Ex-Springfield Gardens tenants share living experiences with AG Campbell
SPRINGFIELD — One freezing morning, Anna Smith said her heat and hot water stopped working. Her kids, shivering and bundled in their winter jackets, got ready for school.
"I felt powerless," said Smith, a former Springfield Gardens tenant. "I felt like we were shouting into a void, asking for basic repairs, basic safety and basic dignity."
State Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell visited Springfield on Tuesday to hear firsthand from people who lived in properties owned by Springfield Gardens, an embattled out-of-state landlord. She said her office is prioritizing regional equity and is promoting the release of its updated guide to state housing law.
Earlier in the fall, Springfield Gardens, known for leaving apartment buildings blighted, was banned from ever owning and managing rental properties across the state, a Suffolk County judge ordered. The consent agreement means the landlords owe Massachusetts $2.5 million and must forgive $7.5 million in unpaid rent for affected residents, a statement from the AG's Office said.
State officials, including Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell and state Sen. Adam Gome,z sit Tuesday at a roundtable with former Springfield Gardens residents to discuss a $10 million settlement with Schweb Partners LLC. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
"We left no stone unturned," said Katie Talbot, organizing director of Springfield No One Leaves. Outreach included door-knocking at apartments, reaching out to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — federal housing programs — and targeting Springfield Gardens' lawyers.
"Ninety-eight percent of the (Springfield Gardens) apartments are unlivable," Talbot said. "It's unjust to be forced to live that way."
Before Springfield Gardens sold its remaining Springfield property last year, it was once a top taxpayer in the city. At its height, it controlled 62 residential buildings in Springfield.
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell takes questions after a roundtable in Springfield where she discussed a $10 million settlement with Schweb Partners LLC and Springfield Gardens. Campbell also highlighted her office's commitment to safer housing and tenant rights. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Smith said living in her Springfield Gardens apartment was the "hardest experience" of her life.
But then, she decided, "We don't have to live like this."
Smith started speaking up for herself and her family. She spoke with neighbors and to tenant organizations.
"Some people had been living like this for so long, they didn't even believe that change was possible. Others were scared to speak up," she said. "But slowly, we built trust, we built power, and we started to believe in each other again."
Two other tenants, Michael Wright and Precious Jones, also lived under the former landlord. Wright said he continuously fought for "needed repairs" at his apartment for over 18 months.
"Springfield Gardens caused harm while they made millions (of dollars) in profit," he said.
Jones, a mother of three, said her apartment was infested by mice and that her bathroom was moldy.
The AG's new housing guide helps both tenants and landlords know their rights, and offers information on how to file complaints, said Yael Shavit, chief of the consumer protection division at the AG's Office.
"It's the landlord's responsibility to make sure that a dwelling unit being rented (is) in a safe and habitable condition in a way that complies with the state sanitary code," she said.
Former Springfield Gardens residents sit Tuesday at a roundtable with state officials to discuss a $10 million settlement with Schweb Partners LLC and Springfield Gardens. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
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