Still Without Power!

[breitee]

There is no excuse for this!

Woman Still Without Power
KOTV - 12/27/2007 10:23 PM - Updated 12/28/2007 6:07 AM
For most of us the thought of living without power is a horrible memory, but for one Sand Springs family it's a harsh reality. The landlord can't afford the necessary repairs. So what's a renter to do? News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports the affected family feels like they will have to move.

"What am I to do? I am still without lights," said Charlotte Mercado who lives in Sand Springs.

She is without hope that her situation will change anytime soon.

"The first days were really rough, of course, with everybody else, but the last two weeks knowing that everybody else has lights and we don't," added Charlotte Mercado.

The problem is right outside her front door. She needs an electrician, but says her landlord refuses to pay for one.

"If I was. I wouldn't treat people this way. I would offer a candle, a flashlight to somebody if I was a landlord, but they haven't even offered that," said Charlotte Mercado.

Instead, she's relying on neighbors and lots of extension cords to keep her family out of the dark. Charlotte's landlord Kurt Mathena says he's tapped out.

"I don't have the funds to do it myself. When you start talking about electricians and people that want to come do it for $1,800 and $2,500, I can't do that," said landlord Kurt Mathena.

So the Mercados say they can't continue to live there.

"We have to move. We can't live in this condition. They're not going to fix it. They don't have the money to fix. They've made that clear," said renter Charlotte Mercado.

An attorney says not having the money is not a defense. According to law, if a landlord fails to provide essential services, like electricity, the renter can end the lease and move immediately, move somewhere else temporarily and not pay the rent during that time or pay for the service and deduct the cost from rent.

But, before renters take any of those actions, they must give written notice to their landlord.

[sgrizzle]

Landlord should have insurance to pay for the repairs.

Too bad Sand Springs didn't have the same program as Tulsa.

[tulsapoolplyr88]

......and what program would that be?......I have yet to get any kind of response from anyone involved in that "program".

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by tulsapoolplyr88

......and what program would that be?......I have yet to get any kind of response from anyone involved in that "program".

The program where you call the Mayor's action center and they pay an electrician and provide parts to fix a weatherhead.

[tulsapoolplyr88]

lol....Just a lil' sarcasm sg......

I've been extremely patient with this so called "program" since it first started.  My biggest complaint about it, is that nobody can tell me anything when I call to check the status.  I was among the first people to call, yet not one person associated with it has made any contact.  I've called numerous times and my sister has called numerous times. I've even emailed the Mayors Action Center a couple of times.  I get zero response, or any feedback whatsoever.  I havn't got any kind of reply from the emails......nothing, notta, zip.  I completely understand that the workers have a heavy workload....trust me on that....I understand.  What I'm pissed off about is the lack of any concern.  The couple of times that I was able to speak with someone at the Mayors Action Center, the call taker didn't seem to really give a damn.  Then I get no feedback or anything....no call saying "we've got your call....there's x number of houses ahead of you...we'll get to you in a few days, week, month, whatever"  They don't know how bad, or not so bad, the situation is, because nobody has lifted a finger to help.  My parents could be on oxygen for all they know (they're not....that's just an example), because nobody has made contact.  The whole point of the program was to help out the less fortunate, and the elderly, that can't afford the price gouging electricians that want $2,000 for a repair (yes that was actually quoted to me).  My parents are both 60+ and cant afford it.  But nobody in this "Operation Power Up" would know that, because they havn't made any type of contact.

Now that I've gotten riled up again, I think I'll step down from my soapbox, have a glass of milk, and calm down a bit.


One more thing....

To any and all of you who have helped your neighbor, and to the folks from out of town here to help, and to all of you who are out there busting your butt.......   THANK YOU

[Conan71]

I am so friggin' thankful I didn't lose anything between the pole and my house.  

My next door neighbor still doesn't have her cable back.  I mean what's the point in electricity if you can't watch cable anyhow?  Might as well sit in the dark.

[Derailed]

Landlords have certain legal responsibilites to maintain the rental in good order.  

I wonder if contacting the Mayor's Action line would help?