Chanting “Fix the Enclave” and “Less Pests,” residents of 飞地公寓 in the 白橡木 section of 银泉 rallied together to air their grievances Thursday.
Many living in one of the 1,000 apartments complained of rat and bug infestation, 臭虫, nonworking elevators and a lack of security that allows homeless people to sleep in hallways and the garage.
As some of the residents in the recently formed tenant association spoke, a management staff member stood in the back listening. 当租客, who would only say his name was E for fear of being evicted, called the management personnel up to hand him a list of demands, the man accepted the letter and shook his hand.
He then walked toward Enclave’s leasing office, giving the letter away to reporters, saying he had no intention of reading it. When asked by reporters to respond to the tenants’ complaints, he stayed silent.
玛格丽特, 2016年起租, told MCM there was so much water in her walls that mold crept throughout her apartment. “Roaches and mice, you name it,”她说。.
“I have a homeless person living outside my door every day,”她说。, adding that if police or security make the person leave, he just returns the next day.
For all this, she pays $1,600 a month for her two-bedroom apartment. “I am trying to get out,”她说。.
“今天, we unite as a community,阿布说。, a resident and member of the Enclave Tenant Association organizing committee. “We demand the immediate reinstatement of staff and concierge at every lobby, 一天24小时, and security cameras in every hallway.”
E told those gathered that it was important to stick together and keep demanding that problems, including frequently 电梯坏了 that force some to climb most of the way up the 20-story building, 得到修复.
County Executive Marc Elrich called the Enclave a long-time problem building that takes up a great deal of county employees’ time. Between July 2019 and July 2023, 6,000 notices of violations were issued as were 1,229 citations for previously cited violations that still weren’t corrected.
County enforcement staff visit the Enclave on average a minimum of four days per week.
Bad landlords ask for extension after extension, only fixing the problems the day before they are called to appear in court. 然后, when the landlords tell the judge that the problem was fixed, the case is dropped and no fines levied, Elrich说. Maryland needs to write laws guaranteeing financial punishments, Elrich说.
“I and my staff have spent significant time here since I took office last December,” Councilmember Kristin Mink said. “We’ve canvassed multiple times, we’ve held and attended meetings with residents, and we’ve responded on-site to follow up on complaints. We have amplified countless complaints with the Enclave’s ownership.”
She promised the tenants, “I’m not going away.”
“We’ll be with you no matter what, and we’ll keep advocating with you,” said District 20 Maryland Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. “But you shouldn’t need to contact your delegate or your councilmember to get an elevator fixed or to meet basic health and safety conditions.”
我加入了租户， @CMKristinMink, @LCharkoudian, @Progressive_MD & others in calling for overdue safety & maintenance improvements at The Enclave in 白橡木. Heard firsthand the housing challenges residents face – from pests to 安全问题. We demand better for our community. 图片.推特.com/04L6LcNfm1
— County Exec Marc Elrich (@MontCoExec) 2023年10月20日
Since elected, I have been getting calls for help from Enclave residents re basic health & 安全问题. I have advocated for them w/ management, state, & 县检查员. Yesterday, tenants organized a rally. We call on Enclave ownership to make these homes safe & 灌木丛生的 图片.推特.com/o0JeGofKex
— Lorig Charkoudian (@LCharkoudian) 2023年10月20日
