Karma getting things right, in my book

This is no April Fool’s joke. Last week came word not once but twice that the universe got things right.

I know. We forget it can happen, sometimes.

In our first example of karmic goodness, an Albuquerque landlord learned you can’t yank the welcome mat out from under the disabled; in the second, the manager of an Albuquerque drug-testing lab learned that lecherous — and criminal — advances aren’t welcome at all.

Lessons we all can learn, yes?

HOME, ACCOMMODATING HOME: In December 2011, I told you about how landlord Michael Croom evicted a young father and his family after the father had become disabled with multiple sclerosis and asked to make “reasonable” modifications to the Taylor Ranch property to accommodate his disability. That included widening a bathroom door, lowering a kitchen sink and installing lighting reachable at wheelchair level.

What Dereck Scott, 33, had requested was wholly acceptable under the federal Fair Housing Act. His modifications were not extreme home makeovers, would be completed at his own expense and were reversible so that the home could be restored to its original condition should the Scotts move.

Croom said no. Then he said go.

Then you readers jumped in with a breathtaking show of support and compassion. You donated money, moving assistance, food, furniture and even a new handicap-accessible place for the Scotts to live — just in time for Christmas.

Now, thanks to a federal consent decree, Christmas is about to come early for the Scotts.

The family hired Santa Fe attorney Reed Colfax to sue Croom for discrimination, retaliation and violation of the Fair Housing Act. Last November, the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined their efforts and filed a civil complaint against Croom.

Last week, the feds and Croom entered a 24-page consent decree that prohibits Croom from discriminating against or retaliating against disabled tenants.

The consent decree, which is in effect for three years, also requires Croom to complete a lengthy list of duties, including modifying his rental agreements and informing his employees of the disability rights under the Fair Housing Act. He must complete classes on the federal, state and local fair housing laws and regulations and prepare standards and procedures for how he will handle requests for reasonable accommodations from his tenants in the future.

In addition, he must pay Scott $200,000 within 10 days of signing the consent decree.

“It’s kind of good timing,” Scott says.

The family has been barely scraping by on Scott’s monthly disability check, which is slightly more than $1,000. Scott’s wife, Aisle McGrath, has been unable to find work that would still allow her to care for her ailing husband and their three children, ages 3 to 7. Her unemployment checks ran out long ago.

But the money, Scott says, was not the main reason he pursued litigation.

“This sets a path for others who have disabilities and are discriminated against by landlords who simply don’t know or don’t want to know our rights,” he says. “It also shows that you must always fight for what you believe in and don’t give up.”

WORLD-CLASS JERK, AGAIN: One person who might want to give up, though, is Jayson Bice.

You may remember Bice, the 44-year-old manager of Alliance Drug Testing in Albuquerque, upon whom I have bestowed the title of world-class jerk for his less-than-charming way with the ladies.

In 2008, I wrote about how a brave woman had come forward to testify that Bice had terrorized her during a job interview for an imaginary personal assistant position that would have required some extremely “personal” assistance, preferably without most of her clothing.

Bice, who snickered as his victim cried on the witness stand, was convicted of misdemeanor assault and received 30 days in jail, plus 150 more in community custody.

Since 2008, I have on occasion received calls from women who recognized the ponytailed, puffy-faced Bice from the columns. They could tell me their stories about their encounters with him, but they were too afraid to tell police.

Then last December, he was arrested on charges of bribery and tampering with evidence after another brave woman came forward to accuse him of offering to alter the results of her blood test for a DWI charge in exchange for sex.

That was enough for one of the women who had previously called me to step forward herself. And authorities say there may be more victims.

Last Tuesday, a Bernalillo County grand jury indicted Bice on three counts of extortion and three counts of acceptance of a bribe by a witness involving three women. By my calculations, that exposes him to up to 13 1/2 years in prison.

Bice, incidentally, is out of jail on the community custody program. With that in mind, let’s hope the universe continues to get things right.

UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to ABQjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.
— This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal