Sen. Richard Blumenthal vowed to get federal housing officials to investigate a Bridgeport landlord whose tenants say they have been without heat and hot water for a month.
Residents at 370 Olive St. say they haven’t had heat or hot water since well before Christmas. Despite News 12 Connecticut reporting on the situation for weeks and local officials reporting the landlord to the Bridgeport Health Department, tenants say the landlord has done nothing to address the problem.
They say the furnace and hot water heaters are broken, as are many of the windows in the 8-unit building, making problem worse.
"It gets cold and sometimes you can't even feel your toes. You got to wear two socks, make sure you have a thick t-shirt, long sleeves, a thick blanket to bundle up to be warm," says tenant Melissa Gerena.
Senior citizen Vangie Calderon, who is disabled, says she wants to move out. She also says she worries for the families who have nowhere else to go to bathe their children.
State and local leaders, who reported the case to the Bridgeport Health Department when News 12 first told them about it, say they're shocked that nobody has taken action yet against what they describe as many health code violations.
"Nowhere in the state of Connecticut, Bridgeport or anywhere within our borders, should a family have to wait 30 days to get heat or hot water," says Rep. Chris Rosario.
State Sen. Dennis Bradley adds, "We together have been fighting hard to make sure that these slum lords understand the consequences of these actions. And they will be held accountable."
Officials say they'll be taking steps to make sure these residents get the heat and hot water they the right to.
"Lacking heat and hot water is absolutely unacceptable," says Sen. Blumenthal. "I'm going to begin immediately asking questions and demanding answers, but more importantly, demanding action."
News 12 reached out to the landlord for comment but never heard back.