MAILBAG: Give apartment dwellers a watchdog

As a renter for 38 years, I’ve endured loud, predatory neighbors, do-nothing management companies, repairs that don’t get made, buildings not up to code, government agencies paid off by building owners and managers to let their buildings continue to be substandard, and more.

I’ve had building managers call me at my apartment yelling at me to leave if I don’t like it there. I’ve been lied to by managers, insulted, told that I didn’t deserve repairs I’ve requested, and even had one management company (finally sued out of existence) try to pull retaliatory eviction on me for reporting them to government agencies.

Repeatedly, I’ve asked politicians this question and received no answer — why is there no watchdog agency for apartment management companies to protect tenants from their machinations? The question remains unaddressed while the problems rage on.

My current building is a perfect example — things not only don’t get repaired in a timely manner; often they don’t get repaired at all. And yet we’re expected to pay rent. Stereo-blasting party animals with a screaming toddler were allowed to move in below me.

They’ve vandalized my property, verbally harassed me, pounded on the walls at night and more. The management company has done nothing about them, nor have the police, in spite of seven audiotapes I’ve made of their noise.

When Glendale Water & Power came to do an energy-saving inspection, I told them this building management company doesn’t make repairs. They smiled, saying that they hear that all the time.

The answer to the problem is so simple: Create a watchdog agency for apartment dwellers. Give the agency the power to penalize, sue and close down agencies, while levying huge fines on building owners who make their tenants victims.

Why is this asking too much? Glendale City Hall, get busy!

NANCE PARRY

Glendale

Churches should come together

In God there is neither Jew, Christian, Muslin, Buddhist or other, whatever the difference in religious belief, a call from the suffering must be heard and answered.

All around us are the poor and homeless. They may be ragged, unclothed and in every way unattractive, yet they are children of God.

Many have lost faith in God and can only be reached by our kindness and love; their physical wants must be first. They must be fed and cleaned and decently clothed.