It has been 7 months since housing and political activist and campaigner against corruption amongst registered Social Landlord’s (RSL’s), the Liverpool City Council officers and the plethora of corrupt regeneration agencies Mike Lane was nearly kidnapped and his car was blown up outside his flat.

Mike is living in a permanantt state of siege and has to continually look over his shoulder in case of another incident. Up to now Mike’s RSL Venture housing (who only have one hand picked tenant on their board) have made five totally unacceptable offers, four of which where just around the corner from where Mike is living. The fifth offer was in an area that resembles a war scene with hundreds of empty houses waiting for demolition as the Liverpool City Council working with the many RSL’s coordinate its demolition Derby. Mike is also on Riverside’s list but has not been given one offer by them. Mike is now convinced that these RSL’s have no intention of ever rehousing him in suitable accommodation and as such are keeping him is a position of continual danger.

Of course Mike expected this sort of behaviour from his RSL and from the money making machine The Riverside Group. If there is one thing that RSL’s detest it is a housing activist who campaigns against the repressive behaviour of these oppressive self-perpetuating people who make many of their tenants lives a misery. Mike also knows that there are thousands of tenants out there who are suffering the same indignities that he is, some much worse. It is this realisation that encourages Mike to carry on campaigning.

The latest insult from Mikes RSL Venture came in the form of a letter in which the housing officer Esther Summer (Housing Management Assistant) asked Mike, quote:

(Notice how these repressive people never use Tenant’s Christian names. I mean, after all said and done, we are only lowly tenants and its not for the likes of us to be called by our Christian names by these well educated housing officers, is it)?

Dear Mr Lane

We have been updating our records, and have noticed that we do not have your next of kin details. It is very important that we have this information so that we can contact someone in case of an emergency. (Blar Blar Blar).

Yours sincerely

Esther Summer
Housing Management Assistant

Now, before you well meaning readers of Indymedia say: “What’s the big deal, this guys housing association is only asking for next of kin info, what’s wrong with that.”

Let’s take a closer look at this letter:
· Firstly Mike has been a Venture tenant for 20 years and they have never made a request like this before
· Secondly, I’m not trying to give the impression that I am a conspiracy theorist, but do Mike’s housing officers know something that Mike doesn’t?

All said and done, this is a disgraceful letter to send to a tenant who is being harassed by criminals and surely proves how insensitive RSL housing officers are.

One thing is for sure Mike is still committed to fighting the repressive behaviour of RSL’s over their tenants and foresees a time when the power of decision making is taken away from these people and put where it rightfully belongs, in the hands of the tenants.

A message to all those activists who are being dragged through the courts under the harassment laws by their RSL’s. Don’t be too discouraged tenant activists throughout the UK are aware of how RSL’s are abusing the harassment laws and continually painting themselves as the victims when in reality it is their tenants who are the real victims of the oppressive behaviour of the RSL officers.