Tenants and residents report lease retaliation, trash and rat infestations; council members pledge follow-up

Multiple speakers used the public‑comment period to report housing problems and neighborhood sanitation issues, asking the council to intervene.

Cynthia Ware, a resident at a tax‑credit property managed by Columbia, said she has faced repeated lease violations she believes are retaliatory after she complained to management. Ware told council she had submitted appeals and contacted state housing authorities but had received no substantive response, and she asked the city to consider creating an advocacy office to protect seniors and low‑income residents.

Separately, Dr. Sabrina Norman and other neighborhood speakers described chronic trash, illegal dumping and rat infestations linked to a behavior‑health facility on Yale Street. Norman said the site generates overflow refuse that local residents, many elderly, are living beside and that city outreach thus far has been inadequate. “We cannot get it cleaned up,” she said.

Fred Woods, president of the Northwood Manor Civic Club, urged better basic city services—trash pickup, drainage improvements, and street maintenance—and asked how the city plans to maintain services if workforce reductions proceed. Woods said residents see reduced service while taxes and fees remain under review.

Council members hearing the testimony said offices would follow up. Council Member Chavez told Ware his office would pursue direct contact; Council Member Chabazz said he would visit a complaining resident’s home to see the condition in person. Solid Waste and housing‑related departments were not represented on the public record during the June 10 meeting.