Tenants and advocates press council to strengthen code enforcement and issue 90‑day public report

Several tenant advocates and organizers used the public comment period on Dec. 16 to press the Greensboro City Council to act on substandard rental housing and code enforcement.

Malia Imes, who leads an eviction court watch, described weekly tenant accounts of hazardous conditions including mold, caved-in ceilings, sewage in units, maggots, and prolonged loss of heat or air conditioning. She urged the council to review code enforcement practices, attend a tenant-hosted town hall, and produce a public report within 90 days recommending ways to strengthen enforcement and hold landlords accountable.

Albina Ray of Keep Gate City Housed echoed the request for a 90‑day public report and asked the city to give code enforcement more resources and authority, and to use the report to craft policies that would require repairs and hold owners accountable. Terrell, a tenant organizer, reiterated those three commitments and called for tenant meetings in the new year.

Councilmembers acknowledged the testimony and later in the meeting directed staff to provide follow-up: Councilmember Tharme specifically requested a comprehensive status update on Access Greensboro and asked for a report on how code enforcement can be strengthened. City staff said they would provide more detailed updates and pursue community engagement.

Next steps: advocates asked for a 90‑day publicly released report on strengthening code enforcement, and councilmembers requested staff reports on Access Greensboro service issues and on options to strengthen enforcement. No formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting; the transcript records council consensus to request staff follow-up and reporting.