Dear Urban Diplomat,
I live in a condo downtown and I pay extra for an underground parking space with an electric charging station for my Tesla. Recently I surprised someone who lives in my apartment building, another Tesla owner, plugged into my outlet. When I explained it was my place he apologized and said he just needed some juice, enough to get him to one of the public charging stations. But I keep coming home to find it in my space, plugged in. How can I make him stop?
– Struggle for power, Liberty Village
No matter the electricity, you are probably paying a high price for the parking space, which is numbered and reserved. Looks like you tried to reason with that serial freeloader, to no avail. The next step is to alert building security, who should be responsible for enforcing parking rules, either with fines or calling a tow truck. And if the problem persists, you should talk about it with your condominium council. This can be grounds for expulsion.
Dear Urban Diplomat,
I play tennis on public courts near my home, and the rules are clear: people can occupy a court for up to 30 minutes if others are waiting to play. There is a court bounded by pickleball lines. Every weekend, a group goes well over the time limit, so I decided to take on the alpha pickleballer. It turned into a shouting match, with him arguing that they could play longer as there was only one pitch for them. How should I deal with it when I inevitably see them again?
—In a pickle, Ramden Park
Try to empathize with these pickleball players, who are a little roughed up when it comes to court availability. Next weekend, instead of going all McEnroe on them, ask them if an hour of playtime would be enough. Then make yourself king of the courts and use your cell phone timer to hold them accountable. If that doesn’t work, try writing a letter to your local councilor, Mike Layton, asking for pickleball lines to be painted on all courts. This could be a good opportunity to turn a small argument into civic action.
Dear Urban Diplomat,
My friends and I recently booked a weekend getaway at a cabin in Muskoka. Shortly after confirming our (rather expensive) Airbnb, one of the group – who is a bit of a germaphobe – sent an email outlining a Covid protocol for the group (rapid test before car trip, main sanny on the shopping list, etc.). The pandemic isn’t over, of course, and mindfulness is important, but its demands jeopardize an otherwise relaxing weekend. What’s the best way to respond?
-Above, Liberty Village
You might consider giving your friend some slack. We’ve all developed a lot of habits over the past two years that can be hard to unlearn. If you want everything to go well and the vacation money well spent, follow his rules whether you agree with them or not. An explosion between the two of you would be a much bigger buzzkill than a few precautions. So test, mask where you need it, sanitize wisely, and let the good times roll.
Dear Urban Diplomat,
I have a colleague who always talks about the crypto investments he does on the side to earn some extra money. I know we make the same pay in our day jobs, but he eats at better restaurants, drives a better car, and just made a down payment on an apartment. So I asked him to invest $10,000 that I had in savings. A few months later, when I wanted to check on my investment, he acted all annoyed and avoided the conversation. I’m starting to think he’s a scammer. What should I do?
-Cash withdrawal, deer park
I believe you are indeed the victim of a scam. Never “invest” money with a friend or acquaintance unless that person is a certified professional money manager. Did you ask where he put that $10,000? Did he give you any receipt? If you can’t get any information, your case may be criminal, which means it’s time to call the police or a lawyer.
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