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CHARLOTTE, NC – Racial slurs, sexist insults and unhealthy living conditions are just some of the complaints made by residents of the Mountcrest Apartments in East Charlotte.
The allegations made against the management office are so serious, they are not only getting the attention of the city, but a state-wide agency too.
“The air condition, look at this here,” said Ahmed Abraham as he walked WCCB’s Audrina Bigos through his Mountcrest apartment Monday afternoon.
He pointed out a leaking, mildewing air conditioning system.
“We have to catch the water and dump the water,” said Abraham.
Abraham also pointed to a sinking floor in the kitchen and rusty faucets in bathroom.
“Nobody is listening, they’re just collecting rent,” said Abraham.
Abraham said repairs take weeks to get fixed, if they’re fixed at all. Now, he says he’s had enough. He’s moving out of the apartment complex in July, but first he’s taking action to help his neighbors.
Ahmed was was one of 50 residents who signed a petition to the City of Charlotte’s Code Enforcement department alleging substandard conditions in their units. The petition prompted an inspection on June 6th of the eighth unoccupied units at the complex.The inspection revealed 46 violations including windows and doors falling off the hinges, floors that were soft and not structurally sound, holes and cracks in the wall, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors missing, and toilets leaking.
There are still more than 140 units that have not been inspected at the Mountcrest apartments. The city is expected to begin more inspections in July.
Residents like Saeed Abraham say the apartment managers are taking advantage of the 99 percent of the complex who are immigrants.
“These poor people. At least I have a voice, I can talk. They cannot talk, but look at this environment they’re living in: this trash!” said Abraham.
Hector Vaca with Action NC, a statewide group that helps tenants fight for their rights, says water bills at Mountcrest are suspiciously skyrocketing. Some bills are almost $200 dollars.
“They go to complain at the office and they say, ‘Oh yeah, just give us $50 and we’ll let it slide,’ which to us… seems even more suspicious,” said Vaca.
Vaca says the people living here are harassed with sexist and racial slurs.
“A resident told me that management said, ‘You Mexicans are like Chihuahuas, we just have to kick you and you’ll shut up,’ said Vaca.”
In the meantime, the Charlotte Immigration Integration Task Force will meet with tenants and Action NC on Wednesday in Veterans Park.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission tells WCCB it has not begun an official investigation into the tenant’s concerns, but one of its divisions is conducting an informal investigation.
