Tenants Rally for Safety and Language Access: In a display of collective concern, tenants from two affordable housing complexes in San Jose have gathered to protest against their corporate landlord, ROEM Corporation. The residents, hailing from Bella Castello and Corde Terra Senior tenants associations, are seeking better security measures due to frequent car break-ins and demanding that management provides tenant notices in languages other than English.
The tenants, many of whom speak Vietnamese or Spanish, express worry that notices in English could lead to misunderstandings, especially among frail and disabled residents who fear potential eviction. The protestors are calling for increased security, citing regular car break-ins, and a need for notices in languages accessible to all residents.
At Bella Castello, tenant Hung Nguyen highlights instances of up to 10 cars being broken into in the building’s secure garage. He expresses concern about the perceived normalcy of such incidents and questions the duty of property management in ensuring residents’ safety.
The security guard at Bella Castello works limited hours, prompting tenants to request an extension of these hours for enhanced safety. The tenants are stressed and worried about the current safety conditions, emphasizing the need for urgent improvements.
Corde Terra resident Lam Pham shares similar concerns, stating that safety issues occupy her thoughts, causing stress. The tenants are also troubled by notices in English, which many of them cannot understand. These notices typically convey building regulations, and non-compliance could lead to eviction, creating anxiety among residents.
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Attempts to communicate with the management company, FPI Management, have reportedly gone unanswered, with tenants from Corde Terra alleging intimidation by on-site building management for attempting to organize.
The tenants are demanding greater transparency and communication from the management, urging them to provide notices in languages that residents understand. The issue raises broader questions about the responsibility of property management and the need for legislation to ensure habitable living conditions for renters in San Jose.
Community housing advocate Cindy Tran, assisting Vietnamese-speaking tenants, emphasizes the elderly population’s vulnerability and the importance of effective communication from property management.
Councilmember Peter Ortiz supports the tenants, highlighting the need for notices in primary languages and advocating for negotiations between management and residents. Councilmembers Omar Torres and Betty Duong also express solidarity with the tenants.
The rally culminates in tenants delivering a letter to ROEM Corporation’s CEO, Robert Emami, seeking a meeting to address their concerns. As the tenants await a response, their collective efforts underscore the importance of community involvement and communication in ensuring safe and inclusive living conditions.