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Reservist is told to get landscaping or face legal action
Lt. Burke Jensen has been ordered to Kuwait, leaving behind a pregnant wife, a young son and a 2.5-acre lot with not a spot of landscaping. But he's been told to get lawn and an irrigation system -- or else! "I really don't give a [expletive] where he is or what his problem is," says subdivision developer Chick Edwards. Seattle Times)
October 8, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
Yeah....that's the way to treat people--like they are worthless.
Posted by: twerp | Oct 8, 2008 6:11:49 AM
Chick Edwards = Major IDIOT. FTA, really can't believe his statements about Jensen.
Posted by: thetruth | Oct 8, 2008 6:12:11 AM
I've been here for about 12 minutes this morning and I already want to fight this guy and AIG executives for going on the spa trip. Must be a full moon somewhere.
Posted by: sometimesilie | Oct 8, 2008 6:13:54 AM
Charming man. If I believed in souls I'd say he lacks one.
Posted by: G-Man | Oct 8, 2008 6:14:04 AM
"This clown gets to do what he wants"
I'm sure Mr. Jensen, along with his pregnant wife and kid, would beg to differ.
Posted by: elchampino | Oct 8, 2008 6:14:39 AM
Oh and I would like to join sts on that AIG beat down.
Posted by: elchampino | Oct 8, 2008 6:16:07 AM
"Then came the call five months ago to serve his country in Kuwait.
"...involuntarily mobilized reservist..."
"This clown gets to do what he wants"
Mr Jensen, if you're reading this, come talk that sh!t in Philly, Pal-O. I'll gladly take the ag. assault.
Posted by: sometimesilie | Oct 8, 2008 6:16:53 AM
I looked at the developers website. The smallest lots are over 2 acres and at least half the development is 8 acre lots, so there is a lot more work involved than running the mower every couple of weeks.
BTW if anyone is thinking about buying property up there, you can call them at 509-582-5679. Somehow I expect that Chuckie won't be taking calls today.
Posted by: Bill | Oct 8, 2008 6:20:38 AM
Rip his F---ing head off.
Posted by: Bill | Oct 8, 2008 6:22:08 AM
Just wait until Drudge and others pounce on this story.
Chick's gonna learn a valuable lesson about pissing off the armed forces. Good luck selling the rest of those lots in this economy, Chickie.
Posted by: chiarams | Oct 8, 2008 6:27:06 AM
In his defense if my parents named me Chick I'd probably be shooting people from a belltower by now.
Posted by: G-Man | Oct 8, 2008 6:41:15 AM
Chick Edwards= major asshat. What friggin dickhead.
Posted by: Jim | Oct 8, 2008 6:43:04 AM
The guy signed a contract when he voluntarily joined that Home Owners Association knowing that he would very likely get called up given the current circumstances. *shrug* He can get a loan and fulfill his obligations from over-seas.
It's not like he's protecting the USA or 'Freedom'(tm) in Kuwait...just keeping the corporations rich. He's not freeing slaves or stopping genocide in Africa.
Whatever.
Posted by: Sean, Torrington | Oct 8, 2008 6:43:41 AM
@G-Man:
HOA Covenant#237(c), Homeowner agrees no bell towers pr similar structures of any shape, size or design, whether actually equipped with bells may be erected on the property.
Posted by: Bill | Oct 8, 2008 6:44:29 AM
What a sweet, well-mannered gentleman. I'm sure he's the toast of the town.
Anyone who wants to kick this guy's ass, get in line behind me. I'm all-in for just his being an uncouth numskull who can't even speak politely to the press. I'll even slap him in the face with the sole of my shoe.
Yeah, good luck getting around that Seviceman's Act, farktard.
Oh, and that landscaping company that took the money and run? They're gonna wish they had just discorporated when they had the chance.
On the plus side, this story is going to net the military family a truckload of good stuff, once enough forward-thinking entrepreneurs recognize the amount of free publicity for straightening out this soldier's lawn mess will net them.
Posted by: Soo | Oct 8, 2008 6:44:30 AM
One more thing, with the name "Chick", I would bet he gets the crap kicked outta him a on a regular basis. The only powre he has is the association.
Posted by: Jim | Oct 8, 2008 6:45:04 AM
My god - what a galactic asshole.
Posted by: stopeatingmysesamecake | Oct 8, 2008 6:54:26 AM
@Sean: I agree he signed a contract for the homeowner's covenants and all. He did make an effort to get his part of the deal finished. It's not his fault the company bailed out of the project before it was finished.
Also, after having kids of my own, I'm very aware that a pregnant woman is not a helpless woman, unless she's medically delicate. There is no reason for the wife to not take up where her husband left off, even in the lawn-care department.
On the other hand, Sean, you're not a woman, so you will not have experienced anything like I have. Some examples from while Mister was deployed:
I had a ream of paperwork, POAs and such, giving me access to anything that was his. I was regularly denied that legal access until I dumbed myself down and even had to stoop to CRYING from time to time like a poor widdul hewpwess female without her man to protect her. Even in military offices.
When I go to get car work done, I never get taken seriously. I can't possibly know what's best for my car, because I'm a girl, and girls don't know shit about cars. I don't even understand the mechanics of an oil change, apparently.
I tried to get an estimate for a room addition to our house. I called 4 different contractors until I got to one that didn't automatically say, "That's sweet, little lady, now let me talk to your husband."
I can't tell you how many times I've been told the price went up on something, only to have the price dropped dramatically lower once Mister or my father-in-law got involved.
It's very common for women to be treated like second-class citizens by those working in male-dominated fields. I can easily see this landscaping company seeing that as the easiest money they ever made without completing a job.
Posted by: Soo | Oct 8, 2008 6:54:38 AM
I'll take the bait, Sean.
I see where you're coming from. The man signed a contract. He is legally responsible. But there is something I would argue.
He, along with every other reservist, in fact, every other soldier, have become victims here. They joined up to defend the nation at home and abroad. Part of that duty rightfully includes full obedience to the civilian leadership. The problem is, the civilians in question have proven to be a deadly mixture of corrupt and incompetent. And they have abused the relationship between the civilian leadership and the armed forces, and have exploited the sworn obligations of those service members, to recklessly satisfy their own personal ends and agendas.
The administration not only has its own obligation to defend this nation and its interests - it should do so in good faith, without recklessly putting the citizens that serve it at risk. By involved our men and women in a needless war, by doing so without a cogent plan or seemingly any semblance of understanding of the region or its history, and by doing so without the necessary supplies or manpower in place, they have failed to uphold their end of the bargain.
So Lt. Burke Jensen is a victim of this administration. He should be your cause celebre, Sean. And Chick Edwards has shown absolutely no compassion for this victim. Isn't that what got us in this mess in the first place? A lack of compassion? Are you saying you're guilt of that same fault, Sean?
Posted by: elchampino | Oct 8, 2008 7:00:03 AM
How much you want to bet he has a "Support Our Troops" magnetic ribbon on his vehicle?
Soo, I hope someone comes to the family's aid on this. Maybe someone who appreciates people that serve their country.
Posted by: David | Oct 8, 2008 7:06:52 AM
....no longer taking Sean's bait because its such a waste of energy.
I wonder if the land owner, instead of fighting in Kuwait was in the hospital with cancer, would THAT be ok? Or would the asshole STILL be demanding he fix his yard?
Posted by: cherie | Oct 8, 2008 7:12:54 AM
@David: I don't care why they do it, so long as they do it. Compassion or free press, whatever. Just someone call the press for a "media day," fix this guy's sprinkler system and spiff up his lawn.
@elchamp: next time I'm in da hood, I'll buy you a beer.
Posted by: Soo | Oct 8, 2008 7:13:27 AM
Ditto on the asshat comments. On the subject of covenants and HOAs, we were told by a resident lawyer (he lives two houses away from me) that they're not enforcible (enforcable?) anyway. As for the Relief Act, good luck on the asshat getting anything out of the soldier before he returns. Good grief. I'm sorry to see that happening in my (relative) neighborhood. And here I thought the folks on the east side were more military friendly. Sigh.
Posted by: Navy Chief | Oct 8, 2008 7:28:06 AM
Google Chick Edward and read some of the first hits. I haven't seen one thing in support of him (and rightfully so). And apparently a DJ at Eagle 106.5 has jumped in to help the Jensens, so expect things to start pouring in for them.
Posted by: d'ep | Oct 8, 2008 7:37:35 AM
STS;
Full moon on its way. I can feel the gorge rising, and a swelling of precious bodily fluids, like a moon tide.
Somehow I don't think our solar system is responsible for the palpable angst that grows daily.
Something has to give, and my senses keep urging me towards the wild and lonely places before the shitstorm arrives.
Keep your edge people, but don't forget to duck.
Posted by: thomas | Oct 8, 2008 7:53:16 AM
