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Resident advocate says elevator outage at Joliet Plaza has left disabled tenant unable to access services for months
Summary
At the July 14 meeting, Trista Brown told council an elevator at Joliet Plaza has been out more than three months, affecting resident Larry Irby who uses life-support equipment and lives on the third floor; she asked staff to continue follow-up and help find relocation options.
Trista Brown addressed the council during public comment on July 14 to report a prolonged elevator outage at Joliet Plaza that she said has affected multiple residents, including one tenant identified as Larry Irby.
Brown said Irby, who has difficulty speaking after being on a ventilator, resides on the third floor and has faced mobility and health challenges worsened by the elevator outage. Brown said the elevator had been out for more than three months and that fire department personnel have been checking on the tenant; she said she and community partners are assisting with housing search efforts.
"He's been a resident over at the Joliet Plaza downtown, and he's been having all kinds of—he had been there for 3 and a half years... Their elevator has been out. This man has been on life support, all kinds of things... That elevator has not been working for over 3 months," Brown said.
Brown said city neighborhood services and the fire department have been involved but urged continued follow-up and assistance because many residents in that building lack alternatives. City staff presence and ongoing checks were acknowledged in the public comments; Brown asked officials to keep following up and to help secure housing alternatives where appropriate.
No council action was taken during the public comment; residents and advocates asked staff to continue outreach and inspections.
