Fire Update - Subhed Red Tape

Laydeeeeez and Gentlemen! In this hand, I hold two bright red slips of
paper, indicating that a Consolidated Edison Emergency Crew turned off the
electricity and gas service to my house at 3:18AM on May 9, a few minutes
after the fire department left.

In THIS hand, I hold a brand new ConEd utility bill, indicating that my
house used $63 worth of electricity and $46 worth of gas in the billing
period from 05/17/06 to 06/16/06.

Stay tuned for further tales of ass reaming.

Fire Update - Subhed Rebuilding

I scanned the contract and sent it to my brother-in-law to look over. He,
on his own initiative (and his own dime, bless him), showed it to his
lawyer. The lawyer agreed that with the exception of the "owner will
irrevocably transfer all insurance proceeds to the builder" section, it's
not a bad contract. The lawyer added some penalties for work delays, some
requirements to follow New York city and state labor laws, and to get all
permits. Nothing that I find too unreasonable. Now we have to see if the
builder agrees.

Fire Update - Subhed Rebuilding

The fundamental point -- and it's a shame the world has to be like this --
is "How can I make a contractor afraid of me?" Perhaps we can be nice and
replace the word "afraid" with "respect", but it all ends up in the same
place: how can I arrange things so a contractor won't even think of
doing me an injustice?


I'm seriously asking.

Fire Update - Subhed Rebuilding

"Owner hereby irrevocably assigns to Contractor any and all payments made
by Insurer in settlement of the Loss, and shall promptly execute all
documents required to enable Contractor to recieve said proceeds. Owner
specifically authorizes Contractor to execute and endorse Owner's name on
any and all documents required for the release directly to Contractor of
all proceds and advances paid by Insurer regarding the Loss"


Folks, if your house burns down just walk away and spend the rest of your
days roaming the Earth. Anything is better than dealing with this shit.