Dianne Ackerman

If there's a lack of interest among your neighbors to run for your co-op board, start talking to people who you think would be a good fit.

Installing a camera in your apartment door's peephole isn't an invasion of your neighbor's privacy because it's recording a public space.

A reader asks Ms. Demeanor if he should ignore or acknowledge a Muslim neighbor who sometimes makes a quick dash into the hallway to throw out her trash—without her head covering.

This week, a query from someone considering being a Scrooge to a super who is suing the building. Ms. D. says this is not a good idea. Not only does the lawsuit have nothing to do with you, chances are he will continue to be your super and will remember your stinginess, she says.

Noise doesn't bother our writer, who has lived in a second-floor apartment overlooking very noisy Second Avenue on the Upper East Side for 20 years.

Many NYC buildings do not allow a super to do any work outside their regular job. Some allow a super to do small jobs that do not take up too much time during the work day and are more flexible if the work is to be done outside of normal business hours. Ms. Demeanor explains the type of small projects she asks her super to do.