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Sep 4, 2008 10:41 pm US/Central
Irving Residents Say Racism Played Role In Evac
IRVING (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
There is growing controversy over the recent evacuation of an Irving apartment complex.
Residents were forced to move out of the Vista Del Lago with very little warning on August 15. Between 300 and 500 residents were displaced and left scrambling for a place to stay when the apartments abruptly shut.
The city said the owner is to blame. According to city official's action was taken after more than 1,700 safety, fire, and code violations were recorded at the complex.
Now some residents say safety was not the only reason they were ordered to leave the complex. They believe racism and prejudice were a factor.
Thursday, more than 30 residents protested at Irving City Hall, and they vowed to continue the protest peacefully at the home of the city manager.
The former tenants say they lost hundreds – and in some cases thousands – of dollars since officials deemed the apartment unsafe.
The apartments are about to be sold. The closing is scheduled to take place Friday. The former tenets say they want to be compensated for their losses and they are still threatening to file a lawsuit.
In June, CBS 11 News checked out the Irving apartment complex and found raw sewage running out of a pipe and onto the grass. The complex owner had until August to make repairs, but failed to meet the standards.
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