East Garfield Park Residents Say They’ve Been Without Heat Since November
A Crisis Unfolds as Temperatures Drop
As the city opens a warming center at 10 S. Kedzie to assist with bitter-cold temperatures, residents of East Garfield Park are speaking out, claiming they haven’t had heat in more than a month.
The Struggle to Stay Warm
Shervazs Williams, a resident, said her heat hasn’t worked since the first week of November. Another resident, Angela Parchman, said, “They told us to buy heaters and open our ovens. Do you know how dangerous leaving our oven open is?”
A Welcome to the Cold
Residents welcomed FOX 32 into their chilly apartments on Saturday. The no-heat complaints came from multiple families living in the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Apartments in the 3200 block of West Madison. As temperatures have dropped, residents have relied on space heaters, boiling water, and their ovens to stay warm.
Concerns Grow
Parchman received a notice from ComEd that her electricity usage increased 179% during this billing cycle. She said she pays nearly $1,400 every month to live there. “We don’t have carbon monoxide detectors, no fire extinguishers, and there are cracks and leaks in the ceiling,” Parchman said.
Uncertainty Lingers
The MLK Plaza Apartments include more than 15 buildings and 130 units for low-income families. It is unknown how many people are currently without heat. A pipe burst recently occurred in one of the buildings. FOX 32 reached out to the building’s property management team for comment and has not yet received a response.
Community Support
Ald. Jason Irvin, 28th Ward, said he was unaware of the heat outages and will work with the Department of Buildings and the owners to resolve the issue.
Conclusion
The situation at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Apartments in East Garfield Park is a stark reminder of the struggles many low-income families face when it comes to basic necessities like heat. As temperatures continue to drop, it is essential that those responsible for the maintenance of these buildings take immediate action to rectify the situation.
FAQs
* What is the situation with the heat at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Apartments?
+ Residents claim they have been without heat since November.
* How many people are affected?
+ The exact number is unknown, but it is estimated that over 100 units are affected.
* Has the property management team commented on the situation?
+ FOX 32 has not received a response from the property management team.
* What is being done to resolve the issue?
+ Ald. Jason Irvin has promised to work with the Department of Buildings and the owners to resolve the issue.
