.
  • You Were The Best, Marissa Snoddy.
  • Ugly Americans: All Your Base Belongs to Suck.
  • Thoughts on 2020 and New Years Resolutions.
  • Ghosts, Gangsters, Vampires, and Weed: Favorite TV Shows of 2020.
  • Fingers Crossed.
  • My Year in Lists: My Favorite Albums of 2020.
  • Merry Christmas.

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • May 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015

Categories

Copyright Phillip Retuta © 2021 · Log in