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Tenant leaders tell council of rats, bed bugs and unresponsive enforcement at 400 Oakwood
Summary
A tenant‑association president told the City of Orange council about severe vermin infestations and unaddressed building conditions at 400 Oakwood Ave; the administration said the code enforcement task force has inspected, issued summonses and will increase follow‑up inspections.
Alice Lang, who identified herself as tenant‑association president for a building at 400 Oakwood Avenue, told the City of Orange council on Dec. 3 that residents are living with “rats that size” and recurring bed‑bug and cockroach infestations, and asked for a clear, enforceable plan from the city.
“I am almost 100 years old. I am too old to start learning to live with vermin and filth,” Lang said during the citizen‑comment period, describing audible rodents in walls and ongoing problems that she said have not been fully resolved.
Lang said she had tried to contact the health department and code enforcement and that tenants feel they lack consistent representation. The council and administration responded that the city’s task force and code enforcement staff have inspected the property several times, issued summonses and initiated court action where appropriate. Business Administrator Chris Harwi said the task force was at the building during the summer and would return this week to follow up.
Council Member Hilbert asked whether the inspections could be made regular instead of ad hoc; Harwi said inspections are done on request but the administration can schedule recurring visits and increase summonses where evidence supports action. The mayor’s office and health officers were cited as involved in prior responses, and Harwi said a structural evaluation was separate from code inspections and would proceed according to statutory duties.
The council encouraged the tenant representative to provide the administration with contact information and documentation; Harwi offered to send staff to the site and requested any deeds/surveys or other materials the tenant could share.
Next steps: the administration said it would schedule follow‑up inspections, continue enforcement actions where warranted and report back to the council. Residents were advised to contact dispatch or code enforcement to request inspections and to use the city’s task‑force channels for recurring issues.
Outcome: Administration confirmed ongoing enforcement activity and promised increased follow up; no new formal action was taken at the meeting.
