Dateline Boyle Heights – The Wyvernwood complex wants to convert their apartments into condos, and they are not taking no for an answer.
Wyvernwood has a long history of evicting those who stand in their way, according to Leonardo Lopez of El Comite De La Esperanza, the tenants’ union.
Some estimates are that more than 300 illegal evictions have been committed under the auspices of these current kings.
“We found our three-day notices in the trash, and we were almost wrongfully evicted four times,” Mr. Lopez said. “Flyers go out that are not on company letterhead and unsigned. They are full of promises that residents will get $18K to move, and to maintain the family environment here.”
“Yes, you also get a free pony too,” states Zaybastian, a longtime tenant who has filed several discrimination charges against owners.
“They are very slick PR people, and two separate attorneys agree,” he said. “Such documents are legally meaningless. If Wyvernwood is serious about these promises, they need to sign their contracts with authorized corporate representatives and hand one to each and every tenant.
“But there is no way they are going to do that. Just more smoke and mirrors.
“In my opinion,” says Zaybastian, “the tenants won’t get anything.
“They are just going to pick us off one by one. Wyvernwood is known for hiring fake residents to come to rallies and political meetings. They want to create the bogus impression that residents support the project when internal numbers says they don’t.”
“There was a vote submitted to City Council member Jose Huizar that was beyond the total population of actual residents. Simply there were way more votes for the project then there were tenants. How is that possible? When Wyvernwood says they have spirit, they mean it literally. Ghosts and the dead are clearly on their side.
“There is constant intimidation by three armed guards with bulletproof vests, police-type cruisers, nightsticks and a bad attitude,” says Zaybastian. “They are an effective force used to keep the non-English-speaking residents in check.
“They look more like border patrol agents than the ‘courtesy patrol’ they claim to be. We are not allowed to unload our laundry/groceries as they are ready to pounce, demanding that we “leave or be towed.” If they really were a ‘courtesy patrol,’ they would help us get our groceries inside. To make you even more miserable, they lose your bank money orders, slap you with late fees, circumvent rent control laws, issue fake three-day notices, make insane claims of ‘smuggling in roaches’ and ‘playing tubas’ and having an invisible Rotweiller dog.
“Ironically, Zaybastian has two doctors’ letters that permit him to own a comfort dog, due to his disability.
Yet he still has no service animal. Instead, he was forced to surrender him or see his family evicted.
Forty-one percent of the tenants here are allowed to have pets. It is very clear the treatment of tenants is inconsistent.
Just as we can’t unload our laundry in the parking lot, their friends can make auto repairs and drink beers. They harass you if you use your wheelchair. They are constantly insisting they “inspect his wheelchair ramp,” thereby instituting their own version of a no-fly-zone, like our military does when they want to limit your movement.
For him it has become a “no-roll zone,” effectively instituting a ban on his access. He is forced to use his cane, though its usefulness is limited. Worse, his 11-year-old son who is required to use hip to toe braces, is also denied the use of the ramp. They want to make you as miserable as possible so you don’t self- deport but rather self-evict. Then they don’t owe you the $18,000. Yet, there’s plenty of rats, roaches, trash and sewage problems.
The family has not had a safe stove/heating system since it has been red tagged by the gas company last Feb. 14. A month ago, on June 12, it was tagged again. The family was so intimidated by Wyvernwood’s dirty tricks that they believed this certainly spelled their eviction. In two years here the family NEVER has had heat.
Again, adding to the Wyvernwood Misery Index.
Zaybastian recalls that “they retaliate every time Code Enforcement or the Dept. of Health cites them for a violation, which is now over a dozen.
Mario from Wyvernwood Apartments says, “Who is the judge going to believe? Another free- loading tenant that doesn’t pay his rent or a nice apartment manager like me?”
HUD is investigating. HUD generally doesn’t get involved. We fear a slap on their wrist in their future. The Los Angeles Housing Authority told us that “you deserve whatever you get because you live there.” Housing Rights Council talked a lot but abandoned us in the end.
Many people believe these are fraudulent agencies set up to give the appearance of help being available but actually won’t lift a finger.
Trust me no one will get any money, no one will have a rent-controlled apartment, there will be no brown people living here, they will tear down the playgrounds, parks and destroy the family environment.
This is not the beginning of the ‘New Wyvernwood’ but the end of a decent place to raise your kids if you leave these owners in place,” says Zaybastian. “Call the new Mayor Eric Garcetti or email him and tell him enough is enough. Tell him to reject the project and order an investigation. 213.473.7013 councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org
See http://laworstapartments.weebly.com/
