Tenant tells council of mold, sewage and alleged retaliation at 12448 Fairview

Deborah Trey Capers, who identified herself as a Blue Island resident and tenant, told the council she has filed repeated complaints about unsafe housing conditions at 12448 Fairview and that she believes those complaints have been ignored. "The mayor and the building department are fully aware of my reports of mold, sewage, backups, unsafe hallways, laundry rooms," Capers said. She said inspectors have documented visible water damage and mold but that repairs have not been completed.

Capers described health concerns for children, seniors and people with respiratory problems and said her husband, who has COPD and other health issues, experienced worsening health after months of exposure. "This is the real cost of the city's failure to act," she said, and alleged the city's inaction feels like "retaliation for my persistence in speaking up."

Capers provided the council a specific address for the complaint, 12448 Fairview, and told the council she had received a building-department note dating a prior inspection in March and a subsequent contact from staff on Aug. 8. She said a property-maintenance inspector identified visible water damage to ceilings and walls, open corroded pipes and backflow, but that problems persisted into August.

City staff did not announce an immediate enforcement outcome during the meeting. Council members acknowledged the complaint and asked staff to confirm inspection and remediation status. Capers said she had litigation ongoing and had subpoenaed city records, and she asked the council why complaints appear to be ignored.

No formal vote or remedy was recorded on the floor during the committee meeting; the item remained in public comment with staff expected to follow up on enforcement steps and to confirm who is handling the case in the building department.