Imaginary Landscape, LLC

Last Friday around 6pm I was finishing up some paperwork and talking with Ric Lee, Imaginary’s Operating Partner. Staff had left for the weekend and we were the only two in the office. In the distance, both of us heard an alarm sound somewhere in the building (there are three other tenants besides Imaginary in the building). I was mildly curious, but not enough to do anything (much like my reaction to a car alarm, except for the curiosity).

After a few minutes, it stopped and shortly thereafter we locked up for the night. As we exited the building, I noticed a piece of paper stuck in the door handle. It was an Administrative Ticket issued by the Chicago Police Department to Imaginary Landscape for a false alarm.

Thing is, we don’t have an alarm.

As I reviewed it, I was irritated that a) the officer didn’t get the right business and b) the officer didn’t ring the buzzer to inquire (to either determine if we were the correct business or to perhaps stop a felony in progress). Regardless, on Monday I asked a staff member to call and straighten it out, fully expecting to never hear about it again.

After a couple calls, the staffer reached the correct department who informed her that there was no alternative but to appear in court to plead our case.

So my irritation has turned to full blown aggravation. I now need to send a staff member to downtown Chicago to sit in a courtroom and let the judge know that we don’t have an alarm in the office. At best, a half day’s affair.

It is an absurd waste of time – for me, my staff, the bureaucrat who had to field our phone call, court staff who must process paperwork and the judge who must read and hear our case.

I hope to increase the time wasted on this by drafting a letter of complaint to the commander of our precinct. Any bets on a response? Perhaps, this is an area where I can count on efficiency.