By Christine Sellers
Residents living at the Hotel Woodland Studio Apartments in California allege that a broken elevator has left some of them stranded inside their apartments for two months.
Elevators are more expensive and slower to install in the U.S. than in Asia or Europe, because of rules that restrict pre-assembly of elevators, in order to create work for the elevator union. It often costs more to repair an elevator in the U.S. than it would cost to simply buy a pre-assembled elevator in Asia.
Jennifer Rowland, a resident of Hotel Woodland Studio Apartments, told CBS News Sacramento that property management has not communicated with residents about when the broken elevator will be fixed. In addition, Rowland said she feels like she and her fellow residents “have just been abandoned.”
How can they be allowed to get away with this? I feel like we have just been abandoned,” Rowland told the outlet.
“I just don’t feel like anybody cares,” she said.
“We have nowhere to go. We have no means to get out.”(RELATED: Sewage Breach Sends Poop Gushing Into Major River, Causes Dangerous Contamination)
Rowland lives on the third floor of the apartment building and is disabled. She relies on a walker and a scooter for mobility. She said other residents, including seniors with mobility issues, can’t leave their homes because they can’t use the stairs. Rowland alleged the elevator broke on Thanksgiving, according to CBS News Sacramento.
Laurie Robinson, another resident who lives in the apartment building, shared a similar sentiment with FOX40.
“I’m gonna need help pretty soon,” Robinson said. “I can’t take very much more of this. No, no, none of us can,” she continued.
A profile for the Hotel Woodland Studio Apartments on the Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) website indicates it is a “76-unit affordable housing community that offers furnished, single room occupancy units.” Located in Woodland, California, unit amenities include central air and electric heating and fully paid utilities. On-site amenities include a laundry room and a community room, according to the CHOC’s website.
Residents told CBS News Sacramento that their apartment building recently changed property managers and is now being managed by VPM Management, Inc. The Hotel Woodland Studio Apartments does not appear on a list of Woodland-based properties managed by the company, however.
CBS News Sacramento contacted the City of Woodland regarding the broken elevator.
A Dec. 19 statement provided to the outlet indicated the elevator was “awaiting parts delivery.” Following a second inquiry made by the outlet on Jan. 14, officials for the City of Woodland said they had no updates and were still waiting for the parts needed to fix the elevator. Then, following a third inquiry made by the outlet on Jan. 26, a city official said the elevator should be fixed next week.
Rowland was skeptical of the city’s promise to complete the repair.
“Somebody with influence has to get involved, because we’re stuck. I just want to be able to be treated like a human being that has rights, that deserves a safe place to live,” she said.
The Daily Caller contacted VPM Management, Inc., who did not immediately comment on the matter.
