Robin Bartram - Stacked Decks: Building Inspectors and the Reproduction of Urban Inequality

ROBIN BARTRAM

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS

CHICAGO AND LONDON

The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637

The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London

2022 by The University of Chicago

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews. For more information, contact the University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637.

Published 2022

Printed in the United States of America

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ISBN -13: 978-0-226-81906-8 (cloth)

ISBN -13: 978-0-226-82114-6 (paper)

ISBN -13: 978-0-226-82113-9 (e-book)

DOI : https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226821139.001.0001

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Bartram, Robin, author.

Title: Stacked decks : building inspectors and the reproduction of urban inequality / Robin Bartram.

Other titles: Building inspectors and the reproduction of urban inequality

Description: Chicago ; Illinois : The University of Chicago Press, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021054319 | ISBN 9780226819068 (cloth) | ISBN 9780226821146 (paperback) | ISBN 9780226821139 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH : Building inspectorsIllinoisChicago. | Building inspectionSocial aspectsIllinoisChicago. | HousingIllinoisChicago. | EqualityIllinoisChicago. | Discrimination in housingIllinoisChicago.

Classification: LCC HD 7304. C 4 B 37 2022 | DDC 363.509773/11dc23/eng/20211206

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021054319

This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z 39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

I did not like the view from my desk. The window looked out onto two dumpsters that were constantly overflowing in the alley behind our building. Bag after bag piled up until they toppled and cascaded down the sides, splitting and spitting their household waste insides onto the ground. There, they turned rancid or were trodden on, driven over, pecked at by pigeons, or delighted in by rats. It wasnt just household waste. Bedbug-infested mattresses, broken cabinets, and other discarded furniture joined the trash bags. And, just as soon as the refuse collection had whisked it all awayevery Monday and Thursday in our neighborhood of Chicagothe dumpsters seemed to be already full again and ready to overflow. It didnt take me long to get sick and tired of this revolting pattern.

I decided to act. The dumpsters I could see belonged to the building across from ours. I took down the name of the management company from the sign on the front of the building, looked them up online, and called to complain. I called three times. Twice my calls went straight to voicemail. The other time, I spoke to someone who assured me he would tell the janitor. But nothing changed. The dumpsters continued to overflow, and I continued to be annoyed. I picked up the phone to call the City.