Aging residents at a low-income, 16-story high-rise in Chinatown say inoperable elevators have made daily life unsafe and city officials are taking action against the landlord.
“The elevators have only been working on and off for over two months. It started in August,” said Phyllis Chiu of Chinatown Community for Equitable Development. “The first time that both elevators in the 16-story building were not working, it was a period of 22 days.”
Wing Ng, 81, blamed building management.
“The organization that manages this building, he doesn’t treat these people like human beings. He doesn’t care about life and death,” Ng said.
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer’s office filed 16 criminal counts against the landlord, CCOA Housing Administration.
In addition to the elevators being out of service, Feuer alleges the elevators also have not been tested or maintained in accordance with the Los Angeles Fire Department’s fire safety protocols for the building’s fire protection equipment.
“Vulnerable senior citizens in a 16-story high rise are essentially trapped in their units,” Feuer said.