Public Housing Residents Try Commissioner At Community Tribunal
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Living with leaky ceilings, black mold and rodents. Those are just some of the conditions people living in Baltimore City's public housing say they deal with daily.
Today a community tribunal was held, trying the housing authority and its commissioner.
Marcus Washington has more.
It was at St. Vincent De Paul Church, that resident of Baltimore's public housing put the housing authority and its commissioner, Paul Graziano, on trial for what they are being calling deplorable living conditions.
"No heat. That is my worst problem. I am a disabled resident of Gilmor Homes and I do not have heat," said one resident.
Last year, WJZ's cameras captured other conditions residents say they deal with including faulty window and door locks, rodents, leaky plumbing and more.
RELATED: City Reaches Settlement In Sex-For-Repairs Lawsuit
"There is nothing really legitimate being done," said Ariane McBride, People's Power Assembly. "We need something more than, we are going to relocate you, knock down your projects, rebuild them, but probably never let you move back. We need real solutions."
With nearly 20,000 people living in Baltimore City public housing, groups like People's Power Assembly are holding the housing authority and its leadership accountable for issues they say are not being corrected.
"I'm hoping it will give the people of Baltimore City an opportunity to have their voice heard, and bring attention to what's happening in Baltimore with the city and the housing authority and create an opportunity for real change," said McBride.
"I would hope that some of our problems can be solved and everyone can be treated fairly," said Charlie Canty.
This tribunal is just the first step many hope will correct a decades old problem of ignoring the issues and complaints.
"Providing quality housing for our city residents, they deserve it. It's a human right," said McBride.
Organizers say they came together after the sex repair scandal became public. This is where female residents say they were asked or forced to participate in sexual acts before home repairs were completed.
