Unending Issues Face Residents of Independence Apartment Following Arson Attack
INDEPENDENCE, MO – Following a recent arson attack which has left residents unable to return home, inhabitants of the Independence Towers apartment complex are speaking out about the ongoing issues they’ve had to Face.
Displaced Residents Demand an Answer
When a devastating fire broke up the calm of another morning on Monday, 27 residents found themselves displaced and under investigation for arson, with their lives thrown into chaos. Even though aid was promptly provided by the Red Cross in the form of $350 vouchers, the displaced residents were not given even an inkling of a timeline suggesting when they could expect to return to their apartments.
Caught in a frustrating situation, these residents began shedding light on the several ongoing issues that they’ve had to endure while living at the Independence Towers.
Decaying Living Conditions Uncovered
“We call out problems like pest infestation, water leaks, recurrent floods in apartments. In my apartment alone, we’ve had to deal with floods four or five times now, in addition to cockroaches, bed bugs and mice, which seemed to have made our couch their residence.” said Andrew Manno, a five-year resident of the apartment complex, “[…]and there’s the broken air conditioning unit that seems to fail us every summer.
Andrew further expressed that the management made a promise to put the air conditioning back to work once temperatures edged over 70 degrees for a two-week or longer period. However, he added, “We passed that point already!”
Empty Promises From Management
Residents have recounted numerous instances where they’ve reported the issues to the building’s management, only to be met with empty promises and lack of action. Each attempt to resolve their issues, be it reporting a new infestation or asking for updates about a previous report, was often met with a lethargic, “Yes, we’re looking into this. It’ll be taken care of.”
Elliott West, another resident, voiced similar frustrations, “The truth is, nothing gets done most of the time. Our building management seems to have forgotten that they are responsible for taking care of the people they house, and this attitude is unacceptable.”
Residents Demand Action
Manno and West, in collaboration with KC Tenants, have arranged a meeting with the Vice President of Trigild Inc, the current owner company of the residential complex. They intend to outline their demands for: immediate repair of the faulty air conditioning system, fair compensation for the fire incident, reversal and freezing of recent rent hikes, eviction freezes and displacement, and official recognition of their union.
In the true spirit of an upstanding citizen, West concluded, “The lives of real people are at stake here. Hopefully, she understands this, or else we will need to exercise more drastic measures.”
The negotiation meeting is scheduled Thursday at 1:30 pm at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
Investigation Continues
Meanwhile, the police are continuing their investigation into the claims of arson that have added another twist in the already complex situation.
