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Longtime residents of three neighboring apartment buildings on East Okeefe Street in East Palo Alto marched on Thursday at the Mayfield Soccer Complex in Palo Alto to protest “habitability issues” that have been met with “tepid” responses from property owner Sand Hill Property Company.
Nearly 50 people showed out to protest “delayed” and “ignored” complaints regarding water leaks, sudden water shut offs, poor ventilation, mold and broken appliances in their apartments.
Two residents led the crowd to the main offices of Sand Hill, which owns all three buildings. Once inside, they read their letters of demands and handed a worker a bright yellow envelope labeled, “Mr. Peter Pau,” who is the principal and co-founder of the company.
In Spanish and English, they read the letter that included a list of demands like bilingual communication and fumigation for buildings with rat and cockroach infestations.
As company employees slowly poured out of their offices, they listened to residents’ demands.
Chief Operating Officer Jason Villarreal said the company would evaluate the group’s letter and demands and then respond accordingly.
“It’s important we address this,” he said. “Thank you for sharing your thoughts.”
Raquel Rodriguez, who has lived in 301 East Okeefe St. for 19 years, said the living conditions have worsened over time as property owners come and go.
“One day, my husband was showering and the water suddenly cut off,” Rodriguez said. “It took hours to turn back on and it happened multiple times, but we never get answers.”
Residents say they learned this summer that three apartment buildings at 201, 245 and 301 East Okeefe St. were listed for sale, which they say was not properly communicated. Residents were given legal forms in English to verify the current state of their apartments, but as a largely Spanish-speaking community, many documents went unnoticed.
That’s when they decided to organize.
With the help of East Palo Alto-based organization Youth United for Community Action and the Regional Tenant Organizing Network, the residents formed the E. Okeefe Tenant Association, then delivered a letter to Greystar on July 17 – which it forwarded to property owner Sand Hill.
Greystar, the property management company who is in charge of repairs, did not respond to requests for comment.
In response to the letter, a Sand Hill spokesperson Pabel Zumarraga said that all work orders for units in 201 and 245 have been resolved, though there are a handful of maintenance orders that still need to be addressed at 301.
“Greystar is committed to ensuring that all of the Woodland Park Apartments are safe and habitable at all times,” Zumarraga wrote.
Sand Hill will continue to “look further” into complaints and set up a meeting at a later date, he wrote.
Rodriguez, who was uneasy about taking action at first, said previously, management only agreed to meet with tenants individually concerning living conditions.
“When we came as a group, they felt intimidated,” Rodriguez said. “I was so nervous, but now I feel empowered.”
As the East Okeefe residents left the Sand Hill building, they cheered and congratulated each other.
“Aquí estamos, y no nos vamos,” they chanted. “We are here, and we’re not leaving.”
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