Letters to the Editor
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Ultimately
Fighting the busy body will lead to her calling the local department that handles code violations. That would be far worse.
Talk to the elderly neighbor. The yard needs cleaning, and the oleanders are not a good solution. If your local university has a service-learning requirement, this is the perfect chance to get it done.
THey may think they have bigger problems, but code violations and fines are serious trouble. Saving her from that trouble would be a kindness.It could potentially save her house.
Do not instigate with busybody. Just quietly block her here. Taking care of the neighbor is more important.
The weed revenge tactic did make me laugh!
I do wonder what the level of "yard cleaning" is. In my current neighborhood, we have lawn nazis who measure their lawn height, edge to perfection, go in together on de-thatching and use law tractors as neighborhood transportation (on 3/4 acre lots!) Not mowing three times a week, and not participating in the mole murder activities would make the target catch hell.Mowing the wrong way is an infraction. In my old neighborhood in Louisiana, if your lawn is mowed and trash up you are golden. Trash, rats, snakes, waist high grass, old cars (as squirrel nests- if you were working on the car it was fine, if weeds were growing in the car, not so fine), multiple dogs (and/or a pack)and garbage in the front yard would get you in trouble. People would call the city on you.
If those oleanders are a threat to the sewer, better to get them out now. One of my friends is roto routering tree roots out of the pipes. That's thousands of dollars.
I agree that the oleanders were an insult. Avoid said woman like the plague. She's mean, and mean is bad of one's health.