Rent Strike: February through August 2023
As we talked with our neighbors and visited each other’s apartments, we uncovered more chronic issues. Fleas, mice, verbal abuse by the property manager, cracking and improperly constructed drywall, crumbling bricks and masonry, water-damaged load-bearing wood, moisture and leaking, and vast, vast amounts of black and other molds. It has been open for less than four years.
Due to the extreme dangers present, and our landlord’s refusal to communicate, CTU members went on rent strike. From February to August 2023, we followed Connecticut’s legal process of paying rent into escrow accounts under the local Housing Authority. A growing number of tenants paid their rent into the housing court until apartments with children received lead abatement. We also served a demand letter to both Konover Residential and the property owner, Historic Cargill Falls LLC (sole member: Leanne Parker). Our demands at that time included: comprehensive lead and mold inspections throughout the complex, swift abatement of hazards, proper maintenance staffing, and inspections/repairs to major structural damage in the mill.
Even though the Putnam housing court ended up dismissing the majority of cases, our members won and enforced: a year-long rent freeze (to be continued into 2024), comprehensive lead inspections paid for by the CTDOH, air quality inspections, mold and lead abatement, and renewal of leases for vulnerable tenants.
Read more about our early organizing and case details in the CT Mirror.
Source: itsgoingdown.org
