Milwaukee, WI
Article prompts Milwaukee’s Seaway Terrace Apartments to repair tenant’s heat
During Milwaukee’s frigid temperatures in early February, Steve Paradowski found himself facing a familiar problem in the apartment he moved into over 10 years ago — his heater wouldn’t turn on.
Paradowski, 68, told Public Investigator he couldn’t remember the last time both heaters in his Seaway Terrace apartment at 4601 S. First St. had worked. As soon as one was repaired, it didn’t take long before it broke again or the other one stopped working, he said.
Public Investigator called the phone number on the Seaway Terrace Apartments website, which is the same number for the Illinois-based property owners, Kinzie Realty, three times. Reporters also followed up with five emails over the next three weeks. Nobody responded.
But just three hours after Public Investigator published an article about Paradowski’s faulty thermostats and nonfunctioning heater, he said he got a call from the property manager.
“I just had a long talk with the manager,” Paradowski texted the morning of March 3. “Apparently, your article was read by the owners who contacted the manager. A maintenance man is on the way as we speak.”
That day, Paradowski said his living room heater was fixed. Two days later, maintenance fixed the thermostats that had been hanging from the wall since he moved in.
Even the closet door, which Paradowski said had been broken for nearly his entire time there, was repaired.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” Paradowski said. “I didn’t expect them to act so quickly.”
Paradowski said property manager Scott Snarski personally visited his apartment to check over the completed repairs.
Andrew Brown, a representative for Kinzie Realty, said the company never received any voicemails from Public Investigator at its Evanston offices, even though reporters used the contact information on Seaway’s website.
According to Brown, Paradowski didn’t formally request maintenance work. Tenants have to make these requests through email, phone, online, or in person before they’re logged in the company’s software, Brown said.
“There are no logged work order requests from this tenant from the past several years,” Brown wrote in an email.
Paradowski said he knows a filing a work order is required, but thought he could ask maintenance directly for help, which he’s done in the past.
But Brown said notifying maintenance staff isn’t sufficient for a request.
He said the other tenant in the story, Nailah Boyd, who also reported heating problems, has also been visited since the article’s publication, and her issues are being resolved “as rapidly as possible.”
Boyd’s thermostat had been “repaired promptly” after she submitted a maintenance request in December, Brown added.
“At the same time, it is possible that her heat was compromised, but we’re not certain,” Brown said.
Brown also pointed out that Kinzie Realty did not own the apartment building until 2018. The company owns or manages several apartment buildings in Wisconsin and the greater Chicago area.
“We’re regretful that this prior owner may not have focused on repairing property maintenance issues timely, but we can’t be responsible for their flaws,” Brown said.
Paradowski said the problems with his apartment go back farther than just the issue with his living room heater. He also took issue with Kinzie Realty taking away residents’ free storage units in 2018 and maintenance staff making a hole in his wall in 2019.
According to a notice viewed by Public Investigator, maintenance made the hole to install a sleeve for a standing air conditioning unit. Paradowski was given two choices: buy his own AC unit, or rent one from Seaway. He said he couldn’t afford either.
Though his heating issues are resolved, Paradowski said it shouldn’t have taken an article for Kinzie Realty to respond to Public Investigator. But sometimes, that’s what it takes, he said.
“It’s good,” he said. “Because I guarantee you, I’m not the only one.”
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com.
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Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We’ll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to publicinvestigator@jrn.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.
RACINE — Members of Racine’s Greek community are processing the news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade from the Milwaukee Bucks — and the timing hits especially hard, just days before Greek Fest at Kimissis Greek Orthodox Church.
Tents are going up in the parking lot, rides are being assembled, and the kitchen is already busy with preparations for the annual celebration of Greek culture in Racine. But amid the excitement, the news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade from the Milwaukee Bucks is on the minds of some church members.
Joyce Muffoletto, secretary at Kimissis tid Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Racine, said the news took some of the joy out of her Tuesday.
Watch: Racine’s Greek community discusses what Giannis meant to them:
Racine’s Greek community reflects on Giannis’ celebration of Greek culture
“Yeah, that puts a damper on everything,” Muffoletto said.
Giannis, who was born and raised in Athens, Greece, earned the nickname “the Greek Freak” during his time with the Bucks. For Muffoletto, his Greek heritage made her a fan.
“Oh, of course,” she said with a laugh.
TMJ4
“I’m a pretty reserved, quiet person, but my husband had to go to a different level in the house because I’d be screaming at the TV when he was playing, you know, I’d be like, ‘Giannis! Giannis!’” Muffoletto said.
While Muffoletto made it to multiple Greek night games with the Bucks, she said what she will miss most goes beyond Giannis’s performance on the court.
“It’ll be hard to replace him. And more than him the player, kind of, him the person,” said Muffoletto, referring to the impact Giannis had on the Milwaukee community.
Church member Mary Luccas said she is not a big basketball fan, but she holds Giannis in high regard for the values he represents.
“We will be sad to lose that, but he set a really good foundation going forward,” Luccas said. “And he will be doing the same thing wherever he goes, because it’s just the quality of person that he is.”
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Luccas said Giannis and his family have embodied Greek values throughout his time in Wisconsin.
“Family centered. Philoxenia. The friendship, the love. The doors are open. They welcome everybody,” Luccas said.
“He embraces the Greek culture, like we embrace the Greek culture. And he celebrates Greece and his Greek culture,” Luccas said. “So wherever he is, it will be a celebration of his Greek heritage.”
And while the loyalty to the Bucks remains, Muffoletto acknowledged the bittersweet reality.
“I’ll be loyal, but it’s a bit of a loss,” Muffoletto said.
Racine’s Greek Fest runs Friday through Sunday at 1335 S. Green Bay Road.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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MILWAUKEE — Fans in Milwaukee are waking up to the news that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded, ending a 13-year run with the Bucks that included a championship in 2021.
The news of the trade broke late last night, and fans have mixed emotions about the move.
Before the trade happened, TMJ4 spoke with fans in Milwaukee about what they wanted to see happen.
Some fans were focused on what the Bucks could get in return.
Alonna Johnson
“If he gets traded, we get like some valuable pieces for him at least. I don’t want Bam Adebayo. I want Tyler Herro because he’s from Milwaukee so you know he’s a hooper they can keep bound,” Khorey said.
Others acknowledged Antetokounmpo’s impact even without following the sport closely.
Alonna Johnson
“I’m not a basketball fan myself but I know who Giannis is. And that says someone whose background is theater. We got a championship from him,” Halana said.
A mural created in honor of Antetokounmpo’s achievements on and off the court now stands as a reminder of his legacy in the city.
For those who predicted Antetokounmpo could be traded — they were correct.
Alonna Johnson
“I don’t like to see him get traded. I don’t like that. But the franchise is not big enough. Giannis needs to move in another direction,” Scheila said.
Not everyone was ready to accept the change.
Alonna Johnson
“Not saying that there’s anything wrong with anybody else, but Giannis is like the Bucks. So I would prefer if he didn’t because it’s just going to be weird. And then it’s like, who can follow in those big old footsteps,” Nariah said.
We’ll continue to bring you updates on the trade on-air and online.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
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Scene at 68th and Capitol
MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee DPW truck ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle on Monday afternoon, June 22.
Crash details
What we know:
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, just before 3 p.m. a DPW truck was heading east on Capitol when it ran a red light at 68th Street and crashed into a sedan that was heading north on 68th.
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A passenger in the DPW truck, a 44-year-old, was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.
The driver and only person in the sedan, a 25-year-old, was also taken to the hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.
The driver of the DPW truck was cited for running the red traffic light.
The Source: The Milwaukee Police Department sent FOX6 the information. FOX6 crews also went to the scene.
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