I Wrote A Letter To Our Neighbors To Encourage Legal Solidarity Against One Asshole Neighbor That We All Hate, But I'd Like It Reviewed To Ensure I Don't Get In Any Legal Hot Water Over It.

For context, our next-door neighbor royally sucks, and unfortunately he has only gotten worse in the 2+ years since I made that post.

This is the letter I wrote, with some [redactions] and edits to maintain anonymity. I tried to make sure I didn't make any explicit claims about illegal behavior with judicious use of the word "allegedly" and careful phrasing, as I don't want to get nailed with libel. Should I also just avoid naming him altogether? They'll definitely know whom I'm referencing.

Please let me know if it's OK or if I should seek legal counsel before delivering it. Thanks in advance.

Dear Neighbor,

We wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves, or reintroduce ourselves if we've already met. My name is /u/xmasparadise, and [partner] and I live at 123 Anywhere St, the house with the [obvious landmark] and [NFL team] flag (though we swap it out for a pride flag outside of NFL season). While we tend to be introverted and keep to ourselves, we've run into an issue with our neighbor at 125 Anywhere St, Kyle Doe, that we hope you can help us address.

No doubt you are familiar with Mr. Doe. Many neighbors have shared their experiences with his troubling behavior, and unfortunately, since we moved into the neighborhood X years ago, we've experienced some of it firsthand. From dumping garbage onto our property to blasting music directly at our house during working hours, the issues are numerous. When confronted, he becomes aggressive and threatening, seemingly to intimidate us into silence. Once when asked about the police, he was dismissive and threatening, stating, "They won't make it to my sidewalk, trust me— I've got an AK upstairs." When confronted about his music, he threatened to come after us with his [Nationality] relatives. Both of these incidents were recorded on audio/video. This behavior cannot continue.

One issue that affects the whole block is his [color] trailer.

Mr. Doe regularly leaves his trailer uncoupled on the street, often in violation of several [town name] town ordinances and [state] State law. Most concerning is when he parks it too close to— or directly in front of— the fire hydrant, which could hinder emergency response efforts. Despite our repeated requests for him to move the trailer, he occasionally complies only to resume the behavior shortly thereafter.

While minor issues can sometimes be overlooked, his ongoing actions—including alleged threats of violence and harassment—have escalated to a point where we feel compelled to act. For example, during a recent altercation with one of our mutual neighbors, he allegedly made veiled threats involving their children and where they attend church. This type of behavior affects us all and must be addressed.

Where You Can Help

We're asking for your help in bringing attention to Mr. Doe's illegal behavior. By consistently reporting incidents, particularly regarding the trailer, we can demonstrate to the [town name] Police Department that his actions are impacting the neighborhood. Police may be more likely to intervene when they see solidarity among neighbors; as yet, their responses to his behavior have not been effective.

To make reporting easier, I've included a summary of the laws and ordinances Mr. Doe regularly, allegedly violates on the reverse side of this letter.

We also encourage you to document any incidents involving Mr. Doe, whether through written notes, photos, or security camera footage. These records can be invaluable if the situation escalates or requires further action.

You are by no means obligated to get involved, and we completely understand if you prefer to stay out of it. However, we feel a responsibility to stand up for our good neighbors—including you—and take a stand against Mr. Doe's bullying behavior.

We value living in this neighborhood alongside good neighbors like you. Thank you for considering this, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or want to discuss further. Our hope is that with your help we can make our community a better place for everyone.

Thank you,
/u/xmasparadise & [partner]
123 Anywhere St