Tenants in Minneapolis duplex left without heat for a week
A Minneapolis duplex could be condemned after tenants say they were stuck without heat and hot water in freezing temperatures for a week.
The Verde Property Management Company property manager said as of Tuesday they’ve restored heat to about two-thirds of the building.
A tenant said she did not see a sense of urgency to fix the problem until the city of Minneapolis stepped in.
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“This is just not humane to have anybody living like this,” Capri Rogers, tenant, said
For nearly a week, Rodgers said her family did not have heat or hot water.
“My son slept in his coat. My daughter’s room read at 48 degrees,” Rogers said. “My 8-month-old son is sick with a terrible cough.”
Rodgers showed us messages that confirmed she told Verde Property Management Company about the problem last Tuesday, Dec. 31.
She said days later, the company insulated the windows with plastic and supplied space heaters, but it was still cold.
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“I don’t feel like I’ve been heard and that’s why I called the news because I just feel like they’re very like inconsiderate,” Rogers said.
As a last resort, on Sunday, Rogers called the police for help.
On Monday, a city inspector slapped a “Notice Intent to Condemn” on the front door. The notice explained the property is unfit to live in because of the “lack of required heat” and the building would be condemned if the heat is not fixed by Friday, Jan. 10.
“This should be a message to tenants and landlords that we have rights and landlords need to uphold their bargain when it comes to tenants, regardless of where they come from, what neighborhood it’s in, or anything like that,” Rodgers said.
Jeremy Pekarek, Verde Property Management Company, said they’ve been sending out boiler technicians to fix the frozen pipes.
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“We’ve been doing our best to try to identify the situation and figure out exactly what’s going on with the property,” he said. “I agree with her, it has been cooler than normal, and I know it’s a tough situation for them.”
During the interview, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS saw a maintenance technician walk in to check the radiator.
Pekarek said they plan to use the space heaters to thaw the pipes so they can restore heat to the entire building.
He said the building’s heat will be fixed by the city’s deadline.
If a landlord or property manager does not take immediate steps to restore the heat in your building, you can report it to the city by calling 311 or 612-673-3000.
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The city website says an inspector will respond to you the same day.
CHICAGO (WLS) — A United Airlines flight that left Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Friday was diverted due to an unruly passenger, officials said.
United flight 2005 from Chicago was headed to Minneapolis but landed in Madison, Wisconsin.
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“United flight 2005 from Chicago to Minneapolis landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin to address a security concern with an unruly passenger,” the airline said in a statement. “The flight is expected to continue to Minneapolis later on Friday.”
An ICE agent facing several assault charges in connection with a January shooting involving two Venezuelan people in Minnesota has been arrested in Texas, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.
Christian Castro was charged earlier this month with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.
CNN is working to determine whether Castro has an attorney and has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Castro faces those charges in connection with the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man shot in the leg through the front door of a Minneapolis home. The incident took place during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement blitz in the Twin Cities.
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Originally, Sosa-Celis and his cousin Alfredo A. Aljorna were facing federal charges after DHS said they had attacked an agent, prompting him to fire a defensive shot.
But the Justice Department dropped the charges in February, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement said two of its agents, who made false statements about the incident under oath, were placed on administrative leave.
FOX 9’s Erika Mrazik has your Thursday evening and extended forecast. Our temperatures continue to feel more like July than May, and we’ll continue to see plenty of sun.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for the Twin Cities starting Friday.
Air quality alert in Twin Cities
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What we know:
MPCA says that ground-level ozone will be at unhealthy levels in the Twin Cities on Friday. An air quality will be in place from noon to 9 p.m.
An air quality alert in the Twin Cities. Graphic courtesy of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (Supplied)
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Sunny skies, low humidity and warm temperatures make for favorable conditions pollutants to react with sunlight to make ground-level ozone. MPCA says the ozone will subside as the sun sets.
Who is most affected by poor air quality?
Dig deeper:
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People with asthma or other breathing conditions like COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema will be affected by poor quality. They can experience symptoms like difficulty deep breathing, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing and unusual fatigue.
Additionally, children, teenagers and people of all ages who are doing heavy physical activity outside.
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What you can do:
MPCA recommends taking it easy while outside and limiting physical activity.
To help reduce pollution, use public transit or carpool when possible, fill up your car’s tank at dawn or dusk and avoid backyard fires.
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The Source: A press release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
