Plaza Tower residents speak out about unsafe and unsanitary living conditions
People living at the Plaza Towers are speaking out about what they call unsafe and unsanitary living conditions. They held a protest in front of the apartment Residents of the Plaza Towers and Annex in California are protesting about unsafe and unsanitary living conditions at the complex, which provides housing for seniors on a fixed income. The residents claim that the building is not secure enough and that homeless people can get in at night, and that drug deals and prostitution occur in the apartments. This is not the first time security measures at these apartments have been scrutinized by a Kern County Grand Jury Report, which found several violations in three of the Housing Authority's facilities. The Housing Authority denied these claims, stating they are planning to build replacement housing as part of a larger plan to update all of their low-Income Housing Developments.
Published : 4 weeks ago by http://www.facebook.com/pages/eyewitness-news-bakersfieldnow/91093559934, Leslie Santibanez-Molina, Eyewitness News in
People living at the Plaza Towers are speaking out about what they call unsafe and unsanitary living conditions. They held a protest in front of the apartment complex on Wednesday.
The Plaza Towers and Annex provide housing to seniors on a fixed income. This building is one of three owned by the Housing Authority.
Residents told us the security at the building is not enough and that homeless people can get in at night. They also claim drug deals and prostitution happen in the apartments.
“They have been trying to do something about it but they are fighting a losing battle,” said Smith.
This is not the first time security measures at these apartments have been scrutinized. A 2022 Kern County Grand Jury Report found several violations in three of the Housing Authority's facilities. The Plaza Tower and Annex were listed a total of nine times in their findings. One of these findings points out that the Tower’s cameras are often covered by people trying to hide illegal activities like smoking, drug deals, and prostitution.
Other residents we spoke to at the protest said there was a cockroach problem. They did point out that management has sent exterminators but that the problem still persists.
"When you open your cupboards, they fall on you. That is gross,” said Andrea Williams. “I would be washing my dishes and they would fall off the overhead light."
Eyewitness News contacted the Housing Authority so they could respond to these claims. No one was immediately available but they denied one of the claims made by residents.
“The building is not now, nor has it ever been condemned. We are planning to build replacement housing as a part of a larger plan to update all of our low-Income Housing Developments. We are in the beginning stages and have purchased two parcels of land. We are aware of the tenant complaints and are working on our responses to them.”
In 2023, the Housing Authority told residents they would have them move out by 2025 into new housing. A spokesperson with the organization told us there is no set timeline but that this would happen.