Another broken elevator at a Bridgeport apartment complex has prompted local officials to crack down on what they're calling a "dangerous epidemic citywide."

At the south end of the city, 810 Atlantic St. apartments is the latest in a long string of buildings to suffer an elevator outage, leaving seniors and disabled residents trapped on upper floors.

Some residents say they have not been able to get to doctors' appointments or even to the grocery store to buy food.

"Being disabled and being a senior citizen, and having a service dog -- even my dog can't make it down the stairs," says resident Marcie Daniels.

Hazah Abdelrahman says the right to equal access for people with disabilities is under state and federal law.

"So you taking the right from us. This is one of the rights," Abdelrahman says.

News 12 Connecticut has investigated 18 broken elevators in Bridgeport over the past two years, including a recent case where a man died after complaining that he was not able to get medical care due to the broken elevator.

Now, Mayor Joe Ganim says enough is enough and is coordinating an effort to hold property owners and building managers accountable, not just for repairing older elevators, but replacing them.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal says there needs to be an increase in state inspections in buildings that accept federal funding.

The property manager told News 12 Connecticut, "Otis Elevator is working to make the repairs as quickly as possible."