I know it sounds harsh but I try not to waste their time if I can avoid it as much as possible. 

You’re not running a charity, harsh as that sounds.

For those of you who are not familiar with the area, the winters are pretty harsh.

This may sound harsh but the reality is you are more important to yourself. 

Sure they capture high profile media coverage due to their insane and asinine treatment of tenants, but eventually they are caught and harshly punished by the city DA.

“However, the affordability challenge will continue to cast a shadohttps://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/04/harsh-housing-forecast-for-2020-especially-in-these-big-cities.html

However, unlike So Cal were military bases can provide clean delineation of city boundaries (Pendleton for example), for Phoenix/Tucson there is mostly only desert separating them (many miles of harsh desert).BTW CA population continues to increase. 

I have to walk the fine balance of working with the people I have to improve their quality but not push them OUT of the business with harshness and high standards that are not reachable.  

Medical things are treated less harshly than, for example, a car repo.

@Katherine Val Verde I understand about not wanting to lie, but telling them the harsh truth may make you feel at peace with yourself...until they decide they need to sue you.