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Social Media Shames (Allegedly) Lazy East Village Landlord Into Doing Job
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Nov 14, 2011
Modified Nov 14, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Nov 14, 2011
Modified Nov 14, 2011
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Can Twitter tame the parsimonious proclivities of East Village landlord Jakobson Properties? Fed up with the slow pace and miserable quality of repairs, one tenant created the Twitter account @Jakobson_Fix_It and started a Tumblr to document the company's alleged misdeeds. "I've talked to so many people, and everybody is complaining about things," John, the man behind the Twitter account tells the Post. And surprise: it seems that Jakobson is responding to issues a little faster these days.
One tenant who came home to a blown fuse and spoiled food in her fridge emailed the management an itemized list of the $217.02 worth of goods that she wanted reimbursed (her request does read a touch triumphant: "I had two bottles of wine, a La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino, 2006 purchased for $56, but if you ask me, it tastes every bit as good as a $150 bottle.") And lo, it was done.
However, it will probably take many more tweets and considerably more shame to have Jakobson working like a well-oiled machine doing its job as required by law. One tenant who had a gross leak from the snowstorm last month was given paper towels and plastic wrap to remedy the situation. As the video evidence shows, this is not a permanent solution.
More than 200 postcards have been mailed to the tenants of ten different Jakobson-owned properties, urging residents to tweet/blog their issues, and a rep from the company has told angry internet commenters, "we are listening." Jakobson has also hired a "social media consultant" to assist in the damage control, who they'll presumably use to give the tenants a Groupon for rat traps.
Tagged
bad landlords
east village
Jackobson properties
shame
social media is actually useful
tumblr
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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