Dec. 20, 11 a.m.
Residents of 4525 S. Federal, including
activist Beauty Turner
We are Human Beings and Demand to be
Treated as Such!
In a month when most people are looking
forward to the end-of-the-year holidays, having get-togethers with friends
and family, enjoying special foods, and so-forth, public difficult to do
anything else: a serious infestation of oversized rats.
Our society, at Christmastime, addresses
inequality through toy drives and food baskets. Today is an opportunity
to see and show others how poor people I n this wealthy nation are living
through the holidays, and the rest of the year.
When notified of a rat problem in Robert
Taylor, Chicago Housing Authority spokesman Derek Hill said that there
are rats throughout CHA, and asked What makes you think this is any worse
than usual?
Today, 5 days before Christmas, outraged
residents of 4525 S. federal will answer Hills question. Residents of
the 4400 and 4500 blocks between State and Federal have been encountering
huge-possum-sized and cat-sized- rats in their apartments. The
infestation has coincided with the demolition of three Robert Taylor buildings
in the vicinity. One womans 8 year old son was in the bathroom when two
rats ran through; one rat jumped down his pants leg. She killed both and
brought one to the privately-run management office, and the other to a
nearly CHA outpost.
William Moorehead and Associates, the private
manager, has responded to the problem by distributing glue boards. Residents
emphasize that the sheer size of the rats makes this measure ineffective.
A resident of 4525 S. Federal describes a rat dragging glueboards into
one of several holes in the wall. Residents use books, weights, and other
means to block rat holes.
I want to know why we dont see the Mayors
Rat Elimination Team down here, said activist writer, and 10 year Robert
Taylor resident Beauty Turner. Residents are also demanding that the holes
that rats have chewed through walls be plastered over, and a comprehensive
rat eradication campaign be undertaken by Moorehead. Residents and activists,
and housing advocates are critical of management, CHA, and the City for
neglecting crucial maintenance of buildings that are slated by CHA for
demolition, noting that it serves the agencies goal of emptying these
buildings.