Fresno, CA: The Forgotten City

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“Tenants Together for Renter Rights” protest at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA. PHOTO/DONATED
“Tenants Together for Renter Rights” protest at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA.
PHOTO/DONATED

The fallout: Financial Institutions, the near demise of the housing market.

All are related to the new epidemic: SLUMLORDS!!!
Although this problem has been around for ages, it appears to be on the rise in Fresno County! Properties are sold dirt-cheap to investors who are buying blind! Not knowing the responsibility of maintaining the “investment,” roaches and vermin are the types of infestations that honest rent paying citizens are left to deal with. There is no city help and awareness of the squatter issue. If squatters get caught with a shopping cart they are fined. We blame the city for not appropriately dealing with it. Landlords are clueless as how to handle maintenance issues!! OR THEY FLAT OUT JUST DON’T CARE —which seems to be the issue most of the time.
City offices to Help—NONE!
Any type of help from the City, which would be Code Enforcement and City/Public Works, seems NON EXISTANT. Calls to the Health Department are never returned due to the budget cuts (which is what I was told.) My question is, how do budget cuts affect Safety and Public Health? If these types of conditions continue, there will be a health epidemic, which will be related to the unsanitary and deplorable conditions.
Blind eyes: I can drive down the street on any given day and see Public works, Code Enforcement, Law Enforcement turn a blind eye to the horrible street conditions which are plagued by urine smelling sidewalks, unwanted and or dumped furniture – it’s basically just a wasteland. Why has Our Beloved Fresno turned into a third world Country, Why?
Resources to help: Tenants Together for Renter Rights, an organization for Renters rights (Statewide). But this organization cannot do it alone. Let’s make a pledge to help rid our beloved cities (Statewide) of slumlords and return our cities back to the glorious “Golden State” they used to be. If you would like to take part in the pledge, please contact Simone Weldon-Rhodes at Tenants together (Regional Organizer) at  Email: SWHALENR79@gmail.com

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